Top Gear's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car Vauxhall Astra goes on sale
THE last 'reasonably price car' used on the BBC show Top Gear is set to be sold.
The last car use by Top Gear during Jeremy Clarkson's time on the show is to be sold
During the Jeremy Clarkson era of Top Gear before the 'fracas' led to his sacking, a popular feature on the show was the Star In a Reasonably Price Car segment.
It is a feature of the show that died when the trio moved over to Amazon Prime for The Grand Tour.
After Clarkson's contract wasn't reined by the BBC the modest Astra was shipped back to Vauxhall and is now being auctioned off for charity.
A whole host of A-List celebrities drove the 2013 Astra including Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Hugh Jackman and Tom Hiddleston.
We're opening the bidding on a piece of motoring history
For the show the Astra was kitted out with a full roll cage, racing seats and a five-point safety belt harness.
These modifications mean however the Astra is not road-legal.
In total 20 high profile stars thrashed the red Vaxhall around the Top Gear track.
Clarkson did not have his contract renewed in 2015 following the infamous fracas
Singer Olly Murs clocked the fastest time completing a lap in just 1 minute and 44.6 seconds.
He was followed by actor Nicholas Hoult (1:44.7), Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul (1:44.7), rock star Brian Johnson (1:45.1) and comedian Jimmy Carr (1:45.6).
Other celebs who raced around the famous track include Warwick Davis, David Haye, Ron Howard, Rachel Riley, Kiefer Sutherland and Benedict Cumberbatch.
It will be sold without reserve at Coys London sale on February 18
Jeremy Clarkson interviews Palmer-Tomkinson on Top Gear
Powering the Astra, which has done just 3,000 miles, is a 1.6-litre petrol engine which develops 115bhp giving the family hatchback a top speed of 118mph.
Adam Collins, brand manager for Astra, Vauxhall Motors said, "We're opening the bidding on a piece of motoring history.
"Vauxhall Motors is proud to support BEN and hope the sale of the Power Red 1.6-litre 115ps Vauxhall Astra Tech Line will bring a decent injection of funds into the work they do for the automotive industry."
Will Smith was among the global stars who thrashed the red Vauxhall Astra
It will be sold without reserve at Coys London sale on February 18.
Chris Routledge, CEO of Coys, said: "The Star in a Reasonably Priced Car was one of the most well-known and loved features of the Top Gear programme during the Clarkson era and to have such a famous machine in the Olympia auction is great fun at every level.
"The number of global celebrities who drove this humble Vauxhall is breathtaking. We are especially delighted that the proceeds are going to our own industry's charity."