Michael Jordan's Ferrari 550 Maranello Heads to Auction

A 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello originally owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan is being offered for sale. The auction, managed by Joopiter and Curated, could see the car surpass the current public auction record for a road-going 550 Maranello, which stands at $648,500.

According to the source report from Hagerty, the car was delivered new to Jordan on May 29, 1997. The factory warranty card bears his signature and a Durham, North Carolina address. Finished in Rosso Barchetta with a tan interior, the Ferrari features chrome Speedline wheels and a modified driver's seat with extended rails and thinner padding to accommodate Jordan's 6'6"frame. ## A Celebrity-Driven History

Jordan used this car regularly during his time with the Chicago Bulls."MJ 5," making it instantly recognizable. This association was so strong that the source states it reportedly inspired designer Tinker Hatfield to create the Air Jordan XIV shoe, which features Ferrari-like logos.

Jordan sold the car through an Illinois dealership on December 4, 2002, when it had approximately 6,400 miles. Its whereabouts then became unknown until Curated co-founder John Temerian located it in California earlier this year after a ten-year search. The second owner had kept it in a private collection, never offering it for public sale.

Condition and Provenance

The Ferrari has been well-preserved over the past 24 years. It is a manual-transmission model with under 19,000 miles. Comprehensive service records accompany the car, including documentation from Jordan's ownership period that lists the "MJ 5" registration. The car remains largely original, retaining even its factory Ferrari-branded cassette player.

Auction Details and Record Potential

The car will be publicly displayed at CART Department in New York City from September 15 to 20, with viewings by appointment thereafter. Bidding opens on September 15 and closes on September 30. Joopiter and Curated have set a pre-sale estimate of $700,000 to $1.3 million.

This sale marks the first car offered by Joopiter, an e-commerce platform founded by musician Pharrell Williams that typically deals in sports memorabilia and fashion. The partnership with Curated signals an expansion into car auctions, with Jordan's Ferrari serving as a high-profile inaugural offering.