- Not only does this Ferrari Testarossa have ultra-low mileage, but it's been properly, or maybe that's obsessively, cared for all its life.
- The mechanically sympathetic owner went so far as to learn how to do his own engine-out servicing.
- The original tires have even been preserved, although they're just for show at this point.
Some cars are just appliances, where it doesn't matter if the previous owner did anything other than get the oil changed regularly. With an exotic, however, assessing the previous owner's level of passion is just as important as checking the oil dipstick. Ideally, you want a car that's been somebody's all-consuming obsession.
To say this 1990 Ferrari Testarossa has been well-loved is like saying Prince Paris had a bit of a crush on Helen of Troy. Recently listed on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos), it's been in the same family since new, and the previous owner cared for it so thoroughly that he learned to perform a full engine-out service in his own warehouse garage.
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During the first part of its life, this Testarossa spent most of its time static, but not abandoned. Each month, according to the seller, it was carefully started and warmed up for 45 minutes, the better to keep everything lubricated and circulating.
Starting in 2004, the title was transferred from the seller's father, and the car began to be driven sparingly. In the early going, a Ferrari dealership's unsatisfactory service led to overheating catalytic converters, prompting the current owner to take matters into his own hands. He hired a Ferrari mechanic to show him how to take care of his Testarossa, and went to work.
As any owner of a British or Italian sports car can tell you, developing a mechanical understanding and sympathy with your car significantly upgrades the ownership experience. Doing three engine-out services on a 12-cylinder Ferrari over two decades is certainly the expert-level version of that experience, but it does make every one of the 3700 miles traveled here that much more special.
Also to be admired is the seller's forthrightness. While the current set of Dunlop tires is said to have just 200 miles on them, he notes that they are two decades old and not suitable for spirited driving. Often, tires are an afterthought with such a well-preserved classic. Here, you're getting a mechanic's recommendation to swap them out if you plan to uncork that 4.9-liter flat-12.
Which you absolutely should do. The sometimes overlooked appeal of this generation of Testarossa is that it is both a bedroom poster car and also a wonderfully approachable GT car. Ferrari made sharper-edged cars, but a 1990 Testarossa is still as quick as you could want while also being a comfortable tourer.
That 4.9-liter flat-12 was rated at 380 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. The most recent engine service was completed this year, with the timing belt done. Short of a set of new tires, this prancing horse is ready to run.
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Clearly, much of the previous enjoyment of this car was in the effort required of its caretaker. Now, it's ready to have miles added to its odometer. Perhaps the next owner will choose to outsource the maintenance to their local Ferrari specialist, and spend more time behind the wheel. But maybe get that specialist to show you how to at least do your own oil changes.
The auction ends on July 29.
Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels.