Vehicle Description
Chassis No. ZFFSG17A7H0069127
Engine No. 00546
While the word "iconic" is often overused in the collector car
industry, there are indeed a select few cars where the impact on
automotive design, engineering, and culture is so irrefutably
significant that there is simply no better word with which to
describe them. The Ferrari Testarossa is undoubtedly on that list.
From the impossibly wide and louvered rear to the aggressively
recessed side strakes and the glorious wail of its 380-horsepower,
4.9-liter flat-12, Ferrari's replacement of the 512 BBi shook the
automotive industry upon its introduction at the Paris Motor Show
and truly defined the decade of the 1980s.
Following the Testarossa's debut in 1984, the first examples
started arriving Stateside by mid-1985. In the Detroit area, the
only official dealer was Bob Schneider's The Sports Car Exchange on
Michigan Avenue in Dearborn. One enthusiast who took note of the
new model was the owner of this particular car, who first inquired
with Schneider in late 1985 (as per correspondence on file), placed
an order and took delivery of his brand new Testarossa over a year
later in 1987.
The original window sticker on file clearly denotes its
specification. While options were limited and such standard
features as air conditioning, Connolly leather, and Bosch
K-Jetronic fuel injection are clearly listed, the original colors
of red over black with red carpeting are noted as well, as are the
16-inch alloy wheels - the desirable early production single lug
"Monodado" wheels, as opposed to the later five-lug wheels.
The car's detailed history file illustrates an extensive track
record of service, first at the selling dealer Sports Car Exchange
and beginning in the late 1990s, Cauley Ferrari, which remains
Michigan's only Ferrari dealer. In late 1988, after one year and
with 1,500 miles indicated, the car was brought in for its
scheduled service, including fluids, belt tightening, and other
routine maintenance. Service records continue on file for 1990,
1991, 1993, 1995, and 1996 in much the same manner, by which time
the car had accumulated 2,700 miles. While records indicate the
occasional minor repair, virtually all work was limited to regular
maintenance and inspection. By 2001, mileage stood at 3,129 and
indeed the car was driven extremely sparingly since that time. In
2010, with 3,315 miles the car was subject to a major service at
Cauley Ferrari, totaling over $11,000, which included an engine-out
cam-belt service, belts, fluids, filters, plugs, and inspection of
all ignition system and electrical components, as well as brake
work and tire replacement. Today the car indicates only 3,553 miles
and remains in excellent condition, commensurate with its low
original mileage, continuous climate controlled storage, and
limited fair-weather-only driving, and is accompanied by a tool
roll and books as well.
Acquired brand new by the owner in 1987, this Testarossa has been a
stablemate of numerous supercars since that time. But as other cars
have come and gone, this one has remained in its super condition
with low original mileage and as a centerpiece of the collection.
Only about 300 Testarossas were delivered Stateside for 1987...
this one is surely one of the very best.
