Fun Fact Friday: Cameron's Ferrari 250 GT California really an MG
The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California that starred in the cult classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off was really an MG in Maranello drag. In the movie Cameron states that less than 100 were made; actually only 55 were ever produced. The website www.80s.com pegs the value of an actual example at $2.5 million, which means thrashing and trashing one in the film would've busted the budget, along with drawing the ire of Ferrari faithful everywhere.
Instead, the film hired a company to build the car from an MG. That company, whose name wasn't mentioned in the article, was later sued by Ferrari for the use of its logo and later went bankrupt due to the amount of damages it was required to pay the prancing horse. We say blame it on Cameron's dad... it was his fault he didn't lock the garage.
[Source: 80s.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
salguod 12:13PM (7/14/2006)
So, this company makes a look alike to avoid destoying a rare, pricey Ferrari, and Ferrari sues them? Would they have rather them destroy the real deal? That makes no sense, but when lawyers are involved that happens a lot.
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Luis Longo 12:20PM (7/14/2006)
So they went broke, just because they pay want lawsuit,
apparently making-fake-ferraris-out-of-Mgs, isnt so profitable after all, lol.
ONLY 55 PRODUCED?
I can see one of those making records on the next Barret-jackson car auctions, cause its a classic, its rare, and its a hollywood stars, its got the whole package to bring the 6 figures...
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New Yorker 12:25PM (7/14/2006)
An MG? Hmmm…then what engine note are we hearing when Ferris picks up Sloane at the high school and tears outta there?! Hopefully the producers dubbed in some wild sound of a real 250 GT, but I doubt it.
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dave 12:38PM (7/14/2006)
Wow, and from the money that movie made--and from the comedic help that company gave the film--no one, not Broderick, not the director, no one helped the company after the lawsuit?
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Umm... 12:41PM (7/14/2006)
Umm... 55 is less than 100 isn't it? Then I guess Cameron was correct to say less than 100 were made.
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Rev.Bubba 12:43PM (7/14/2006)
I will have to look this up again but from what I remember, it had a Ford drive train. It was powered by a v8 so it must have been a MGB to accommodate the space.
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Greg 12:47PM (7/14/2006)
A frind of mine has a Ferrari 250 GT that was built from a Mustang. He said it was one of four that was used in the movie.
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chuck goolsbee 12:51PM (7/14/2006)
I seem to recall, in the Director's Commentary on the DVD that they had both an actual 250, and the "fake" one for the driving/flying/crashing parts. If you watch closely, you can tell the difference between the two. The MG is mostly visible by the Smith's gauges on the dashboard, and the underside view whilst airborne, which is an obvious 4-cyl, single exhaust car.
I've never heard of the lawsuit story though... sounds urban-legend-y to me.
--chuck
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CoffeeJedi 1:27PM (7/14/2006)
i doubt it was the movie itself that caused the lawsuit; most likely they were producing, and selling MG -> Ferrari conversion kits that included the logo without permission
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dejal 2:16PM (7/14/2006)
What about the Miami Vice TV show "Ferrari"? I think that was a corvette.
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RacetrackOwner 2:46PM (7/14/2006)
But it must be true! I'm reading it on the Internet!!!1one
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mike 3:13PM (7/14/2006)
i had always wondered about the sound made when matthew broderick ran his finger up the fender of the car. it struck me as odd. it sounded like fiberglass.
would the original ferrari have been steel bodied?
wow. i was 13 when i first saw this movie (1986). no wonder i grew up to be a car nut.
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Peter Reynolds 5:15PM (7/14/2006)
Here's the real thing in Sausalito, CA:
http://crunch22.blogspot.com/2006/06/ferrari-250-california-spyder.html
Given the MG comments above, it was interesting to note that the tail lights were stamped "Lucas-made in England", and looked to be the same ones used on early MGB's or Midgets.
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greg 7:18PM (7/14/2006)
Both a 250 GT California and LWB Tour de France were sold at an RM Auction not to long ago. I think it was on the Speed Channel. I belive the California went in the neighborhood of 2 mill, but I could be wrong.
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guido 11:44PM (7/14/2006)
#9, there was a lawsuit too, but after ferrari won, they gave them the white Testarossa for free (not 100% sure but i think it was too important for them) to replace the corvette version.
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sean husse;y 12:59PM (7/15/2006)
The ferrari 250 was a recreation (jig built frame, not a kit car like the Miami Vice Ferrari) built by a firm in California. It was named the Modena and a complete copy of the Ferrari except it used ford drivetrain components. Oh and MG taillight lenses. There were 52 Modenas built before Ferrari sued them and shut them down.
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ebm14 2:20PM (7/15/2006)
I want my money back!!! Seeing that Ferrari was one of my favorite parts of the movie and now to hear that it was really an MG....crap!!
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Michel Burrel 7:43PM (3/03/2009)
Modena was the name of the company that made that beautifull recreation. Modena company was awarded many trophies one of them was the best manufacturer's award Since then the company was sold to several new owners.
But the quality never followed.
For those interested, a new company is making a very interesting kit of that same car, i will say even closer to the original than the modena never was.
You can contact them at: www.automobileaddiction.com
In my jugment they have a fantastic product and concept (80% completed car) and they should increase they price.
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I.T. Hardin 5:52PM (12/15/2006)
Although I would posit that one of the reasons this car has seen a jump in value is the floodgate of new Tifosi who grew up watching Ferris and now are adults with discretionary income.
I mean didn't Ferris himself say "If you have the means, I suggest picking one up?"
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Bill Graffin 1:04PM (9/16/2007)
I was one of the builder's of the cars used in the movie;"Ferris Bueller's Day Off". It was a custom made frame,with a small block Ford engine,fibirglass body.We did use the windshield,rear trunk,and tail lights from an M.G. There were two complete cars and one was just a shell,(the one that went out the window)
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