The employment of reproductions by the studio was justified. The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California was only ever produced in 56 units. It would have cost millions of dollars to destroy what amounts to a precious piece of automotive history, and it probably would have infuriated everyone at Ferrari in addition to automobile aficionados everywhere. For comparison, a real 250 GT California sold at auction for $17 million in 2016 and set a record when it was sold for $18.5 million in 2015. It’s simple to understand why a fiberglass shell was far more agreeable for the studio budget and everyone who values outstanding vehicles, even after adjusting for inflation in 1986.
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250 Ferrari
From 1952 to 1964, Ferrari produced a line of sports cars and grand tourers known as the 250. The 250 series, the company’s most popular early line, features a number of variations made for the road or sports car racing. Gioacchino Colombo created the 3.0 L (2,953 cc) Colombo V12 engine that powers the 250 series of automobiles. The 275 and 330 series automobiles took their place.
Why is this car so unique?
This car is an early 1960s vintage Ferrari, however it’s probably not required. That is just one very good argument, but there are many others as well. In addition, the fact that it is a Scaglietti design indicates that it is the pinnacle of craftsmanship, quality materials, and period-appropriate engineering. The information that only 37 examples of the 1961 GT California SWB Spider were ever produced is included next. Another reason why investors and collectors are willing to pay millions for the vehicle is that not all of the remaining models are in this immaculate shape. The fact that the 37 specimens created are the only ones of the line to be built with covered headlights out of the 55 250 GT California Spiders makes this car even more unique.
What Is the Value of the Ferrari from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”?
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, a 1986 coming-of-age film directed by John Hughes, didn’t include Matthew Broderick as its leading man. Hughes had always envisioned the title character in the movie taking a joyride in the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder on his infamous day off. It is so choice, as Ferris put it, and we couldn’t agree more.
Despite the fact that the car depicted in the movie may be among the most luxurious on the road, it was really filmed using a set of three replica cars manufactured by Modena Design in 1985, which is not surprising given what happens to the car in the movie. So what are the value of the replica autos today?
You might have missed the sale of this fake Ferrari for close to $400,000 if you had dared to blink.
While you might not want to take the advice of a Ferrari-stealing, joyriding truant for much else, Bueller was right on this one point, at least, in the classic 1980s film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, where young protagonist Ferris recommends picking up a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder — if you have the means, of course. A genuine 250 GT California is a priceless vintage car that is worth millions of dollars. This 1985 Modena Spyder California, better known to the world as one of the three Ferrari replicas used in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, is almost as good as the real deal and sold for a more manageable $396,000 on Saturday at the 2020 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction.
According to popular belief, John Hughes intended for his next film to have a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder as its lead vehicle. The only issue was that even then, a true Ferrari was too pricey. It’s simple to understand why a duplicate was utilized in place of the original vehicle given the rough treatment it would undergo in the movie, including jumps and being thrown backwards out of a suburban Chicago home and into a ravine.
Three cars were commissioned for the movie, each in a different state of completion; only one of them was returned to Modena Design, where movie damage was repaired and the car was resold several times, most recently to an American at a 2010 Bonhams auction in England.
The third car, chassis 003, was unsold at Mecum’s 2019 Monterey auction with a high bid of $225,000, but this car, chassis 001, recently underwent a full restoration by Modena Design co-founder Neil Glassmoyer.
There’s no denying chassis 001’s place in history as a cinematic classic and an expensive one at that. Enthusiastic bidding at Barrett-Jackson led in a final price of $396,000 with the buyer’s premium included. It is unclear exactly which sequences chassis 001 appeared in for the film.
A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California: what is it?
The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider is renowned for appearing in “Ferris Beuller’s Day Off” (in replica form) and for being one of the more expensive Ferrari models. A pricey specimen from this year’s Gooding & Company auction at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance has established that.
What is the value of a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California?
It is the most priceless vehicle barnfind ever discovered. 2016 saw the $17,160,000 sale of a 1961 250 GT SWB California Spider at an Amelia Island Gooding & Company auction. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, an Academy Award–winning film from 1963, included an automobile.
What is the market price of a 1962 Ferrari GT California?
The most ardent Ferrari collectors will go to any lengths to acquire a vintage model. The absurd sums that affluent aficionados have paid to add vintage Ferraris to their collections serve as evidence for this. In 2018, a record price was paid at auction for a classic car, and the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO is no exception.
At a Sotheby’s auction in California, one fortunate investor won the renowned Ferrari with a price of $48.4 million. It was anticipated that the red 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO would sell for between $45 million and $60 million at auction.
The winning price of $48.4 million is substantial, but it falls short of expectations given what was anticipated of the Ferrari. Even more amazingly, a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO was also sold in 2018 for $80 million, albeit privately. The hand-built nature of every Ferrari 250 GTO that left the factory only serves to enhance the attraction of this legendary GT.
There are now how many Ferrari 250 GT Californias in existence?
Although it’s popularly believed that all 36 of the 250 GTOs are still in existence today, it was just the third 250 GTO to ever roll off the Maranello assembly line.
How many 250 GT Ferraris are there?
