Stunning Replica: 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder
If you happen to have a spare $20 million sitting in your bank account, you could hit the road behind the wheel of a 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder. However, if your balance looks as sad as mine, this stunning replica could provide a similar experience at a fraction of the price. It is a daily driver that presents well and was produced by the same company that supplied similar vehicles for the hit movie Ferris Beuller’s Day Off. This replica takes it to the max, titled as a 1961 Ferrari. It is listed here on eBay in Cupertino, California. The seller set their BIN at $99,999, with 166 people watching the listing.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a 1986 teen comedy movie that developed a cult following when released. It is the story of a young guy who skips school with his girlfriend and best friend for a day of adventure in Chicago. Bueller’s best friend is a hypochondriac whose father owns a genuine 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder, and that car becomes their transport into a day of adventure. Few films could afford the insurance and risk of utilizing a genuine 250GT in this role, so the producers sought three replicas built by Modena Design and Development in El Cajon, California. The company produced around fifty-four of these vehicles, and although this is car #18, it was bolted together in 1987 from the last unassembled kit. The body is predominantly fiberglass, with a steel cowl brace and steel inner doors. The panels hang on a tubular steel frame, and considering its kit car heritage, the overall presentation is impressive. The panel fit is tight and consistent, while the beautiful Red paint exhibits a deep shine. The chrome and glass look flawless, and the car rides on period-correct wire wheels. One photo suggests the wheels might require polishing, but attending to such minor problems would prove rewarding and inexpensive.
If you don’t wish to spoil the illusion created by this Ferrari’s exterior, don’t lift the hood! The genuine 250GT features a 2,953cc V12 engine sending 276hp to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. It would have scorched the ¼-mile in 14.3 seconds before winding its way to 163mph. What we find under the hood of this car is more, er, modest. Its creator sourced a supercharger 3.8-liter V6 from a 1993 Thunderbird that sends its power to the road via a four-speed automatic transmission. With 210hp under the right foot, this Spyder should still be an entertaining vehicle on the road. However, it does raise one question deserving an answer. If the seller’s claim that this car hit the road in 1987 is accurate, what originally occupied the engine bay? They supply no such information, although they provide significant original documentation from the manufacturer. It isn’t a trailer queen, with the odometer reading of 70,000 miles demonstrating its owners use it as its creators intended. It is a turnkey proposition that would make a distinctive daily driver.
The illusion created by a replica generally comes crashing down when we open their doors and examine their trim. Ill-fitting and mismatched upholstery is typical, while the dash can be a mishmash of gauges and switches that look like they were fired from a bazooka. I would hesitate to place this car’s interior in the same league as a genuine Ferrari, but its presentation and execution are top-notch. The gauges match, the dash looks crisp, and the upholstered surfaces generally show no significant wear or other problems. The seat stitching doesn’t match that provided by Ferrari, but the quilted console is close. Faults and flaws are limited to what might be a missing cover on the speaker mounted in the driver’s door and some slight stretching on the driver’s seat. However, if considered a driver-quality vehicle, it presents acceptably.
Owning a genuine 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder would be incredible, and it would be the dream of many enthusiasts. But cars like that always pose the question of whether the experience would be genuinely enjoyable. When a vehicle achieves an eight-figure value, could the owner take it for a relaxed drive without the fear of chips, scratches, or the idea of being caught in someone’s fender bender sitting at the back of their mind? Cars of that caliber generally spend their lives in museums or wrapped in cotton wool in a private collection. This replica isn’t cheap, but the BIN is a fraction of what you could expect to pay for the genuine article. Even if it doesn’t enjoy the potential future value of an authentic Ferrari, it could allow its next owner to channel their inner Ferris Bueller. Do you fancy taking the day off and hitting the road behind the wheel of this classic? If you do, I can hardly blame you.
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Comments
About as nice as it gets. Something that you can actually drive and enjoy. I assume the MGB/Sprite-Midget taillights are a good replacement for original Ferrari units that are probably rare as hen’s teeth.
Not knowing anything about these, I was about to scoff at the “quilted console” as looking out of place. But I guess I was wrong.
was this the same car as in the movie Ferris bueller’s day off?
No. That car had a tan interior and was last sold in 2018 and retained the original Modena-supplied engine.
Came very close to building one of these years ago after they moved to Apache Junction, AZ. Even visited their ‘factory’ a few times before deciding to go a different direction. I believe they’re still building under a different name and owner but are still in the greater Phoenix area.
took me a minute to find it but here’s who’s selling them now https://www.calspyder.com/
Thank you for finding this. I bought this car and it is nice to have that info if I need something for the car!!!
