Jeremy Clarkson broke strict BBC rules in order to convince Pink Floyd's Nick Mason to lend Top Gear his incredibly rare Ferrari Enzo
Published on Jun 29, 2026 at 4:07 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jun 29, 2026 at 4:07 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason has revealed that Jeremy Clarkson broke some BBC rules in order to get the musician’s Ferrari Enzo onto Top Gear.
The drummer made the revelation while appearing on the Road To Success podcast.
He’d appeared on the iconic BBC show back in 2005, when it was hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond.
The show wanted to feature a rare Ferrari Enzo, but no owners were willing to do it for free, so Clarkson had to think on his feet.
The Ferrari Enzo is a seriously rare car
Only 400 Enzo supercars were made, making this an exceptionally rare set of Ferraris – and even then, some manage to be more exclusive than others.
These cars go for millions when up on auction, from $6 million to $15 million for a yellow edition.
And like any supercar worth its salt, it’s had some celebrity owners along the way, like Jamiroquai’s Jason Luís Cheetham, AKA Jay Kay.
Also included in that cohort is Pink Floyd’s drummer Nick Mason.
In a recent appearance on the Road To Success podcast, Mason divulged some details about how his Enzo ended up appearing on Top Gear back in 2005.
How Jeremy Clarkson convinced Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason into bringing his Ferrari Enzo onto Top Gear
When the BBC show wanted Enzo owners to come on, none were all that keen.
This pushed Clarkson to make an under-the-table deal with Mason.
If Mason loaned his Enzo for the episode, Top Gear would heavily promote his book Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd.
And boy did they plug the book.
“The shot opens with the car and Jeremy saying, ‘What was it like when Ferrari said that you could have one of these cars?’,” Mason recalled.
“And I said, ‘Well, Jeremy, nearly as exciting as the moment my book was published’.”
Add in the fact that the audience members were wearing t-shirts that read ‘Nick is a great author. This book would make an ideal Christmas present’, and you’ve got yourself some serious overkill.
Hopefully it helped move a few copies from bookstores.
Why was this considered a rule break at the BBC?
As a publicly funded broadcaster, the BBC holds itself to high standards when it comes to promotional plugs.
Shows funded by the license fee must avoid advertising, endorsements, and product placement in a bid to strive for editorial independence.
However, the team at Top Gear certainly had fun blurring the lines on this rule.
In fact, singer and former Spice Girl Gerri Halliwell (Aka Ginger Spice) was on the same episode as Mason.
But unfortunately for her, Clarkson jokingly cautioned her that she wasn’t allowed to plug her new album.
“Just stop. We don’t do plugging on this show. We don’t want to know the name [of your album]… unless you’ve got a half million quid supercar in which case you can frankly say anything you like about it!” he remarked, a Pink Floyd blog reported.
It just goes to show – it’s not what you know, it’s not who you know, it’s what you drive that gets you ahead in life.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
