After more than a decade of mystery and speculation, one of the most elusive pieces of Michael Jordan lore has resurfaced: his iconic Ferrari 512 TR.
According to @wearecurated on Instagram, the vehicle has been officially rediscovered, bringing an end to years of fan theories and collector intrigue.
Delivered new to Jordan on Feb. 29, 1992 through Lake Forest Ferrari, an official dealer in Illinois, the Nero-finished 512 TR (chassis #091341) became part of MJ’s growing fleet during his first championship three-peat. The car was famously photographed parked outside Game 5 of the 1992 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks, and again by Jordan’s personal photographer at his Highland Park estate.
Jordan maintained ownership until Oct. 13, 1995, but after changing hands, the trail went cold. The Ferrari briefly reappeared at auction in 2010, but afterward disappeared from public view completely. Without confirmed sightings or ownership records, it became something of an urban legend in both automotive and sports circles.
As it turns out, the car’s post-Jordan story is just as compelling. In 1995, it was acquired by Chris Gardner — the man whose life journey would later inspire the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith. In a poetic twist, Gardner had once been inspired to change his life after seeing a man in a red Ferrari. Years later, he’d be behind the wheel of the black one once owned by Michael Jordan. He even gave it a tongue-in-cheek vanity plate: “Not MJ.”
The rediscovery of the 512 TR reconnects two powerful legacies — one of basketball greatness and one of personal transformation — all through the lens of an iconic Italian supercar.
For more on Jordan Brand, make sure to checkout the Air Jordan 4 "White Cement" which releases May 2025.
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