British police announced the recovery of a Ferrari stolen from Austrian Formula One driver Gerhard Berger in Italy nearly thirty years ago. The red Ferrari F512M was one of two sports cars taken while their drivers were in Imola for the San Marino Grand Prix in April 1995. The car had been missing since then until the London Metropolitan Police force received a tip in January. The car, which had been in the process of being sold to a U.S. buyer by a U.K. broker, was flagged as stolen by the manufacturer.
The Organized Vehicle Crime Unit of the London police investigated and found that the Ferrari had been brought to Britain from Japan in late 2023. Officers seized the vehicle, valued at close to 350,000 pounds ($444,000). Constable Mike Pilbeam, who led the investigation, described the inquiry as painstaking and involving cooperation with authorities worldwide. No arrests have been made, and the second stolen Ferrari is still missing.
Ferrari produced 501 of the F512M model between 1994 and 1996, known for its top speed of 315 kilometers per hour (196 miles per hour). The successful recovery of the stolen vehicle was attributed to collaborative efforts between the London police, National Crime Agency, Ferrari, international car dealerships, and other partners.