1985 Ferrari Testarossa Review

Executive Summary By: James Man 

Ferrari has a formidable presence in the international motoring scene and there isn't a car enthusiast in the world who can't automatically paint a mental picture of the Ferrari Testarossa when called to task. Ferrari started production of the Testarossa in 1984, with the first model to hit the streets being the 1985. Testarossa wasn't just an average production model for Ferrari. Everything about Ferrari's newest sports car just stood out as dominant and "cool." The name itself was derived from the red cam covers - testarossa literally means "red head" in Italian.

Undoubtedly, the Ferrari Testarossa instantly took center stage and became the world's fastest production car (non-racing, of course). The designing process for the Testarossa began in 1982, with the idea to create a street car that both looked and performed like a racing car. The design team came up with a sleek, mid-engine design, featuring radiators in the flanks, a low top, state-of-the-art brakes, a stellar transmission and a 12-cylinder powerhouse engine.

A lot of testing also went into the overall design of the car's body. Ferrari pulled no punches when it came to measuring the Testarossa's performance at high speeds. Ferrari also designed the suspension for the high-speed driving and taking corners at increased speeds. The rigid suspension allowed the car to remain stable. One of the most loved aspects of the 1985 Ferrari Testarossa was the interior.