As the jaded and anxious teen Cameron Frye in the 1986 John Hughes comedy “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” Alan Ruck gained worldwide recognition. Cameron crashed his father’s elegant 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder in one of the movie’s most notorious scenes.
But did the iconic, cherry-red car suffer any harm as a result of the “Succession” actor?
Everyone may unwind and sigh with relief because they were all terrible. Regarding the movie’s jaw-dropping collision scene, the 65-year-old “Spin City” star recently revealed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” that they were all kit automobiles. “We were unable to purchase a real Ferrari. It had a fiberglass body on a Mustang chassis.
They had three different versions of the car, he continued, adding, “They were simply horrible.” They refused to start.
To make matters worse, their lousy production demanded multiple tries to film that amazing climax, which prompted an impromptu party when it was finished.
He remembers, “We did this one scene sixteen times because the car wouldn’t start.” The workers applauded as we threw that one out the window. They were hopping around.
Ruck also disclosed to Kimmel his precise compensation for playing Cameron. “I made $40,000. It was my first significant acting role in a film, and they’ll use any justification to avoid paying you, remarked Ruck.
On the popular HBO show “Succession,” Ruck now portrays political aspirant Connor Roy. He admitted to The Post last month that he nearly missed his chance to try out for the family drama.
In This Article...
The Ferrari from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off wasn’t as real as you might think.
I’ve never been a big fan of cars. Our family runabout is merely a red object with four wheels and some seats inside; I have no idea what brand it is. Even though I don’t even have a driver’s license, once other males start talking about horsepower and other such topics, I usually find an excuse to break off the conversation. Even so, there are a few movie automobiles that make me salivate despite my usual lack of interest in all things automotive.
A 1970 Dodge Challenger from “Vanishing Point” would be my first choice. Naturally, I wouldn’t turn down a ride in James Bond’s Aston Martin either, even if it was simply to experiment with the ejector seat, missile launchers, and bulletproof screen. As for the stunning Plymouth Fury from “Christine,” I’d be willing to take a chance on her murderous tendencies simply to ride shotgun with her.
Then there is the Ferrari from John Hughes’ iconic 1980s comedy “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” which is about a high school misfit who wants to skip class one last time before graduating. A flawless, incredibly rare 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder serves as the film’s main prop, and we know from the time it appears on screen that it will be destroyed. Like the piano Stan and Ollie are carrying up the flight of stairs in “The Music Box,” it is the comedic counterpart of Chekhov’s gun. A priceless, cherished thing that is introduced in the first act must unquestionably be destroyed by the time the credits appear. One specific query—how—is the source of the tension.
Ferrari from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is on up for sale
Remember the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California that took three years to restore and was the father of Cameron Frye? That is, until it landed at a ravine’s base.
Thankfully, the iconic 1980s teen movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’s star vehicle that was totaled wasn’t a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California. If not, the movie would have probably gone far over its budget, angering the automaker among many other people.
Instead, it was one of three replica cars utilized during filming that were created especially for this movie. And one of those vehicles will be offered at the Mecum Auctions in August 2018 during Monterey Car Week.
The 1985 Modena GT Spyder California was created by Modena Design and Development of El Cajon, California, after Paramount Studios hired the company to construct the movie cars.
The cars, which were developed by Modena Design’s president Neil Glassmoyer and partner Mark Goyette, had specially made steel-tube frames that Bob Webb and David Turley manufactured on the basis of an existing MG design. The fiberglass bodywork was then designed and constructed by Glassmoyer and Goyette. Glassmoyer also claims that in order to make the automobiles as authentic as possible, he went over and above to include Ferrari-style design features such as the slanted windshield, exposed turn signals, hood scoops, oval grille, and fender vents.
However, it didn’t end there because movie cars weren’t just immobile props. The entire inside was designed to look like the GT California’s cockpit, even down to the elegant analog gauges positioned in the dashboard’s center and the plain, vintage switchgear.
A bespoke C4 three-speed automatic transmission and 5.0-liter V8 engine, purportedly from Ford, are located under the hood. Four downdraft carburetors and black-painted valve covers were added to the engine to give it the appearance of the Colombo V12 seen in the original Ferrari.
A rolling chassis was one of the three that were constructed; as you might expect, this is the one that Cameron knocked off the floor jack, launching his father’s beloved item into the depths below.
Before appearing on its website, the sample going to Mecum Auctions had a nine-month restoration. Upon completion of the auction, a stack of thorough records detailing the car’s history will be included, along with other movie memorabilia.
