Jay Leno, despite not owning any Ferraris, enjoys driving them from time to time. During a recent episode of his show, “Jay Leno’s Garage,” he had the opportunity to take a ride in a 1967 Ferrari 365 California Spyder, which is part of the Nethercutt Collection.
The Nethercutt Collection is located near Leno’s garage in Los Angeles and is renowned for its impressive collection of prewar cars. Previous episodes have showcased rare vehicles like the 1928 Isotta Fraschini Type 8A Landaulet and the 1933 Hispano Suiza J12. While newer than some of the other cars in the collection, the Ferrari that Leno drove may be even more exclusive, given that it is one of only 14 ever produced.
The California Spyder was the first variant of the 365 series and made its debut in 1966. This series later expanded to include the 365 GT 2+2 and 365 GTC 2-seat coupes. The hardtop versions of the 365 series were produced in larger numbers, with about 200 of the GTC model alone. However, they did not possess some of the distinctive styling features of the Spyder, such as the chrome spears around the door handles and the uniquely shaped taillights.
All models in the 365 series use a 4.4-liter version of the Colombo V-12 engine, which was a standard powertrain for most Ferrari road cars in the late 1960s. The engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. The Spyder variant has an engine rating of 320 horsepower, allowing it to reach a Ferrari-estimated top speed of 152 mph.
According to Nethercutt Collection Vice President Cameron Richards, even though the California Spyder was intended for the U.S. market due to its name, the majority of the models ended up in Europe. This particular car was initially sold in Europe, which is supported by the presence of its covered headlights. It isn’t driven frequently now, but it is still functional, with a recorded mileage of roughly 18,000 miles on the odometer. It is not merely a showpiece or something to be displayed, but it has been used.
