An icon of the '80s, a sleek grey Ferrari Testarossa conquers the winding roads of Grimsel Pass! Introduced in 1984 as the successor to the Ferrari 512 BB mid-engine sports car, the Testarossa featured a unique 180° flat V12 engine (known as the “Berlinetta Boxer” though technically not a true boxer engine).
Its name, meaning “red head” in Italian, refers to the distinctive red-painted valve covers on its 12-cylinder engine. This model is actually the third Testarossa in Ferrari’s lineup - the first two, the 250 Testa Rossa and 500 Testa Rossa, used the name in two words, “Testa Rossa,” instead of the combined single name.
The engine, positioned just ahead of the rear axle, is technically a 180° V-engine rather than a boxer, as each pair of opposing pistons shares a crankpin. It’s equipped with dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) per cylinder head and uses Bosch’s mechanical K-Jetronic fuel injection system. This powertrain delivers an impressive 287 kW (390 hp), propelling the car to a top speed of around 290 km/h and achieving 0-100 km/h acceleration in 5.3 seconds.
Ferrari built the Testarossa on the same platform as its predecessor, the 512 BB, with a steel tube chassis. A unique feature of this chassis is a subframe that supports the engine and transmission, allowing them to be removed as a unit for easier access during servicing. The front suspension uses double wishbones, while the rear setup includes double wishbones as well, with one shaped like a trapezoid to help maintain alignment. Weight distribution is 40% front and 60% rear, and the rear axle has dual spring-damper units per wheel. The car is fitted with 16-inch wheels: 225/50 tires up front and 255/50 in the rear.
Unlike the single front radiator of the 512 BB, the Testarossa has twin radiators on each side, positioned ahead of the rear wheels. This arrangement, made possible by the car’s wide body, brings cooling closer to the engine and features striking side air intakes - a styling innovation at the time that soon became popular in the tuning scene.
In total, 7,177 Testarossas were produced, along with 2,261 units of the 512 TR and 501 of the F512 M, making it one of Ferrari’s most widely produced models.
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