1986 FERRARI TESTAROSSA

An original UK right-hand-drive Testarossa in the highly desirable single-mirror (Monospecchio) and 16-inch centre-lock wheels (Monodado) spec. Rosso Corsa/Crema, Brown dash and carpets. Matching Schedoni 6-piece luggage set. 25,917 miles. Substantial service history.

- Single mirror ‘Monospecchio’

- ‘Monodado’ 16-inch centre lock wheels

- Rosso Corsa

- Crema leather

- Brown dash and carpets

- Matching Schedoni 6-piece luggage set

- 25917 miles

- Substantial service history

This is by far the rarest and most desirable specification for the Testarossa, with fewer than 100 single-mirror cars believed to have been brought into to the UK. This example was delivered to the first owner by Midlands Ferrari dealer Colmore on 01.09.1986.

Beautifully presented this Ferrari is accompanied by a substantial history file and has recently been cared for by Bell Sport & Classic.

The Ferrari Testarossa is the quintessential 80s poster car, but the earliest versions have specific quirks that make them "holy grail" items for collectors today. Those quirks, the high-mounted single mirror and the centre-lock wheels weren't just styling choices; they were born from a mix of misunderstanding and racing vanity.

The "Monospecchio" (Single Mirror) mounted halfway up the A-pillar on the driver’s side and completely missing on the passenger side is understood to be due to Ferrari’ misinterpretation of then European safety regulations. Engineers initially believed that European type-approval laws required a driver to have a 100% unobstructed view of the rear, past the car's massive "cheese grater" side intakes and wide rear haunches.

Because the Testarossa was so wide, they thought a standard mirror wouldn't conform hence the single mirror high up to look over the rear fender rather than alongside it. This misunderstanding was soon corrected and by 1987 they switched to a more traditional, lower-mounted dual-mirror setup.

The "Monodado" (Single Nut) refers to the centre-lock wheel nut, a feature that makes Ferrari included to emphasize the link between their road cars and their Formula 1/Le Mans racers and gives the early cars a cleaner, more aggressive design that showcased the five-spoke "star" pattern without the clutter of five separate bolts.

While the centre-lock looks incredible, they proved to be a challenge for the average owner as it requires a massive torque wrench and a fair bit of muscle to remove, making roadside tire changes nearly impossible so by 1988 Ferrari moved to a standard five-bolt pattern.

The Testarossa became the defining automotive contribution to the cultural collage of the decade and a poster car for a generation. It remains adored for its dramatic width and for introducing side strakes to a world that didn’t know it needed them.