Ford Sued John Cena for Selling His Own $450,000 Ford GT

Ford hand-picked John Cena to buy one of its 2017 GT supercars on one condition: keep it for two years. He sold it within weeks, Ford took him to federal court, and the case ended with Cena apologizing.

You couldn’t just buy a Ford GT

The 2017 Ford GT started at more than $450,000, but money wasn’t enough to get one. Ford set aside about 1,000 cars to sell over several years, and thousands of people applied for the right to buy one, according to Ford’s court complaint.

Ford chose owners based on their relationship with the brand, their interest in collectible cars and their involvement in motorsport. The complaint says Ford also wanted “influencers and ambassadors” for the car. Every buyer had to agree not to sell it for 24 months after delivery.

Cena applied in April 2016. In his application, he told Ford he would “most certainly use every vehicle of communication” to promote the car, the complaint says.

Sold within a month

Ford approved him. Cena paid $463,376.50 in two payments, and the car was delivered to Elder Ford in Naples, Florida, around September 23, 2017.

By October 20, Ford had found out the car was already sold. Cena had sold it to New Autos Inc., a dealership in Chico, California, which Ford said specializes in selling cars to overseas buyers. According to the complaint, Cena told Ford he’d sold the GT “along with other assets to liquidate for cash.”

Ford asked him to get the car back and offered to buy it at the price he’d paid. That never happened.

Ford v. Cena

On November 30, 2017, Ford sued Cena in federal court in Michigan. The complaint accused him of breach of contract, fraud and unjust enrichment, among other claims, and asked the court to make him give up any profit from the sale.

Ford also said the sale cost it nearly two years of brand value from having Cena as an ambassador for the car, Ford Authority reported.

Cena’s side pushed back. In February 2018, his lawyers argued that the 24-month rule wasn’t in the final paperwork he signed.

How it ended

In June 2018, the two sides settled out of court. The amount wasn’t disclosed, and Cena’s lawyers said Ford would donate it to charity.

“I love the Ford GT and apologize to Ford, and encourage others who own the car to respect the contract,” Cena said in a statement. “I am pleased we could resolve this matter outside of court.”

Ford also settled with New Autos a few days later. Reports at the time said it was unclear who ended up with the car.

Why the rule existed

Cena’s own lawyers explained the rule in their statement: resale limits are common on exclusive cars, and part of an owner selection process meant to protect the car’s image.

The money shows why Ford worried. Ford planned to build 1,350 GTs in total. By 2019, used 2017 models were selling at auction for $923,500 to $1.5 million, two to three times their sticker price, according to CNN.