A $450,000 Ferrari that was taken from a Formula 1 race winner nearly thirty years ago has finally been found by London police.
When Berger's red Ferrari F512M, valued at approximately $443,500, vanished in April 1995, he was at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy. The London Evening Standard said that the ten-time Grand Prix winner saw the vehicle being driven away and tried to pursue the thief but was unable to do so. According to several News, it was shipped to Japan and driven around for 28 years before being brought back to the UK at the end of 2023.
According to a press release released by Britain's Metropolitan Police on Monday, the car was reported missing and unaccounted for until January of this year when it was found in the UK.
When it was discovered that the vehicle, which had been bought by a US buyer through a UK broker, was stolen, Ferrari got in touch with the police in January.
What made this Ferrari “special”?
The Ferrari 512M, which was involved in the incident, is an exceptional car that represents the ultimate development of the Testarossa, one of the most well-liked automobiles of the 1980s, making the case noteworthy. The pop-up light pattern used in cars at the time was altered by this particular vehicle. Moreover, there were only 501 of the cars made. It was also special because it was equipped with a V12 engine that could produce 434 bhp and reach a top speed of 315 kmph. The car went through drastic modifications while maintaining the basic 512 design.
During his six seasons with the Maranello-based team, Berger won five of his ten career race victories. Berger is among the most seasoned drivers in Formula One history. Due to his contract with Ferrari, his opulent sports car was probably a gift at the time, but it is currently valued at about $450,000.
Although Berger nearly lost the 1995 San Marino Grand Prix because of a mistake during his pit stop, the theft of his property during the race was widely reported at the time but was eventually forgotten. According to several News, Mike Pilbeam of the Metropolitan Police stated: "The stolen Ferrari, which was estimated to be worth around £350,000, had been missing for more than 28 years before we managed to track it down in just four days,"
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