Ferrari 512 TR, 1992
Ferrari 512 TR
Ferrari 512 TR•
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Chassis No.: ZFFLG40A0N0092146
Auction: Monterey 2015
Auction date: August 15, 2015
Lot No.: S120
$440,000 | High bid
- Exterior: Yellow
- Interior: Black
- 893 original miles
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Rear wheel drive
- Yellow with Black interior
- Recent major engine-out service
Perhaps no Ferrari has had a more polarizing effect upon its introduction than the 1984 Testarossa, which was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Automotive designers polled by Motor Trend magazine expressed opinions ranging from “I hate it” to “exciting, aggressive and awesome.” Buyers agreed with the latter sentiment and flocked to Ferrari dealerships to vote with their dollars. Soon other automakers were copying the TR’s body side strakes and protruding mirrors, and aftermarket manufacturers were peddling their own Testarossa-inspired wares.
Named for Ferrari’s all-conquering 1950s sports racers, the Testarossa was a reaction to the stultifying effects of the social revolution that swept Europe, including its automotive industry, for most of the 1970s. By the early 1980s Fiat workers were revolting against the unions, which soon lost their clout, and the Italian industry shed its self-imposed manacles to produce what Sergio Pininfarina called “an excess of flamboyance”, one perfectly embodied in the new Testarossa. Counter-revolutionary design aside, there were solid engineering principles behind its inner workings.
The wide rear track made for much better handling and stability and accommodated the TR’s side-mounted radiators, and the overall shape was dictated by extensive wind tunnel testing. The TR offered more room and comfort than the 512BB it replaced, and the succeeding 512 TR’s 4.9L flat-12 4-valve engine improved on the injected Boxer’s by almost 90 HP, to spectacular results. Ferrari sold almost 2,300 512 Testarossas during its production run from 1992 to 1994, demonstrating the concept’s enduring appeal. After a recent major engine-out service, this stunning 1992 Ferrari 512 Testarossa is being offered with just 893 original miles on the odometer.
Like a specimen caught in amber, it remains in its original state, virtually untouched but for the most sparing exercise, poised to thrill its new owner with superb performance and undeniable presence.
