Ferrari Testarossa Purchase

Ferrari Testarossa Purchase

Author
Discussion

oo7ml

Original Poster:

379 posts

104 months

Saturday 11th July 2020
quotequote all
Hi,

I've been a long time admirer of the Testarossa. I find it a true personification of the 80's supercar.

While I've always loved classic cars, and have owned just one classic (911) for the last 2 years, I think I've reached a point in my life whereby i'm starting to appreciate the 'older stuff' more than the newer 'latest & greatest' cars.

My dream classic has always been a Testarossa, and while I was considering buying a 458 to avail of it's NA engine, I have decided to go for a Testarossa. I'm not interested in the older single mirror or the newer 512 TR... so I've narrowed my search down a little.

I've spent a considerable amount of time reading up on them, watching tonnes of YouTube reviews, from Harry's Garage through to DriveTribe, I still don't have a good grasp on what I should be looking out for.

I would greatly appreciate if someone could help me with the following:

01 - What should one look out for when buying one? What is the major thing to look out for?

02 - Did the Testarossa come with Scuderia Shields as an option, or are they just after market custom tweaks?

03 - How many different variation of wheel options did it come in? (i've seen single nut on Harry's Garage, and 5 nut with the Ferrari badge... are there others)

04 - Can anyone recommend a specialist to speak to?

Any other advice or input would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

MitchT

15,787 posts

208 months

Saturday 11th July 2020
quotequote all
I love Testarossas and, while I don’t have a cat in hell’s chance of buying one anytime soon, I have picked up quite a bit of knowledge.

01 - It’s quite common for the clutch and differential to be replaced with 512TR items as they’re more robust. For authenticity the lower skirts on the front bumper and side should be black. It became trendy to paint them the same colour as the rest of the car but, to my knowledge, none actually left the factory with colour coded skirts.

02 - No. Ferrari didn’t make scuderia shields an option until relatively recently (360 I think) though it seems to have become quite fashionable to add them to older cars. Cars with them as a genuine option have enamel ones. When people add them retrospectively they’re usually just stickers.

03 - 2. There’s the single nut version which is on the early“monospeccio” car (the one with a single mirror) and on the two mirror cars that followed. The five-nut wheels came along later. It’s common for people with single-nut wheels to swap them for the five-nut ones as the tyres are much easier to source. They hang onto the single-nut wheels, of course, to retain the car’s authenticity if they come to show it sell it.

04 - Plenty out there but I’ll leave it to the owners on here to furnish you with that info as they’re far more qualified than I am.

oo7ml

Original Poster:

379 posts

104 months

Saturday 11th July 2020
quotequote all
Thank you Mitch, that is really helpful, thanks.

cgt2

7,091 posts

187 months

Saturday 11th July 2020
quotequote all
I believe the first time shields were offered from the factory were '98/'99 so late 355, 550 and 360 as mentioned

oo7ml

Original Poster:

379 posts

104 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
Great, thanks.

I'm hoping to view this car, this week. Thoughts?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

AmoCS

1,142 posts

218 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
What about this one?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10323994?u...

Less miles, newer and £25k less in price.

oo7ml

Original Poster:

379 posts

104 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
AmoCS said:
What about this one?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10323994?u...

Less miles, newer and £25k less in price.
It was sold on Friday :-(

Geffg

1,112 posts

104 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
Not much to add to this but to say what a great choice of car. It’s always been my dream car and if I ever win a lot of money it’s what I’ll be buying. Not interested in the modern Ferrari’s just this one.
I remember years ago when they where around 40-50k and thinking I may eventually be able to afford one but then they started rising way out of reach again. 😭
Hope you get one and enjoy.

355fiorano

429 posts

241 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
oo7ml said:
It was sold on Friday :-(
at collectingcars https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1988-ferrari-t...
For £84k + 6% commission

oo7ml

Original Poster:

379 posts

104 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
355fiorano said:
oo7ml said:
It was sold on Friday :-(
at collectingcars https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1988-ferrari-t...
For £84k + 6% commission
@Geffg: thanks I will keep the thread updated if I pick one up

@355fiorano: wow, that was a great price

browngt3

1,409 posts

210 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
I will be following this thread with interest as a Testarossa is also on my bucket list. I'm interested more in the 'Monodado' early cars as I prefer the look of the single bolt alloys.

