1987 Ferrari Testarossa

The 1980s, a decade of excess and expense, it’s a period of history that has spawned not only some questionable fashion trends, but also some of the most iconic cars. In 1984, at the Paris Motor Show the Testarossa was revealed to the public for the first time.

Penned by Pininfarina, this new design language was a swift departure from Ferrari’s of the past. Longer, lower and wider than its predecessors, the Testarossa had to comply with new Federal safety laws in the US, and yet remain ineffably beautiful.

This example was supplied by one of Milan’s best-known Ferrari dealers, Crepaldi S.p.A on March 6th 1987. It was registered first to Italian business Gefina S.p.A, and subsequently spent a period residing in Monaco and the South of France before being imported in the UK in 2002. 

Finished in Rosso Corsa, this Testarossa is referred to as ‘Monodado’ referring to the single centre wheel nut used to secure the wheels. The Rosso Corsa paintwork is in excellent condition, it’s a high contrast colour combination which accentuates the cars wide rear arches and the depth of the side intakes.

The wheels are 16” 5-spoke ‘Mondado’ items, they were refurbished in May of 2023, in the correct shade of silver. Wrapped in a matching set of Michelin Pilot Sport tyres to ensure excellent drivability. The front tyres are date stamped 24/2022 and the rears 50/2017.

The interior is finished in its original specification of Nero hide with a contrasting tan carpet set. The interior was overhauled throughout 2023 by Waldex Automotive Trimming at a cost of over £7,000. The seats were subject to a full-strip down, supporting foam was replaced and then retrimmed in Thruxton leather with the headrests being embossed as per factory specifications.

But the work wasn’t limited to just the seats, the dashboard, binnacle, and a-pillars were all treated to the same service, whilst high contact areas like the steering wheel, door cards and gear knob were attended to as well. To finish the interior renovation, the carpet set was replaced with a leather-bound tan ‘Superwool’ set and the luggage straps remade with matching leather whilst retaining the original buckles.

In late 2022, the car visited the team at Car Audio Security who were able to put together a hidden and subtle audio package. The system consists of period-correct looking Blaupunkt Bremen head unit which benefits from USB, Bluetooth and DAB connectivity, amplifier, component speakers and bass controller. A Testarossa after all, is really a Grand-Tourer and to achieve maximum long distance pleasure these are worthwhile upgrades that enhance the driving experience without affecting the period charm.

Needless to say, the mechanicals have not been ignored. Records show that throughout late 2022 and early 2023 the car was given a full suspension overhaul that included the replacement of; front and rear dampers, track rod ends, control arm bushings and more. This work leads to a Testarossa that drives exactly how it would’ve when it was supplied new in 1987.

The engine itself is a 4.9-litre 12-cylinder, producing around 385bhp. The Testarossa utilised a four-valve per cylinder engine design, allowing Ferrari engineers to maximise the power and torque the engine delivered and meet the more challenging and stringent requirements of the US-market. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and it breathes through a sonorous Ansa exhaust system. Due to the highly complex nature of these machines, it’s imperative that they’re maintained to the highest standard which thankfully this car has been.

There is an extensive collection of paperwork and ancillaries included with the car, the car retains its original tool kit, leather wallet, service booklet and warranty card, owners manual and a folder of maintenance records that show its most recent, vital cambelt change being completed in December 2022.

• 07/2024 - A/C Re-gas & MOT - ICS Motorsport
• 08/2023 - Oil & Filter, Brake Fluid Change & Replace Distributor Caps - ICS Motorsport
• 05/2023 - Replace Front Dampers, Track Rod Ends, Rotor Arms & Spark Plugs - ICS Motorsport
• 12/2022 - Cam Belt Replacement, Inlet Plenum Gaskets, Full Fuel Injection Overhaul
• 12/2022 - Front Suspension overhaul - ICS Motorsport
• 09/2022 - Oil & Filter & Gearbox Service - ICS Motorsport
• 02/2018 - Cambelt Replacement & Annual Service - GTO Engineering
• 04/2016 - Cambelt Replacement & Annual Service - Keys Motorsport
• 05/2013 - Cambelt replacement & Annual Service - Foskers 
• 06/2004 - Annual Service - Cavallari, Monaco
• 04/2003 - Annual Service - Kent High Performance Cars
• 01/2003 - Cambelt Replacement & Annual Service - Kent High Performance Cars
• 07/1998 - Annual Service - Garage Zenith, Switzerland
• 04/1987 - Annual Service - Cerapaldi Ferrari, Italy

The Testarossa remains one of Ferrari’s most popular models and for good reason. The model has become not only an automotive icon, but a cultural icon. In popular culture, the Testarossa became the poster car not only for the ‘OutRun’ Sega game series, but also the drive of choice for Miami Vice TV detective Sonny Crockett.

It’s not just in the virtual world that the Testarossa became an icon, it’s also beloved by motoring journalists like Harry Metcalfe and Chris Harris, and of course holds a special place in the hearts of our team here at Duke of London.

Throughout production nearly 10,000 Testarossas were built, but this example represents an opportunity to add an excellent one to your collection. It’s a desirable ‘Monodado’ specification car, with a retrimmed interior, extensive and traceable history and a recent cambelt change. It’s ready to enjoy. 

As with all our vehicles, a full digital folder is available on request containing more images, walk-around videos, and scans of the service history. The car can also be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.