Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson once demanded his money back after a nightmare experience with one of his dream supercars. Jeremy said it had been an ambition to own a Ford GT40 and happily placed an order for a new limited-edition run of the sportscar announced in 2003.
On first inspection, Jeremy was delighted, admitting the 5.4-litre, GT40 “looked so gorgeous”. However, he said problems started immediately, with the host recalling how the immobiliser glitched after pulling away from the Top Gear studio. Ford took the car back and changed the immobiliser overnight, but the TV personality said the problems persisted.
Writing in the Sunday Times back in 2005, Jeremy wrote: “At three in the morning the alarm blew. And then again at four. This meant my wife started to refer to it as “that f****** car”, which took away a bit of the sheen, if I’m honest.
“The next day, on the way back to the garage, I received a call on the hands-free phone from the tracker company. ‘Your car’s been stolen, sir,’ said the man. ‘I’m sure it hasn’t,’ I said, ‘because I’m in it.’
According to Jeremy, Ford took the model back and got to work on repairs but the problems didn’t stop there.
Two days later, when the model was returned, Jeremy reported more issues with the tracker system and even the emergence of a yellow warning light.
He was promptly told it was likely to be an issue with the engine management system and the model was quickly returned for repairs.
Upon receiving the model back, Jeremy was stunned when the alarm system glitched again, prompting his decision to ask for a refund.
Jeremy added: “I then did something the man at Ford wasn’t expecting. I asked for my money back. And that, the next day, is what happened.
“They put £126,000 in my account and sent a man to pick up the car. ‘Is it the alarm system?’ he said. ‘They all do that’.
“So there we are. A 35-year dream. A two-year wait. Ten years of damn hard work. And what do I get? The most miserable month’s motoring it is possible to imagine.”
