A unique piece of Michael Jackson film history is now being offered for sale: a road-legal recreation of the futuristic Stratos Zero car featured in the 1988 film Moonwalker.
The vehicle is currently listed on the online auction platform Bring a Trailer, giving collectors an opportunity to own a car connected to one of the film’s most memorable sequences. The auction is scheduled to end on October 19, 2026. Source: Bring a Trailer
From the Big Screen to the Road
Released in 1988, Moonwalker features a memorable sequence in its “Smooth Criminal” segment in which Michael Jackson’s character finds himself cornered by gangsters before transforming into a futuristic car to make his escape.
The vehicle was inspired by the Bertone Stratos Zero, a radical Italian concept car unveiled in 1970 and designed by Marcello Gandini. Its distinctive wedge-shaped body and exceptionally low profile made it one of the most striking concept cars of its era.
According to automotive publication Silodrome, three fiberglass body shells resembling the Stratos Zero were reportedly produced for the film. The car now being auctioned is one of those original movie props, rather than the original Bertone concept car itself.
How a Movie Prop Became a Working Car
British custom-car builder Andy Saunders acquired the empty fiberglass shell in 2003 and undertook the ambitious project of turning it into a functioning vehicle.
Rather than simply displaying the movie prop, Saunders built it around the mechanical components of a Fiat X1/9, including its chassis, engine, suspension and five-speed manual transmission. He added working lights, windows and opening panels, transforming the once-static shell into a road-going recreation.
The conversion was completed in 2006, and the car was finished in Lamborghini Mica Orange, inspired by the colour of the original Stratos Zero concept. It was subsequently sold and shipped to the United States in 2008, where it was registered in Michigan.
According to the current auction listing, the car is powered by a rear-mounted 1,498cc Fiat four-cylinder engine. It also features four-wheel disc brakes, alloy wheels and a two-seat interior finished in black vinyl.
A Rare Piece of Moonwalker Memorabilia
Beyond its connection to Michael Jackson, the car has several unusual details. Its extremely low, angular silhouette recreates the futuristic appearance of the original Stratos Zero, while its orange finish makes it stand out from the silver version seen in Moonwalker.
The vehicle is offered with a Moonwalker Blu-ray, service invoices from its current ownership, importation paperwork, magazine articles and a clean Michigan title identifying it as a 1970 Lancia. The listing also notes that the total mileage is unknown and that some corrosion is present underneath the vehicle.
The car is not the original Stratos Zero concept designed by Bertone, which remains a separate and historically significant vehicle. Instead, it is an authentic film prop that has been transformed into a functioning recreation, giving it a distinctive place in both automotive and Michael Jackson memorabilia history.
How Much Will It Sell For?
The auction is being hosted by Bring a Trailer and is scheduled to close on October 19, 2026. At the time of writing, the highest bid stands at $22,000, with bidding still open.
Interested buyers can view the photographs, read the full vehicle description and follow the auction on the Bring a Trailer listing.
For Michael Jackson fans, this is an unusual opportunity to own a tangible piece of Moonwalker history, connected to the unforgettable moment when Michael Jackson turned into a futuristic machine during “Smooth Criminal.”
