Adam Levine singing Fake Maserati Blues, sues dealer

Adam Levine, lead vocalist for pop music group Maroon 5, purchased a $1 Million, one-of-25 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 Spyder in exchange for two Ferraris from classic car dealer Rick Cole in late 2020. Levine filed a lawsuit last Friday against Cole two years after the deal, claiming the ultra-rare Maserati isn’t authentic.

The lawsuit accuses the classic car dealer of negligent misrepresentation, intentional misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, and breach of contract and is asking for at least $850,000 in damages or to undo the $950,000 exchange.

Documents obtained by the New York Post claim Cole or those affiliated with his business intentionally faked the documentation, chassis, and engine authentication. Markings on the build plate, VIN, and stampings on various parts of the chassis were shown to be aftermarket. These markings and their font don’t match what Maserati used throughout 1971.

The voice behind “Moves Like Jagger” attempted to resell the Maserati despite the dealer “repeatedly discourag” it, before Levine realized the identification number aligns with that of British car collector Clive Joy’s Maserati Ghibli. Joy has owned his Ghibli for many years.  Levine’s vehicle’s legitimacy has been doubted in the past after it was removed from an auction in 2015.

“After the questioning of the authenticity of the vehicle at , someone tried to make the vehicle appear authentic by reproducing or stamping a new chassis plate to make the writing seem more like that used by Maserati at the time, in an obvious attempt to convince a potential buyer,” the lawsuit notes. “Upon information and belief, it was Cole and/or his agents who made these changes.”

Potential uncertainty surrounding the legitimacy of the vehicle was eased by Cole providing documentation upon the initial sale, stating Maserati expert Fabio Collina had verified the vehicle’s authenticity. Levine, who is “not in the classic car business” took the dealer’s word for it. The paperwork is most likely for the real deal instead.

“Cole egregiously never disclosed any of this…withholding this information in order to make substantial monies on the sale,” the lawsuit claims. It further notes in the event the vehicle sold to Levine is an original Ghibli Spyder like he was told, the VINs still don’t match.

Rick Cole’s website notes he has previously sold vehicles to Steve McQueen, Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra and Levine. He says he “quickly became the industry standard for quality classic collector car auctions.”

Cole has refused to reverse the deal or pay Levine the $850,000-plus in damages.