The Ferrari Testarossa is a car that needs little introduction, a symbol of the 1980s, the Testarossa is still the first car that comes to mind for many when hearing the word supercar. Debuting at the Paris Motorshow in 1984, the Testarossa was designed to address many of the issues found in its predecessor the 512BBi. Powered by an updated version of the 512s 180-degree V12, the Testarossa produced 385 horsepower and 361lb-ft of torque and offered increased smoothness and reliability thanks to the introduction of electronic fuel injection. The defining design feature of the Testarossa is the “cheese grater” side strakes along the sides of the car, which were put there to conceal a pair of radiators at the rear. In an effort to bring down the notoriously high cabin temperatures found in the 512BB, the radiator was moved from in front of the passengers to the sides of the car behind the doors so coolant was no longer circulating below the passengers. The interior was also upgraded over the 512BB with a more comfortable driving position, cushier seats, and improved vision out of the cabin. A natural competitor to the equally outrageous looking Lamborghini Countach, the Testarossa offered similar performance but offered far more usability and potential as a grand touring car.
This 1986 Testarossa is finished in the classic Ferrari color scheme of Rosso Corsa over a Beige leather interior. Over the Testarossa’s model run, numerous alterations were made to comply with changes in safety standards-the original single side view mirror, high on the A-Pillar was substituted for two mirrors in the traditional location and the wheels with a single large nut in the center were swapped for those with five lug nuts. Being a 1986, this car retains both the high mirror (Monospecchio) and the single center lug on the wheels-just as when the car was first seen in Paris in 1984. Having only been driven 16,596 miles from new, this Testarossa remains in fantastic overall condition. The car was initially sold through Steven Kessler Motor Cars in New York in 1986 to a New Jersey-based collector who kept the car through 1988. The car was then sold to a Pennsylvania-based collector who owned the car until it was sold to California in 2016. Prior to the sale, the car underwent an engine out service where the cam belts and seals, valve cover gaskets, and auxiliary belts were all changed. Since arriving in California, the car has been used sparingly and maintained to a high standard by both Ferrari of Silicon Valley and Issimi Meccanica who most recently replaced the fuel pressure actuator, fuel line replacement, and oil service. This Testarossa is a wonderfully preserved example of one of the most famous cars to ever leave Maranello and will be a fantastic companion for any of your local Ferrari Club events.
