There are a plethora of automakers globally. From the mediocre blender on wheels to the highly-exclusive hyper-car, there is a company out there that manufactures cars for any budget and needs. However, the most prestigious car brands tend to produce some of the fastest and stunning vehicles available on the market.
Ferrari is among the most respected supercar manufacturers in the world. Some of the greatest Ferraris ever made are now worth millions of dollars and are pretty much reserved for a very specific demographic. Among these emblematic Ferraris is the Testarossa. It is fair to say that it is one of the most iconic vehicles of the 1980s.
10 The Original
Most educated car enthusiasts know that the Italian has a legacy of professional racing wins. Ferrari's successes are not recent. Back in the 1950s, the automaker was already well-known for its outstanding race cars.
The very first Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa is one of the most gorgeous classic European cars. First released in 1957, the 250 Testa Rossa is a true race car that never failed to perform well on the track. As a matter of fact, the Testa Rossa won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958. Needless to say, this Ferrari is one valuable race car.
9 Designer
It is fair to say that behind every great car, there is an amazing team of designers and engineers. Italian and German designers are famously known for their acute skills. From Claus Luthe to Horacio Pagani, European car designers have come up with some of the best sports cars ever made. Battista "Pinin" Farina is one of them.
Battista Farina and his company have worked in close collaboration with Ferrari for decades. The designing firm also worked on a variety of European cars, but it is mostly known for its outstanding designs for Ferrari. The firm worked on the design of the Testarossa, which ultimately led to the car's success. Battista "Pinin" Farina is so respected in his field that a 1,900 hp electric hypercar was named after him.
8 Testarossa
Ferrari knew that when Pininfarina designed the Testarossa, the car would have a tremendous impact on the supercar industry. Upon its release in 1984, the Testarossa was equipped with a 4.9L flat-12 that produced 390 hp. The reason behind this humongous engine and very racecar-like design was simple; the Testarossa was a tribute to the original Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa.
The reason behind the success of the Testarossa might not solely be due to its powerful engine and sleek design. In order to achieve such an astonishing result, Ferrari employees must follow specific rules in order to get to this result. It is fair to say that the Testarossa was a great tribute to its predecessor, the 250 Testa Rossa.
7 Disappointment
Similar to other automakers, Ferrari does not always hit the nail right on the head. There are times when the Italian supercar manufacturer produces cars that simply cannot compete against Lamborghinis or Paganis, which is normal in a competitive market. However, there were times when Ferrari created downright disappointing cars like the Berlinetta Boxer.
The Berlinetta Boxer was sadly not as exceptional as Ferrari wanted it to be. In fact, it sort of fell flat compared to other vehicles such as the Lamborghini Countach. In an effort to sweep this failure under the rug, Ferrari scrapped the Berlinetta Boxer and focused its attention on developing the Testarossa.
6 Real Actress
The 1980s were rich in very flashy TV shows. Whether it was David Hasselhoff's Knight Rider or Tom Selleck's Magnum P.I., there was a large number of super-cop shows. In most of these shows, the protagonist is always seen driving some of the nicest cars made during that era. As the Testarossa was a wonderful supercar, it was a natural choice to be featured on a show.
In Miami Vice, Don Johnson and his sidekick, Philip Michael Thomas, were seen fighting bad guys in the streets of Miami in a white Testarossa. Enzo Ferrari was so pleased with the show that he offered an actual Testarossa to Don Johnson.
5 Celebrities' Favorite
Imagine you were making somewhere around $30 million a year from your main occupation. On top of that, you had deals with a plethora of companies thus ensuring another $60 million per year. It is safe to say that your garage would be the size of the Mall of America. However, it would only be filled with the finest cars available on the market.
The Ferrari Testarossa TR was found in Michael Jordan's insane car collection. However, he was not the only celebrity that fell in love with the Italian supercar. Elton John, Alain Delon, Suge Knight, and Michael Jackson are some celebrities that had a Testarossa in their respective garages.
4 Unconventional Release
Some of the most successful companies have done some very interesting things over the years. Though the products they were offering sure had some added value, it is their launch that really blew everybody's minds. No one will ever forget Steve Jobs waving the iPhone around. Well, no one will ever forget the Testarossa's launch.
Ferrari decided to things in style. Though the car was supposed to be unveiled at the Paris Auto Show, the Italian carmaker decided to organize a press launch at the Lido Club on the Champs Elysee. Though it would be normal from a European standpoint, it would be odd to introduce the latest Ford GT at Spearmint Rhino in Las Vegas.
3 Spyder
To most people, it is mandatory for a sports car manufacturer to release a convertible version of its vehicles. In fact, who does not want to be seen in a very fancy sports car? Exactly. Ferrari did not see that way for its Testarossa. The Testarossa Spyder is one of the most exclusive vehicles ever made by Ferrari.
To put it bluntly, only one Testarossa Spyder was ever made. It was a gift to Gianni Agnelli, then head of Fiat, from Ferrari and Pininfarina. The car was manufactured in 1986 and handed over to Agnelli the same year. Every other Testarossa Spyder simply is not factory-made.
2 Cheese Grater
Supercars are known for having some of the oddest bells and whistles. In fact, most of them seem to be ready to race the discontinued Concorde plane, and win. For reasons that are mainly concerned with aerodynamics and car temperature, these add-ons are features that have sometimes made supercars iconic.
The legendary cheese graters found on the Testarossa were fitted to the car to meet safety requirements. It was not only a requirement in the US but in almost most places in the world. The reason behind the existence of the cheese graters is simple: the huge vent was perceived as a hazard to pedestrians and cyclists.
1 Face Lifts
The Ferrari Testarossa was in production for 12 years between 1984 and 1996. Despite being challenged by a variety of supercars worldwide, the Testarossa was able to maintain its status thanks to two much need facelifts. Though some car enthusiasts may argue that the very first Testarossa was the most stylish of all, it is fair to say that they all look incredibly gorgeous.
The Testarossa received its first face lift in 1992. The Testarossa owned by Jordan, for example, was the 512 TR equipped with the same 4.9L flat twelve but produced 422 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque. Two years later, the 512 M was released. This time again, the same 4.9L 12-cylinder engine was adopted. However, it developed 434 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque.