The Paris Motor Show in October 1984 saw the return of the glorious Testarossa as heir to the 512 BBi. Pininfarina’s design broke somewhat with tradition and was both striking and innovative. The front wings flowed into one of the models most distinctive styling features, the deeply-straked door panels that grew in width towards their trailing edge, before blending into very wide rear wings. The side intakes were larger than on the previous model and this constraint saw the introduction of the long side strakes that would become the Testarossa’ s most recognisable feature. ​The name Testa Rossa is Italian for Red Head and refers to the colour that the camshaft covers were painted on the sports racing models. Naturally the modern bearer of the name followed suit with red painted camshaft covers. It made its debut in the glittering surroundings of the Lido nightclub on the Champs Élysées 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 evolution of the 12-cylinder boxer engine saw it equipped with four valves per cylinder: the most powerful engine mounted on a production sports car at the time of its launch. The Testarossa was a model that took its name from the company’s history, being derived from the successful 500 and 250 Testa Rossa series of sports racing cars from the late fifties. It had twin belt driven overhead camshafts per bank, now driven directly off the crankshaft instead of via idler gears on the earlier Boxer models. The dry sump engine was longitudinally mounted in unit with the five -speed transmission, in a very similar manner to that of the preceding Boxer series. It was fitted with a Marelli Microplex MED 120 B electronic ignition system and Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection, to produce the 390bhp @ 6300rpm for European models. This Testarossa has the rare Monodado single-nut alloy wheels. They comprise of a single central chrome plated nut on a Rudge hub. The wheels cover large ventilated disc brakes with twin hydraulic circuits, and servo assistance. It also features all round independent suspension via wishbones, coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers, with twin rear units plus front and rear anti roll bars. Supplied new by Crepaldi Auto Ferrari, Milan in November 1986, the Ferrari Testarossa has been carefully looked after by its previous owners. The Testarossa entered the UK in 2008, and comes complete with its leather driver’s book pack, and history file. It has been serviced up to date, including the cambelt change by a leading Ferrari specialist and is all ready to be enjoyed by the next owner. Available for viewing at our London showrooms.