Hi, I'm looking at purchasing a 1986 Testarossa & am interested in knowing if there were any improvements made in the later years that are worth considering. Is there anything in particular I should look for when I inspect it and/or drive it? The first part of the VIN is ZFFTA17C - does confirm its year (or any other details)? Sorry if these are silly questions, Thanks, Gary.
Gary welcome aboard. I have an 86, love it to pieces. You will hear horror stories about the early model TR in camparison to the the 512, and 512M. All i can tell you is that on my 8th year plus of ownership i have never come across the issues like many mention (melted boards, diff failure) I have 57,000kms on it, and drive it often. I dont see the 512tr, or the m to be such a big difference when you calculate the price increase to the early cars...plus i love the single mirror and single bolt. As for purchase, all i can recommend is look at 5 TRs, and have them viewed by a proper mechanic. WHen you look at 5 different TRs you should start to see the difference to which car(s) are better. Also, i would recommend you dirve a few of them as well to see the difference, not all these cars drive the same either. Take your time, and make sure it has proper service, records and most important try and buy the best example you can buy. There is a differnece between a 50K TR and a 75K TR, sometimes that 50K TR could cost you alot more than the 75K one. Take your time, and have the cars checked out with bills to follow. I am a big supporter of these cars following the bills in black and white. Good luck !!
++ on everything he said with my limited experience of about 6 months now on a 22K mile '86. You know, for all the good-natured trashing that the 85/86 gets on mechanical issues, you would imagine that the iconic BB line which came before must have been designed by the Russian division of Fiat...they are all subject to some mechanical issues, it seems - so just be prepared mentally and financially. I might just add one other thing - after a long study of the four main evolutions, (single bolt/single mirror, 5 bolt dual mirror/ 512TR / 512M) I have decided that I like the style of the 85/86 'flying mirror' cars the best. There are some designs that just seem to be best served exactly the way they were originally done, and not improved upon. This is from a buyer who first settled on a 512TR because of the body color spoiler and side sills - I now really do like the original better. And I have dodged the seat-belt-mouse demons. (let the hailstones now fall upon my head and shoulders).
I have an 86 single/flying/43k miles ... an love the style ... they all look good, but make sure it has been serviced well.
if the car's been sitting/used only a little check the fuel hoses. i have owned two 1990 testarossas and both had fuel leaks from previous non/little use.
This link should make it clear for you. There is a different piece under the steering column and across the dash on the 87 and above. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162898&highlight=testarossa+buyers+guide
Dear Ferraristi, Baahhahahahahahaha James, That's a really good one ! BTW, The 91 ( last year ) uses a differant arobolic ( sorry for the spelling ) engine sealant which is less prone to leaks. ( knowing Ferrari, they ran out of the other one, stuck in what was at the hardware store and called it an improvement ) Shamile Freeze...Miami Vice!
Shamile - my 1986 Testarossa has never, ever, ever left a drop of oil on the floor. The hardware store sealant must have been pretty good (or else I am out of oil). Jim S.
Dear Ferraristi, ...never said they did. Just answering the post on what yearly changes were made...even subtle ones. Oh yeah, toward the end of MY 91, they changed the front discs to what they call series II discs. They are not 512 TR discs. When I changed my discs about 3 years ago, I had to give my VIN. I have series II brake discs. .....again, I guess that's what the hardware store had in stock. Shamile Freeze...Miami Vice !
There are a lot of differences some cosmetic, some not. Bigger ones are the improved differential carrier and the change from the removable engine frame in favor of a single frame, along with a few more ponies in the later models. I suppose that the single frame setup makes a second or two difference at the track, and if the TR is not stomped on, I see no problem with transmission integrity. I own an 86 single lug flying mirror and here is what I would do if I had to do it all over: 1) I would still choose the 86 single lug flying mirror. It is just plain beautiful. - and the single lug sets the car apart from the other 50 million on the road. 2) I would check the wheel size. If they are metric, I would want a cost for changing them out to a normal standard sized wheel. You will know exactly what I mean if you ever try to obtain metric rubber to fit. 3) I would request that the seller remove the single lugs once just to show me that they are free and not frozen to the wheel. Make that a part of your PPI. You will know exactly what I mean if they are frozen and you need new rubber. Check to see if the tool for that lug nut is still with the toolkit, but you can get a new 75mm 3/4" drive socket from Ricambi. Now I'm not denigrating the later models at all, in fact, I like many of the upgrades. - I'm just giving my opinion on what to look for in the 86.
