Syrian Rebels Find Hidden Garage with Luxury Cars Including a Ferrari F50.
After ruling for over twenty years, the ruthless Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was dramatically removed from power in a coup this past weekend. During the upheaval, Bashar, his wife, and their three grown kids made a hasty escape to Moscow, where they found asylum.
Amid the chaos, rebels broke into Assad's palace in Damascus and stumbled upon an extravagant stash of luxury cars tucked away in a heavily fortified underground garage.
These cars, valued at tens of millions of dollars, were a stark reminder of the lavish lifestyle Assad led while his country suffered. Among the shiny collection was a rare Ferrari F50, one of just 349 ever made, sitting proudly next to a lineup of Rolls Royce Ghosts, Lamborghinis, and other high-end rides. That Ferrari F50 alone is probably worth around $5 million.
The luxury collection provided a shocking look at the opulent life of the ousted dictator, who spent his estimated $2 billion fortune on a stunning array of cars while his nation fell into poverty and turmoil.
In a video shared on social media (which you can check out below), a rebel seems to be cruising through Assad's old garage. As he circles around, his camera captures a lineup of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Audis, Rolls Royces, Mercedes Benzes, and plenty more. There are seemingly dozens of exotic vehicles parked in the garage.
90% of Syrians are under poverty line. Meanwhile, this is a small section of Assad’s garage. pic.twitter.com/4HROOfxjTN
— Hassan Akkad حسان عقاد (@hassan_akkad) December 8, 2024
Road & Track provided a deeper look into each of the cars featured in the video above. According to their insights:
"At the very start of the garage tour, you can spot a couple luxury sedans and SUVs — a couple of 7 Series BMWs, a Lexus LX. Nothing too surprising so far. But things quickly get a lot more interesting: next to the Lexus sits a red Lamborghini LM002. Only about 300 of these super SUVs were ever made. With a V12 making 444 horsepower, massive 345/60VR-17 tires, and a nearly 7,000-lb curb weight, the LM002 remains one of the most extreme SUVs ever made. Today, they can be worth close to a half a million dollars.
We then see a couple of Toyota FJ Cruisers. Cool rides, but not exceptionally valuable — unlike the Ferrari F50 we then see, parked between an Aston Martin and a Ferrari F430.
There's more of the expected Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans and Cadillac Escalades, then a white Audi R8 appears, parked at the end of the row. Nearby sits a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – spotted thanks to the open gullwing doors —parked next to a Bentley Continental GT. The next row features a Rolls-Royce Ghost, and then an Audi S8 and a new Land Rover Defender."
The discovery of the luxury car collection in Bashar al-Assad's palace offers a striking glimpse into the extravagant lifestyle of a leader whose nation faced immense suffering. Despite the troubling context, the find highlights the resilience and resourcefulness of the Syrian rebels. Uncovering such a vast collection of high-end vehicles, including the rare Ferrari F50, serves as a testament to their determination and ability to expose the excesses of Assad's regime.
While the political upheaval continues, this discovery remains a symbol of the complexities and contrasts within a nation’s history, as rebels move forward with their efforts toward change.
