Would you pay nearly $800,000 for a fake car? Someone on Bring A Trailer just did, and while that sounds insane, it might just turn out to be an impressive deal. The Ferrari 250 GT California Spider is something of a holy grail in the world of blue-chip collector cars, a low-volume object of beauty with historically stratospheric pricing. This isn’t a real one, but what went into it might explain why someone splashed out $799,000 on it.
This replica 250 GT California LWB started off life as a real Ferrari, a 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe. This means that underneath the hand-formed aluminum bodywork lies the same 102.4-inch wheelbase as a real Ferrari 250 GT California Spider LWB, a similar three-liter Columbo V12, and similar suspension.
However, a few key upgrades have been made to this particular car. A five-speed manual transmission now sits in place of the original four-speed manual transmission, and this car features something uncommon on California Spider LWB models — disc brakes. In short, this isn’t some Corvette-based replica like you’d see in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but a real Ferrari masquerading as a different Ferrari.
So, how did it end up looking so different to how it started life? Well, according to the listing, it’s the brainchild of UK collector Steve Pilkington. Back around the turn of the millennium, classic Ferrari values weren’t quite as astronomical as they are today, and Pilkington had a brainwave — what if he used his real LWB California Spider as a reference for copies? The metalworking experts at Shapecraft in Northampton made a wooden panel beating buck and got to work, finessing sheets of aluminum into the shape of a Ferrari. The new body was then mated to the donor chassis and finished, resulting in the car we see today.
From the Borrani wire wheels to the Marchal faired headlights, this thing looks the part. However, even though any $799,000 car is astronomically expensive, it still isn’t priced the part. If you want a real Ferrari 250 GT California Spider LWB, the floor of the market is roughly $6 million, as evidenced by a 1958 car that sold for $5,972,500 at Monterey in 2022. I don’t know about you, but a car that rides on a Ferrari chassis, uses a Ferrari engine, looks the part, but costs a little more than 13.3 percent of the real thing seems like a bargain. The actual driving experience will likely be close to that of a real California LWB, and at the end of the day, isn’t that what matters?
Granted, resale value is a bit unknown, but considering the bidding on this thing was a battle until the end, it likely won’t be impossible to sell once the buyer’s done having their fun with it. While not a perfect apples-to-apples comparison, a replica of a SWB California Spider based on a cut-down 250 GTE chassis sold on Bring A Trailer for $780,000 last year, so appetite is out there.
The only potential hitch is that a 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe, the donor car, usually isn’t worth as much as this LWB California Spider replica ended up selling for. Last year, a beautiful 1959 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe sold on Bring A Trailer for $402,000. While it might not have rocked its original color, not only was it well-bought, it also ought to offer a similar driving experience for substantially less money. Sure, it might not facilitate true wind-in-your-hair motoring, but $397,000 is $397,000. That’s one hell of a price difference.
Still, if the look of a Ferrari 250 GT California Spider LWB is a draw, this replica was well-bought. With reputable names behind its manufacturing, legitimate familiar bones underneath, and a steep discount over one of the handful of real cars ever to exist, this is one to rack up the miles on. Value is always relative, but I’m sure most of us would agree, an extraordinarily similar product for 86.6 percent off usually qualifies as a deal.
(Photo credits: Bring A Trailer)
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I recognize those shots and the parking lot from Tedward’s video of the car. If you want the full sound of the car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXICzdUCocI
I think a 1962 Spitfire4, which has much of the same styling, actually looks better. Especially the much less voluminous behind.
Most surely drives a LOT worse, but I chose that some years ago at 1% of the price. So much beautiful early sixties open top fun with that one.
Finally, that “1 of 1” placard at the car show will actually mean something.
If you ask me the coupe is better looking, I’d rather have it all day! I’d take the 5-speed and disc brakes though please.
This isn’t a kit car or even like one of those C1 Corvettes on a C5 chassis abominations, this is not really any different than any other coachbuilt car or rebodied one if one wanted to take it further. Most of the Ferraris of this era were pretty similar to start (which is how this could be done), so the relative values are down to the desirability of the bodywork, history, or rarity and not some substantial differences in the mechanicals. Putting relative rarity aside, it’s not even as “egregious” to me as someone who turned a 6-cylinder ‘Cuda into a factory spec 440—only real difference is the VIN and some originality crap only the insufferable care about because they think it could negatively affect the value of their own original they overpaid for or to put their noses on the air. A driver doesn’t care about that dumb crap and this one even has better brakes. Which one is more likely to be driven?
“C1 Corvettes on a C5 chassis abominations”
My neighbor has one of those. It’s a ridiculous looking boomer mobile.
Username checks out.
If money were no object, it’d be entertaining to do sort of the opposite. Spend 6 million on a real 250, then drive the piss out of it taking it to cars and coffee shows, street parking it, and grocery shopping at Walmart and let everyone assume it’s a kit car fake.
I’ve met people who did that before values were completely nuts, though they were still worth a lot. One was a Bugatti Type 55 and the other was a Ferrari 330 GTC. I assumed the Bugatti I’d see driving all the time was a really good fake until I finally ended up behind it one day. I later found out the owner ran a restoration shop that specialized in them and he gave me a tour. Leno had one of his cars there at the time, but it was covered up, so I don’t recall what it was. I also met a few older Lamborghini V12 guys who swore the reputations for reliability were BS caused by owners who didn’t drive them (which I subscribe to in general) and there’s were just scheduled maintenance cases because they used them frequently for regular stuff. Now, though, I almost never see anything interesting driving around.
