Ferrari F40 Supercar Returns To Owner After Stolen 24 Years Ago In Italy

Illustration of Ferrari F40. (Wikimedia Commons/Axion23)

JAKARTA - A $2.5 million Ferrari stolen outside a hotel in Italy has been found and returned to its owner after nearly 24 years.

F40 is a limited unit that is only produced as many as 1,311 units. This model is the last model ordered and personally approved by the legendary Italian automaker Enzo Ferrari.

The Ferrari was tracked by Christopher Marinello, an American lawyer based in London, England. He specializes in bringing the owner back with high-value stolen goods, including Nazi artwork and looted luxury watches.

He received an offer from the owner who was grateful to bring this 201 mph supercar for a celebration. He posted on social media: "My job isn't annoying, sometimes", reported by The National News April 1.

Marinello, chief executive and founder of Art Recovery International, said he discovered F40 using the same method as finding watches or paintings" and described the car as "real art work".

"It could be years before they reappear and in this case with that car is 24 years, which is extraordinary," he told The National News.

He explained that the confidentiality agreement with the insurance company where he works prevented him from revealing the details of his owner.

But he shared a statement of the theft filed, which revealed the car was Rosso Corsa Ferrari's famous and stolen car on April 16, 2000, from Villasanta, an area adjacent to the Formula Satu Monza race track.

The F40 model was made from 1987 to 1992 and named in honor of the company's 40th anniversary. At that time, this car was the fastest car on the highway capable of traveling from 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds, but compared to modern supercars, this car is relatively normal.

According to Ferrari's official magazine, F40 does not have power steering, ABS brakes or even an electric window and "has a very single mission: to shake". However, despite the age of the car, this car "still feels sensational" to drive.