In 1978 tow kids digging in their backyard found a Ferrari Dino...

In February 1978, two boys digging in their front yard in West Athens, Los Angeles, struck something metallic. Curious, they alerted passing sheriff’s deputies, leading to the unearthing of a 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS. The car, wrapped in plastic and stuffed with towels to protect it from the elements, had been reported stolen in December 1974 by its owner, Rosendo Cruz, a plumber from Alhambra, California. Cruz had purchased the Dino just two months prior as a gift for his wife, who had driven it only about 500 miles before it vanished.

Investigations later revealed that Cruz had orchestrated an insurance fraud scheme, hiring thieves to “steal” and dispose of the car. Instead of destroying it, the culprits buried the Dino, intending to retrieve it later but ultimately forgetting its location. After its discovery, the car was claimed by Farmers Insurance, which had paid out $22,500 for the loss. Real estate businessman Brad Howard purchased the vehicle, restored it with the help of Ferrari expert Giuseppe Cappalonga, and has since driven it regularly, proudly displaying the license plate “DUG UP” as a nod to its extraordinary history.