Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 190
1985 Modena Spyder California Chassis no. AZ218752
Sold for US$313,000 inc. premium
Lot 190
1985 Modena Spyder California
1985 Modena Spyder California
Chassis no. AZ218752
Chassis no. AZ218752
302ci Pushrod V8 Engine
Electronic Fuel Injection
165bhp at 3,800rpm
4-Speed Automatic Transmission
Independent Front Suspension and Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
* Made for the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off
* Documented by a letter from Paramount Picture Cars
* Complete with signed memorabilia from the film
* Two owners in the last 34 years
FERRIS BUELLER'S FERRARI
"It's his fault he didn't lock the garage."
-Ferris Bueller
Paramount Productions motion picture Ferris Bueller's Day Off, starring Matthew Broderick as the eponymous high-school slacker is one of the seminal teen movies of the 1980s. Directed by the king of the genre, and made as a love letter to his home town of Chicago, John Hughes's film perfectly encapsulated what it was to be a teenager living out his dreams. And those dreams wouldn't be complete without the ultimate car in which one might drive about the Windy City on a beautiful day while skipping school.
While Ferris's best friend Cameron has a perfectly suitable Saab 900, sitting in Cameron's family garage is a "1961 Ferrari 250 California Spyder" that Cameron's father had spent three years restoring and is "his love, his passion." Then, as now, this is the dream car that any teenager, or former teenager, would dream of having for the day. For those that have seen the movie (and if you haven't, shame on you!), we all remember the fun so seeing the car in front of Ferris's high school, on Lake Shore Drive, ripping under the elevated train tracks in the hands of a few disreputable valets, and—spoiler alert!—meeting an unfortunate fate at the end of the movie.
Of course, a genuine 250 GT California cost more than the budget of many films in 1986 and still does today. As a result, a set of four replica 250 GT Californias were made for the film. Manufactured by Modena Design & Development, of El Cajon, California using a bespoke multi-tube spaceframe chassis - of the same 102.3" wheelbase as the LWB Spyder California - featuring independent front suspension, live rear axle. The fiberglass body incorporates a steel cowl brace, steel door inners and steel boot lid, while motive power is provided by a Ford 302ci (5-liter) V8 engine coupled to automatic transmission. Why an automatic? When the film was made, Matthew Broderick couldn't drive a stick.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
Of the four "Fauxarri" California Spyders were made for the film, three were to drive and one to crash at the end of the film (the latter made without a drivetrain). As movie prop cars, no VINs were assigned to any of the examples made for the film. This example is documented as one of the cars set up for the driving scene by a letter from Paramount Picture Cars.
According to the seller, the car was acquired by the previous owner—a Los Angeles plastic surgeon—in 1989 from a Paramount Picture Cars employee as partial payment for services. The good doctor would retain the car for the next three decades, making a few minor updates—including adding disc brakes in the back and various cosmetic changes—and driving it sparingly. In the late oughts, the car was laid up at in a Beverly Hills garage and discovered by the seller after being parked for about a decade.
Recently serviced, it is reported to be ready to be secretly borrowed from your parents and valet parked. Complete with the aforementioned letter from Paramount Picture Cars as provenance of its movie history, also included are autographed pictures of movie stills featuring the Fauxrrari, a copy of the script signed by the cast, a poster featuring a replica prop 'NRVOUS' Illinois license plate, and a signed picture of Matthew Broderick as scene in the movie.
Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Don't miss this.
Electronic Fuel Injection
165bhp at 3,800rpm
4-Speed Automatic Transmission
Independent Front Suspension and Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
* Made for the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off
* Documented by a letter from Paramount Picture Cars
* Complete with signed memorabilia from the film
* Two owners in the last 34 years
FERRIS BUELLER'S FERRARI
"It's his fault he didn't lock the garage."
-Ferris Bueller
Paramount Productions motion picture Ferris Bueller's Day Off, starring Matthew Broderick as the eponymous high-school slacker is one of the seminal teen movies of the 1980s. Directed by the king of the genre, and made as a love letter to his home town of Chicago, John Hughes's film perfectly encapsulated what it was to be a teenager living out his dreams. And those dreams wouldn't be complete without the ultimate car in which one might drive about the Windy City on a beautiful day while skipping school.
While Ferris's best friend Cameron has a perfectly suitable Saab 900, sitting in Cameron's family garage is a "1961 Ferrari 250 California Spyder" that Cameron's father had spent three years restoring and is "his love, his passion." Then, as now, this is the dream car that any teenager, or former teenager, would dream of having for the day. For those that have seen the movie (and if you haven't, shame on you!), we all remember the fun so seeing the car in front of Ferris's high school, on Lake Shore Drive, ripping under the elevated train tracks in the hands of a few disreputable valets, and—spoiler alert!—meeting an unfortunate fate at the end of the movie.
Of course, a genuine 250 GT California cost more than the budget of many films in 1986 and still does today. As a result, a set of four replica 250 GT Californias were made for the film. Manufactured by Modena Design & Development, of El Cajon, California using a bespoke multi-tube spaceframe chassis - of the same 102.3" wheelbase as the LWB Spyder California - featuring independent front suspension, live rear axle. The fiberglass body incorporates a steel cowl brace, steel door inners and steel boot lid, while motive power is provided by a Ford 302ci (5-liter) V8 engine coupled to automatic transmission. Why an automatic? When the film was made, Matthew Broderick couldn't drive a stick.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
Of the four "Fauxarri" California Spyders were made for the film, three were to drive and one to crash at the end of the film (the latter made without a drivetrain). As movie prop cars, no VINs were assigned to any of the examples made for the film. This example is documented as one of the cars set up for the driving scene by a letter from Paramount Picture Cars.
According to the seller, the car was acquired by the previous owner—a Los Angeles plastic surgeon—in 1989 from a Paramount Picture Cars employee as partial payment for services. The good doctor would retain the car for the next three decades, making a few minor updates—including adding disc brakes in the back and various cosmetic changes—and driving it sparingly. In the late oughts, the car was laid up at in a Beverly Hills garage and discovered by the seller after being parked for about a decade.
Recently serviced, it is reported to be ready to be secretly borrowed from your parents and valet parked. Complete with the aforementioned letter from Paramount Picture Cars as provenance of its movie history, also included are autographed pictures of movie stills featuring the Fauxrrari, a copy of the script signed by the cast, a poster featuring a replica prop 'NRVOUS' Illinois license plate, and a signed picture of Matthew Broderick as scene in the movie.
Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Don't miss this.
Footnotes
This vehicle is titled as a 1961 Ferrari with an Arizona state assigned vehicle identification number.
Saleroom notices
Since going to print, the seller has conducted further research into the history of the car including contact with Tommy Thomas who purchased cars for the movie. It is the seller's belief that this vehicle was one of the two promotional cars built, originally being on engineless display and later receiving the Ford power plant it uses today.
Additional information
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