Testarossa Buyers Guide - 84 to 87

I am beginning my research for a early production model Testarossa and wanted to get a clear idea of what I need to be aware of in the early model years. I know some of the issues with this car, and have been steered away from them by many, but I really want the early model "flying mirror" model, preferably in white (gee guess what show I watched growing up). Any advice / threads to review would be greatly appreciated as I begin this journey of adding the Testarossa to the 308 "stable" of cars. Thanks in advance.

 

find an early euro spec car (not swiss) if you can. Non cat, non computer controlled injection and the least amount of weight (fastest). The first tr (1984 euro) with trx tires is only one second slower around fiorano than the 512 tr (put that in your pipe and smoke it).

 

Joe, Rock is right on. That's a tough find though. Finding an early euro is not easy. Finding an early euro that is a good clean car is even harder. And finding a factory white one I'd say is near impossible. FWIW in my experience my early euro hasn't been prone to many of the maladies that later Tr's are known for. IMHO you're looking in the right direction. If you really want a white one then you might have to do what NBC did for Crockett and have one painted white. There's an early Tr registry thread going here that'll give you some idea of vin ranges and colors etc. For a feel good article see if you can find the Sept 85 Car & Driver that pits an early euro Tr head to head with the infamous 288. The fat azz tied the ever so sexy GTO to 60, out accelerated it to 130 and had a 6mph higher top end that day. Of course the GTO killed the Tr under braking and in lateral g's but for bang for the buck you can't beat a good Tr these days. Buy the best one you can find. Good luck!

 

Just out of curiosity Rock, why would you suggest a euro spec but not a swiss version. I wasn't aware of the difference. What are they?

 

BTW. Just looked at the registry list and only one white single mirror TR. I don't think I've ever seen a single mirror white TR (besides on TV). I'm sure more exist but not many.

 

As always, Rock pushes the Euro model (Wonder why )

TO make it simple, compare the single mirror tr like you would the 308 glass, the Euro version would be the first choice, but impossible to find, then buy the US version which would be easier, and just as good. You really wont notice the extra 150lbs, and .3 seconds slower. Either way, the single mirror one seems to be the one people are gravitating too....and they are the rarest of the bunch....i think in the regist the number quotes was 819 for all single mirrors (if im not mistake).....take away the parts car, and the cars that were crushed, im sure that number is closer to 500 units now....

 

Here is my .02. I heard all the crap about why not to buy a pre 88.5 TR, and IMHO, it is just nonsense. There is no factory warranty with any TR so that argument is completely worthless. The knock off wheels vs. the lugs because the wheels have been known to come lose or fall off? Just one comment on that one, the owners of F40's, F50's, Enzo's, Jim's P4/5 and F1 cars don't seem to be complaining about their factory knock off wheels (if you tighten them properly, it is not an issue). I became bored with those chatter boxes and bought a clean and well maintained 87 Euro TR. I could not be more happy. The TR starts cold, hot, warm etc. and has not given me a problem and i have put over 1,000 miles on it.

I agree with Rock and Prova85, if you can find a EURO, I prefer this model for a few reasons, weight, HP, no cats, but there are other benefits, no 3rd taillight made by Ford (if you are lucky like me), automatic door locks upon ignition, and the best part, no freakin USA seatbelts running up and down your door like a cockroach.

 

This to me is the best plus. Man, I hate my seat belts.

John

 

This is a great start. Thank you all. Keep them coming.

Looks like I have set out on a worldwide journey to find a white "flying mirror" euro version Testarossa. I love a challenge. That's okay, I need to keep saving my pennies anyway. The "Testarossa Portfolio" is down 40% in the last 3 months... I'll need a little time to recoup my losses from the stock market anyhow. Although it is that case I used to convince my better half that a Ferrari "investment" is not going to depreciate 40% unless I do something stupid. How is that for manipulating the markets!

