KESS-MODEL - MODENA - 250GT CALIFORNIA SPIDER OPEN 1961

In the early 1980s, Neil Glassmoyer and Mark Goyett, two Californian entrepreneurs, founded Modena Design and Development in El Cajon. The goal was to build a replica of the Ferrari 250 GT Spyder. At the time, there were several American builders who had been trying their hand at such projects, but quite often quality turned out to be disappointing. An article published in an automotive magazine caught the attention of director John Hughes who was looking for a sports car for his film Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Hughes contacted Glassmoyer, who at first believed it was a joke from some friends! In fact, Hughes had initially thought of a Porsche 911 Turbo for his film, but the choice finally was oriented towards the Californian car. Obviously not being able to call the replica Ferrari, Design & Development chose the name Modena. Glassmoyer and Goyett had only one month to build the cars for film, which was released in 1986. It seems that two complete and one incomplete units were built: the first two to be used alternately in the film scenes, the third as a moke up in the final destruction sequences. In 1988 Glassmoyer bought back one of the two cars, keeping it for many years; a ten-year restoration was completed in 2010. The Modena Spyder California's fiberglass bodywork is mounted on a tubular steel frame, designed by Bob Webb, a F. Indy specialist. The engine was a 302cu (5 liter) Ford V8 mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission; on Glassmoyer's car the 5-liter was replaced with a 7-liter 500-horsepower and 5-speed manual transmission. Those who have tried it swear that the Modena California has excellent road behavior (also thanks to the chassis) and that it is not without a particular charm. Even today it’s a precious testimony of the Californian craftsmanship of the eighties.