Nearly 10,000 Ferrari Testarossas, including the upgraded variants, were produced between 1992 and 1996. This 12-cylinder mid-engine car was built from 1984 to 1991 and includes two model revisions: the 512 TR and F512 M.
In This Article...
Formula One Testarossa
As the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer’s replacement, the 12-cylinder mid-engine sports car known as the Ferrari Testarossa (Type F110) entered production in 1984. With two model updates following the conclusion of Testarossa production, the 512 TR and F512 M, which were built from 1992 to 1996, the Pininfarina-designed car was initially produced from 1984 until 1991. It was one of the most mass-produced Ferrari models at the time, with approximately 10,000 vehicles built overall, including altered modifications.
The two-door Testarossa coupe made its debut at the 1984 Paris Auto Show. A five-speed manual transmission was available for the Testarossa in all of its iterations. The rear mid-engine design, which places the engine between the axles but behind the cabin, retains the center of gravity in the middle of the vehicle, improving stability and cornering capability and resulting in a standing weight distribution of 40% front: 60% rear. The original Testarossa was fully redesigned and reengineered for the 1992 model year. It was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show as the 512 TR, which stands for TestaRossa, and had a revised weight distribution of 41% front to 59% back. At the 1994 Paris Auto Show, a new variation known as the F512 M was shown. The final version of the Testarossa, which kept the weight distribution improvement of 42% front, 58% rear, lost the TR initials and added the M, which in Italian stood for modificata, or translated to modified. The flat-12 engine was last used by Ferrari in the F512 M.
The Testarossa is a well-known cultural icon of the 1980s and was made popular by media like the computer game Out Run from Sega in 1986 and the television show Miami Vice from 1984.
Price of a Ferrari Testarossa
A Ferrari Testarossa’s price. Naturally, the answer to that question can be difficult given that the car in question is no longer produced. The Testarossa may fetch quite a premium on the used market, especially given its status as a classic Ferrari and its significance in pop culture. In addition, a car’s price might vary depending on a number of factors. According to its condition and the year it was released, the price of a Ferrari Testarossa for sale in 2022 can vary quite a little. A Ferrari Testarossa costs an enthusiast between $150,000 and $250,000 on average. While it’s a significant sum of money, the Ferrari Testarossa MSRP of $181,000 is still within striking distance, and it’s important to note that the Testarossa automobile combines being a classic, being a Ferrari, and being a well recognised pop culture icon.
At $181,000 in 1989, the initial price of the Ferrari Testarossa was relatively high for the time and included a $2,700 gas-guzzler tax. Famously, the family of Fiat Chairman Gianni Agnelli auctioned off the Testarossa Spider (the only authorized convertible variant of the Testarossa in 1986) in 2016. Agnelli received the car as compensation for his 20 years as the company’s chairman.
1984 until 1996 saw the debut manufacture of the Ferrari Testarossa. The Ferrari 550 Maranello succeeded the Testarossa, and the luxury sports automobile was created by Leonardo Fioravanti, Ian Cameron, Guido Campoli, Emanuele Nicosia, and Diego Ottina at Pininfarina S.P.A. Its predecessor was the Ferrari BB 512i. Over the course of the Ferrari Testarossa’s ten-year production cycle, roughly 10,000 vehicles, including all altered models, were created. As a result, the Ferrari Testarossa is one of the sports car models that Ferrari produces in the highest volume.
Testarossa
The flat-12 engine’s red-painted cylinder heads are the source of the Testarossa’s name, which translates as “red head” in Italian. Given that opposing cylinders shared flat-plane crankshaft pins, the engine was technically a 180deg V engine. The vehicle produced 390 horsepower (291 kW), and in just five years, it was featured nine times on the cover of Road & Track magazine. It also won several comparative tests and admirers. Despite its expensive price and unique appearance, the Testarossa, 512TR, and 512M are among the most popular Ferrari cars, having been made in close to 10,000 examples. The Testarossa retailed for roughly $94,000 in the United States in 1985 (about $176,032 in 2006 currencies). This includes a “gas-guzzler” tax of $2,700, or $5,100.
The 1981 512 BBi is where the car’s roots may be found. Although the Testarossa added coilover shocks to the rear double wishbones, both vehicles had the same fundamental basis. The engine was comparable as well, although now there were four valves per cylinder. The radiator was one notable mechanical difference: the Testarossa used two smaller units on each side in front of the rear wheels, whilst the 512 BB utilized a single larger unit in the nose. This led to the need for the unique wide body, side-mounted air intakes, and strakes.
Contrary to the 512BBi, which had done so with only modest success, the Testarossa did not make an appearance on race courses while being successful on the road.
