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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!

Auto blog

1957 Ferrari 335S sells for $34.9M, still not most expensive Ferrari ever sold

Fri, Feb 5 2016

Here's your reminder that the price of a good vintage Ferrari is absolutely staggering – the 1957 335S that just sold at an Artcurial auction in Paris for $34.9 million isn't even close to a record when it comes to Prancing Horses crossing the block. While this 335S still represents a hell of a lot of money, we're actually wondering why it didn't do better. For one, this car, chassis number 0674, has the all-important racing provenance collectors crave. It's been raced by legends Mike Hawthorne and Sir Stirling Moss. In its first year of competition, Wolfgang von Trips took it to second place at the Mille Miglia, while Peter Collins and Maurice Trintigant drove it to sixth at the 12 Hours of Sebring. It even recorded the fastest lap at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (although it retired with engine problems just 56 laps into the race). So yes, consider the provenance box checked. Besides famous racers and races, it was owned by some huge names in the Ferrari world, including Luigi Chinetti, the founder of the North American Racing Team and the first Ferrari importer in the US. But for the past 45 years, it was a part of the legendary Bardinon Collection, which was known for its wide array of high-quality Ferraris. While the 1957 335S falls short of the record-holding 1962 250 GTO sold by Bonhams for $38.1 million during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance festivities in 2014, it's still one of the most expensive cars ever sold at auction. And hey, it even landed in the meaty part of its $31.2 million to $35.6 million estimated sale price.

This is the amazing Christmas wonderland Ferrari builds for kids every year

Sun, 23 Dec 2012

Granted, when we think of a "Ferrari Christmas Wonderland" our dreams naturally manifest something like a red FF with a bow on the hood and keys on the seat, parked in front of a Fiorano Circuit that's ours for the day. A guy's gotta dream, right?
But, luckily for a lot of beaming children and their grateful, non-selfish parents, Ferrari's gift back to the people of Maranello is far more festive. The Italian automaker clearly pulls out all of the stops for its annual Kids Christmas party to celebrate the season. The event, which sees the Ferrari grounds transformed in to a veritable amusement park in a holiday theme, seems pretty massive of scale and impressive in its detail.
Click through to the video clip below to see what we mean, and pay special attention about two-thirds of the way through, when a special contingent of 'Santas' drop by to say "Boun Natale."

Fiat gives outgoing Ferrari chairman $35M severance package

Thu, 11 Sep 2014

Luca di Montezemolo may not have wanted to leave Ferrari this way, but don't feel too bad for the departing chairman, because he'll be hitting the ground with a golden parachute so big that he'll never have to work again.
According to the latest reports, Fiat will pay Montezemolo 26.95 million euros (nearly $35 million) in severance pay. A little more than half of that will be paid in a lump sum of 13.71 million euros ($17.7M, equivalent to five times his annual salary) on January 31, 2015, with the rest to be paid within the next 20 years.
The payment is contingent on Montezemolo not going to work for a competitor, so don't expect to see him replacing Stephan Winkelmann at Lamborghini or Wolfgang Dürheimer at Bugatti any time soon. At least not until March 2017. Of course with that much cash on hand, the 67-year-old marquis need never work again, but considering how busy he's used to keeping himself, we'd be surprised if he didn't pop up again somewhere.