I kept an article about the Moderna California Spyder for years in my archives, lusting after it as a kit in the early 80s. I heard that Ferrari forced them to stop producing the kit.
As I was pulling out of my Dogwood Acres driveway (early 80s) in my 65 Healey 3000 (top down, of course), a genuine Ferrari Cal Spyder drove past me. I followed it out to 15-501 and it disappeared while I waited for traffic to pass by. I had to pinch myself to believe what I just experienced. Never saw the car again in the area and always wondered what it was doing on my residential street of working class rentals and homes.
I remember as a 17 year old with my first car, a 1971 Toyota Celica ST. Family went on a camping trip and I took my car as i had obligations back home before mom and dad were to come home.
On the ride home on I79 a 308GTB in Prugna passed me, I was in awe of course, having just read PJ Orourke’s article about delivering a 308 for Ferrari from NJ to California [ https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15142347/ferrari-reinvents-manifest-destiny-pj-orourke-and-a-ferrari-308gts-archived-feature/ ]
I remember reading about this kit back in the late 1980s in Kit Car magazine. The kit back then was like $13K if I remember right and you could get a turn key for $30K.
It’s so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.
/what are you still doing here? the comment is over!
Why not buy a new vet. Makes a better daily driver.
No, it’s not a Ferrari, but neither is this.
Anyone can go buy a new vet.
Somehow I don’t think this would be anyone’s only car.
This beautiful car is not Ferrari powered or at least V8 powered? What a shame.
How do you get away with badging a kit car a Ferrari and selling it? If I was to build a guitar and mark it as a Gibson, I would get my ass sued off. There is nothing Ferrari on this mess. And for 99k I can buy myself a real Ferrari or at least a Ferrari that nobody else wants.
That’s what happened with the replica Ferrari Daytonas that were used in the first two seasons of Miami Vice. Ferrari wouldn’t provide cars so the producers bought a couple of replicas from a company that were making them based on a C3 Corvette chassis and selling them. (if you look at the interiors of the MV cars it’s obvious it’s a ‘Vette and not a Ferrari.) Ferrari eventually sued the custom car builder that was selling the replicas. I’m not sure how that shook out but Ferrari provided two cars to the producers of MV to use in filming. (The cars were repainted in white so they’d show up better in night shots.) One condition of Ferrari providing cars was that the replica Daytonas had to be destroyed–which led to the spectacular destruction of the show “Daytona” in Episode 1 of Season 3.
Yep, when Sonny Crocket jumped in the “Daytona” and shifted the auto into drive, it killed it for me.
JEV, fake Gibsons are made and sold every day. Many are made in China and affectionally referred to as “Chibsons”.
and some play really damn well.
Biggest problem I see with the interior/trim is a manual shift knob is one of those things that I’d have changed/gotten rid off as soon as the interior was next job on the list, but that’s just me, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. At least once you have a look at the interior anyone who knows cars would “spot the deliberate mistake” but seems like the owner has made sure that its made for use & not a garage queen, and no matter if its a copy/kit it’s still “bellissima” (beautiful)
I have owned two of these even the “Protype”, the Modena is the one you want.. tons of crazy history on these if anyone needs information I even have the original build sheet (parts used ET).
As far as the Interiors ET – you can actually fit in a real dash with Veglia gauges (I know I did it).
All depends on your skill level…
We need to swap info! I’d love to learn what you know about Modenas. Look me up: Don Settergren Fitchburg WI 53711 my phone ends in 2663 and email in charter.net.
Hi there. I bought this car and would love to have any info on it I can get. I would greatly appreciate it.
Congratulations Ivan! Look forward to being the center of attention wherever you go in this car. Mine is still stored, but might come out to play next week. Google me and give me a call some time.
I owned this car back in 2020. I sold to the guy in California. It came from Massachusetts. It originally had a 289 with a 4 speed manual. The guy who built it switched the motors because he used it as a daily driver in Massachusetts. It was originally gold. The guy I bought it off of painted it Ferrari green. The paint was 4k alone. He also put on a set of wire wheel Daytons with real knockoffs. The seats are out of a Ferrari 308. The side mirrors are about $700 a piece. I sold it because I never drove it. I may have put 400 miles on it. People would take videos and pictures of me every where I went. And with the v-6 it would smoke the tires through three gears. Also thats a jaguar shift handle and fiat doors mgb tail lights. The headlights were custom fabricated. Modena was sued out of business by Ferrari after the movie. There is on 30 some cars. Still in existence.
