Ferrari Testarossa

Ferrari 512 Testarossa by Pininfarina.
There were three phases, as it were, of the Testarossa.

• The original 1984-91 Testarossa as designed by Pininfarina
• The smoother, more subtle looking 1991-95 512TR
• And the more recent, performance enhanced 1995-96 F512M

Quick facts: v12, 4942/4943cc, 380 bhp @ 5750 rpm, 421 bhp @ 6750 rpm, 432 bhp @ 6750 rpm. respectively.

Translated from the Italian, 'Testarossa' means 'redhead'. Undoubtedly intended to conjure up images of a fiery, independant spirit, the name dervies from the engine's distinctive red cam covers - the engine is, literally, a 'redhead'.

The original Testarossa was the Ferrari 250 TR (Testa Rossa), first introduced in 1957 and produced for two years only. The 250 TR was based upon the Ferrari 250 GT. Several performance-boosting enhancements were made to the 3-litre V12 engine, such as the introduction of a seperate intake port for each cylinder, which boosted power output from 240 to 300 BHP.

The Ferrari 250 TR won the Le Mans 24 hour race in 1958.