Abandoned Porsche 928 once owned by Jeremy Clarkson meets an unfortunate finale, concluding a dismal tale in Argentina
In the heart of Patagonia, Argentina, the Top Gear team, led by Jeremy Clarkson, filmed an exhilarating special episode. During this adventure, Clarkson drove a Porsche 928, one of the many exotic and valuable cars bought by the BBC for the show.
However, the Porsche 928 GT's journey didn't end in the UK as many might have expected. After the filming, the BBC, as part of their standard procedure, attempted to recover costs and manage logistics by disposing of the used cars. Unfortunately, the Porsche 928 was among those left behind in Argentina.
The Argentinian authorities refused to allow the BBC to bring the cars back, fearing they would be displayed as 'trophies' in the UK. This decision left the fate of the Porsche 928 unknown for a significant period.
The Porsche's license plate, "H982 FKL," caused a major uproar in Argentina due to perceived links to the Falklands War. However, it's essential to clarify that the plate was original and came with the car when it was purchased at auction; it was not deliberately chosen or swapped by the production team.
The controversy forced the Top Gear crew to leave Argentina abruptly, but the crushing of the car happened later as part of the BBC’s standard procedure of getting rid of used cars after filming, rather than as a direct consequence of the license plate incident.
Meanwhile, other cars from the Argentina Special had different fates. James May bought a Lotus Esprit, Richard Hammond bought a Ford Mustang, and Clarkson himself bought a Porsche 928 for the special episode.
Interestingly, the Alfa Romeo 75, another car bought by the BBC for the show, was sold after the incident. It is expected to fetch $20,000 at auction.
It's worth noting that the BBC also bought dozens, if not hundreds, of cars for the show, and they usually try to sell them after the episodes to recover costs.
The global premium car auction platform SBX CARS powers this online marketplace, offering a platform for these unique vehicles to find new homes.
The dispute over the Falkland Islands, with Argentina claiming sovereignty over it, continues to this day, adding an extra layer of complexity to the story of the Porsche 928 and the Top Gear Argentina Special.
- Some celebrities, such as Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond, have a fondness for luxury cars, as evidenced by their purchases of exotic vehicles like a Porsche 928 and a Lotus Esprit during the Top Gear Argentina Special.
- The combination of entertainment and technology can be intriguing, as seen with the use of AI in sports-betting platforms, whereas in this specific case, the BBC applied AI to manage logistics by attempting to sell used cars after filming.
- The world of supercars and sports is linked to the entertainment industry, as illustrated when celebrity hosts like Clarkson, May, and Hammond bought cars as a souvenir from the Top Gear Argentina Special.
- The dispute between Great Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands has significant political implications, influencing decisions made about the disposition of vehicles, as was the case with a Porsche 928 that remained stranded in Argentina due to the conflict.