Pull the Ford. Install a built 6.0 Jag V12, with throttle bodies instead of factory FI. Attach a 5speed. Paint the heads red just for fun.
Go out and drive it like you stole it.
I would go for a BMW V12. Much lighter than the jag and 7 inches shorter. The Jaguar V 12 is a cast iron monster.
it’s 100% alloy.
you are correct they are heavy, so heavy they may as well be made of iron, but exactly zero jaguar v12s are cast iron.
Boy does that ever look like the Ferris car, garage setting and all
Only thing it needs is a stick!
Great paint job, how about a side view photo.
Gads!
That straight on view looks like a comic book rendition of a catfish..
Ed, I am enjoying the car so much. Now my favorite (I have 30 cars in my collection). Thanks for the additional history. I am upgrading many things in the car. The dash is now covered in Brazilian black leather with the same texture as the original 259 GT. Lots of real Ferrari add ons like the original. I am considering swapping the engine to a Ferrari 550 V12. But you are right, the current engine can smoke those tires very easily.
250 GT. Sorry for the typo.
I have car #5 from Modena Designs. It’s an absolute traffic stopper. Kids, young and old, all love it. A car show asked me for a photo as part of vetting for the inclusion, so I sent one with kids both inside and in front of it. Car was a hit at that show as well. Mine drives great with its’ custom chassis. We dropped a 302, T5, and a gorgeous 8-stack of Weber’s on it. At first glance, the engine looks vintage and thus does the part. My interior is better than this one – more consistent with patterns and materials. Easy to fix the interior on this one. There are lots of vintage parts on these, MG deck lid, MG bumpers, Fiat doors, Fiat windshield assembly. Way, way more fun than any new car. Anyway, lots of fun!!
Thank you for finding this. I bought this car and it is nice to have that info if I need something for the car!!! Can you contact me?
Stupid money. You can get away with a Cobra replica but the Ferrari just doesn’t have that attraction. Take off the badges and just admit it’s nothing but an attractive kit car. Try showing up at a Ferrari track event and they’ll laugh you out the gate.
Ferrari sued the makers of the Daytona replicas for “trade dress.” The replicas without badges stole the look, shape, feeling, allure of a Ferrari. Kind of like stealing the Coke bottle shape. It’s all part of the brand.
I have taken my replica to a Ferrari owners charity event. That’s where I learned to let the kids crawl around my car and beep the horn. They gave me a prime spot. I felt foolish when a true vintage 1950’s drove in late to the back of the lot. Two guys drove it a couple hours from Chicago to Madison, WI. Bugs and dirt and oil and wind…amazing car and its owner. What a great day for Gilda’s Club!
DonS are you located in Madison Wi?
Hi Steve. Yep, that’s me in Madison, WI. See you at Car and Coffee at Fitchburg Barriques in spring!
How is it titled as a 1961 Ferrari? It’s not a Ferrari and it wasn’t built in 1961 either. Too bad about the V6.
the look is STUNNING !! as others have stated, a small block ford 302 or more adventurous BMW 12cyl would make it over the top, manual trans is a must of course
I remember these, but I was a youngling, and no excess funds for a toy car when they were really available
here is the best engine to swap in,
https://www.thedrive.com/news/this-ferrari-enzo-v12-crate-engine-for-sale-is-ready-for-the-ultimate-engine-swap
I normally hate replicas unless AC Cobras.
But this would be incredible to have. considering the real thing is never gonna happen. Oh-oh oh, chick, chick chickachaga… haha
I tend to agree….as a youngster I was smitten with the Ferrari Boxer, wanting a Corsen replica Fiero based. but I soon realized the experience would be sorely lacking, especially in interior and performance, lol.
Nowadays I tend to gravitate towards the reps/kits that can duplicate the performance of the real thing ie: Cobras/356’s/550’s etc. I believe this would be a nice performer with an engine more inline with how Modena envisioned them [302 I believe] and Im thinking it was a decent riding , driving kit from what I have read.
I worked in a body shop in the late 80s and we had one of these brought in to finish. It was an ungodly mess and we finally found out that it had been made from a mould pulled off one of the real kits and badly made including some hockey sticks for reinforcement. We made it look okay- it looks like the trunk lid on this one has some fitment issues or maybe it isn’t closed all the way
DNA of England made the most accurate California and puts the other two manufacturers to shame. It is drop dead on the money re: design, especially in the grille area. The Ferris Bueller car’s front is nothing like the original.