Ferrari Testarossa History

The Ferrari Testarossa (Italian: 'red head', referring to its red cam covers — a nod to the 1950s Testa Rossa racer) premiered at the 1984 Paris Motor Show to replace the Berlinetta Boxer. Pininfarina's design — most recognisably featuring the broad side strakes channelling air to the rear-mounted radiators — gave the Testarossa an instantly recognisable silhouette that defined supercar aesthetics for the decade.

The flat-12 engine produced 390 hp in original form, rising to 428 hp in the 512 TR (1992) and 440 hp in the F512 M (1994). The car's appearance in the TV series Miami Vice from 1986 onward (replacing the Daytona replica previously used) made it perhaps the single most culturally visible Ferrari of the 1980s.

Across all three production variants — Testarossa, 512 TR, and F512 M — almost 10,000 cars were built, an unusually large production run for a Ferrari of its era and a testament to the relentless demand the Testarossa's image created.