• A new collector auction site is hawking a Ferrari bought new by Michael Jordan
• The car, kept from the public eye for almost 25 years, is a baller-spec 550 Maranello
• The Fezza rocks a 5.5L V12 making 485 hp, hooked up to a gated six-speed 

An online auction house seeking to specialize in notable collector items, not just cars, is advertising a Ferrari 550 Maranello that was bought new by one of the NBA’s biggest superstars — and it could fetch well over six figures.

UPDATE October 1: Never mind six figures, the Jordan Maranello ended up selling for a whopping US$2.7 million (about CDN$3.84 million) when it crossed the virtual auction block at the end of September. As explained below, that’s more than double the US$1,300,000 high estimate that Joopiter had predicted it might go for; and, per the auction house, apparently four times the prior record price for a 550 Maranello. Really shows you what sort of a premium professional-athlete provenance can proffer.

The auction drew some 43 bids over two weeks. “It was Joopiter’s first auction run in partnership with [established vintage-supercar dealer] Curated,” explains Motor1, and also its first collector-car auction; we’re sure now it’s had that sort of a taste, it’ll be back for more. The rest of our original article from before the sale continues unchanged below. —Ed.

Joopiter, described as a “global digital-first auction house”, says this Fezza was delivered to Michael Jordan in May 1997 before being driven by the man himself during the championship days of the late ‘90s, an era in which the Chicago Bulls ruled just about everything, from the basketball courts to the merchandise tables. A month after delivery, he is said to have driven this car out of the United Center parking garage after securing his fifth NBA title, cigar in hand. We assume the Larry O’Brien Trophy was belted in the passenger seat and not flung unceremoniously in the trunk.

1. 
   1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
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   1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
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   1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
4. 
   1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
5. 
   1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
6. 
   1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
7. 
   1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
8. 
   1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
9. 
   1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
10. 
    1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
11. 
    1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
12. 
    1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
13. 
    1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
14. 
    1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter
15. 
    1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello bought new by Michael Jordan, auctioned off by Joopiter in September 2026Photo by Joopiter

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2021 Castrol-Wakefield Automotive Writing Award, runner-up

Runner Up - 2023 AJAC Adventure and Travel Journalism Award presented by Genesis Canada

Winner - 2023 AJAC Road Safety Journalism Award presented by Volvo Canada

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