That Ferrari Scene in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images (CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images)"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."It's a movie about a high-school kid who takes a day off from school. Today, 40 years after its release, the John Hughes classic still has a hold on the collective imagination. So does the red Ferrari that was central to the story. Here are some fun facts you might not have known about the star car in Ferris Bueller's Day Off:The Alfa Was Too RattyIf only Cameron's car hadn't been such a POS. Early in the film, we see Cameron (Alan Ruck) sitting in his own car, a 1982 Alfa Romeo Alfetta, debating whether to go pick up Ferris (Matthew Broderick). When it's time for them to collect Ferris's girlfriend, Sloane (Mia Sara), after springing her from school, Ferris argues the Alfetta wouldn't be convincing as something Sloane's dad would drive. He browbeats Cameron into using the Ferrari instead (although there are also a vintage MG and Mercedes in the garage), and they're off and running.CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images (CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images)That Ferrari Was Supposed to Be a PorscheDirector John Hughes also wrote the screenplay, and in an earlier version, Cameron's dad's car was a black Porsche. Hughes later changed it to a Mercedes-AMG. It was producer Tom Jacobson who suggested a Ferrari 250 GT California Spider instead, since it could be built as a kit car (like the Ferrari Daytona in Miami Vice).CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images (CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images)Multiple Cars Were UsedMark Goyette and Neil Glassmoyer were the fabricators (later naming their firm Modena Design and Development), and most accounts say they built three cars for the film. The hero car, used for most driving scenes, was leased to the production. A stunt car with a reinforced frame was used for the parking attendant jump scene. And a shell car with no running gear is the one that went out the window.CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images (CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images)They Also Used a Real California SpiderAdvertisementAdvertisementBesides the three constructed cars, the filmmakers also rented a real California Spider, which was used in the close-ups where we first see the car parked in the garage, and Ferris starts mooning over it.The Personalized Plates Are Self-ReferentialThe Ferrari's plate, NRVOUS, seems more appropriate for Cameron than for his dad, but a couple of the other plates reference previous Hughes films. Ferris's dad's Audi has MMOM, for Mr. Mom, while Ferris's mom's Town & Country wagon has VCTN, for National Lampoon's Vacation, both of which Hughes wrote. Principal Ed Rooney's K-car's plate is 4FBDO, presumably for Ferris Bueller's Day Off.1985 Modena Spider California, sold by Bonhams for $313,000 in 2023.Bonhams (Bonhams)Originally, the Car Was Supposed to Crash into a Tree StumpThe early screenplay had the car launching out of the garage into a tree stump; there was also an idea to have it crash into Lake Michigan. But when scouting for locations, the team found the midcentury modern Highland Park, Illinois, house with a section that cantilevered over a ravine, and John Hughes immediately liked that better.The House Is Also FamousThe house was built in 1953 for Ben Rose, a textile designer, by modernist architect James Speyer. The cantilevered section, referred to as the Pavilion, was added in 1974 by architect David Haid. When the filmmakers approached Rose about using the Pavilion for the movie, they knew the modest rental fee wasn't likely to sway the owner. Instead, he agreed because he'd enjoyed the Porsche 928 plunge into Lake Michigan in Risky Business, and he thought this would be fun. When architect Haid found out about it, he was not so charmed, fearing that there might be ancillary damage to the other windows in the glass-walled structure, and that replacements wouldn't exactly match the originals. He ended up getting paid to oversee the stunt and make sure the house emerged unharmed.This Wasn't the First 250 GT California Spider at the HouseHomeowner Rose asked what kind of car the filmmakers planned to use for the stunt. When they replied that it was a replica of a 250 GT California Spider, Rose replied, "I used to own one of those." At the time of filming, he had several vintage Ferrari racing cars.CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images (CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images)How They Did That Famous LaunchThe shell car was set onto a track that was disguised to blend into the dark terrazzo floor. A pulley underneath the car was connected to a truck outside the frame. When the truck yanked on the pulley, the car shot backwards through the breakaway glass, landing in the ravine below. (The original glass had been carefully removed and was later reinstalled.) To facilitate cleanup, the filmmakers laid down burlap, camouflaged so it would not be visible, which allowed them to remove all the debris from the ravine effectively.CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images (CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images)The Cars Had an Afterlife—Even the Wrecked OneThe hero car was returned to the fabricator after filming. It sold at auction in 2010 for $108,251 to Bob Winegard, a musician and record producer. The car is now on the National Historic Vehicle Register; it has been displayed in Washington, D.C., and at The Henry Ford museum.Barrett-Jackson (Barrett-Jackson)AdvertisementAdvertisementAnother Ferris car was restored and modified by Modena Design, and it sold for $396,000 at the 2020 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. Even the crashed car has had an encore. It was rebuilt as a non-driving shell and sold in 2022 for $337,500.Ferris Bueller...You're My Hero: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Day Off$26 at amazon.comMost of the above is taken from the treasure trove of details in Jason Klamm's just-published book Ferris Bueller . . . You're My Hero. There's plenty more to learn about Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Check out Klamm's book to get the full backstory on this John Hughes classic.You Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029
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