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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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 how much are the replica automobiles worth today?
With regards to the 1958 Ferrari 250 Spyder
The history of the 1958 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder is extensive. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful vehicles ever made. In addition to its exterior appeal, it performed exceptionally well. It was the ideal “dual purpose” vehicle, able to perform the functions of basic street transportation and track racing at the same time. The chassis and drivetrain of a Ferrari 250 Tour de France racer were installed in the 250GT Spyder California. This was combined with a Series 1 Cabriolet’s appearance.
A genuine California Spyder is now worth almost $12 million. It is incredibly uncommon and will always have a unique place in movie history. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is an illustration of how a movie elevated a person to stardom.
Alan Ruck discusses his “fortunate streak” and how he nearly missed out on the movie “Succession.”
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 shoddy production demanded multiple takes to film that spectacular sequence, 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.
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.
A Ferrari from the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off recently sold for $396,000.
At Barrett-Scottsdale Jackson’s auction last weekend, one of the 250 GT California replicas that appeared in the 1986 smash hit Ferris Bueller’s Day Off just sold for $396,000.
The creators wanted a vehicle they could thrash for the camera because a real $11 million Ferrari wasn’t quite in the budget, even though a real 250 GT was used for the close-up scenes of the movie. They therefore hired Modena Design and Development to construct three replicas, the first of which is this. The final car wasn’t finished in time for filming, according to Hagerty, and another was involved in the infamous odometer rollback scene (below).
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Barrett-Jackson claims that Modena Design creator Neil Glassmoyer gave the car a complete body-off restoration. Instead of a Columbo V-12, the vehicle is powered by a 427 cubic inch V-8 with a four-barrel carburetor, which drives the rear wheels through a limited-slip differential and a TKO 500 five-speed manual transmission. The vehicle is equipped with independent suspension, one-of-a-kind QA1 adjustable coilovers, and unique 16-inch chrome wire wheels. Carbon fiber panels have been added to the tub itself to reduce weight.
Other improvements made during the repair included a Bluetooth-enabled Retrosound radio and a 14-speaker audio system supported by two Blaupunkt amplifiers. A ton of memorabilia is included with the car, including as autographed build photos, a 1/2-scale model, and a Modena Design and Development certificate of authenticity.
On January 18, the car was put up for auction at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event with no reserve. The third Bueller Ferrari that was put up for auction was the last one, and it sold in 2018 for $407,000. We’re a little surprised it sold for less given that it actually appeared in the film.
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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.
You might have missed the sale of this fake Ferrari for close to $400,000 if you had dared to blink.
Ferris, the youthful protagonist of the iconic 1980s film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, suggests purchasing a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder because “It is so choice”—if you have the money, of course. Bueller was correct on this one point, even though you would not want to rely on the advise of a Ferrari-stealing, joyriding truant for much else. 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.
Hughes came across Modena Design, a business established in 1980s California with the goal of creating reproductions of the legendary vehicle (basically a drop-top 250 GT “Tour de France,” one of which we tested). For the movie, three automobiles in various stages of completion were ordered. Only one of them was brought back to Modena Design, where the car’s movie damage was fixed and it was sold several more times, most recently to an American at a Bonhams auction in England in 2010 for over $100,000. That vehicle is currently on the National Historic Vehicle Registry’s list. But that isn’t the vehicle that sold at Barrett-Jackson.
This is really one of the two chassis that had more enigmatic lives after Ferris Bueller finished filming. This car, chassis 001, has recently undergone a full restoration by Modena Design co-founder Neil Glassmoyer, unlike the third car, chassis 003, which went unsold at Mecum’s 2019 Monterey auction with a high bid of $225,000. The car’s exterior was changed and its mechanical parts were upgraded to bring it to this state. We assume that despite being equipped with a coil-over suspension, chrome 16-inch wire spoke wheels, and a 7.0-liter Chevy V-8 engine, this non-Italian Ferrari is still a lot of fun to drive. Along with the car, other memorabilia was offered for sale, including a signed certificate of authenticity from Modena Design.
At Barrett-Jackson, competitive bidding led to a final price that included the buyer’s premium of $396,000. There is no disputing that chassis 001, a pricey cinematic symbol, will go down in history, even though it is unknown exactly which sequences it appeared in for the movie.