TR grill horse: flat, sculpted, or chromed?

All Testarossas left the factory with black horse emblem on the rear grill. Chromed horse is only on the 512tr and 512M.

My car is a late model 1991 (Build date March/1991) and has a relief prancing horse emblem on the rear grill instead of the flat one. I know it is the original emblem that came with the car because I am the original owner of the car.

For reference, Ferrari World magazine, issue #13 - 1991, there is a featured article on the Testarossa, written by Mr. Carlo Montanaro. Within that article, it contained an exert written by Mr. Sergio Pininfarina himself, regarding designing and styling of Testarossa. It mentioned the black rear grill with a black prancing horse specifically, as it was done to keep the same color harmony with the engine cover on top of the rear of the car.

 

Apr 1988 TR. Was originally flat, brushed, black anodized aluminum. When I got the car, the original had been gold plated (plus the testarossa and Ferrari scripts). Replaced the scripts with NOS parts but black horse, as stated above, hard to find and/or $$. Plan to have the gold stripped, restore the brushed finish (if damaged) and re-anodize black. In the mean time, I put the chrome sculpted cavallino on. Will use the original if I show the car, but the chrome sculpted one is growing on me, IMO the black is a little too subtle. I also added the smaller chrome sculpted cavallino to the front grill. In my case, the chrome goes well with the polished 512TR wheels, though they are a little too blingy for me, I will be powder coating them silver this winter.
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Mine is flat black original. But I did add chrome horse on the front grill.

 

I especially like the flat on the dark color. It doesn't distract from that strong horizontal line.

 

Here is mine
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after having blue or silver who needs red... lol just kidding, I know now I am asking for it.

 

1990 Owner

 

Just a point - with this car's over the top styling (still today) -

What is the point of gilding the lily on the older cars by substitution of a non-standard chrome horse?

It's not as if nobody will notice your car if you don't do this -

 

1987 TR rear
Flat black anodized horse, with little yellow highlights that feature some of the horse.



Ago

 

November 1989

 

I have a 1990 TR.
Chrome horse. Only had car for 3 years though. Had an 86 with a black horse.
But I do recall wikipedia or another site indicating that this was a change that was made late in the production. I could swear they said some prior to 512 TR.
They also say that the cars went up from 380 hp to 390hp around the same time.
If I find that info again I will post.
Brent

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_Testarossa

Might be wrong on the horse but here is some cool information. Particularly about the Spyder.
I'll keep looking for info on the horse.
Brent.

 

I've dealt with Italian Car parts in the past and they seem to carry alot of emblems and such. Might be worth contacting them. Take care. Brent.

 

I definately like the flat black the most! On a testa everybody knows it is a Ferrari so to me it looks overdone with a silver one...

 

I definately like the flat black the most! Everybody knows a testarossa is a Ferrari so to me it looks overdone with a silver one...

 

+1

 

1990 had flt black horse.. Removed for a nice new chrome horse.. I like the way the emblem breaks up the rear light grille. Accents the center of the car.. It all a preference.

R

 

87406 (91) = sculpted cavallino (horse! ughhh! )