Going fast...seized supercars up for auction

One of the world’s most exclusive cars, abandoned in a Dubai car park by its owner, could fetch as much as $1.5 million (Dhs5.6million) when it is auctioned by police later this week.

The sought-after Ferrari Enzo, one of only 399 on the planet, was dumped by its British driver 20 months ago as he left the country.

The red beauty, which has been left to gather dust since it was seized in June 2011, is to go under the hammer in a supercar sale. Police yesterday confirmed the Enzo will be among 23 elite motors on offer at the auction in Al Qusais on Wednesday. The sale will also feature three other Ferraris and seven Porsches.

The Enzo is one of the top 10 fastest road cars ever produced. It can go from 0-100kph in just 3.4 seconds. Enzos, pictured, are so rare that every time one crashes the others increase in value.

A police official added: “There is also a black Ferrari for sale worth Dhs700,000. It was abandoned by the British owner when he couldn’t pay the fines recorded on it.”

Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, director of Dubai Traffic Police, said some of the cars up for auction were once stolen or had been involved in other crimes.

Others, he said, were confiscated for debt repayment defaults, traffic fines or simply abandoned on the streets.

Al Zafeen said: “The owner of the Ferrari Enzo was wanted by Interpol. The car was seized by CID. Its British owner had left it in the parking lot for more than 20 months after traffic fines had piled up.”

Some of the cars in the auction have mammoth outstanding traffic fines piled up against them - as much as Dhs100,000 each, Dubai Police said. Ten of the impounded luxury cars belong to Emiratis, seven to Europeans, one to a Russian expatriate and the remainder were owned by companies.

Dubai’s laws say cars can be auctioned off six months after they are abandoned if no one comes forward to claim them.

People who want to bid in the auction must pay a deposit of Dhs50,000 ahead of the sale. Those who simply want to watch the drama of one of the world’s rarest cars being auctioned need to pay Dhs110 for entry to the sale.

Dubai Police have collected Dhs10 million in the last five auctions of cars and motorbikes.

myra@7days.ae