In 1984, Michael Jordan was drafted into the NBA, and it’s fair to say that the sports world hasn’t been the same since. That same year, the Ferrari Testarossa made its world premiere, and likewise, the sports car world also hasn’t been the same since. It is not difficult to see how the Ferrari Testarossa is the Michael Jordan of sports cars. By which I mean, it was the quintessential cultural icon of the day — consistently appearing on your television set and in your video games as a symbol of excellence. The Testarossa defined a decade, and for the following reasons it deserves a spot in every sports car enthusiast’s dream garage.
10 The Ferrari Testarossa Would Define A Decade
The Paris Motor Show is the world’s oldest automobile show in the world, making its debut in 1898. To this day, it is still very important to car enthusiasts the world over, hosting over 1 million visitors every two years. It was nearly 40 years ago, however, when the motor show made headlines. In 1984, on the night before the motor show, a group of VIPs were given special access to a car that would define the coming decade. As described by Ferrari, the Testarossa “made its debut in the glittering surroundings of the Lido nightclub on the Champs Elysees in Paris, on the eve of the 1984 Paris Salon, where invited press and guests were given a gala preview prior to its public launch the following day.” The automotive press was incredibly receptive to this new dynamic sports car, and the public soon followed suit.
9 What Does the Name 'Testarossa' Mean?
We know that the “Ferrari” in Ferrari Testarossa comes from the company’s namesake and founder Enzo Ferrari, but from where does the “Testarossa” come? It comes from a winning sports car of the 1950s, the 250 Testa Rossa. What is more, the name Testa Rossa is Italian for “red head.” So it is more than just a coincidence that the Testarossa has its camshaft covers painted red. In such a way, the Testarossa lives up to its name and is quite literally a redhead.
8 The Ferrari Testarossa Featured A V-12 Engine
This two-door coupe boasts a V-12 engine that goes from 0 to 60 mph in five seconds. Its estimated top speed is 180 mph. The fact that the Testarossa is a mid-engine sports car, means that its engine sits near the middle of the car, and it not only puts the engine in the proverbial driver's seat, so to speak, but it also produces a more equitable distribution of weight, thus leading to better handling and performance.
7 The Ferrari Testarossa's Door Strakes Are Its Most Iconic Feature
The first time anyone sees the Testarossa his or her eyes are immediately drawn to the side strakes. These aerodynamic ridges look like sharp lines and call to mind the strings on a guitar fret. And likewise, these things rock. Ironically, this stylistic design was only partially done for aerodynamic purposes; the real reason for this look was to conform to the laws of various countries, making sure that the vehicle was street-legal. To this day, the strakes have been used in aftermarket body kits in attempts to imitate the Testarossa’s iconic look. As the old adage goes, imitation is the greatest form of flattery.
6 The Ferrari Testarossa's One-Side Mirror Left People Wanting More
As much as everyone seemed to love the Testarossa’s side strakes, everyone seemed to hate another one of its unique design features. The Testarossa was first produced with an oddly placed singular side view mirror. That is to say, there was only one mirror on the original Testarossas, and it sat high on the driver’s side. It wasn’t long until Ferrari customers “corrected” the situation and had a second mirror custom mounted on the passenger side. In 1987, Ferrari took the hint and went from defending its design choice to acquiescing to public opinion and producing the vehicle with two regularly placed side view mirrors.
5 The Testarossa's Value Has Only Increased Over The Years
Oscar Wilde once said, “A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing.” When people ask about the Ferrari Testarossa’s value, what they usually mean is: what does it cost? Its price is not its value. The last year Ferrari made the Testarossa its sticker price was $181,000. In 2022 money, that amount is equal to $399,000. That being said, the Testarossa has historically lost its value over time. A Testarossa sells today anywhere between $150,000 and $250,000, which makes it 37 to 63 percent less valuable than it was when it was new. Nevertheless, the Testarossa has recently started to appreciate as an asset. This is because people are starting to recognize its value once again.
4 Only A Limited Number Of Testarossas Were Produced
It is human nature: the more exclusive something is, the more we all want it. The Ferrari Testarossa is no different. Enzo Ferrari once said, “The Ferrari is a dream — people dream of owning this special vehicle and for most people it will remain a dream apart from those lucky few.” Lucky few is right. The Testarossa was produced from 1984 to 1991, and in that time only 7,177 examples were issued.
3 The Ferrari Testarossa Was An 80s Television Star
In the 1980s, cars were the stars of the show. It was a time-traveling DeLorean that captured the Big Screen in Back to the Future, but it was a vehicle used in crime fighting that won the small screen. No, that is not a reference to the A-Team van or KITT from Knight Rider. The crime fighting vehicle I am referring to is the white Ferrari Testarossa driven by Don Johnson’s character Sonny Crockett in the hit 80s crime drama Miami Vice. The Miami Vice aesthetic — from the rolled up sports coat sleeves to the luxurious sports cars — helped define the style of a decade, and as such, made the Ferrari Testarossa a household name. So much so in fact, that shortly before his passing, Enzo Ferrari gifted Don Johnson a Silver ’89 Testarossa to show his appreciation for the show.
2 The Testarossa Was Also A Video Game Star
It wasn’t only on your television screen where you saw the iconic sports car. Move aside Mario, the Testarossa was an arcade star as well. In the hit 1986 Sega arcade game Out Run, the player is put behind the wheel of a Red Testarossa Spider. The game’s objective is to drive to different destinations, trying to avoid traffic along the way. The arcade game itself is shaped to look like a Testarossa (well, sort of). It is a cubed shape arcade cabinet in which the player sits behind a steering wheel. The cabinet has the famous Testarossa door strakes plastered on its side to drive home the point. What is more, the Testarossa continued to live on in video game glory via the Ferrari 512 TR making the cover of the 1994 hit game The Need for Speed. It is safe to say that the Testarossa’s cultural impact cannot be overstated.
1 Other Cultural Icons Viewed the Ferrari Testarossa As A Cultural Icon
This post began by referring to the Ferrari Testarossa as the Michael Jordan of Sports Cars. The reasoning behind this was simple: it was to point out the sports car’s cultural relevance, popularity and perceived level of excellence. Upon a closer examination, this analogy may be more apropos than originally thought. In the past few years, Michael Jordan has associated himself further with race cars. Recently, “His Airness” has taken an ownership stake in a Nascar team. What is more, it was hardly a rare occurrence to see the NBA champion and gold medalist driving around the streets of Chicago in his very own Testarossa. The same year Jordan won a gold medal on the dream team and an NBA championship, he was spending his free time sporting an iconic 1992 512 TR with a license plate that read “M AIR J,” thus associating himself with the Testarossa, which was also at the top of its proverbial game.