Young man vanishes after purchasing million-dollar Ferrari, leaving owner astonished

German police are on the lookout for information regarding one of the most rare Ferrari vehicles ever manufactured – the 1985 288 GTO. This incident occurred when a prospective “buyer” took the vintage car for a test drive along with the owner, only to outmaneuver him and vanish without a trace.

On Monday morning, the owner contacted the Dusseldorf police after having recently listed the priceless antique car for sale. He received an offer from an interested individual who wished to test drive the unique Ferrari. During the test drive, both the owner and the prospective buyer exchanged places behind the wheel in order to experience the vehicle firsthand. Suddenly, the buyer swiftly jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off, leaving the owner dumbfounded and shocked.

The police are currently working to identify this “fun-loving” buyer and are offering a reward for anyone who can provide information that leads to his capture.

The 288 GTO was initially produced by Ferrari with the intention of participating in Group B racing. However, due to a lack of attention, the Italian company converted all 272 vehicles into street-legal cars. The Ferrari 288 GTO is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 2.9L V8 engine that generates 395 horsepower and 497 Nm of torque, enabling the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5 seconds.

Thanks to its rarity and the prestigious GTO designation, the 288 GTO rapidly became one of the most coveted models under the Maranello brand, second only to the 250 GTO (which also holds the title for the most expensive classic car in the world). In January, a 288 GTO was sold at auction for a staggering $3.36 million, a price that will likely increase in the future.

Reference: The Drive