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1988 Ferrari Testarossa Coupe. Stunning, Very Rare Example. No Reserve! on 2040-cars

US $65,000.00
Year:1988 Mileage:26060
Location:

United States

United States
Advertising:

1988.5 FERRARI TESTAROSSA COUPE.  Classic Red over Camel Hides.  Very low mileage, well-maintained example. 

 

This is a spectacular opportunity to acquire an incredible example of one of the world’s iconic Italian supercars in superb condition.  A rapidly appreciating Testarossa, specifically a 1988 mid-year model when the wheels and many other upgrades were introduced, this special example features the ideal Ferrari livery combination: Red, Tan, Black (obviously standard Testarossa dashes were chocolate brown).  Years ago, the current owner spent three years seeking out this ideal combination worldwide until finding the ideal, well-maintained vehicle to add to his/her collection.

This Testarossa is owned by a significant private collector in the Mid-Atlantic and has been his principal driving classic for years.

As is obvious in the photos (all of which were taken in advance of this listing on June 28, 2014), the car is in extraordinarily straight condition.  It has been aggressively maintained without concern at expense throughout the owner’s tenure. 

As you would expect:  The vehicle starts instantly and performs flawlessly.  The leather headliner is perfect, the high performance tires have ca. 90% remaining: Note tire nobs still visible in the photos.

No hangar queen, this vehicle is driven biweekly and has never been on a track for any reason to the seller’s knowledge. 

Despite the vehicle’s amazing condition, seller classifies it as technically a driver given ever slight signs of age of the vehicle, evidenced in the photography.  Among items, the car does have things like flawlessly matched road chips, very minor wheel scuffs, and leather scuffs/dash edging that betray to a judge or collector it’s not a 2014 model.  That said, all photos in this listing were taken on an unforgiving sunny afternoon to betray any flaws.  Obviously they are few and hard to identify. 

The car is stunning and is photographed at almost every stop light by adjacent drivers.   It is far and away the most attention grabbing automobile, Ferrari or otherwise, that seller has ever owned.

Should prospective buyers wish to see or inspect the vehicle, seller can arrange for the vehicle’s transport and mechanical inspection (fully at the prospect’s sole expense) in the care of one of America’s very few Factory-authorized Ferrari Master Mechanics.  Because the vehicle is currently at a secure, second home private location with armed security, there will be no inspection on other terms.  As a policy, seller does not allow test drives of any collection vehicle.  Thank you for your interest.

Of course this vehicle includes Ferrari tools, books, and records to include original window sticker copy from Walnut Creek Ferrari, California ($135, 050.00 USD).

WHY THIS CAR?

This car model is an extraordinary piece of automotive history.  It is an iconic, stunning design with shapes and curves that still stop the seller in his tracks years into his ownership.  The side grills, feeding separate engine banks, still amaze and their graceful slope make the car smoother and smoother as the car speeds up.  Kids and folk in the forties and fifties still ask if they can take their photo with the seller at every fuel stop.  For some reason, this car model has come to embody the supercar of the 1980s, without the ergonomic and mechanical baggage that many of us have experienced with other Italian supercars of the same period. 

The Testarossa market is indeed showing life and this vehicle likely well represents a credible opportunity to secure a position in that rising market.  Unlike the early and later eight cylinders, the Testarossa remains the most affordable largely handcrafted twelve cylinder Ferraris.  With a tubular frame, it is also a relatively advanced and straightforward design with modern adaptations beyond the achievements of the Boxer Series.  This example will flourish and allow the next owner to enjoy and drive the vehicle a great deal during this appreciation phase before exiting, in many years, with a still-low mileage, clean and perfectly optioned example.

SERVICE STATUS:

The car has been aggressively maintained by the current owner by factory trained mechanics throughout his tenure.  An experienced Ferrari collector, the vehicle has been maintained constantly without price being an object.  In preparation for the listing, the vehicle had a typical annual service and what he refers to as biannual private sorting, e.g. perfect fresh battery, fresh dual window switches, fluid services, etc…  (Done by Competizione’s Master Ferrari Mechanics the week of 23 June 2014).

