Some Ferrari have a story. Others become true legends. Such is the case with Michael Jordan’s Ferrari, a car that seemed to have vanished without a trace for more than two decades. Yet, after 24 years of absence and much speculation, its story is about to enter a new chapter. The American company CURATED, which specializes in collectible European supercars, has just announced that it has located the iconic Ferrari 550 Maranello with chassis number 108712. This revelation is already generating immense interest among collectors and Ferrari enthusiasts.
The Ferrari of the Bulls' Era
The story begins on May 29, 1997. Michael Jordan took delivery of this Ferrari 550 Maranello Rosso Barchetta from Foreign Cars Italia, a historic Ferrari dealership in North Carolina. At the time, Michael Jordan was at the peak of his career with the Chicago Bulls. A few weeks later, on June 13, 1997, he won his fifth NBA championship. That same evening, he was photographed leaving the United Center behind the wheel of his red Ferrari, cigar in hand and trophy in the car. The image has since become iconic.
According to CURATED, this Ferrari may even have inspired certain design elements of the famous Air Jordan XIV sneakers, which were released shortly thereafter. Unlike many celebrity cars that are preserved as museum pieces, this 550 Maranello was actually driven. Michael Jordan reportedly drove about 6,400 miles (more than 10,000 kilometers) in it during his final years with the Bulls.
Missing Ferrari
On December 4, 2002, Michael Jordan sold his Ferrari to Lake Forest Sports Cars. Then nothing more. The car disappeared completely from the radar. For more than twenty years, its whereabouts remained unknown, fueling discussions on specialized forums and among Ferrari collectors.
The Ferrari 550 Maranello, however, is no ordinary model. Produced between 1996 and 2002 in a limited run of just 3,083 units, it marked the return of the front-mounted V12 engine at Ferrari—an architecture that had been abandoned since the legendary Daytona. Its naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V12 engine produces 485 ch and allows it to reach speeds of over 310 km/h. Even today, it is considered one of the best GTs in Ferrari’s modern history. The combination of an already highly sought-after model and its direct connection to Michael Jordan has naturally reinforced its almost mythical status.
CURATED is preparing for its return
In the end, it was CURATED that claimed to have located chassis 108712 after more than a decade of research dedicated to tracing its history. For now, little information has been revealed about the Ferrari’s current condition or its history since 2002. CURATED promises, however, to reveal more details in the coming months.
The first public auction of this Ferrari since it disappeared is scheduled for next fall. After a 24-year absence, one of the most famous Ferraris of the modern era is finally ready to reappear in the spotlight… but at what price?
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