Michigan man had no idea his neighbor's Ferrari was worth $52 million until a famous band came just to see it

Published on Jul 25, 2025 at 6:39 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards

Last updated on Jul 25, 2025 at 6:39 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Emma Matthews

Michigan man had no idea his neighbor's Ferrari was worth $52 million until a famous band came just to see it

In one of the craziest stories ever, this Michigan man had no idea his neighbor’s Ferrari was worth $52 million until a famous band came just to see it.

Growing up in Birmingham, Michigan, the man said that most people owned and loved American-made cars like Fords, Chryslers, and GMs.

His neighbour owned a 1962 Ferrari GTO, but had no idea how rare and beautiful a race car it was because people looked down on cars that weren’t made in the USA.

But when a band came into town to see his neighbour’s supercar and photos were being taken of it for calendars, the man realized what a hidden gem he was living just next door to.

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He had no idea his neighbor’s car was worth $52 million

In a classic VINWiki story, YouTuber Steve Lehto discussed one of the coolest car stories he had, about his neighbor, Mr. Ledorf, and his surprising supercar.

Unbeknownst to him, his neighbour owned a 1962 Ferrari GTO, which was worth $52 million.

But growing up in Birmingham, Michigan, a state that builds American cars, meant that people who owned non-American-built cars were looked down upon.

Even though he had a beautiful vintage speedster, it wasn’t a Ford, Chrysler, or GM, so Steve and his friends took very little notice of it.

It was only when some visitors from out of town came to see the car specifically that Steve realized just how special and important his neighbor’s car was.

A famous band came just to see the Ferrari

It was very exciting for Steve that a famous band called the J. Geils Band was in town, but he didn’t know that the band was in town specifically to see Mr. Ledorf’s special 1962 Ferrari GTO.

An even more special fact about his neighbor’s car was the fact that it came with the ‘wrong’ four-liter engine, which made it less valuable, but after research, he realized the engine was factory-installed for racing.

This was a genuine factory race car in his next-door neighbor’s front drive, and people even came to take photographs of it for car calendars.

The car was sold in the 1980s to a Ferrari collector who restored it carefully, showing it at prestigious events and winning awards, and then it was eventually sold again – this time at auction – for $52 million.

Steve couldn’t believe that the car that was next door for so long, which his brother had ridden in, was so famous and worth so much money. It shows that sometimes we dismiss something because we don’t know its true value.

Daisy is a technology journalist, covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, digital business, and emerging technologies. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral tech hacks and the latest developments in the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex technology stories into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work focuses on the products, platforms, and innovations that are transforming the way people work, communicate, and interact with technology. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.