Description
Ferrari Testarossa | 1987
Highlights:
– 4.9-litre flat-twelve engine, petrol, five-speed manual transmission
– 57,000 km indicated
– Finished in black over black leather
– Early single centre-nut (monodado) wheel specification
– One owner from new, first delivered in Spain
The seller offers for sale this 1987 Ferrari Testarossa, powered by a 4.9-litre flat-twelve petrol engine, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Finished in black over a black leather interior, the car shows 57,000 km and has been with its first and only owner since it was delivered new in Spain. It is offered in the early specification with the single centre-nut Rudge-type wheel fixing, the detail that collectors of the model use to identify the first phase of production; the seller states that only five cars were built to this specification in black. Black is a rare and dramatic colour on the Testarossa, throwing the emphasis onto the strakes and the width of the rear track in a way the more common Rosso cars do not.
The car was repainted approximately fifteen years ago and the seller reports that the paint retains a good overall gloss, while noting various defects and scratches along the sides, the lower body and other areas consistent with age and use, all of which are documented in the photographs. The lower-body scratches would benefit from attention and the front bonnet needs realigning, as the strut supporting it has come loose. The rear screen is the original factory item and carries a crack, which has been left as it is precisely because the glass is the original piece. Inside, the cabin retains its complete original trim, with no tears, showing the wear consistent with the mileage. The gas struts holding the front bonnet have lost compression and will need adjustment or replacement, and the carpet lining the front bonnet is finished in brown, although it is not known whether this is the original item.
The car stood unused for ten years and has recently been recommissioned, work that included replacing both fuel pumps with original Ferrari components. The Ferrari specialist who carried out that work recommends a thorough service in view of the long period of inactivity, including replacement of the timing belts, renewal of dried hoses and a full tune-up. The seller reports the underside to be in good order, helped by a life spent in the dry climate of Madrid and always stored in a private garage. A car in this position, with genuine single ownership and low mileage but with a clear list of work ahead of it, is best understood as a conservation and recommissioning project for a marque collector.
The Testarossa was launched at the 1984 Paris Motor Show as the successor to the 512 BBi, and it became the defining Ferrari of the decade. Pininfarina’s body, drawn under Leonardo Fioravanti, answered a practical problem with an unforgettable solution: the radiators were moved from the nose to flank the engine, and the side ducts feeding them were fitted with the horizontal strakes that gave the car its silhouette. At 1,976 mm across the rear haunches it was, at launch, one of the widest production cars in the world. The name revived the Testa Rossa badge of the late 1950s sports racers, a reference to the red-painted cam covers that the flat-twelve continued to wear.
That engine is the heart of the appeal. The Tipo F113 is a 180-degree flat-twelve descended directly from the Berlinetta Boxer, given four-valve heads for the Testarossa and producing 390 hp, enough for a top speed close to 290 km/h. It is an engine that dominates the driving experience, sitting behind the cabin with a hard, complex mechanical voice that builds as the revs rise, and paired with the open-gate five-speed manual it delivers the classical Ferrari experience in its most theatrical form. Around 7,177 Testarossas were built before the 512 TR replaced the model in 1991, and early cars in the first specification, particularly those in unusual original colours with documented single ownership, have become the ones the market watches most closely.
Condition of the bodywork & paint
3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.
Condition of the interior
4 — Very Good. Clean with minimal wear; might need minor replacements for small missing or broken parts.
Technical condition
3 — Good. Bodywork or mechanical repairs needed; drives.
Overall condition
4 — Very Good. Displays only minimal wear and can hit the road any time.
This item is sold on an as-is basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and descriptions of the listing are for information purposes only.
