- The vehicle was found 14 years after it mysteriously disappeared
- It was delivered brand new to Jordan on February 29, 1992
- The sports car went on to remain in his personal collection for three years
A Ferrari belonging to basketball legend Michael Jordan has been found 14 years after it was reported as ‘disappearing without a trace’.
The sportscar, which was described as having a ‘black on grigio’ livery, is a 1992 Ferrari 512 TR.
The vehicle contained a 4.9L flat-12 engine, enabling it to go from zero to 60mph in under five seconds and reach a top speed of 195mph.
It was most famously pictured outside Game 5 of the 1992 NBA Playoffs in Chicago against the Knicks before it was subsequently photographed by Jordan’s personal photographer at his home in Highland Park, Illinois.
It was delivered brand-new to Jordan on February 29, 1992 via Lake Forest Ferrari in Illinois – and remained in his personal collection for three years until October 13, 1995.
The motor was then snapped up by Chris Gardner, whose life story inspired the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness after he sold his minority stake in a brokerage firm – having worked to become a stockbroker while homeless and raising his young son.
A Ferrari belonging to basketball legend Michael Jordan has been found 14 years after it was reported as ‘disappearing without a trace’
The sportscar, which was described as having a ‘black on grigio’ livery, is a 1992 Ferrari 512 TR
Gardner, played by Will Smith, was said to have been inspired to change his own fortunes after seeing a man in a red Ferrari.
While owning the Ferrari that was previously Jordan’s, Gardner drove it around Chicago with the custom number plate of ‘Not MJ’, a spin on the former Chicago Bulls star’s own plate that read ‘M Air J’.
Last seen publicly at auction in 2010, the car was said to have ‘disappeared without a trace’ after it was sold for a fee estimated to be between $80,000 and $100,000.
That was until it ended up with a third owner that same year.
But, shortly after acquiring the car, he was diagnosed with cancer, meaning the Ferrari was unable to be used by the individual.
However, both the man and the car survived despite blazing wildfires, as he was also able to recover from his battle with bone cancer – having been given just ‘a few years to live’.
Prior to passing the Ferrari on to Curated, the seller said he had ‘kept it under lock and key for 15 years’.
The motor was then snapped up by Chris Gardner, whose life story inspired the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness after he sold his minority stake in a brokerage firm having been homeless
Speaking in a YouTube video about how he managed to discover the car, CURATED co-founder John Temerian said: ‘There are few moments in this business that truly give you chills.
‘Finding this car felt like solving a mystery that’s haunted us for years. Everyone knew the plate. Everyone knew the legend. But no one knew where it went. Until now.’
Temerian added: ‘This car represents a moment in time’.
‘It’s the peak of Jordan, the peak of Ferrari — it’s bigger than basketball and bigger than the brand. We’re just thrilled to bring it back into the world.’