As a serial Porsche owner, what's put me off 'till now are two things really. First, useability and practicality. Second, running costs. These cars tend not to be used as evidenced by the ultra low mileage. You also hear of some eye watering big bills.

Are their any Testarossa owners on PH? I seem to remember someone with a 512TR a while ago. Still we'd love to hear about any of your ownership experiences.

Harry's Garage is also an interesting source as his car has definitely been used. Not least a road trip to Morocco!

browngt3

1,409 posts

210 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
oo7ml said:
Great, thanks.

I'm hoping to view this car, this week. Thoughts?

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
This one looks very nice. It's also a Monodado which would appeal more to me. Must be one of the last? However, I would be looking for a big improvement in the price. I note its recently had a big service but I would want to see a decent history with evidence of big bills over the years. Do you know anything about this dealer? For peace of mind I reckon I would want one from a recognised specialist that knows these cars inside out.

As usual prices are all over the place with many cars remaining unsold a very long time.

yellowtr

1,188 posts

225 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
I ran a Testarossa for 12yrs and I paid very very low £20s for it at the time and I sold it in 2015 for £97k via Silverstone Auctions. It was a very early single mirror, knock on wheel car. Originally the car was white but when I purchased the car it was yellow.

I adored the car and it became one of the most famous TR's as it was featured in loads of magazines (Evo, Classic and Sportscars amongst others) and other media. I used the car as a daily driver for a while in all sorts of weather conditions, for work, dump run, supermarket run, everything.

These cars need to be used, they don't like being treated as garage queens, which sadly loads have been and they drive dreadful if they have been. Miles wise, I would go with your eyes open as its very easy to disconnect the speedo on one and reconnect it. FSH doesn't mean anything unless there is documented evidence to back it up. They need a major major service 8-10yrs and that involves full engine out, checking the valves and I would seriously recommend getting the diff strength-end as it does let go, mine did and it was a pricey job but getting the parts was a pain in the bum.

Cambelt change is every 3 years and is fairly straight forward job. Allow anywhere between £1500-2000. Tyres can be a pain too as only Michelin make a set now whether it be Metric or standard tyres and they are about £1400 a set. Don't drive on old tyres, its dreadful.

Fusebox are a weak point and were not available but I believe Maranello Parts are remaking them (or have). New old stock of them does not exist, along with pretty much all body panels and exterior and interior parts. Indicator lenses are long unavailable and also rear lights are challenging to find. Electric windows commonly are slow and to fix them with a new motor isn't for the faint hearted.

Cars should come with the leather holder and service book and manual and the toolkit as well as the knock wheel tool kit if the car has them fitted.

Driving wise they are fabulous and on the open road they eat up the miles and are very civilised. I used to track mine and for a big arse ended car they aren't to bad-but its unlikely most owners now would ever track them.

Clutch wise, I replaced one clutch in all my time of ownership.

Steering wheel wise Testarossa only had once type. if it hasn't got the original one it needs money knocking off as they are a pain to find now

Price wise they are a bit all over the place and they take a while to sell.

You also need to find someone who knows about Testarossa's, very few specialists really know them. I used (and still use) Autofficina and they looked after mine for years.

oo7ml

Original Poster:

379 posts

104 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
browngt3 said:
This one looks very nice. It's also a Monodado which would appeal more to me. Must be one of the last? However, I would be looking for a big improvement in the price. I note its recently had a big service but I would want to see a decent history with evidence of big bills over the years. Do you know anything about this dealer? For peace of mind I reckon I would want one from a recognised specialist that knows these cars inside out.

