Jerry Seinfeld Settles Lawsuit Over 1958 Porsche 356 1500 GS/GT Carrera Speedster
A years-long legal battle between Jerry Seinfeld and a company that purchased his inauthentic Porsche has finally come to a close.
Back at the 2016 Amelia Island auction, legendary comedian, noted car collector, and avid Porsche fan Jerry Seinfeld sold a number of vehicles from his personal collection, including what was purported to be a very rare 1958 Porsche 356 1500 GS/GT Carrera Speedster. The car was purchased by Fica Frio, a company connected to the son of Brazilian billionaire philanthropist Lily Safra, Carlos Monteverde, for $1.5 million. However, when the company hired an appraiser to determine the car’s value, it was discovered that the Porsche wasn’t authentic, which prompted a legal battle that has raged for years – until now.
Jerry Seinfeld has now settled his lawsuit with Fica Frio, according to the New York Daily News, though terms haven’t yet been revealed. Regardless, the decision brings this long-running court-based fight to a close after Seinfeld claims that he was also duped by the California-based classic car seller – European Collectibles – that previously sold him the vintage Porsche.
The famous comedian claims that the dealer sold him the Porsche with paperwork proving its validity, though Fica Frio’s appraiser was concerned about the fact that no photos of the restoration process existed. Seinfeld’s subsequent lawsuit against European Collectibles claims that the dealer assured him in writing that the car was genuine, saying “Mr. Seinfeld, who is a very successful comedian, does not need to supplement his income by building and selling counterfeit cars.”
According to the lawsuit, Seinfeld reportedly apologized via phone for the incident back in 2019, but didn’t take action to rectify the situation after that. “(I want to) offer my apology for this nuisance and assure you that you will be completely indemnified in full and not have to keep the car and get all your money back,” Seinfeld reportedly said. “I did want to apologize to you personally for that happening.”
Who, exactly, is at fault here remains unclear, but if nothing else, this case highlights the due diligence prospective collectors must perform to ensure a vehicle is authentic, a process that’s becoming all the more important as values continue to skyrocket.
Photos: Gooding & Company
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