Why you would desire one
The Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer from which it was derived was lighter, more powerful, and more aerodynamic than the Testarossa, which had four-valve heads, improved fuel injection, and electronic ignition.
With the goal of reducing cockpit heat from piping to front radiators on the BB, Pininfarina’s dramatic style highlighted the car’s 6ft 6in (1.98m) width, which resulted from positioning radiators each side of the already incredibly broad engine.
It looks incredibly magnificent, but moving around the small New Forest roads during our photo shoot was very awkward because the Ferrari could not pass oncoming traffic without one of the vehicles moving to the side of the road.
The Testarossa is an effortless continent-muncher away from winding country lanes and surprisingly enjoyable to drive because to its powerful torque and capable electronic engine control.
In its 1985 test, Motor couldn’t stop praising the flat-12 engine, saying that “there is no engine created that can rival it for its stores of turbine-smooth power between 1000 and 7000 revs.” It also sounds fantastic (Motor eulogised even more about that).
The magazine test’s average fuel usage of 12.1 mpg wasn’t too bad, and in everyday driving, 15 mpg is feasible. Ferrari had just released the full-fat 288GTO, as the road test noted, but the Testarossa wasn’t intended to be a homologation-specific road-racer. It was a very capable grand tourer with air conditioning, and although some drivers have gone racing through the years, its handling and steering were slightly more geared that way than press-on drivers might want.
The factory seven-piece leather set (a PS1591 extra) is still a very sought-after addition today. A decent front boot and a well behind the seats swallow a reasonable amount of luggage.
Early cars had a high single mirror, or monospecchio example, which provided a fantastic vision in the rear but might obscure approaching traffic. This mirror was quickly replaced by two more traditional, lower-mounted mirrors.
The Testarossa was a Ferrari that was produced in large quantities; 7177 of the original model, 2280 of the 512TR that followed, and 501 of the F512M were all constructed. When driven hard, the 512TR responded much better, and the F512M was even better.
With only 438 Testarossas, 88 512TRs (38 of them with ABS), and 41 F512Ms produced in the UK, right-hookers are much more uncommon than left-hand drives.
The Ferrari Testarossa: What Everyone Forgot
During the 1980s, the Ferrari Testarossa was among the most recognizable sports cars. Unfortunately, it’s largely forgotten these days.
The Ferrari Testarossa is a beloved yet sadly underappreciated supercar. The Italian luxury sports car, which was designed as a two-door coupe, made its public debut at the 1984 Paris Auto Show to an obviously impressed crowd. To demonstrate the car’s immediate appeal, 37 orders were accepted on the spot. The Testarossa is one of the most widely produced Ferrari vehicles ever, having been built in around 10,000 units (including upgraded variants).
Although there are numerous affordable sports cars that can surpass the Testarossa today, in its heyday, the luxury sports car’s performance was sufficient to hold off several competing models in a race in addition to having cult following. Notably, because Ferrari stopped producing the Testarossa many years ago, a lot of the specifics have been lost. For everyone’s benefit, we have compiled this Ferrari Testarossa refresher.
The Top Ferrari Testarossa Models Ever
In 1984, Ferrari unveiled the first Testarossa model to the public. The model was produced from 1984 and 1991, and a second cycle of manufacturing ran from 1992 to 1996 after the vehicle underwent two changes. Within the 10,000 Testarossas built, quite a few distinct revisions and alterations were constructed. The top 10 Ferrari Testarossa models ever are shown below.
A Ferrari Testarossa is quite rare.
Only 501 Ferrari F512 M vehicles were produced over the course of the two-year Ferrari F512 M production cycle. By this metric, it is by far the rarest Testarossa model.
What is the price of a 1991 Ferrari Testarossa?
The 4.9-liter flat-12 engine in the 1991 Ferrari Testarossa generates 385 horsepower at 6300 RPM and 361 pound feet of torque at 4500 RPM. With that, it can reach a top speed of 180 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. The engine is mounted in a rear mid-engine layout, behind the cabin but still between the axles. It was the final mass-produced Ferrari to use a twelve-cylinder engine. The Testarossa now has a 40% front to 60% rear weight distribution, which enhances handling and helps the car handle turns smoothly. A five-speed manual gearbox is the sole available transmission, which is excellent because installing an automated transmission on a Ferrari would be similar to putting ketchup on a filet mignon.
What is the price of a 1984 Ferrari Testarossa?
A Ferrari Testarossa typically costs $129,462. A: The Ferrari Testarossa was sold between what years? A: From 1984 to 1992, the Ferrari Testarossa was in production.