1991 Ferrari Testarossa
Wicked fast and drop-dead gorgeous. The ultimate symbol of success in the 80s and 90s. The flashy and tantalizing Ferrari Testarossa.
| Year: | 1991 |
| Make: | Ferrari |
| Model: | Testarossa |
| Mileage: | 26,700km |
| Fuel Type: | Gasoline |
| Drivetrain: | RWD |
| Engine: | 5000CC |
| Exterior Color: | Red |
The radically aggressive styling of the Ferrari Testarossa took the world by storm when unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 1984. Few cars in history have so dramatically influenced pop culture and automotive design. Adolescent boys covered their walls with Testarossa posters, millionaires drove Testarossas as a testament to their taste, and celebrities drove Testarossas to flaunt their fame. For many, Testarossa ownership was the ultimate status symbol.
Rocketing the Testarossa from 0–60mph in under 5.2 seconds was a magnificent 4.9-liter flat twelve-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder and double overhead camshafts — the most powerful production engine of its day. The impressive 390 horsepower (440 hp on later models) and 490 newton metres of torque peaked at relatively low rpm to deliver pleasingly smooth response at all revolutions. Such tractable power was unheard of in supercars and contributed to the Testarossa’s robust sales.
One of the Testarossa’s most distinctive features, the flamboyant side strakes, were an outgrowth of Pininfarina’s solution to problems plaguing the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer, namely lack of luggage space and radiator-induced cabin heat. Radiators were mounted Formula-One-style on the sides of the Testarossa, instead of the front, to amply resolve both issues. Since the radiator vents were larger than allowed in some countries, strakes were stretched from the door panels to the edges of the vents to divide them into smaller, more regulation-friendly openings. The public loved them and companies imitated them on products ranging from the Pontiac Fiero to the Honda VFR superbike.
Other popular design features included large retractable headlights, a long sweeping windshield, star-patterned wheels secured by a single nut (later five nuts), vents on the engine cover, a black louvre across the extra-wide tail, and red panels on the camshaft covers that gave the Testarossa its testosteronish name that actually means “red head” in Italian. Many of its features were bold for their time and helped make the Testarossa an instant classic.
The leather interior of the Testarossa is comfortable and refined. Even large drivers can position themselves comfortably by adjusting the tiltable steering wheel and supportive, power leather seats. The ride is quiet and enjoyable with excellent all-around visibility, powerful air conditioning, large easy-to-read meters and an authentic gate shifter for the five-speed manual transmission. Driving a Testarossa requires a little more concentration than driving today’s computer-assisted supercars. But it rewards with an addictive engine roar and unparalleled exhilaration.
Handling is excellent at all speeds thanks to a 40:60 (front to rear) weight distribution that was further improved in later models, four-wheel independent suspension, highly efficient ventilated disc brakes and streamlined aerodynamics with an impressive 0.36 drag coefficient. At high speeds, air passing through the radiators out vents in the engine lid and louvre creates a powerful downforce that significantly improves stability and eliminates the need for a spoiler.
As Ferrari’s top-of-the-line model, the Testarossa was priced well beyond the reach of most enthusiasts. It cost as much as $220,000 in the US and £136,500 in the UK. Yet demand was strong throughout most of its 1984-1996 production run. Now secondhand Testarossas can be purchased for a fraction of the original price, although their value has been steadily rising in recent years.
The pristine Ferrari Testarossa in stunning Enzo racing red shown in the accompanying photo was recently purchased at a very competitive price from a used car auction in Japan, where over 150,000 secondhand vehicles go on auction every week to provide unrivaled opportunities for value.
Wherever you live in the world, our dedicated team at Japan Car Direct can keep you informed of suitable vehicles on auction every week, arrange for professional third-party inspections, ensure all of your questions are answered, place bids on your behalf, inform you of every detail after successful bids, and arrange for the vehicle’s transportation to your nearest port. We are here for you every step of the way, and aim to make the entire process easy and enjoyable.
-
It was my first time buying a car online, let alone overseas. These guys are legit!!!
Yoshi has been very patient, transparent and prompt with all queries. The car was exactly... read moreBobby Capa11/22/2022FIRST TIME BUYER
So…. I have just ordered my second car from Yoshiro Nakajima at Japan Car Direct. Keep in mind my first car has only just gotten to the port,... read moreAlpesh Patel9/11/2022Great service. This was my first time importing a car from Japan. Everything was well explained and the whole process went very smooth. Would highly recommend!! Thank you Yoshi!
John Power9/08/2022 -
Importing through Japan Car Direct has been a great experience through and through. Their assistance in the auction and bidding process and arranging shipping is top notch. More importantly their... read more
Peter Hagemeyer9/07/2022Awesome experience working with Taylor, he was extremely helpful and patience. It was my first time exporting a vehicle and he walked me through step by step and didn't... read more
Eric Southerland9/06/2022Japan Car Direct made buying a car from Japan dangerously easy. 🙂 Yoshiro was a great help. He was responsive and supportive through the whole process. They have... read more
Tim Meunier9/04/2022 -
I had an excellent experience working with Matthew at Japan Car Direct. I was a first time auction buyer and importer to the United States. Mathew walked me through... read more
Alex Spiegel8/11/2022A great experience for my first time importing a car from Japan. Mike’s customer service was second to none and all the paperwork was in order.
Bobby Crumpley8/03/2022Matthew at JCD is the man. I’ve now imported three of my own cars through him. JCD was able to accommodate my unique needs, everything from short turn around inspections,... read more
Chan Shin7/29/2022 -
I highly recommend Japan Car Direct. They help you find exactly what you are looking for and are with you throughout the entire process. Import was seamless. Mike was great... read more
Sir Selrahc7/14/2022Before this I have never imported any vehicles to NZ let alone one from Japan! I decided to give these guys a shot and bought a JDM Tesla into the... read more
Edward Yuan7/11/2022Great experience. Extremely easy process and Kept me well informed. Highly recommend them if looking to purchase a vehicle from Japan.
Antonio Sevilla7/08/2022 -
It's hard to say anything that hasn't been said from other reviewers! This was my first experience importing a vehicle. Mike Nguyen was super patient with me and my indecisiveness.... read more
Law_of_the Za6/30/2022I used Japan Car Direct's services to import a Nissan Silvia from Japan to Australia. Mike was very helpful from start to finish and definitely made the process stress free.
The... read more
matthew martin6/24/2022Just picked up my car that I bought through JCD. I was a complete newbie about buying a car overseas and Mathew was kind enough to basically hold my... read more
TK Mad6/18/2022
We accept refundable deposits by PayPal to ([email protected]). Log into your account, and lets start working together today! 
- There are no features available
