Hemmings says TR has nowhere to go but up!

Hey Guys,

Saw this on an eBay ad and downloaded it. It's sort of legible and just in black and white. Maybe one of you has a subscription to Hemmings Motor News and can share a good color copy.

This is an article from this month's issue of HMN. Interesting stuff. Comments?

Rob
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The fact that the TR is the cheapest V12 Ferrari out there with the 400i is just stunning given the abyss of difference between these two cars in terms of iconic status. Good for us who bought our TRs over the last ten years, but I'm still struggling to understand why, and I don't buy the production numbers argument given the muscle cars and Dino market these days.

With Maranellos sinking lower and lower by the day, will TRs prices be crushed under? Probably until 10,000 kids from the 80's have a massive life crisis. We'll get there, I have little doubt about it, but I ain't selling mine so I don't care!

A weird, and I'm sure offensive question to some, can TRs ever be worth more than Boxers?...

 

Probably not because Boxer owners dont drive their cars. All they do is look at them. lol. I hope TR prices rise past the Boxers. I really do..

R

 

I don't understand why Dino prices are so high. I know the Dino is a neat nimble little Ferrari, but it is only a V6 and The non covered headlights just doesn't do it for me.



Ago

 

It will never happen.

 

The generation who grew up adoring the Boxer have already "come of age." There are infinitely more people who adore the Testarossa given its absolute iconic status, than there are good cars available. I imagine the ratio of supply vs. true demand is probably equal--at the very least.

What holds the Testarossa back---and I hear this again and again from potential buyers---is the perception that the car is extraordinarily expensive to maintain.

The irony, of course, is that the Boxer and Testarossa have similar maintenance and reliability, but nobody *****es about the Boxer like they do the TR.

I know I guy whose dream was to own a Testarossa---he was so scared of the bills he ended up buying a new Ferrari. If you really want to know the status of the Testarossa in the Ferrari world, just take it to a car show---or even out to dinner. Short of the Lamborghini Countach, I have never seen a car draw such a strong and positive reaction. For many, its like seeing their childhood idol. Overtime that will translate into money.


Just my .02

 

I think it's about the styling. The Dino is one of the most beautiful cars ever made. It has tremendous sex appeal and it represents an important era of automotive history. It just looks Italian and is definitely a Ferrari (regardless of the badging). I want one and a lot of people would like to own one. It's automotive art.

Car guys tend to fixate on performance stats, top speed and things like engine displacement. Average people don't care about that stuff. They just see a beautiful car for what it is and want it. The TR is just like the Dino in that respect.

Rob

 

Robert .......... indeed we go for performance !!! And we don't want to be "average"....

Indeed, the Dino is nice but imo only a car for the ladies ....

 

Retraction required.

I have 81K on my BB and am not afraid to drive it or repair it. There are many BB owners that drive their cars. It is great to look at, far more pleasing than a TR.

 

I am one of those kids going through this right now! However, the production argument is valid. The reason dinos have gone through the roof is becuase they are all gone now. Meaning the survivors are pulling in the dough, plain and simple. Testarossas remain low because of production number and secondly is the cost to maintain.

 

I want some of the Kool Aid that he is drinking

 

Beauty of a car is in the eye of the beholder. Not everyone sees through the same Corsa glasses. I for one truly love the looks of in order: P4, 250 GTO, 275 GTB, Daytona, 328GTB. Not that one Ferrari is so beautiful and the rest are ugly. The difference in my eyes is very slight. I think they all are Bella.



Ago

 

I agree fully. My insurance agent came out to get pictures for the appraisal, told me he always had dreamed of owning but and this was the first one he had ever seen.

Will be interesting to see what the appraisal (Grundy) comes back at.

 

Yeah, well....same issue also has an article asserting that the TR6 (Triumph) is on its way to becoming the next "collectible classic"

I'd use pages from Hemmings to wipe my bum, but uniformed journalism gives me a rash.

 

I agree with your first two. I thought that the Testarossa looked grotesque when it was introduced, and it hasn't aged well.

 

Yes beauty is skin deep but ugly is to the bone.. BB's are not appealing to me at all. The rear is ugly.

R

 

Maintenance? What maintenance? All I've done with my TR is put oil and gas in her.

Of course, I've only had her 6 months, so.....

 

It draws a crowd even in my garage. A neighbor has a 360. When he saw the cover on my TR he asked "What's under the cover?" As the cover was removed, I cited a line from the movie "The Color of Money"......I simply replied....."DOOM". He quietly walked away. He knew what it was and it kinda took the wind out of his sails. I couldn't believe the impact this car has on people. For me it was a dream come true, for others it was that car from Miami Vice. Just glad I made the choice for a TR instead of a 308. I hate to think I would have to grow a hairy upper lip and wear a Detroit Tigers ball cap. Instead I get to wear nice clothes and listen to 12 cylinders while driving. Good deal imho. Getting a great investment just makes it all that much sweeter.

 

Because the testarossa made such an impact in the market place in the 80s as the iconic car it has the potential to be big.

The bb never had that impact, therefore it is very possible for the Testarossa to over take it....BUT the bb, and 365bb will be the ones to have the gravy.

For as long as tr owners on this site continue to talk down there cars, and high five buyers getting cars in the 45 grand range we cannot expect the market to think otherwise.

Next time a time capsule comes up for 100grand, we should be talking up the car, not talking it down.

Just a suggestion...

 

Same way I see it..... Well put Big Red.

 

Ahhh the age old chatter of the collector car world - the beaten horse never dies.

All valid points above, but as often repeated (and for some reason often ignored) it ALWAYS comes down to basic economics regardless of what we wish for or what some rag or website says, which are not market forces. Economics = supply and demand.

Using some of the above comments regarding "icon status" would make 308/328 prices equally through the roof as well, to which I say "not going to happen anytime soon" - too many decent examples out there.

Price and Scarcity are inextricably linked (cars, beachfront land, art, etc) and you have to have both aspects of desire and scarcity to bring in the attention getting dollars. I think the desire for the TR line (TR, 512TR, 512M) is there, but the rarity aspect isn't other than for 512Ms and they sell fast and bring in realatively top dollar, despite it's polarizing and near universally panned looks...why? because it's rare (only 75 US examples).

So those "rare" 1k mile TRs bring in the big dollars...why? they're rare!

Most of our driven "survivor" catagory cars just dont have market buzz until the availabilty drys up; which I repeat again - no time soon.

 

I believe the top tier cars will show a modest increase in value. The bottom dwellers are money pits which will not be worth restoration costs in the next decade or two.


Biggest problem is the large production #'s and the cost for mechanical upkeep.








I wish I would have purchased the most pimped out factory car I have ever seen. The exterior was metallic blue and the inside was a two-tone light blue and dark blue interior. The F dealer in Utah had it for sale a number of years ago. Totally kewl.

 

I see the market broadening in terms of price range. Good examples will continue to lead and be worth more. Increasing IMO. Poor examples will decline with not far to go to being broken.

I am looking for that cheap one to use as a donor. Nobody crucifies someone for breaking a Testarossa, 308 or Mondial yet. They are still plentiful and not Worshiped.

 

I believe the keyword for this statement is "yet". In time you will hear a boatload of people crying when someone breaks one up for parts. The recent article is only going to fuel the collector car market. Once people have a hard time finding good examples, watch the money jump up. I saw this with Shelby Mustangs and other assorted muscle cars. The TR's timing is coming. We just have to be patient.

 

Prices have doubled here in the uk I the last 6 years - just looked online and there are 7 for sale with an average asking price of £60k

Tr boy