Ferrari Testarossa

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Launched at the 1984 Paris Motor Show to replace the 512 Berlinetta Boxer, the Ferrari Testarossa perfectly caught the mood of the power dressing, shoulder-padded Eighties.

Low, wide and oh so aggressive, the defining stylistic features were the dramatically straked side pods which flared out to create one of the most imposing rear ends seen on any road car before or since. No mere window dressing, these pods were a crucial part of the design, housing a pair of side-mounted radiators that gave more efficient engine cooling and less heat soak in the cabin than a conventional front radiator set-up.

Mounted amidships, the engine was a lighter version of the flat-12 quad-cam 5-litre unit of the 512BB, complete with dry sump lubrication, four valves per cylinder, fuel injection and the ability to meet US emission regulations for the all-important American market. Producing a hefty 390bhp and 362lb/ft of torque, allied to Ferrari's own five-speed gearbox, this could propel the Testarossa to 181mph with 0-60mph achieved in just 5.3 seconds. A longer wheelbase, wider track and revised all-round double-wishbone coil-over suspension promoted better handling, aided by bigger brakes and wider tyres.

Despite the increase in size over the 512BB, the Testarossa was lighter than its predecessor thanks to an aluminium bodyshell with galvanised steel doors and roof. It was also notably more user-friendly with light controls, good all-round visibility, a wonderfully sweet and flexible engine, generous luggage space and a well-appointed cabin with luxuries such as air conditioning, electrically adjustable seats, tilting steering wheel and plentiful leather. A very successful model, it remained in production until 1992 by which time 7,177 examples had been sold worldwide, although fewer than 450 were supplied to the UK.

Supplied new to a Swiss buyer in October 1988, this left-hand drive Testarossa has spent its whole life in Switzerland where maintenance standards and MOT requirements are perhaps higher than anywhere else in the world. Presented in classic Rosso Corsa with a tan leather interior, it has covered only 71,400kms (44,400 miles) with a comprehensive service history comprising nine Swiss Ferrari specialist stamps to date, the last at 60,739kms, and is due to have another service and a cambelt change just before the auction. The vendor also plans to get the Ferrari specialist doing the service to write a condition report on the car, so confident is he that it will pass any inspection with flying colours.

The car is said to be totally standard apart from a sports exhaust that emits a spine-tingling howl. It comes with the aforementioned service history, a stamped book of exhaust gas tests from 1999-2013, all its original handbooks, the original toolkit, the original Blaupunkt stereo and two sets of keys.

Said to be “as clean as you could ever imagine a 25-year-old car to be” it looks excellent value at the sensible guide price suggested, especially given the way that values of this iconic 80s Ferrari have begun to soar in recent months (a 12,000 mile example making over £131,000 at auction in January this year and a 1,000 miler making over £200,000 in February).

PS: This car now has a UK V5C and is registered F327 HAK