Is the 512tr an old school ferrari?

I've driven each of the twelve-cylinder models from the Testarossa to the 599, excluding the F512M. The transition between the 512TR and the 550 is indeed a huge one, not just based on exterior styling. I don't know if I'd call the 512TR an "old school Ferrari," but based on interior design and clutch pedal feel it certainly has the feel of being from a different era than the 550.

 

I loved my 512TR, still miss is, still have moments where I want to go back. It's near to the perfect combo to me. No, it is not as agile as a 355, and it is not a great track car. But it is a fun car in the twisties, it is a great cruising car, it has lots of room, it has a stiff chassis, delightful steering, and the sound is fantastic. The gear box requires a slow and steady approach, and it is not something you beat up on. The motor is just wonderful. It has an old school feel with the dog-leg gated shifter and no power steering, but the AC works great, the radio sound good, the view is good, the seats are great, and the interior is built to a higher standard.

I drove mine back to back with a 550. The 550 is a better car in almost every way, but it was no way near the occasion to drive. The 512TR is a true exotic, and it will stop traffic and empty gas station quickie marts. The 550 could be parked at a mall and go unnoticed.

 

Dear Ferraristi,

+1


I would say our age group...30's 40's, an old school Ferrari might be a Daytona or BBI Boxer. I would consider the Testarossa the transition between the "old school" and the modern era. I would consider the 512TR...even though it looks the same....edging more towards the modern era. Perhaps you could say, the last of the old school era. Modern being the 550/355/360 on up with all the computer crap, girly paddle shifts, no clutch pedal, digital dash, dash displays showing the door ajar....etc.

...not to mention black boxes that tell what speed you were going. It's only a matter of time that those boxes will be admissible evidence in court and the insurance company rating your premium on a black box check.

....I will never buy a new F or L car ever. The only car I can dream of is an F 50.....way way outta my league ($950K ) though.


Shamile

Freeze...Miami Vice !

 

I own a 512tr and I think of it as a modern car. It is a lot different than the tr and feels a lot newer. I do agree with the comments about the super new cars and all the gadgets. I own one of them too but I still love the 512tr. It has that certain something.

 

Wow that is an awesome comparison between the 512TR and the 550. I have driven both and the 550 is a very nice car and is still fun but the 512TR is a funer car to drive by far. I agree, the 512TR causes a commotion, a 550, especially in silver often goes unnoticed.

I personally consider the 512TR the last of the "old school cars". No power steering, no paddle shifting (although I love F1 paddles also), and a transmission you shift slowly and not force. But everyones opinions differ.

The 512TR is my favorite car period. Not just my favorite Ferrari but my favorite car. Nothing looked like it. It's styling took guts and it paid off!

 

My wife and I were in the 512TR yesterday. She normally doesn't ask a bunch of questions about whatever car we're in, but asked, "Now what year is this again?" I told her. "It seems so modern" came her reply. The 512TR is - to me - the best of both. Looks kinda retro, drives pretty modern.

Whenever curious onlookers (many!) ask anything about it, I generally reply, "Well, it's an OLD one" to try and dismiss some thought of me being the rich snot they hoped I wasn't.

Anyway, the 512TR at 'only' 15 years old has all the modern stuff I'd ever want. Lordy, two weeks after I owned it I discovered it has 'express one touch' driver's window! What'll they think of next?

It's too young for 'old school' to me. Like Sham-Wow said, it's the tranisition between Boxer - definitely old school - and the modern era. Seems like this is another sign of its value bottom. Soon as the masses who had these posters on their ceilings start feeling financially fit enough to go put a real one the garage, look out. In time, I think the 512TR will emerge as THE pick of the litter. Time'll tell.

 

Isn't Shaw-Wow that Miami Vice dude? What does he know? After all, he does drive a Lamborghini...LOL!!!!

David

 

The 512BB -- carbs, manual steering, no ABS, etc. -- is the last old school Ferrari, making it all the way to 1981. The 400 went K-Jet (400i) in 1979 and the 308 followed in 1980. You gotta have carbs to be Old School.

1982-1988 is transition.

The truly modern era begins with the 348/Mondial t in 1989. Motronic, the works. The 512TR follows closely in 1991.

 

Dear Ferraristi,

Yes and.......


"When the doors go up.....the panties go down"


Yeahhhh.....I had to say it!

And of course....

