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Ferris Bueller Ferrari up for auction


It may have been depicted reversing out a second-story window during the movie, but a surviving and fully-functioning Ferrari replica made famous by the 1986 film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off will be auctioned in August.

One of two functional examples created for the cult film, the Spyder will go under the hammer of Mecum Auctions at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California.

This Ferris faux Ferrari was not used for the defenestrating destruction towards the end of the film, but was used for the airborne “I'm a professional” carpark valet scene, which apparently took nine takes to get right. Both working movie cars were used for this shot, and both apparently ended up with broken front suspension.

Officially known as a Modena Spyder California, the replicas were built for the film by California firm Modena Design and Development.  This particular example was bought back by one of its creators -- Neil Glassmoyer-- in 1988, and has owned it ever since.

Mirroring the styling of Scaglietti’s original Spyder California prototype, the fibreglass-bodied replica is built over a tubular steel chassis, with a 427 cubic inch (7.0 litre) Ford V8 mow residing under the bonnet.

A 260 cubic inch (4.3 litre) Ford V8 was originally used, but the 373kW engine was fitted to the 1200kg roadster as part of a ten-year restoration that was completed in 2010. Incidentally, genuine Ferrari 250 GT Spyders came with a 206kW 3.0 litre V12 engine.   

The exterior of the Modena Spyder California remains as per Ferris’ day off, with red paint and tan leather offset by authentic touches like Borrani chrome wire wheels, Smiths instruments, and a Nardi steering wheel. 

The whereabouts of the second working replica is unclear, but the (rebuilt) ‘out the window’ car is reputed to be on display at the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Cancun, Mexico. The value of the example up for auction remains uncertain, but is unlikely to approach the US$10.9 million paid for an ex-James Coburn genuine example by British radio personality Chris Evans in 2008.