Just an hour after delivery, a Japanese producer’s dream Ferrari 458 Spider turned into a fireball.
What was meant to be a dream-come-true turned into a nightmare for a Japanese music producer — just minutes after he finally lived it.
After saving for a decade, 33-year-old Honkon, a producer for the popular Japanese idol group Chocorabi, bought his dream car: a Ferrari 458 Spider. But the celebration was heartbreakingly short-lived — within an hour of hitting the road for the first time, the car caught fire and was nearly destroyed.
A Joyride Turned Horror
The incident occurred on Wednesday, April 16, on Tokyo’s Shuto Expressway. Honkon was taking the newly delivered Ferrari for a spin when he noticed smoke — first assuming it was from another car. Moments later, he realized the smoke was coming from his own engine.
He immediately pulled over, escaped the vehicle, and called emergency services. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
“I Spent 43 Million Yen and All I Got Was This Photo”
Sharing a heart-wrenching image of his burning Ferrari on X (formerly Twitter), Honkon wrote:
“I think I’m the only person in Japan to have experienced such trouble. I spent 43 million yen ($306,000), and all I got was this photo.”
No Collision, Unknown Cause
Tokyo police reported no signs of an accident. Investigators suspect the fire originated in the engine compartment, though the exact cause remains undetermined.
Despite the enormous financial and emotional blow, Honkon remained thankful for one thing: “I thought it might explode. I’m just glad to be alive.”