It was a glorious day. The sun blazing in a flawless sky, open roads stretching endlessly ahead, good company, and an electric sense of adventure. A day made for speed. The iconic Testarossa engine roared beneath me as I pushed it to its very limits. The engine’s growl echoing along the winding road. I was in the Miami Vice Ferrari, weaving through traffic. Aggressively overtaking cars as the road twisted sharply along a breathtaking coastline, “Splash Wave” blaring on the Alpine 7272 stereo.
Tires screamed in protest as I sped past a pink Volkswagen Beetle. The adrenaline surged as I closed in on a black Porsche 930 Turbo. The red speedometer needle trembling at 293 kilometers per hour. But in an instant, everything brutally changed. A violent crash tore through the moment, sending the iconic V12 supercar hurtling into the air, flipping over and over before crashing back down with a deafening impact…
Devastated, I realized I would need to insert a few more coins into Sega’s incredible arcade game Out Run that evening in Puerto Rico if I wanted to reach the next checkpoint. Since then, the Ferrari Testarossa has held a special place in my heart. Showcasing the profound impact a video game can have on the popularity of a car model.
The Testarossa then came the second Miami Vice Ferrari
Released in 1986, just two years after the debut of the first Ferrari Testarossa model in 1984, the game was an instant success. The Testarossa’s unveiling at the Paris Motor Show had also been a resounding success. Making it one of the most frequently featured cars on magazine covers.
It was the ultimate symbol of the 80´s material success
Around the same time, the stock market was experiencing a speculative boom, and for many yuppies of the mid-80s, securing a brand-new Ferrari Testarossa was the ultimate symbol of material success. Pairing a Testarossa with the lightest mobile phone on the market at the time, and a Rolex, made you the epitome of a player in the style of Gordon Gekko.
The Second Miami Vice Ferrari was a step up from the Daytona replica
Concurrently, Don Johnson was chasing criminals on TV in his new white Ferrari Testarossa in Miami Vice. Crockett and Tubbs definitely stepped up their daily driver, swapping the black Ferrari Daytona replica for the much more modern Testarossa. This only fueled the desire among the wealthy to own the same car as TV’s coolest cops, significantly boosting Testarossa sales. It actually became a high-volume model for Ferrari, with more than 7,100 units sold before its update in 1991. Car fans might remember the car chase in the series where Sonny Crockett raced through the streets of Miami in pursuit of a white Lamborghini Countach. Two of the 80s’ most popular supercar icons, in the hottest TV show on the planet.
Expensive, but with a very innovative design by Pininfarina
In 1985, according to DuPont Registry, a Ferrari Testarossa cost around $175,000. Hence making it more than twice as expensive as the stunning Ferrari 308 GTB QV. This price bought you a long (448 cm) and relatively heavy sports car (nearly 1,800 kg) with an entirely innovative design language. Those doors… Designed by Pininfarina, the long, low body featured the iconic side strakes that extended to the rear. The world had never seen anything like it, and the controversial design would become a hallmark of later Ferrari models. Car enthusiasts everywhere were adding Testarossa-style strakes to everything from mopeds to worn-out Volvo 142s, with varying degrees of success.
A grand tourer sporting 390 hp, reaching 290 km/h
The Ferrari Testarossa was a top-tier grand tourer. Well-built, luxurious, comfortable, and blisteringly fast by mid 80´s standards. With a low-mounted 4.9-liter flat-12 engine, it boasted 390 horsepower, promising speeds of up to 290 km/h (293 km/h in Out Run). Acceleration times varied depending on the source, with estimates ranging from 5.7 to 6.1 seconds to reach 100 km/h. The car’s weight and less-than-ideal aero demanded all the power it could provide.
This Miami Vice Ferraris is an icon that reminds us of the 80´s
The white car pictured here is a well-preserved ’88 model, in bianco white with black leather, riding on classic monodado single nut wheels. I took these photos at The Aurora – Scandinavian Concours where I also captured a red Ferrari 512 TR, the refined and carefully redesigned 1991 successor to the Testarossa. Both were a sight to behold, attracting many looks and sparking lively discussions about the vibrant 80´s and early 90´s. It seems impossible to be indifferent to such a car, often leading to nostalgic conversations about the era when it was new.
Beautiful seats and that classic gear shift gate…
One thing that strikes you when a Ferrari Testarossa passes by is its relatively subdued sound. The flat-12 has in fact a distinctive whine, far removed from the sound of modern cars. Yet it commands respect with its wide, low, and wedge-shaped form that signals high-speed capability. Despite its high performance, the Testarossa remains comfortable, with well-integrated interiors. However, the blinker lever, seemingly borrowed from Fiat’s cheapest models, appears fragile. The leather Momo steering wheel with white stitching and the comfortable seats with the embossed logo are highlights, as is the beautiful gear shift gate of the five-speed transmission.
What poster did you have in your boy’s room? Ferrari or Lambo?
Hovever, the Ferrari Testarossa remains an iconic representation of 80s performance, competing with the Lamborghini Countach for wall space in thousands of boys’ rooms. Many units still exist due to its high sales volume and extensive production run.
Rising value and cost of ownership
The value of Ferrari Testarossas has fluctuated over the years but has started to rise. The white car in this article has a manual gearbox and 5200 km on the dash was up for sale for 235.000 euros. As you might have guessed, cost of ownership, including regular maintenance and expensive timing belt services, can deter some buyers, contributing to a stable yet moderate market. However, its unmistakable 80s styling, flat-12 engine, and pop culture significance make it an enduringly desirable collector’s car.
There are a lot of resources online. Check out Throttle House´s video below. And you also might visit the #Testarossa tag on Instagram. Or check out these cool Testarossa clips from Miami Vice.
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