As mentioned above, the vehicle is driven usually at least biweekly and has no storage/idling issues common to virtually every other Ferrari that is only stored, polished and shown.  It is driven and used and in tremendous mechanical repair as a result.

Of course the vehicle had a full engine out (30k service) and clutch replacement service at Ferrari of Washington at 20560 miles (5500 miles ago).  Seller is aware of no outstanding service needs.  As obvious in the photos, the engine bay is extremely straight and clean.  (Note that the original flaking foam deck lid insulation is long gone.  Lid lighting cables have been wrapped and protected in aviation grade heat sheathing.

Seller would embark instantly on a coast to coast drive in this vehicle from the garage without either hesitation or preparation of any kind to the vehicle.

TERMS:

This is indeed a NO RESERVE AUCTION.  Seller intends fully to honor any authentic bids made. 

To prevent any misunderstandings:  Please ask any questions in advance.  Seller is a very private party and not a car dealer;  Unfortunately please ask any and all questions before bidding as any deal is fortunate, but final.  Assume there is nothing beyond the photographed.  Buyer must provide for a significant deposit within 48 hours and payment in full by cashier check, certified funds or wire transfer within seven calendar days.  If you cannot afford the vehicle, please do not bid.  If the successful bidder fails to meet any term, seller will immediately issue a second offer to the next fortunate bidder.

This will be an extraordinary addition to any collection.  There are lots of clean, strange colored TRs on the market or others that were inappropriately cared for during their lives.  If you know the market and these cars well, you’ve likely already realized this is a special vehicle.

Heartfelt thanks for your interest.  Best of luck in your own auto pursuits and adventures….whatever they may be!

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Max Verstappen beats Charles Leclerc to win Austrian Grand Prix

Sun, Jun 30 2019

SPIELBERG, Austria — Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the Austrian Grand Prix after beating Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in a wheel-banging battle of the 21-year-olds on Sunday, subject to a Formula One stewards' enquiry. The Dutchman's victory for the second year in a row at Spielberg also dealt champions Mercedes their first defeat of the season. Verstappen seized the lead from Leclerc, who had led from pole position, two laps from the end with the dueling pair making contact into the tight uphill turn three as the crowd roared. Race stewards investigated the contact after the race, and ultimately cleared Verstappen. He crossed the line, acclaimed by thousands of orange-shirted Dutch fans at a circuit owned by Red Bull, 2.7 seconds ahead of the Monegasque. The pair were the sport's youngest ever top two. Valtteri Bottas was third for Mercedes, who saw their streak of 10 successive wins — eight this season — come to an end. Championship-leading teammate Lewis Hamilton, winner of the previous four races, finished fifth and behind Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel. Five-times world champion Hamilton remains well in front in the standings, 31 clear of Finland's Bottas after nine of 21 races. HONDA FIRST The victory was the first for a Honda-powered car since Britain's Jenson Button won in Hungary in 2006 for the Japanese manufacturer's own team, and a welcome antidote to last weekend's dull French Grand Prix. Verstappen, now with six career wins, was also the last driver to beat Mercedes — in the Mexican Grand Prix last October. "For Honda to win again here is incredible," said the youngster, who had to fight back from eighth at the end of the first lap after getting bogged down on the front row at the start. The Red Bull came into a league of its own after the pitstops with Verstappen scything through the field one car at a time and then chasing down Leclerc. "After that start, I thought the race was over," said Verstappen. "It's hard racing, otherwise we have to stay at home. If those things are not allowed in racing, then what's the point of being in Formula One," he added when asked about the summons. The Monegasque, forced wide as Verstappen went through, said he would let the stewards decide. "On the incident for me it was pretty clear in the car," he said. "I don't know what it looked like from the outside but we'll see what the decision is.

