Car of the Week: The Iconic Ferrari Testarossa Defined the 1980s, and This One Is up for Grabs
Monaco Car Auctions’ upcoming L’Astarossa sale, the second edition of its all-Ferrari auction held for the first time in 2023, returns to the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on June 8. Among the highlights is a 1985 Testarossa “Monospecchio,” the first in a lineage of Ferrari supercars made from 1984 to 1996. It was a real showstopper when introduced—a wedge-shaped retort to its predecessor, the curvaceous 512 BBi.
The initial design for the Testarossa was conceived by Emanuele Nicosia, and the project was developed under coachbuilder Pininfarina’s design chief at the time, Leonardo Fioravanti. Also involved were Pininfarina’s Guido Campoli, Diego Ottina, and Ian Cameron. Premiered at the 1984 Paris Auto Show, the original Testarossa was unabashedly slab-sided and, at nearly 78 inches wide, assumed an imposing stance that simply dwarfed sports cars like the Porsche 911.
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Among the model’s notable styling cues are the “cheese grater” side strakes that cover gaping intakes behind each door. These allow a copious volume of air to cool the rear-mounted engine radiators without sucking in debris, birds, or errant creatures crossing the road. Another signature design detail is the single side mirror—mounted on the driver’s side and high on the A-pillar—which extends like a waving arm. By 1987, all Testarossas featured shorter mirrors on both sides.
The rear deck, nearly the dimensions of a king-sized mattress, conceals the 4.9-liter flat-12 engine developing about 385 hp—at 6,300 rpm—and 361 ft lbs of torque. The model’s name references Ferrari’s 250 Testa Rossa, which won the 1957 World Sportscar Championship. Both Prancing Horses are distinguished by their red-painted cam covers.
With a top speed of about 180 mph, the Testarossa was the fastest of all the production street cars from Maranello at the time. A rear-mounted five-speed manual transmission drives the rear wheels, which at 10 inches in width, make the car resemble as much a steam roller as an automobile.
With the start of the 1986 television season, the Testarossa became famous for its role in the show Miami Vice as the automotive sidekick of fictional detective Sonny Crockett, gaining the marque untold media exposure. By 1992, the Testarossa had evolved into the 512TR, and finally took a bow as the F512 M (the “M” for “Modificata”) in 1994, finally going out of production in 1996. Powered by the same distinguished flat-12 engine, a total of 9,939 examples of the Testarossa (in all model variants) were eventually produced, more than any other Ferrari up to that point.
This Monospecchio, which Robb Report recently had a chance to test drive, is one of 447 European-spec examples built in 1985, and its bold shape is enhanced by the classic Rosso Corsa exterior, complemented by a Nero leather interior. Immediately following the sale, the vehicle will receive a comprehensive service, which is a rite of passage for every Testarossa, as the model requires an “engine-out” procedure to replace timing belts and other critical-wear components.
Included in the sale are the service book and user manual in their pouch, as well as the spare tire and jack. Showing just 24,008 kilometers (14,917 miles) on the odometer, this impeccable early example will sell without reserve, but carries a high-end estimate of $200,000.
Click here for more photos of this 1985 Ferrari Testarossa Monospecchio.
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