Today marks the 30th anniversary of Ferris Bueller and friends taking the day off. So, let’s take a look back in our archives for some fun Ferris Bueller facts you may not know.

Model Character

One of writer/director John Hughes’s models for the title character of his 1986 film was his childhood friend Edward McNally. Like Ferris, McNally was tormented by a school official over his frequent absences, impersonated his father to sneak his friends out of school, and tried to reverse the odometer on a “borrowed” sports car. Ferris’s shy, nerdy friend Cameron was based on Hughes himself.

I Spy…

There are references to several of director John Hughes’s movies in the film. Where to Find Them: On the license plates of various cars. VCTN (National Lampoon’s Vacation), TBC (The Breakfast Club), MMOM (Mr. Mom), and 4FBDO (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off).

The Ferrari

Details: The 1961 Ferrari 250GT California used by Ferris and his friends was not a real Ferrari. The Italian automaker made fewer than 100 250GTs, which cost $350,000 each. So the studio saved money by putting a lookalike fiberglass shell on an MG.

Where is it now? The fake Ferrari used in the movie was sold at auction in April 2010. Bonham’s of London expected it to fetch around $50,000, but it ended up selling for $122,000 to an anonymous American bidder. Going price today for a real ’61 Ferrari 250GT California? $10,976,000.

Save Ferris

What do The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Sixteen Candles have in common? All take place in Shermer, Illinois. It’s a fictional place, based on Hughes’s hometown of Northbrook, Illinois. Landmarks from the movie, however, are real. Fans can see the “Save Ferris” water tower and the high school used in The Breakfast Club.