In September 2024, the final The Grand Tour special “One for the Road” aired on Amazon Prime Video, marking the end of an era for presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. Now, James May’s 1974 Triumph Stag from the Zimbabwe expedition has hit the auction block on Collecting Cars, sparking bidding among fans.
Auction Bidding Wars For James May’s Zimbabwean Roadster
- James May purchased a 1974 Triumph Stag powered by a 3.0-liter V8 engine for the final African road trip, which Novinky reported featured a car he had dreamed of owning.
- After filming, May sent the purple roadster to Richard Hammond’s restoration workshop, The Smallest Cog, where it received its original paint shade alongside interior upgrades including a first-generation speedometer and Bluetooth audio.
- Bidding on Collecting Cars started at 100 British pounds and climbed past 25,750 pounds as the auction neared its final hours, driven largely by the vehicle’s provenance.
From African Expedition to Workshop Restoration
The final feature-length episode took the hosts back to Zimbabwe, the very location where their famous long-distance TV format first launched years prior. For the grueling terrain, each presenter selected a dream machine. James May chose a striking purple 1974 Triumph Stag. Despite the model’s notorious historical reputation for mechanical fragility, the British roadster handled the harsh African roads without major breakdowns.
James May auctions iconic Triumph Stag featured in Grand Tour finale https://t.co/TJYJTXMLt4
Upon returning to the United Kingdom, May entrusted the vehicle to his former co-star Richard Hammond, whose restoration garage, The Smallest Cog, handled the mechanical refresh and returned the bodywork to its correct factory color. The expedition left visible marks on the car’s setup. The cabin now houses a first-generation Stag speedometer, 14-inch wheels wrapped in modern Hankook Optimo tires, and an upgraded audio system complete with Bluetooth connectivity.
Evaluating the Market Value of Screen-Worn Motoring History
While the odometer reads 83,368 miles—roughly 134,000 kilometers—the car’s actual mileage plays second fiddle to its pop culture pedigree. Novinky noted that the vehicle’s starring role in the final The Grand Tour episode serves as the primary driver behind the aggressive bidding on Collecting Cars. What began as a symbolic 100-pound starting bid quickly escalated past 25,750 pounds as collectors vied for a piece of television history.
| Presenter | Vehicle Model | Auction Status |
|---|---|---|
| James May | 1974 Triumph Stag | Listed on Collecting Cars (Exceeded £25,750) |
| Jeremy Clarkson | Lancia Monte Carlo | Previously sent to auction |
| Richard Hammond | Ford Capri | Remains with the original owner |
The Dispersal of the Final Fleet
May is not the only member of the hosting trio to part ways with his final-episode vehicle. Europesays reported that Jeremy Clarkson’s Lancia Monte Carlo also went to auction recently, signaling a wholesale clearing of the garage following the show’s conclusion. With both May and Clarkson liquidating their expedition cars, Richard Hammond’s Ford Capri remains the sole vehicle from the final trio’s lineup still held by its original driver.