Ferrari revealed the LaFerrari Aperta, and yeah, it's already sold out

Thu, Sep 29 2016

We saw this one coming as far away as the mid-engine Corvette: The LaFerrari is getting a convertible version. Publically revealed Thursday at the Paris Motor Show, the LaFerrari Aperta promises the same performance as the regular LaFerrari – with an open-air design. We had seen it already, actually, but today brought confirmation that it will be called Aperta, not Spider. It's already sold out (duh) and will be limited to 209 copies. Two hundred of those go to regular people, or Ferrari customers anyway, and nine will be held back by the company to show off at events in 2017 as the automaker celebrates its 70th anniversary. Ferrari says the LaFerrari Aperta maintains the torsional rigidity and aerodynamics of the hardtop. The powertrain is the same: a V12 paired with an electric motor and KERS technology to generate 949 total horsepower. Meanwhile, Ferrari revealed details on five liveries to celebrate its 70th anniversary based on its current product line with a total of 350 units set to be produced. They are: The Steve McQueen, which takes inspiration from SMQ's iconic 1960s 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso. The Green Jewel, a green scheme based on the 365 P2 from Le Mans competition. The Stirling, which evokes a 250 GT Berlinetta SWB from 1961 driven to victory by Stirling Moss. The Schumacher, a red color scheme based on Ferrari's 2003 Formula One car piloted to seven victories by Michael Schumacher. The White Spider, a tribute to the 375 MM Pinin Farina Spider. The company also showed the rear-wheel-drive, turbo V8-powered GTC4 Lusso T for the first time at an auto show. As you can tell, the Paris show is a busy one for Ferrari. That's fine with us. Related Video: Featured Gallery Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta: Paris 2016 View 21 Photos Related Gallery Ferrari LaFerrari Spider Related Gallery Ferrari 488 Spider 70th Anniversary Edition: Paris 2016 View 10 Photos Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / Autoblog Design/Style Paris Motor Show Ferrari Convertible Performance ferrari laferrari 2016 paris motor show ferrari laferrari spider ferrari laferrari aperta

2015 Malaysian F1 GP springs hot, humid surprises [spoilers]

Sun, Mar 29 2015

In the two weeks since Australia both Mercedes and Ferrari spoke of the improved performance from their respective cars. In Malaysia, Ferrari showed it. Lewis Hamilton still put his Mercedes-AMG Petronas on pole position, but Sebastian Vettel got within two whiskers of the Brit, lining up second just 0.074 behind. Afterward, Vettel said Ferrari could win the race if everything went well. But in qualifying we didn't know how much of Ferrari's performance was truly down to the car and how much was down to the wet weather that struck near the beginning of Q2. The rain didn't hamper Nico Rosberg's run – the German said "I just didn't drive good enough" – and he took third spot in the second Mercedes-AMG Petronas. Showing what the Infiniti Red Bull Racing chassis can do when the power unit is working properly, teammates Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat grabbed fourth and fifth. Whippersnapper Max Verstappen, in his second race, qualified in sixth with an excellent drive through the rain; just 0.030 behind Kvyat, he said he could have got fifth if he hadn't had a running problem with his brakes. Williams head of vehicle performance Rob Smedley said he wouldn't complain about Mercedes' advantage, but Felipe Massa has spent the whole season so far banging the alarm about Ferrari's pace. He says Williams has lost its straight-line advantage, part of the reason the first Grove car is back in seventh, while Valtteri Bottas is in eighth. Between them was Romain Grosjean in the Lotus, but he got dropped two positions for a pit-lane infraction in Q2, so he'll be tenth. Ahead of him is Marcus Ericsson in the Sauber, who would lead the charge to turn in another surprise for the Swiss team. But the real surprise came from the Scuderia Ferrari, who, on a bright, sunny day proved that they don't need to add water for race-winning pace. While Hamilton got made usual awesome start at the lights, Vettel channeled that other famous German Ferrari driver and immediately cut across the track to intimidate Rosberg, maintaining his second place position into the first turn. Arguably the race-winning move came three laps later at that same turn, when Ericsson plunged in too fast and swapped ends, beaching the rear of his Sauber in the gravel trap. The safety car came out when the recovery truck emerged to retrieve the Sauber, and nearly all of the front-runners took to the pits to swap out of the medium tires. Vettel, however, didn't.