Founding Era · 1957–1963
250 California
Profile & significance
LWB and later SWB California Spiders combined competition-capable 3.0-liter V12 running gear with open Scaglietti coachwork designed by Pinin Farina; approximately 50 LWB and 56 SWB are usually counted. The cultural caveat matters: the “250 California” destroyed in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was a replica, not an original Ferrari. Genuine examples are among the most valuable road Ferraris, roughly $8–20+ million depending wheelbase, covered/open headlights and history.
Talking points
- LWB and later SWB California Spiders combined competition-capable 3.0-liter V12 running gear with open Scaglietti coachwork designed by Pinin Farina; approximately 50 LWB and 56 SWB are usually counted.
- The cultural caveat matters: the “250 California” destroyed in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was a replica, not an original Ferrari.
- Genuine examples are among the most valuable road Ferraris, roughly $8–20+ million depending wheelbase, covered/open headlights and history.