Jay Leno Reveals The Truth About Hollywood’s Most Famous Ferrari
Ferris Bueller may have helped make the Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder famous, but the movie car was a replica. The real machine is far rarer, far more valuable, and infinitely more terrifying to park anywhere near a glass-walled garage.
In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, collector David Lee brings along his 1963 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder SWB. This is Lee’s dream car and his 15th appearance on the show, but the excitement clearly has not worn off. Finished in red with covered headlights and gorgeous Borrani wire wheels, this short-wheelbase beauty represents Ferrari at its old-school best: a lightweight body, a screaming V12, and absolutely no electronic babysitters.
This Ferrari Is The Real Deal, Not A Ferris Bueller Replica
Designed by Pininfarina and hand-built by Scaglietti, the California Spyder is widely considered one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever made. Its long hood, tiny windshield, clean bodywork, and short rear deck look effortlessly cool without needing enormous wings or a dozen angry air vents.
Lee’s car is one of the final short-wheelbase examples produced and one of only 37 reportedly built in this configuration. It was originally delivered in California and spent most of its life around the San Francisco Bay Area, making it a genuine California car rather than an Italian machine simply wearing a sunny name.
More importantly, it is Ferrari Classiche-certified and retains its numbers-matching 3.0-liter Colombo V12. It also comes with detailed Massini documentation tracing its ownership history, which is extremely important when buying a classic Ferrari worth more than a small neighborhood.
Jay jokes that Lee plans to push it into the woods like the movie car. That would certainly make great television, although several Ferrari collectors might immediately need medical attention.
Jay Leno Says This 179-HP Ferrari Feels Surprisingly Fast
The triple-carbureted V12 produces approximately 179 horsepower, which sounds modest today. A modern family sedan can easily make more, but the California Spyder is light, responsive, and completely free from the layers of insulation found in newer cars.
Power reaches the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. Jay initially assumes it has five gears before Lee reminds him that 1963 was a very long time ago.
Once on the road, both agree that the V12 feels much larger and stronger than its displacement suggests. Jay praises the torque, smooth shifter, and nimble handling, while Lee compares the short-wheelbase chassis to a go-kart. Changing lanes apparently requires little more than thinking about it and letting the Ferrari zip across.
Lee owns several other classic Ferraris, yet he says this one drives better than all of them. The steering feels tight, the controls are properly weighted, and every throttle movement is accompanied by the kind of mechanical noise that modern supercars struggle to reproduce.
Not everything works perfectly. The dashboard clock has apparently embraced retirement, although Jay suggests the battery voltage may be responsible. Honestly, if the V12 starts and all four gears are present, a lazy clock feels like a minor victory in a 63-year-old Italian supercar.
The 250 GT California Spyder may be worth a fortune, but Lee insists he plans to drive it. That is exactly what this sweet old Ferrari deserves. Just keep it far away from Cameron Frye and any suspiciously placed floor jacks.
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