RE: Ferrari 512 TR: PH Fleet

[Chris Harris]

chevronb37 said:

Sorry, Chris, my flippant tone was in the style of Alan Partridge - no wrong 'un assumptions at all.

If you'd like the pamphlet - it's not a full sales brochure but it's the genuine article from Maranello Sales in Egham back in the 1990s - drop me a PM. I'd be genuinely delighted for it to be united with a car.

Little story behind it...

I did a school project on Ferrari when I was 9 y/o so we visited Maranello Sales to help with my research. Realising my enthusiasm, I was treated very kindly by the sales manager, who at that time was a chap called Tony Willis. He gave me bundles of memorabilia including brochures and posters. Best of all, he took me out for a ride in a 512TR, which was the flagship model at the time. I still have photos of the day - me in my Ferrari jacket and cap like a massive geek.

I never forgot his kindness so when he was recently profiled in Octane magazine I looked him up and sent him an e-mail. He sent a nice response back. He is now Ferrari Classiche's man in the UK - really cool job and a top bloke.

Really appreciate the note and the offer - apols for late reply, been out all week.

I will get in contact.

Best

Chris

[jackal]

Outrun said:

I must have watched this video a thousand times as a kid. Always loved the Testarossa series:

http://youtu.be/pwnlXl_7E0k

512M

you can thank me for that

[chevronb37]

Chris Harris said:

chevronb37 said:

Sorry, Chris, my flippant tone was in the style of Alan Partridge - no wrong 'un assumptions at all.

If you'd like the pamphlet - it's not a full sales brochure but it's the genuine article from Maranello Sales in Egham back in the 1990s - drop me a PM. I'd be genuinely delighted for it to be united with a car.

Little story behind it...

I did a school project on Ferrari when I was 9 y/o so we visited Maranello Sales to help with my research. Realising my enthusiasm, I was treated very kindly by the sales manager, who at that time was a chap called Tony Willis. He gave me bundles of memorabilia including brochures and posters. Best of all, he took me out for a ride in a 512TR, which was the flagship model at the time. I still have photos of the day - me in my Ferrari jacket and cap like a massive geek.

I never forgot his kindness so when he was recently profiled in Octane magazine I looked him up and sent him an e-mail. He sent a nice response back. He is now Ferrari Classiche's man in the UK - really cool job and a top bloke.

Really appreciate the note and the offer - apols for late reply, been out all week.

I will get in contact.

Best

Chris

Nice one, mate :-)

[SonnyM]

Evo said:

The original single mirror halfway up the A pillar is just perfect Italian engineering.

But it was awesome

Really looking forward to Mr Harris' next piece of journalism on this - curious as to how much of a drivers car it really is.

[f1ten]

this is the car that is responsible for all the 30s/40 year olds still wanting to buy new ferraris. Im sure many would dearly love to have one of these but dont have the stomach to take on a car of this age, knowing the foibles of no power steering etc and that you actually have to learn to drive this car... Its top of my want list still...

[Chris Harris]

Not driven a V12 Vantage S, but the last V12V wouldn't see where this car had gone around the 'Ring. Aero makes a massive difference in the quick stuff. Horst did 8.02 in a DBS....

[DonkeyApple]

[redacted]

[TR Boy]

I have owned my 89 testarossa for 6 years and it is an epic piece of engineering. I truly love and adore looking, driving and enjoying it-I open the garage door and EVERY time I feel like a kid on Christmas morning !!
Regarding the driving position - a Hills Engineering 50mm steering wheel spacer transforms it - looks OEM and takes 15 mins
Tr boy

[RoverP6B]

I have to say I can't understand the attraction to these. They're amongst the ugliest cars ever made and with the engine so high up... I'd really rather have a 550 by a very long way.

[richard300]

RoverP6B said:

I have to say I can't understand the attraction to these. They're amongst the ugliest cars ever made and with the engine so high up... I'd really rather have a 550 by a very long way.

Seriously? "They're amongst the ugliest cars ever made"? OK, so the design is very much of its time - Something that makes it even cooler now a days. But it's not ugly.
And i don't think you fully appreciate the dynamic changes the 512 has over the original TR. But having said that, I think the Testarossa (in all its incarnations) is finally being appreciated for the dramatic, intoxicating, and (competent) GT car it actually is - as opposed to a sports/supercar.

Of course a 550 is going to be better. It was bought into production 12 years after the TR was launched, in a period where everything had moved on in leaps and bounds - But that misses the point completely.

[GreigM]

RoverP6B said:

with the engine so high up

eh? Have you ever been close to one? There's nothing "high up" about the engine, its a FLAT 12 - the whole point being its low and wide giving it a low CoG.

[RoverP6B]

richard300 said:

Seriously? "They're amongst the ugliest cars ever made"? OK, so the design is very much of its time - Something that makes it even cooler now a days. But it's not ugly.
And i don't think you fully appreciate the dynamic changes the 512 has over the original TR. But having said that, I think the Testarossa (in all its incarnations) is finally being appreciated for the dramatic, intoxicating, and (competent) GT car it actually is - as opposed to a sports/supercar.

Of course a 550 is going to be better. It was bought into production 12 years after the TR was launched, in a period where everything had moved on in leaps and bounds - But that misses the point completely.

It's horrendously ugly! The 550 is a classic these days too and I'd struggle to see the point of buying an 80s Ferrari designed with rulers and set-squares when the 70s and 90s resulted in so many vastly more beautiful cars coming from Maranello.

[carnut360]

Hi Chris, I bought the TR from Bob Houghtons before you bought yours, and I absolutly love it. Having had a 360 beforehand the car does not feel that wide, yes compared to the cars of its day it was, (ie 348 etc), but now, well it still looks wide as it has such a low roofline but its pretty similar in width to the 360.

I find the noise to be intoxicating and the completely analogue feel of the car is so refreshing from the other paddle shifts that i have, in fact i would sum up the car in one word and that is 'HEROIC' which is how i feel when I drive it.

Any problems, well yes i had the fuse board go, losing lights, indicators, mirrors etc, but i was lucky to get it repaired, however i have found of a company who will do upgraded replacement boards for Testarossa and TR's.

[suffolk009]

^^^^ You're a little late. I believe Chris has left the building.

[carnut360]

I bought the "decent car at Bob Houghtons" and still have it too..yes its a keeper..