1986 Testarossa Convertible Project For Sale -Not a Straman

A friend emailed me about a car he ran across. Since he knew I was into Ferraris, he thought maybe I might be interested. It's a project TR convertible. It's not my "bag", but thought maybe someone here might be interested.

Link to ad: http://lamborghinireplica.com/forsale86ferrari110511.htm

For Sale: 1986 Ferrari Testarossa which is 80% complete. The top has been removed and chassis reinforcements have been installed to make this one of the most unique supercars available. Ferrari never made a convertible version of the TR, and the Straman conversions done in the 80's & 90's were only a handful. The original Ferrari V-12 engine has been totally rebuilt, new clutch, brake booster and master cylinder. The aluminum rear deck lid (engine cover) has been fabricated and welded, needs only latches and release mechanism. Car is in primer, ready for your favorite color. I have the complete original interior (needs to be redone, again in your choice of color). All the hard work has been done! Why spend the same money for a bunch of fiberglass parts and a "donor car" (junk), when you can have the real thing? Budget an additional $10-15K to finish the car, and you'll have an awesome vehicle you can be proud of! Over $75,000.00 invested, will reluctantly sell for $28,000.00 firm, no trades.

 

I knew one for sale one year ago. From a FC member... Running, great look and well maintained, seller would let go for $55k... I passed.
Now this one still a long and hard way to go. Probably at least $30K to make decent, and that is if you have luck... The question is...Do you feel lucky, punk ? Do you ?
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Now that is the FIRST reasonable comment in a long time. That pretty much sums it up. I have already figured the hours and all I can say one thing.......LARGE CHECKBOOK !!!

 

The seller says $10,000 to $15,000 would be enough to finnish the car. That would only be enough for a good paint job! I would say $35,000+. Who ever buys this car better have a lot of time and money on their hands.

 

He says all the hard work has been done. I beg to differ.
The work that remains will be the most difficult, time consuming and expensive.
This would be a good reason why it is going up for sale.

Interior and body/paint work can easily run up to 20k.
No mention of a rag top either.
If the engine really is rebuilt they sure did a lousy job refinishing the outside of it.

I would say 30k minimum to finish it, IF it doesn't need a bunch of mechanical work.

 

Actually Spasso... your not to far off. Based on a rough estimate (and I do mean rough) I think you are about 5-10K light. But you are correct on the idea of the hard work not being done. If allowed to be inspected, I am suspecting more than what I estimated. Until a complete inspection was made, I wouldn't even tender an offer.

 

Zxgarage
Is this still around?
"I knew one for sale one year ago. From a FC member... Running, great look and well maintained, seller would let go for $55k... I passed."
Thanks
Barry

 

$10-15K to finish.... no way. It is going to take a lot more than that. Just my two cents worth.

 

Did we see these pictures ...... ?
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Rusty acorn nuts on the cam covers
Nice rough cutout in the fender for the fuel filler.
Gruesome.

 

I did say 30k MINIMUM.
You know the rule for Ferrari, "Everything takes three times longer and costs twice as much than the estimate.."

 

Indeed!!! You are sooooo right on that sir!!!!

 

Considering what it takes to keep a nice TR running properly, this one would really be a stretch to put together.

I can just imagine what the wiring would be like in this thing.

 

Are you saying this is Dave Helms retirement right hear????

 

It would be the ultimate test vehicle for all of his electrical upgrades AND his fuel/cooling hoses.

 

Uh oh.


Wheels look shiny though.

And someone young can live part of their Ferrari dream for a little while probably.



Priceless.

 

I wonder what the story was with that car? It must have been pretty rough even before the Sawzall came out.

 

Fusebox upgrade will definitely be in order!!!!

 

Did you include the cost of a pair of RR tracks to weld into the rocker panels to keep this from folding in half? One I worked on actually had those in place.... sticking right out the bottom of the rockers.

I worked on one in Denver and a few back in Mpls many years back. In both cases getting them running correctly was actually a dis service to the owners and put their very lives at risk. I remember going over a dip in the highway and heading for one shoulder with the suspension going under compression and then the effects reversing and heading for the other under extension. That thing needs an exoskeleton cage like the rock crawlers to go straight down the road.

 

A real Ferrari, well at least the majority of one, advertised on Lambo Replica...the Mayans were right.

That poor TR...Rest in Pieces my fair Redhead.

 

Dave.....this is YOUR car!!!!! It needs love and attention only you can provide. Just remember to bring a BIG CHECKBOOK!!!!

 

Dave Helms,

Because it is a pipe-dream for later; if you have time - could you please take keyboard to screen for 20 minutes and list the basic do-and-dont for taking the roof off a Testarossa.

As this pipe-dream would be RHD, and the ceiling price on the example in NZ seems too high, would be good to have somethings to think about, even if the summary is get a 348S and put a flat-12 in it, will never run right but wont kill you either.

 

Rail Road tracks! No way!
That had to have added 500 lbs to the car. (and lowered the CG a foot.)

 

s/n of the project?

 

Nope, I am not smart enough to suggest a correct method for that. If it were mine I assure you it would amount to hanging the suspension off a roll cage and covering that with a few body panels. The styling is quite interesting, I have to give it that. My hang up is I put Function over Form, why most of my own cars are mutts and I am not one to give opinions on how something 'looks'. A potential 180 MPH car, as flexible as that is missing a roof, amounts to little more than a Widow Maker unless a Race Car builder is involved in the design effort. As it stands, the door latches are working OVERTIME and best be made of 1/4" 4130 plate! Not having rockers the size of an E-Type Jag... there is NOTHING holding this from twisting and bending except the door latches. Opening the door with this on a hoist would be a One Time, One Way manuver.

Way baby! A tank it was and it had some 'spring' to it..... flat out scary to drive. Heavy under steer that changed to massive over steer in the blink of an eye, in a corner.