As usual prices are all over the place with many cars remaining unsold a very long time.
Thanks BrownGT3, it is listed as a Monodado, but I thought Monodado meant it would have only one mirror? I don't want the single mirror version. I understand they are rarer and more collectable but my OCD and symmetrical mind wouldn't settle with it :-)

I will keep the thread updated as I review more cars.

oo7ml

Original Poster:

379 posts

104 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
yellowtr said:
I ran a Testarossa for 12yrs and I paid very very low £20s for it at the time and I sold it in 2015 for £97k via Silverstone Auctions. It was a very early single mirror, knock on wheel car. Originally the car was white but when I purchased the car it was yellow.

I adored the car and it became one of the most famous TR's as it was featured in loads of magazines (Evo, Classic and Sportscars amongst others) and other media. I used the car as a daily driver for a while in all sorts of weather conditions, for work, dump run, supermarket run, everything.

These cars need to be used, they don't like being treated as garage queens, which sadly loads have been and they drive dreadful if they have been. Miles wise, I would go with your eyes open as its very easy to disconnect the speedo on one and reconnect it. FSH doesn't mean anything unless there is documented evidence to back it up. They need a major major service 8-10yrs and that involves full engine out, checking the valves and I would seriously recommend getting the diff strength-end as it does let go, mine did and it was a pricey job but getting the parts was a pain in the bum.

Cambelt change is every 3 years and is fairly straight forward job. Allow anywhere between £1500-2000. Tyres can be a pain too as only Michelin make a set now whether it be Metric or standard tyres and they are about £1400 a set. Don't drive on old tyres, its dreadful.

Fusebox are a weak point and were not available but I believe Maranello Parts are remaking them (or have). New old stock of them does not exist, along with pretty much all body panels and exterior and interior parts. Indicator lenses are long unavailable and also rear lights are challenging to find. Electric windows commonly are slow and to fix them with a new motor isn't for the faint hearted.

Cars should come with the leather holder and service book and manual and the toolkit as well as the knock wheel tool kit if the car has them fitted.

Driving wise they are fabulous and on the open road they eat up the miles and are very civilised. I used to track mine and for a big arse ended car they aren't to bad-but its unlikely most owners now would ever track them.

Clutch wise, I replaced one clutch in all my time of ownership.

Steering wheel wise Testarossa only had once type. if it hasn't got the original one it needs money knocking off as they are a pain to find now

Price wise they are a bit all over the place and they take a while to sell.

You also need to find someone who knows about Testarossa's, very few specialists really know them. I used (and still use) Autofficina and they looked after mine for years.
Thanks YellowTR... this is very helpful, and I will be adding it to my print out when reviewing cars.

AmoCS

1,142 posts

218 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
browngt3 said:
I will be following this thread with interest as a Testarossa is also on my bucket list. I'm interested more in the 'Monodado' early cars as I prefer the look of the single bolt alloys.

As a serial Porsche owner, what's put me off 'till now are two things really. First, useability and practicality. Second, running costs. These cars tend not to be used as evidenced by the ultra low mileage. You also hear of some eye watering big bills.

Are their any Testarossa owners on PH? I seem to remember someone with a 512TR a while ago. Still we'd love to hear about any of your ownership experiences.

Harry's Garage is also an interesting source as his car has definitely been used. Not least a road trip to Morocco!
Hi, I had a late 1994 512TR for 5 years.
Amazing car, ultra reliable, easy to drive with good visibility. Road presence is about as high as you can get.
The best Testarossa model IMHO.
Find a good one and keep it.

AmoCS

1,142 posts

218 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all

AmoCS

1,142 posts

218 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
What about these?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10353880?u...

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10066317?u...

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/9281841?ut...

Slightly higher miles, but from a traders.

Or from a main dealer with ultra low miles and benefit of warranty.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...



Edited by AmoCS on Sunday 12th July 20:34

AmoCS

1,142 posts

218 months

oo7ml

Original Poster:

379 posts

104 months

Sunday 12th July 2020
quotequote all
AmoCS said:
What about these?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10353880?u...

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10066317?u...

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/9281841?ut...

Slightly higher miles, but from a traders.

Edited by AmoCS on Sunday 12th July 20:28


Edited by AmoCS on Sunday 12th July 20:31
2 of those are single mirror, which I don't want :-)

The Foskers one does look good value, but I'm turned off by the fact someone added shields to it, and painted the bottom lips, front and side.