1988 Ferrari Testarossa

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys The Monterey Auction event, 13 - 15 August 2026.
Offered Without Reserve $375,000 - $475,000 USD

• Showing just 1,059 miles on the odometer at time of cataloguing
• Desirable Nero exterior paint over a beige and brown leather interior
• One of approximately 390 US-market Testarossas produced in 1988
• Recipient of major belt service and clutch replacement in January 2026

The Testarossa is without question an icon of the eighties; the visual impact it still commands from the unassuming driver, young car-crazy dreamer, or high-performance sports car aficionado has remarkably never wavered since the models introduction in 1984. The low-slung, Pininfarina body is effectively a raked wedge designed to punch through the air at high speeds, not unlike fighter jets of the same period. Yet, the Testarossa was not only a step forward in terms of styling; it also improved on the performance and all-around livability of the outgoing 512 Berlinetta Boxer.

By a stroke of artistic genius, the design managed to be sinister and elegant, both forward-thinking and contemporary. The long side-strakes that ran along the doors into the quarter panels served a functional purpose, channeling massive amounts of air toward radiators that kept the cars potent 4.9-liter naturally aspirated flat-12 engine cool. The engine produced 40 more horsepower than that of the Testarossas predecessor, the 512 BBi, helping the 3,700-pound coupe accelerate from zero to 60 mph in under 5.2 seconds and reach a reported top speed of 180 mph.

This remarkable US-market Testarossa was completed at Maranello in April 1988 and desirably specified in a menacing shade of Nero over a beige and brown leather interior. Research compiled by Dutch Ferrari historians Edvar and Arvid van Daalen lists an approximate, if unofficial, tally of 390 Testarossas configured for the US market in 1988. As presented today, it shows just 1,059 actual miles at time of cataloguing. Originally delivered to an individual in Houston, Texas, according to the warranty book, the Ferrari has since moved to the state of Oregon. As revealed by an invoice from January 2026, the engine was treated to a major belt service. At the same time, the brakes were rebuilt and the clutch was replaced. This low-mileage Testarossa includes a tool roll and a set of manuals in a leather folio.

Long considered by many to be one of the most dramatic and visually striking Ferraris ever made, the Testarossa is a preeminent poster car of its era. This singular example would be a tremendous acquisition for the discerning collector yet to experience the models loud aesthetic and even louder exhaust note for themselves.To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo26/.