Salvage Title: 1987 Ferrari Testarossa
What’s a bit of damage when it’s a Ferrari? This Testarossa is described as having “front end damage” but comes with its original parts and runs fine. It is listed here on eBay with bidding sitting at $31,115; the reserve has been surpassed. The new owner will retrieve his prize from Phoenix, Arizona. Ferrari’s first Testa Rossa helped establish the manufacturer as a force in sports car racing from the moment of its introduction in 1957 through 1962 when Ferrari began to adopt a mid-engine layout. Decades later, the company recycled the name, calling its successor to the Berlinetta Boxer the “Testarossa”. The big two-seat sports touring car offers luggage space up front, and a sonorous flat-12 behind, but best of all, it was sold in the US whereas the Boxer was kept overseas.
Nothing wrong back here. The 4.9 liter, dual overhead cam, flat twelve cylinder engine makes 380 hp and tons of torque. Despite its 3700 lbs, the Testarossa rockets to sixty in less than six seconds. Top speed is a prodigious 180 mph. Below that engine sits a five-speed manual gearbox – this configuration led to a rather high center of gravity for such a low car and was responsible for the occasional criticism of its handling. And while we’re on the subject of criticism, Ferrari tucked the engine’s cooling system into the sides of the car, making it a foot wider than the Boxer, and necessitating horizontal air intake strakes along its flanks. The automotive press was not impressed with the resulting styling, but that didn’t prevent buyers from lining up on wait lists and paying thousands over sticker to acquire one.
The car’s cabin shows wear commensurate with its 158k mileage reading. Speaking of the interior, Ferrari viewed the Testarossa as an opportunity to correct the ergonomic faults of the Boxer. Boxer drivers complained about its cramped cockpit and suffocating lack of ventilation. The newly wide, comfortable cabin was a strong selling point in America – in addition to the stupendous performance.
A selection of parts comes with the sale, but the mother lode is that engine, despite its high miles. If we were profiling an intact Testarossa with zero damage, the price would be hovering around $150k, give or take. But the salvage title will haunt this car forever. Still, I could see the bidding settling slightly north of the current quote once the remaining hours left in the auction tick down; what do you think this Testarossa is worth?
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Comments
Whoever buy this, don’t ruin this Testarossa like Richard Rawlings did to the Gas Monkey Garage Testarossas. He ruined them like Lois Griffin ruined Kix cereal for her husband Peter
Yeah I remember the episodes where he rebuilt a wrecked Ferrari with his buddy Dennis Collins.
That…rawlings guy is…is….a….well…no personal attacks allowed. But..sure ruins many a car….
He may have ruined them as genuine original Ferrari’s but he made a LOT of money out of the first Ferrari that he sold to Dennis Collins, who sold it and then Rawlings bought it back and re sold it for more money! I know who has the brains here regarding this car and it wouldn’t surprise me if it was Rawlings that has bought it. I hope it was because at least it will be back on the road in no time and somebody who doesn’t care if it’s original or not will drive the wheels off it. I don’t care what he does to the cars he works on as they are usually pretty far gone whereas Chip Foose destroys an original car to make it look and drive like a modern car. I must say though that when he is finished they look magnificent.
I actually really liked the black one they did, I thought it turned out well though it ticked off a lot of the purists. If you didn’t like that, though, you better not look at the white electric Testarossa they built.
That white Testrossa was beautiful, and coming from a purist that’s saying something, especially as I don’t have two seconds of my time to even contemplate owning or even driving, an E vehicle.,
Sold $31,115, parts car?
Probably the best use of it. With 158K miles and a salvage title it won’t be worth the high cost to bring it back.
Unless you don’t care about the resale value and just want a Ferrari Testarossa. Not everyone is looking for a low mileage, high dollar Ferrari to park in their garage. This car could be a really nice driver if it can be properly repaired. And if I was in the market for one that’s exactly what I would do with.
The owner of this car may reside in Arizona, but they are California Dreaming if they think that anyone is going to shell out nearly 32k for this Italian train wreck, especially at 158k miles…..
I wonder who the rap star that owned this Ferrari was?
Did the car sale because five days ago I was high bidder at 32,000 on eBay for the car and with two days to go he removed it
….maybe put a Fiero body on it???
I wanted to post the Fiero rebody but you beat me to it. imagine the all the Ferrari fanatics that would lose their minds if a person did this!!!
Honestly if I was the buyer I would NOT repair it. I would pull the drive train and put it in something else just because I can. I would then sell off the parts I can on evil bay then take some of the wrecked parts for wall art or something. Probably rebuild the engine myself for experience of working on that engine.
This listing was ended by the seller on Fri, Apr 19 at 12:12 PM because the item was sold.
US $31,115.00
13 bids Ended