Every time a Ferrari 250 GTO is put up for sale, a big event occurs. It is not only one of the most sought-after sports vehicles in history, but it is also one of the most uncommon. Only 36 were made, all between 1962 and 1964, yet, astonishingly, collectors can identify every single one of them. Ralph Lauren and computer tycoon Craig McCaw each possess one. In August 2014, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO broke the auction record when it sold for $38.1 million. Another 1962 GTO, the third one ever constructed, will be put up for auction at RM Sotheby’s on August 24. With a presale estimate of $45 million, this Ferrari is likely to smash the auction record in addition to having an illustrious racing history.
The 250 GTO, the last edition of Ferrari’s 250 model, was designed for racing but also served as a road vehicle. GTO stands for Gran Turismo Omologato, meaning Grand Touring Homologated. The body, which was effectively a 250 Testa Rossa, was powered by a 300 horsepower, 3-liter V12 engine. Each owner of such a beauty received the personal endorsement of Enzo Ferrari, who set the price for such a beauty at $18,000 (about $150,000 today).
1962 250 GTO was a steal at $5,400 when it was sold privately, decades before it was deemed a classic.
The Greatest Barn Find: Chassis 3987 spent 15 years decaying in a field before it was repaired and brought back to life. In 1986, [+] was sold for $1 million.
A 1962 250 GTO that had rusted in a field for 15 years before being repaired was purchased by collector Frank Gallogly for a then-record $1 million a year after Ralph Lauren paid $650,000 for chassis 3987 and Ferrari fever was in full swing. He sold it for $4.2 million two years later.
Cellphone pioneer Craig McCaw purchased a 1962 250 GTO that had formerly belonged to racing icon Stirling Moss in a $35 million private deal.
Record Holder, Part 1: Will the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO’s auction sale price be surpassed in… August [+]?
A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO earned a record price at Bonhams’ annual Quail Lodge auction when it sold to Carlos Monteverde, the son of billionaire Brazilian philanthropist Lily Safra, for $38.1 million.
Record Holder, Part 2: The CEO of WeatherTech reportedly paid $70 million for this 1963 Ferrari.
David MacNeil, the founder and CEO of WeatherTech, purchased a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO privately for an estimated $70 million (the equivalent of about a million car mats).
The New Prize: Will this 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO surpass all previous auction records for a vehicle?
After a successful racing career, Gianni Bulgari purchased the 1962 250 GTO chassis 3413 in 1963. The Ferrari was bought by billionaire Sir Anthony Bamford six years (and a few owners) later, and after a few more owners, Greg Whitten, a former Microsoft chief software architect, bought it in 2000 for $7 million. The car is currently being offered for sale at RM Sotheby’s, where it is anticipated to break auction records. Whitten justifies his choice to sell by saying, “I’ve had the GTO for a long time.” “I want to buy additional cars as well.”
Who is the Ferrari 250 GT owner?
The legendary 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 3413, owned by renowned auto collector Greg Whitten, was the highlight of Saturday night’s RM/auctions Sotheby’s at Monterey Week. Lot 247, the vehicle, sold for $44 million at the hammer price after only 12 minutes of spirited bidding in an environment brimming with enthusiasm. The final cost, including the buyer’s premium, is $48.4 million. Since the new owner was not yet known at the time of publication, the winning bid was made through an agent. As described above, the highly rare Ferrari was widely regarded as the most valuable car to ever be offered for auction.
Greg Whitten, the seller, exclaims, “I’m really thrilled,” as he clinks champagne with his wife and close friends.
Ferrari 250 GTOs continue to command astronomical prices and are in high demand. German race car driver Christian Glaesel recently sold his 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 4153, to WeatherTech floor mats inventor David MacNeil in a private transaction for somewhere between $70 million and $80 million. The most expensive vehicle ever auctioned went for $38.1 million in 2014 when chassis 3851 was sold at auction. Paul Pappalardo, an American collector, is believed to have sold his 250 GTO for about $52 million in a separate rumored private transaction in 2013.
In a recent interview with CNBC, Ferrari historian and expert Marcel Massini said that within the next two to three years, a car comparable to the $70-million plus chassis 4153 will sell for over $100 million. Ralph Lauren, Nick Mason, the drummer for Pink Floyd, Peter Sachs, the great-grandson of Samuel Sachs, the founder of Goldman Sachs, and Jon Shirley from Microsoft are among the current owners of the 250 GTO. Two 250 GTOs are currently held by three people: Wal-Rob Mart’s Walton, hedge fund founders Tony and Lulu Wang (who are unrelated to owner Brandon Wang in the UK), and British industrialist Sir Anthony Bamford, who had briefly owned the chassis that just sold. That $100 million dollar mark is getting closer if any of them decide to sell, and Whitten’s automobile has established a new record.
The RM/performance Sotheby’s auction’s defies a vintage vehicle market that has been cooling since 2013, when shrewd investors flooded the market in search of post-recession deals. Jose Luis Celada, a vintage vehicle collector from Buenos Aires who was recently profiled by the New York Times, claims that because the opportunists are less active and the market is once again dominated by specialists, there are fewer purchasers. However, classic Ferraris are still among the most desired, particularly those that are in perfect and, ideally, operational condition.