It is the ultimate poster car of the eighties and nineties. Wedge-shaped, side-mounted gills, large engine, flat body and usually painted in red, the Ferrari 512 TR attracts a lot of attention. And that’s exactly why I’m asking myself the following question:
Does this Italian sports car define the epitome of the Ferrari brand itself?
Let’s find out!
What is it all about?
Let's go back to 1984: after the distinctive wedge shape of the seventies sports cars had become established, things had to get even more dramatic in the eighties. The new design feature with the side-mounted gills (or slits) immediately caught on after the Testarossa's debut and became the style element of the decade. The tuning scene quickly followed with outstanding bodykits for various cars. Who remembers the Strosek and Koenig Specials BMWs, Mercedes’ and Porsches with extreme widebody kits?
As the successor to the Ferrari 512 BB and BBi, the Testarossa was given more striking and brash lines. Additionally, the Testarossa received a pair of pop-up headlights to properly position itself into the eighties.
After the 1984 Paris Motor Show, high-gloss Testarossa posters would soon be Blu-tacked to millions of bedroom walls (probably alongside a print of Madonna or Dire Straits vinyl records), while millions more would drive one – albeit a red pixelated Spider version in Sega’s addictive driving game, Outrun. Iconic.
First impressions:
The car I’ve been able to drive is a 1992 Ferrari 512 TR. It is the original Testarossa’s revised model (1991-1994) with quite a few changes in terms of optics and technical features.
The output of the 4.9-liter engine was increased to 315 kW (428 hp); this increase in power was achieved primarily through the modified cylinder heads with larger valves, the modified exhaust system and the new airboxes. Externally, the 512 TR stands out from the Testarossa primarily in the design of the front. Instead of the continuous parallel grille, it is now trapezoidal and adopts the design line of the 348tb. At the rear, the raised section on the engine cover is flatter and has an additional cooling slot; the perforated metal strips on the two fins of the hood are missing and the rear apron forms a surround for the exhaust pipes. The wedge-shaped silhouette with the distinctive shoulder and air intakes cannot be emphasized enough, especially because the Pininfarina design team under the direction of Leonardi Fioravanti originally wanted to conceal it. Viewed in strict profile, it is almost shocking to see the contrast between the long nose and the truncated rear. But you will barely look at this car like that because it is too low to be viewed exclusively in two dimensions. It's more optimal to look at this Ferrari in a three-quarter rear view, with its black grille stretching from side to side like a chest expander, making the sports car look even wider.
The 512 TR was built 2261 times in its four years of production. Which was a rather huge number of cars for Ferrari back then! Times have changed, obviously.
"The wide shoulders of the rear axle are perfectly visible through the side mirrors, so you can always keep an eye on that BIG BUTT… ...sorry, rear end, of course."
Let’s have a seat.
As it isn’t a rumor, older Ferraris are quite narrow to get in. Tall people tend to struggle to take a seat in an elegant way. Once you snugged in, you might recognize the odd driving position; The three pedals are tight together, much offset to the driver’s center, the steering wheel however, is slightly offset towards the car’s outside. Very charming, very Italian.
My gaze wanders across the dashboard through the interior. Surprisingly many functions; electric windows, continuously variable and functioning air conditioning, electrically locked glove compartment with an integrated mirror, electrically adjustable side mirrors, cassette player. A journey through time. A digital detox. Lovely.
The all-round visibility is surprisingly good (at least to me). Thanks to the narrow A-pillars and the vertical rear window behind the seats, you never feel cramped. What's more, the wide shoulders of the rear axle are perfectly visible through the side mirrors, so you can always keep an eye on the size of that BIG BUTT… sorry, rear end.
Then the object of desire; the open switching gate with the infamous dogleg. Elegance, drama, fascination. The spherical gear knob fits perfectly in my right hand. Can’t wait anymore. Let’s get to business!
Let’s hit the road!
Now: fire up the 4.9L 180° V12! The distinctive Magneti Marelli starter motor brings those twelve cylinders back to life. Cold start with 1’500rpm. Running beautifully smooth. The smile gets bigger.
Luckily, I’m just 1.73m tall (or short) with rather small feet. Therefor I’m fitting perfectly into the driver’s position. Pushing the heavy clutch, engage the first gear on the bottom left, slightly stroke the gas and carefully let the clutch do its work. First gear up to 2’300rpm, shifting up to second. Easy. The 512 TR is surprisingly good-natured and civilized. Over time, you get used to the clutch’s grinding point and the sensitive accelerator pedal. Same counts for the pedal placements. Downshifting with intermediate throttle becomes a pleasure. Or rather: the whole ride becomes a pleasure.
The strikingly angular shoulder of the rear wheel arch can be seen in the side mirror. It lets you know that the stallion is ready to sprint at any time. And when the whole car is up to operating temperature, I dare to shift down a gear. But rather accelerate onto a highway out of the second gear. As higher the rpm needle climbs, the more the car pushes. You can tell that the Testarossa (especially the engine) feels very comfortable in the mid to higher rev ranges and unfolds its unexpected potential from around 4,500rpm. The Ferrari develops a completely different personality. It feels as if the Italian has adjustable camshafts (comparable like Honda VTEC or BMW Vanos). At 5,500rpm, the recommended speed of 120kph is already reached! Yep, in second gear!
My blond mullet flaps through the wind, the yellow glasses just for a period correct look and although the porn-like-looking moustache is invisible on my face, I can truly feel the eighties vibes in this cabin. What a decade it must have been.
Despite a Ferrari isn't a reasonably priced car, the people’s reactions are surprisingly positive. Waves, smiles, thumbs up – the whole program. I honestly would have never imagined that a red Ferrari would get such an amount of great feedback. Lovely. Probably due to its cult factor. Taste still exists, obviously.
The verdict:
The Ferrari 512 Testarossa is the sports car icon par excellence. Perhaps no other vehicle influenced the automotive design of its era as much as the Testarossa did. Give a child the opportunity to draw "a fast car" by definition, and it will be a wedge-shaped, flat and red car.
Overflowing with drama, the Testarossa achieved immortality. It is the ultimate sports car with an infinite cult factor! And will always keep this crown for itself. What a stunner.
To end this review, I wanted to thank the Autobau Erlebniswelt for lending me their privately owned Ferrari 512 TR for an extended weekend. It is a car I’ve always been fascinated about and keen to get behind its steering wheel for a proper drive. It is a truly special piece of machinery and has unleashed my love for manually gated, Italian stallions. An unmistakable icon. What a time to be alive.
Review & Photos by RPM | Robin P.M.
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