THE previous owner of a Ferrari sports car which was destroyed when it smashed into a tree in North Brighton is in shock over the crash.

“It hasn’t hit me properly yet,” he told an online forum discussing the crash.

He spent more than $80,000 restoring the 1991 Ferrari 348 before it was sold and delivered to Adelaide on April 10.

The car was advertised for the non-negotiable price of $85,000.

The previous owner told the forum he had restored the car to “like new”, including bare metal paint, a brand new interior, new suspension, gearbox, clutch, and brakes.

He was the third person to own the Ferrari and had it for seven years before selling it to a man in Adelaide.

“(It was) descibed by a Ferrari concours judge as the best conditioned 348 he’s ever seen,” the previous owner said.

Emergency services were called to King George Ave after reports the car had crashed into a tree about 8.25pm on Wednesday.

A passenger was taken to Flinders Medical Centre after the crash, suffering head trauma and leg injuries.

He was conscious following the smash and was in a stable condition in hosptial on Wednesday.

The driver escaped injury.

Ferrari Crash media_camera A five-year-old Ferrari, which was embedded into a Stobie pole on Lansdowne Tce, Walkerville. The young driver and his passenger survived. Pics: Brenton Edwards. 1 of 4 media_camera A five-year-old Ferrari, which was embedded into a Stobie pole on Lansdowne Tce, Walkerville. The young driver and his passenger survived. Pics: Brenton Edwards. 2 of 4 media_camera A five-year-old Ferrari, which was embedded into a Stobie pole on Lansdowne Tce, Walkerville. The young driver and his passenger survived. Pics: Brenton Edwards. 3 of 4 media_camera A five-year-old Ferrari, which was embedded into a Stobie pole on Lansdowne Tce, Walkerville. The young driver and his passenger survived. Pics: Brenton Edwards. 4 of 4 nav_small_left nav_small_right

Traffic Superintendent Garry Stewart said the driver came around a corner shortly before losing control.

“Yes, I would say speed was a factor,” he said.

“There’s no evidence of drink-driving on the driver’s behalf.”

The Advertiser understands the owner had not insured the new car.

King George Ave was closed to traffic near the crash scene for about two hours.