 

Hello Rocco, great name by the way. There are 3 basic engines specs, euro, usa and swiss. The swiss engine is "basically" a usa spec engine. Swiss cars are fine (better than north american spec) but they are not the same as the std euro version with out emissions. There are so many detail change between the cars that it woulds take some time to list. hope that helps

Rocco

 

us cars should have had the seatbelt recall fixed, so if a car has a problem......

i have an 87 us spec car that i am selling. i bought it 10 years ago because i loved the single lugs but wanted both mirrors.

a couple of things:

it is not uncommon to see "bubbles" under the paint at the lower edge of the door - it is an electrolytic reaction. mine have not changed in ten years

the alternator pulley needs to be modified or replaced. i went through belts about every couple hundred miles due to the design

seat belts need to be redone, like i said a recall, if they aren't done, they will work when they want

fuse box will need to be "re-wired", if it hasn't. not a big deal, but ancient computer technology

on hot starts, don't be surprised if the car doesn't start. it's an easy grounding fix (i haven't done it to my car) but can be embarrassing at a gas station

a/c should blow cold, it isn't like 308's or earlier ferrari's

don't be surprised or turned off if the dash is wrapped - it is a common tr problem and will happen. if you don't see it, it has been fixed and will happen again (it's a windshield angle thing)

tires are a ***** to find

forget about passing modern emmisions test. the car passed fine when new, but current regs will cause issues

 

Thanks Rock, So what you are saying is the difference is really in the emissions control on the engine. I was asking because mine is a swiss version but has no cats.

 

Hey jmeisinger, Are you looking for a "good deal but needs work car" or a "perfect car, but won;t tell you what I paid car"? We can all keep an eye out for you. The white is going to be hard. Are you stuck on white? With the way the American dollar is now, your best bet is to buy one here...That will save you alot of money!

 

cough, cough, you are confusing the early verison Euro and US spec car to the 88.5 and older tr model line up ....its those later cars that came with the auto door, and mouse cockroach....the first early ones did not 84-86

 

Well, the thread is titled 84 to 87 and correct me if I am wrong, but I think the 87 US TR came with those funky seatbelts.

 

hmm, good question, was the 87 model the year the fly mirror was gone then ? Wonder if anyone has traced that switch and when the mouse belts were added in the US version. For some strange reason i seem to recall when the 5 bolt came into effect, and the mirror lowered and one more added on the passenger side is when the mousebelt was added.

Can anyone confirm ?

 

The 87 came with double mirrors and single bolt wheels (i own one). I think the early 88's also had the single bolt and the 88.5 and later models came with the lugs.

 

(Not that they are always correct, but) the US TR OMs show:

1985-86 US TR = manual seat belts and high mirror

1987 US TR = passive (mouse) seat belts and low mirrors

I'd be fairly confident that the seat belt stuff was introduced with the 1987 US MY (because they had to write a new text section to describe the mousebelts -- and this is a type of change that just couldn't be introduced willy-nilly mid-year), and the SPC also states that the mirror change occurred circa 1987 -- high mirror up to 67077 and low mirrors for 67079 and after (although the 1987 US OM actually shows a RHD TR with a low mirror ).

 

But the Sammies suck,and almost all of them are sammies,FREEZE DOGS,your Car is infected by us gov crap.Back in the day,I looked at TRs for $240,000,now ebay bids cant get out of the $30s.TRUTH, The pitifull buy/sell ebay TR market spread is about to be eclipsed by the 550,355,360 ask/sell listings.Bet dollars to glazed donuts NO 308 guys go for montezemolo Cars.

 

Flying high mirror (about 1500 models total) produced from 84 to 86 (I think a few 87's in US)
Belts were changed to automatic type at end of 86 on US models. But automatic belts were not introduced on Euro models.
There are probably about 300 rare models with flying mirrors and Automatic seat belts.
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

 

My budget is going to force me into the "needs some work" but not "well used and abused"

 

I suggest you start counting sheep and wait for the cows to come home.

 

What price range are you looking on spending?

 

+1000

day dreaming is alot better, than having nightmares

jm, may i respectfully suggest waiting to find a better car for more money, and not the other way around. You'll thank many of us later.

 

My budget is between $50K & $60K. Is the concensus of the group there is no way I could find a reasonably decent car in that range? What is the range I need to be in to find a decent "driver"? I am not looking for a garage queen. I am looking for a car that will be driven every weekend and tracked on occassion. I can turn my own wrenches and have a lift in my garage, so the real driver of cost for me will be if it needs material paint work.

Thanks again for all the great insight and advice.