"Fallen off the back of a lorry... you're kidding!" Nope. True story

Still in its original crate

About a year ago, I stumbled across a listing on Facebook Marketplace that stopped me in my tracks. The ad claimed to have a brand-new, still-in-its-original-crate, 2003 Sea-Doo 3D. That’s right—22 years old, untouched, unassembled, and preserved like a time capsule. At first, I couldn’t believe it. Was this even possible?

What really hooked me wasn’t just the machine itself, but the vintage Bombardier crate wrap—the same old-school packaging these skis came in back in the day. For anyone familiar with Sea-Doo history, you’ll know this crate has long since been replaced by the bright yellow, modern branding. Seeing it again brought a flood of nostalgia. But the fact that it was brand new in the box? That blew my mind.

Naturally, I reached out to the seller for more information. He told me he specialized in tracking down vintage cars, boats, MX bikes, and jet skis, scouring the UK and Europe for rare finds. In this case, he’d gotten a tip-off about two brand-new Sea-Doo 3Ds still in their original crates.

Of course, my first thought was: Why on earth would someone have two brand-new, unopened skis just lying around for 22 years? It didn’t make sense. The skis had clearly been stored somewhere all this time. The seller seemed legitimate, with a five-star rating and plenty of positive reviews, but something about the whole situation just begged for more digging.

So, I reached out to a few Sea-Doo dealer contacts in the UK and sent them the photos of the ski. Their reactions were priceless: “Wait, what? No way!” But after a moment, it all clicked. One of them remembered that, back in 2003, there had been a theft involving a shipment of Sea-Doo 3Ds. A batch of skis had been stolen off a lorry, and several of those machines were never recovered.

Now, I can’t say for sure how these particular machines ended up with the seller, but here’s my theory: The skis were likely stashed away in a barn or garage for years, forgotten while the dust settled. Picture the “Fast & Furious” underworld of stolen goods—hidden away because they were “too hot to move, dude.” Over time, they probably got lost in the murky web of stolen property, only to resurface decades later.

But backstory aside, let’s focus on what really matters: How incredible is it to see a brand-new, uncrated Sea-Doo from 2003 in this condition? Sure, I know the 3D isn’t on everyone’s bucket list—it’s not exactly a fan-favorite model—but it has a cult following, and finding any brand-new ski this old would make even the most casual collector’s heart skip a beat.

If you liked this story, you might enjoy another classic barn-find tale—like the time I came across a brand-new HX. Check it out here.

‘Keeping these classics alive’!

Thanks for reading

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