Jordan’s Ferrari 550 Maranello outside his former home in Illinois. Image Credit: JOOPITER
Michael Jordan ’s 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello has resurfaced after spending nearly 24 years out of public view. Jordan sold the red Ferrari through an Illinois dealership in December 2002, after driving it during the final championship years of his Chicago Bulls career. Its trail was eventually picked up through a partial chassis number found on an old online forum, which helped researchers identify the car and trace it to California in 2026. On 13 June 1997, he won his 5th NBA title with the Chicago Bulls. The Ferrari was finished in Rosso Barchetta with a tan leather interior, chrome wheels and an Illinois registration plate reading MJ 5. Jordan used the car for trips to Bulls home games, practices and public appearances, putting roughly 6,400 miles on it during his ownership, according to JOOPITER. As Classic Driver explains, the 550 Maranello represented Ferrari’s return to a front-engined V12 grand tourer after more than two decades of mid-engined flagship models. Its naturally aspirated 5.5-litre V12 produced 485 horsepower and was paired with a six-speed manual gearbox in Jordan’s car. Only 3,083 examples were built, according to Classic Driver. Jordan later wore the Air Jordan XIV during Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals against Utah. JOOPITER notes that he hit the title-winning shot with 5.2 seconds remaining, securing his 6th championship and his final basket as a Chicago Bull. AutoGuide reported that the auction marked the first public appearance of chassis 108712 in more than two decades. The Ferrari was offered alongside Jordan’s game-worn jersey from Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals.
AutoGuide reported that Nike designer Tinker Hatfield used the Maranello as a design reference for the Air Jordan XIV.
The effort lasted around a decade before a breakthrough came from an unlikely place, an old online forum, according to JOOPITER. For years, its whereabouts remained unknown, turning the car into one of the better-known missing celebrity Ferraris. Just over two weeks later, the Ferrari became part of one of the most recognisable scenes from Jordan’s final championship years. Later that evening, he was photographed leaving the United Center in the Ferrari, with a cigar in one hand and the championship trophy in the car. The Ferrari itself was an important model for the Italian manufacturer. Its connection with Jordan eventually reached beyond cars. Elements including the quilted leather pattern, side vents, tyre-inspired details and the Jumpman badge placement drew from Ferrari’s styling. The search eventually became a long-running investigation led by John Temerian, co-founder of CURATED. The car subsequently returned to public attention through JOOPITER’s Driven to Greatness sale.
