The owner of the car was compensated for the loss back in the 80s, thanks to a good insurance policy, and though he has chosen to remain anonymous, it’s safe to say he never expected that the car would ever be found. But U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents noticed a curious discrepancy in the car’s VIN as it was being prepared to be shipped from Los Angeles to Poland. Here’s federal customs Seaport Port Director Carlos Martel, as quoted from a press release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency on the case: Basically, the Ferrari was carrying a VIN that was already assigned to another vehicle: A 1982 Ferrari 308 GTS that made a similar trip from the US to Norway back in 2005. This “red flag” led customs agents to seek the counsel of an expert in Ferrari factory protocols, who was able to properly identify the car and lead it back to its rightful owner. The car has retained quite a bit of value over the years even with about 45,000 miles on the odometer, estimated to be worth around $50,000. The lesson behind all of this couldn’t be clearer – you should never completely give up hope that some lost prized possession might just make its way back, even if it’s a Ferrari worth fifty grand.
