Ferrari Testarossa

Vehicle Overview

The Ferrari Testarossa was unveiled at the 1984 Paris Auto Show. The car, with its design by Pininfarina, characterised by a greatly enlarged tail (dominated by the large rectangular headlights disguised by the presence of a dense series of horizontal bars painted black) and large side grilles, immediately attracted widespread approval (and some criticism: some even considered it excessive, closer to Lamborghini ostentation than Ferrari elegance). Even the luxuriously finished interior was opulent. All versions of the Ferrari Testarossa were available with a rear-mounted, five-speed manual transmission. The rear mid-engine design (engine between the axles but behind the cabin) keeps the centre of gravity in the middle of the car, which increases stability and improves the car’s cornering ability, and thus results in a standing weight distribution of 40% front: 60% rear. The original Testarossa was re-engineered for the 1992 model year and was introduced as the 512 TR (TR meaning TestaRossa), at the Los Angeles Auto Show, effectively as a completely new car, and an improved weight distribution of 41% front, 59% rear. Another new variant called the F512 M was introduced at the 1994 Paris Auto Show. The car dropped the TR initials and added the M which in Italian stood for modificata, or translated to modified, and was the final version of the Testarossa, which continued its predecessor’s weight distribution improvement of 42% front, 58% rear. The F512 M was Ferrari’s last vehicle that featured the flat-12 engine. The Ferrari Testarossa was replaced in 1996 by the front-engined 550 Maranello.

Photo courtesy of Hyman Ltd.