Michael Jackson transformed into this Lancia in his 1988 movie… it just sold for 82,000 $

An astonishing replica of the Lancia Stratos Zero, used in Michael Jackson’s 1988 film *Moonwalker*, has just changed hands. This replica, originally designed for the movies before being converted into a fully drivable car, sold for $82,000 on October 19, 2026, on the American website Bring a Trailer. The sale sheds new light on the particularly unusual history of this futuristic vehicle.

Michael Jackson Transforms into a Lancia

In 1988, Michael Jackson unveiled Moonwalker, a musical film that blends music videos, choreography, and fantasy sequences. In one of the scenes from Smooth Criminal, the singer escapes from gangsters by transforming himself into a spectacular car with futuristic lines.

This car is modeled after the Lancia Stratos Zero, a concept car unveiled by Bertone at the Turin Motor Show in 1970. Designed by Marcello Gandini—best known for the Lamborghini Miura and Countach—the Stratos Zero made a lasting impression with its wedge-shaped silhouette and height of just 84 centimeters. For the film, three mock-up bodies were built. The example sold today was simply a shell without any mechanical components, painted silver for the shoot.

From a movie prop to a real, working car

After filming, this prop is said to have belonged to Art Millican, a set designer who worked on Michael Jackson’s Neverland estate. It then passed into the hands of a professional based in Florida, before being purchased in 2003 by British automotive designer Andy Saunders.

He undertook an ambitious transformation: turning this movie prop into a functional car. To do so, he used the chassis, engine, and mechanical components of a Fiat X1/9. Completed in 2006, the car was painted Lamborghini Mica Orange, a shade close to that of the original concept. It retains its spectacular appearance, with its massive windshield serving as the entrance to the cabin, its side air intakes, and its particularly wide rear end. Under the bodywork lies a 1.5L four-cylinder Fiat engine, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The car also features four disc brakes and independent suspension.

A car that's as spectacular as it is impractical

This Stratos Zero is only 91 centimeters tall, according to the seller. Suffice it to say that getting in requires a certain amount of flexibility! You have to lift the front glass panel, brace yourself against the front of the car, and then slide into the cockpit. The seller even notes that a second person is usually needed to close the car.

The car has also seen very little use. Its former owner explains that he only drove it at low speeds during car shows and never took it on the highway. The features are minimal: no speedometer, no air conditioning, no radio, and not even windshield wipers.

It sold for $82,000, and its new owner already has plans

Imported to the United States in 2008, this remarkable Lancia has just sold for $82,000 following a particularly lively final round of bidding. Its new owner, identified by the username Wayne962, is none other than Wayne Dempsey, founder of Pelican Parts, a company specializing in auto parts.

In the comments on the listing, he's already planning to restore its silver color from the movie using a wrap and to make hubcaps that more closely match its appearance in Moonwalker. He is also considering creating a dashboard inspired by the original design. More than thirty-eight years after it first appeared alongside Michael Jackson, this curious Lancia’s story is far from over.