.....A big "Freeze....Miami Vice" to all us Testarossa guys....even to the 512 TR guys (since it looks like a Testarossa anyway )


Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

very good description. this is more/less the way i described it to a friend the other day.
i have a bbi and frankly it feels neanderthal next to the tr. i love it too, for different reasons, but it feels like the 40 year old design that it is. whereas the tr will keep up with any 360, and has the presence of a rock star. no abs, no power steering, but a very tractable engine and gearbox, makes it a pleasure to drive slow, fast, or agressively. i absolutely love that car. unashamedly. despite presently owning and having owned and driven many great cars, my favorite car is still this 512tr that i bought in rome 10 years ago and have driven 30,000 km since. i am actually thinking of buying another now that the prices have become stupidly low.

 

Having owned and driven a tr and driven the 512 and driven the 550 I would say that you can not place them in the same niche as the tr and 512 are rear/mid engined cars with superb acceleration and handling , just as good as the 550 ( look up some track times and they are sooo close) whereas the 550 is a front engined car with different dynamics to the TR. Both are wonderful cars and when $$$ permit the 550 will be my next choice of long term vehicle. As for your comment re just another car, NO WAY, every ferrari has subtleties that make them unique,they are crafted not assembled(just like the aston martin) they are a work of art in motor vehicle form and whether you own a 246, 308, gt4 365,400 etc etc. they are all gorgeous to look at and to drive they all have their own character, in my opinion none is better than the other as they all have their good points and thrills.eg I have owned a 308,tr,360,355 and I still remember great times in all of them and are fond of each of them equally.

 

I am REALLY DISAPOINTED in my fellow Ferrari Chat members...14 posts and NOT ONE person corrected nor noticed that blackdr quote..."the testarossa was one of the last v12 ferrari's made".....Last time I looked MY TESTAROSSA WAS A BOXER FLAT 12!!!!....YOU should ALL be ashamed........Mark.

 

Not so fast...

Technically, the engine in a TR or "Boxer" is a 180 degree V-12.

Yes, you may say and think that with its 180 degree orientation that, by default, it is then a Boxer configuation...but you would be incorrect in your thinking. In a true "Boxer" configuration, the opposing connecting rods would share a common rod pin on the crankshaft...This is not the case with with either a BB or TR motor. Hence, she really is a 180 degree V-12.

So...I am not ashamed, nor should any of my many BB/TR friends.


Best,
David

 

With the Lambo, the panties may go down (at least in your mind..)
With the BB and TR crowd, the ladies aren’t wearing panties, to begin with...LOL!!!!!!

Best,
David

 

Lol

The panties Shamile were referring to are the large Granny Panties variety as well.

 

David, the TR engine does share a common rod pin on the crankshaft, which makes this a siamesed pair of straight six engines, not the true boxer. A true boxer would be like an early aircooled 911 engine, which had 180 opposed crank pins for each opposite pair of cylinders so that the pistons moved in direct opposition to one another.

Old school? Yes, if the owners are willing to spend valuable time worrying over such detail - yes, indeed. Old school, and mostly now driven and maintained by us fading geezers.

 

Ooops...I though one thing and typed another. You are correct.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thanks, thought that was just a slip of the typewriter...

Sadly now, as old magician to the court Merlin said in the movie Excaliber, hardly anyone cares any longer.

 

I care James that why I brought it up. It is also correctly called a crankshaft journal...NOT A PIN!....I would also like to know how fastradio could possilbly think that the Testarossa could be a V12 and have the transmission mounted underneath it and still keep a low rear profile. I have read quite allot of Testarossa engine manuals and NOT ONE!!! has every refered to the Testarossa engine as a V12!. If fastradio can supply "ANY" Ferrari approved manual that states the Testarossa engine is a V12, I will without a moment's hesitation apoligize to him for my error, as I would expect the same of him.....Mark.

 

Doesn't matter what Ferrari called it. Mercedes calls their 6.2-liter AMG engine a 6.3 because they think it sounds better. Based on the strict definition of "V" and "Boxer," the engine was technically a "V" engine. Just because it was 180 degrees doesn't change that.

 

Mark,

There has been much discussion (and controversy) on this topic. To be technically correct, the engine in either a Boxer or TR is actually a 180 degree V-12, despite that fact that "there is no V". A true "flat" 12 would have (more correctly) crank journals as James has described.


Best,
David

 

allow me to put the technology question to the side for a moment..........I owned one and have to say it is one of the most hottest looking Ferrari's ever designed.
I transitioned from a 308QV to a TR to a 360. 3 completely different aniamls!