The vehicle that Cameron smashed was auctioned off last year.
Three dummies of the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder, which was the father’s automobile in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” were utilized in the movie. One of these reproductions, a 1985 Modena Spyder California, reportedly sold last year at the 2020 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, according to Automobile Magazine.
The real 1961 Ferrari that “Bueller” director John Hughes had planned to use was abandoned because to the expense and abuse it would undergo. Instead, the Californian company Modena Design ordered three reproductions of the vehicle. One of the replicas that wasn’t damaged is this one, which was just recently restored to its former splendor.
Since they are so uncommon, a genuine 1961 Spyder would sell for millions of dollars, but the 1985 Spyder California only brought about $396,000. That’s actually quite good for a car that resembles the original in both appearance and operation. It must also be a blast to drive with a 7.0-liter V-8 engine (from Chevrolet, not Ferrari). Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) commented, “If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up,” therefore whoever purchased the duplicate is really fortunate.
Why the “Ferris Bueller” Crew Cheered When the Ferrari Was Destroyed, according to Alan Ruck
The “Succession” actor visited “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Monday, mostly to talk about the popular HBO series. Of course, the 1986 John Hughes comedy was brought up.
One question regarding Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is asked more frequently than any other, and yes, it is about that stunning 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder.
The Succession star appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday and mainly discussed the popular HBO series. Of course, the 1986 John Hughes comedy was brought up.
Ruck, who is always a good sport about the subject, shared how much he was paid to play Ferris’ best pal Cameron Frye as well as the question Bueller fans pester him about the most.
Ruck told Kimmel, “I made $40,000.” It was my first significant acting role in a film, and they’ll use any justification to avoid paying you.
The most frequent query is: Did you actually wreck that Ferrari? Yes, and it was fantastic, according to Ruck.
“Because they were all bad, everyone may unwind and sigh with relief. All of them were kit automobiles “Ruck clarified. “A genuine Ferrari was beyond our means. It had a fiberglass body on a Mustang chassis. They were truly miserable. They refused to start. Due of the car’s inability to start, we performed this one scenario 16 times. There were three of us. The workers applauded as we threw that one out the window. They were hopping around.”
Was a Ferrari actually destroyed by Ferris Bueller?
It might be the most recognizable Ferrari 250 GT California in the entire world, but it’s not a Ferrari, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, a 1986 hit directed by John Hughes, didn’t actually cause it to be wrecked.
How did the Ferrari in Ferris fare?
It is almost certain that you recall the sequence if you have seen the movie. While the valets accelerate down Greenview Street and launch the coveted Ferrari into the air, the Star Wars theme is playing in the background. The replica, which was believed to have been lost, sustained substantial damage as a result of the “jump scene,” as it has come to be called. Years later, though, it reappeared completely fixed, and in 2010 it was sold at auction in London for $122,000.
In Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, what vehicle was obliterated?
We’re glad you’re here for another Hollywood Wednesday. The 1970 Dodge Challenger from “Vanishing Point” and the 1971 Pontiac LeMans from “The French Connection” are two examples of vintage vehicles we just looked at. The 1958 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder from the film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” will be featured today.
The 1980s cult classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is still watched today. The scene in which Ferris persuades his friend to take his father’s exotic 1958 Ferrari GT California is one of the most well-known. After taking off on a wild journey, the automobile eventually crashed through the garage and fell into a ravine. One interesting fact that few people are aware of is that while the broad angles showed views of reproductions, the inset images showed an authentic 250GT.
Director John Hughes approached Modena Design and Development, who worked to create the contemporary Spyder California, a clone of the Ferrari 250GT, after realizing that the car’s actual value was far too expensive to damage in the film. Instead of a V12 engine, a Ford V8 engine was used to construct the clone. An original 250GT California was worth $350,000 at the time of filming. It rose to the top of the most expensive vehicles ever sold after the movie’s premiere.
How many Ferraris were built specifically for the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?
It would have been impossible to send an actual Ferrari 250 GT California flying through a second-story window and into a ravine, as they do in the movie, given the exorbitant price tags. According to The Drive, the movie’s producers instead paid Modena Design to construct three duplicates for their movie. Two were entirely constructed, and the third was virtually nothing more than a shell that was used for the scene where the car is wrecked. Actor Matthew Broderick did not know how to drive a car with a manual transmission, so one was even made specifically with an automatic transmission.