Ferrari Mondial Raised from One Grave, May See Another
Stolen in the early 1990s, Ferrari Mondial pulled from a Dutch river 26 years later, faces the crusher if it cannot be saved.
The number of Ferrari models beloved by the world are many. Classics like the F40, Testarossa and Enzo all are timeless machines, as are future classics like the 458 Italia, Roma and F8 Tributo. That’s not to say there weren’t duds among the studs from Maranello. The Mondial, for one, disappointed fans due to its price, looks and perceived lack of what makes a Ferrari a Ferrari.
Yet, someone thought highly enough of the Mondial to steal it from its owner, only to drop it in the drink. Some three decades later, a dive team recovered the lost Ferrari, though its current state guarantees a final grave via the crusher. Unless, of course, Scott “Ratarossa” Chivers has anything to say about it.
“The story revolves around a 1987 Mondial,” said Chivers. “Not the most desirable or collectable of models, I agree. But this one has an interesting history […] In June 2020, the Dutch fire brigade were on a training exercise, and by chance, discovered the Mondial deep underwater, covered in muck, and no doubt happily inhabited by a few water creatures.”
How the Ferrari got there is another mystery, though. Twenty-six years prior in 1994, a thief made off with the car. The unknown thief then sent it to its new home in Davy Jones’s locker. Alas, all evidence of the crime vanished in the dark waters, leaving behind a junked Ferrari.
“As you can see, this car is way beyond economical repair,” said Chivers. “If it was a [$65 million] 250 GTO, that would be a different story […] This Mondial is highly unlikely to ever see the road again.”
Yet, Chivers believes the Ferrari deserves a better fate than the crusher. After all, it only spent seven years on the road prior to its one-way trip to the bottom of the river. Thus, finishing the job seems unfair. Perhaps, then, a return to the water should be in order?
“Rumor has it that a [Dutch] zoo would like to take the Ferrari, and put it in their aquarium,” Chivers said. “I think that’s a fantastic idea. The car, then, gets to be seen and somewhat admired, and — let’s face it — that is a big part of Ferrari; they are literally modern art.”
The Ferrari remains at the Dutch scrapyard where a crusher eagerly waits. Should the zoo — the Artis Zoo in Amsterdam, per NL Times — or another museum decide not to display it, the Dutch government mandates it must be destroyed. Can a hashtag campaign from a YouTuber save it? Only time will tell.
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