Is'nt the Testarossa just one of the most beautiful Ferrari cars?

I think that all Testarossas were sold new with the black horse attached to the rear grill , and no horse on the front grill.

 

Where's Edvar van Daalen when you need him?

 

Oops. I meant the horse was black on the rear grille in 86. Sorry

 

I can't contribute to the technical matters being discussed, but I will own a Testarossa one day. In fact I awake every day to these pictures, my grandfathers Ferrari's, an '86 and a '92.
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Correct, all TR had a black horse on the rear grill. From 85 to 90 they were flat, and later 90 and 91 received a black but sculpted horse.

When I bought mine it had a silver one and I could not find a flat black one so I put a sculpted black one. At Concorso Italiano this year I asked one of the judge and he told me I was good, as my car was a June 90 car and should have the sculpted horse for the reasons above.

No TR ever had a horse on the front (except 512 and 512M of course)

 

Christophe, thank you! You speak with authority on this subject - especially when Ferrari lore is typically so uncertain. Can you tell us where/when/how you came upon this information? I shudder to think that you might misinterpret my question as doubt in your response, but that's not the case. I'm genuinely curious; thanks.

 

Christophe,

I recall reading something quite different - to the effect that they switched from the "flat" black cavallino to the sculpted chrome one in 1987 or 88? '87 would sorta make sense since that was the year they made other cosmetic changes like the dual mirrors, 5 bolt wheels, etc.

Would be nice to have the definitive answer somehow. Maybe start a poll??

Rick

 

My Testarossa is a 1988.5 and the cavallino is flat black. I prefer the chrome, but if that is the factory look, then so be it!

 

Rick, the TR never came with a chromed horse, that I am 100% sure! The chromed horse appeared on the 512TR in 1992.

 

I heard this two times, once from a judge (can't remember his name) and once from Brian Crall. Brian knows TRs (and Feraris in general) so so well, I'd be really surprised he's wrong! Oh and I'm definitely no authority I'm only relaying info I heard from people I trust, like Brian.

 

That's good enough for me! Thank you.

 

Thinking about it for a minute, I like Rick's idea, some sort of poll or thread. It would be interesting to know when in 1990 the change took place.

 

You're probably right about the change being with the 512TR - especially given your sources.

I must admit, the chrome horse is eye catching but the "Flat" black cavallino is way more bad-a55. I especially like it on my black TR...the car looks "murdered out" or whatever the cool kids call it these days. I don't call her "DARKORS" (dark-horse) for nothing!

 

Thanks for all this info. So the story about the black cavallino being a tribute to Enzo is romantic but it seems just an urban legend.

 

I agree with blackbolt, but it's interesting to read all the perspectives here.

 

IMO,the Testarossa is one of the most beautiful production Ferrari ever, and one of the most beautiful cars of all time.
I had one and it a 99.5 point car when judged at Cavallino. I miss it but love my 360.