I met someone who did exactly that with a Cobra. Replicas are all over the place in Australia, with several manufacturers pumping them out, and everyone who buys a replica want the big engine, wide body, all the shiny paint, big wheels and chrome trim, so his actually looked pretty mundane sitting amongst replicas at a cars and coffee meet. He was an older guy, and had owned it since the early 70s,. Can’t remember the exact spec of it, but even 15-20 years ago when I met him it would have been worth the best part of $2 million AUS.
Even better; put a body kit on to make it look like a Fiero.
Absolutely stunning car!
The topshot is making my eye twitch, though: should be ‘Fauxrrari’ rather than ‘Fauxrarri’. 🙂
This is such a beautiful car but apparently the driving is a bit mediocre
In my mind I’d like to believe that (had I the money) I would drive this car into the ground.
The last time I was in Chicago I asked the guy at the rental car counter for one of these.
Maybe if you were the Sausage King of Chicago.
Well I was wearing a leather jacket, white t-shirt, sweater vest, and I’m *devastatingly* handsome.
Interesting – I was expecting this to be the car they launched out of the back of the garage in Ferris Bueller.
More of an homage car than a kit car?
If something like this sold previously for similar money, there’s obviously a market for it, but the appeal seems incredibly niche. I can go buy a Lamborghini Fiero for like $20k and in the grand scheme of things that’s not a completely ridiculous amount of money to pretend that I’m driving around in a V12 supercar. But when you’re getting close to a million dollars, replicas seem kinda pointless. At that range I feel like cars are just for showing off, and driving experience is mostly unimportant. I think I’d rather get one of those Datsun-based 250 GTO replicas if I ever decide I need something that looks like a Ferrari.
If you’re going to make a fake 250 GT California, starting with another 250 GT is probably technically the best way to do it, but it puts it in this weird spot where the base car is too valuable and simultaneously not original, so not as valuable.
I don’t know, maybe I’m too poor to understand.
I mean your Fiero analogy only works if the kit also has a full space frame and a 400HP Italian v12..
Think of this analogy; Regal T Types about 80-90% of the way to a Grand National, are well under $10k, but a real GN is $50k and up. In the end there is little intrinsic value of a LWB 250 California over the 250 GT, as there is little intrinsic value of the GN over the T Type, however the market value is many multiples. I think this is a “weird spot”, just in this case the sum being more than it’s parts.
I think we’re on the same page, just in different areas. Logically I know a T-Type has the same body and drivetrain as a GN, but the GN is just cooler. Although at those price points, I wouldn’t have a problem with just buying a T-Type and painting it all black. And I don’t think anyone else would have a problem with it either.
Maybe the Fiero analogy doesn’t quite fit in this situation, but the point I’m trying to make is I don’t think there’s any reason to make a replica of such a valuable car unless the base car is relatively worthless.
Agreed, and I guess I was driving at that; relative to the LWB 250 California, the 250 GT is worthless.
It seems the occupy weird positional good territory – all the usual stuff (Ferrari heritage, only X built, etc.) plus the supposed gearhead street cred that comes from the enhanced elements.
I may be too poor as well, but I’ve always felt the big thing with stuff like this is that it gives you the ability to be nimble in conversations with your rich guy friends: if challenged on the authenticity, you pivot to the performance, and back as needed.
Right but once you’re in that price range, I don’t think anything matters outside the car’s value to most people who have the money for something like that.
Agree, that’s why I think cars like these often represent a kinda judo attempt in those circles, an alternative to the usual price-is-all form the hobby takes. I’m not sure it’s totally effective, but I appreciate the effort.
After all, there are people at this level who will pay astronomical sums for well-used race cars (with all that entails – gutted interiors, etc.) driven by other people.
This is the worst Shitbox Showdown; there isn’t even a way to vote.
“The actual driving experience will likely be close to that of a real California LWB, and at the end of the day, isn’t that what matters?”
Nope, not even close. To you or me, sure. But let’s not pretend like these are being driven to any large extent. Not even a fake.
Also, as a tribute car there can be some value (when well done). But you’re still not going to be invited to Monterey. This probably works to fill some space in a garage that already has a few others. As a curiosity.
If I had the money, I would probably buy it as a big ‘fuck you’ to the Ferrari snobs and just drive the hell out of it at every opportunity.
Lucky for me, I don’t have the money.
I’m surprised Ferrari allowed this–they typically seem extremely lawsuit happy about owners modifying their own cars.
Well, it’s still a Ferrari being sold as a Ferrari, and everyone knows what kind of Ferrari it started out as. There’s not much claim to damage to the Ferrari brand.
This is a beautiful looking car and from the marketing description maybe a better performance car. But $900,000? No, why? Because in my very very own opinion that is just based on my gut and my gut alone, that’s for the idiots, the more gas lighting marketing hype any item has the less likely it is to be worth the hype. If it’s worth it you do t need to plead it is worth it. From Genx to the rest don’t do it.
How else am I supposed to launder all that money?
Frankly I can launder money better than this. Give me your contact information and the percentage you are willing to pay and I bet my pan gives you dollar to dollar minus my 20%.
I want to say one word to you. Just one word…Plastics.
Clearly investing in Legos is the best way to launder your money. They tend to go up in value after the set is retired.
Ah yes, the beanie baby method. Although it isn’t a good analogy, because lego has much better staying power. But I could never buy Legos as an investment. The temptation to open everything up and build is too strong