Vehicle Description
In 1984, Ferrari unveiled its latest twelve-cylinder flagship, the
replacement for the pretty but ageing Berlinetta Boxer series. The
new car's no-apologies body was designed by Pininfarina, an
angular, impossibly low and wide machine that was graced with the
most outrageous set of air intakes anyone had ever seen. If the
styling didn't stir up enough controversy, the choice of a name for
the new car certainly did: Testarossa - a name steeped in
motorsport history- was given to a car that had no intentions of
ever seeing a racetrack. But in typical Ferrari style, the
controversy was somehow spun to their advantage and the new
Testarossa became a commercial success, selling in strong numbers
while also gracing the bedroom walls of countless car-crazy kids
around the globe. Although the Testarossa appeared dramatically
different from the outgoing Boxer, it was not a 100% new
car;�rather,�it was a heavily evolved version of its predecessor.
The Testarossa still carried a 4.9 liter flat-12 mounted amidships
in the chassis. But now the engine wore new alloy four-valve
cylinder heads with signature red cam covers, increased compression
and new management to bump the power up to 390hp. The chassis was
lengthened, widened and tuned to produce excellent ride and
handling, in turn making the Testarossa much faster than the Boxer
point-to-point. The cabin was roomier and cooler thanks to the side
mounted radiators (Boxers had coolant pipes that ran through the
cabin). Testarossa owners could also carry a reasonable amount of
luggage in the front trunk and behind the seats and stood a chance
at arriving at their far-off destination exhilarated, but not
exhausted and sweaty. Thanks to the mechanical refinement and the
surprising longevity of the styling, the Testarossa enjoyed a 12
year production run over three generations, with just under 10,000
examples built in total. Official status in the US market also
helped to secure the Testarossa's future. The 512BB was never
officially imported, but now, anyone in America with a large enough
bank balance could visit a Ferrari dealership and drive home with a
fully backed and road legal Testarossa. This attractive 1989 model
shows just 16,354 miles from new, and presents in very good
original condition throughout. The car was sold new on March 6,
1989, by Ferrari of Houston to a customer in Mobile, Alabama, and
had clearly led a cherished life. Included with the car is the
original owner's manual and service book, in the original leather
pouch, original jack in bag, a clean CarFax, and the car was
treated to a major service including belts and complete valve job
just under 2000 miles ago. The traditional Rosso Corsa paint is in
excellent order, appearing largely original and showing no signs of
a significant respray. While the Pininfarina designed body has
little in the way of extraneous trim, the rocker panels and the
typically vulnerable chin spoiler are straight, clean and show no
signs of curb rash. As classic as the Rosso Corsa paint is the
beautiful tan Connolly leather interior. The seats are in very good
condition, with good leather, and showing minimal wear. Only the
outer seat bolsters exhibit light wear, a very common occurrence
for Testarossas, though it seems hardly enough to detract from the
otherwise excellent cabin. Original carpets and dash are all in
very good condition, and the only alteration from standard is the
addition of a late-model Sony AM/FM Cassette player with a 10-disc
CD changer mounted in the trunk. Under the large engine cover lays
the 5-liter flat-twelve which is tidy and honestly presented in
original condition. Correct fittings and hardware are evidence of
professional and proper maintenance, and it shows no signs of
damage or modification. This is a sound, well-sorted and totally
usable Testarossa that will certainly please its next owner. Beyond
their increasing collectability, these are surprisingly capable
grand-touring cars, well suited for long distance adventures, for
which this example would make an excellent companion.