ATTENTION TESTAROSSA/512TR OWNERS: Product feedback wanted

This is just starting development, but I wanted some owner feedback.

It will be a proper sealing unit to directly replace the rear quarter window and have nice close seam with the body of the car. You might recognize the type of curve leading up the window from several contemporary Ferraris.

TR owners, what do you think?
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Ryan I must say, your work truly accentuates the TR's lines. Well done my friend!
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LOOKS GREAT RYAN

SADLY I SOLD MY TR AFTER 3 YEARS...

BRUCE

 

That's ok Bruce, I have a whole LOAD of stuff coming out for the 550!

BTW, Ryalex Design uses only Energizer Batteries.

 

Ryan - wow. I haven't seen too many TR's in person, so when I was first looking at the pic, I couldn't really tell what you had done, 'till I read your description.

Then I went searching and found several pics of TR's. They looked like they were missing something in a very bad way! If you haven't already seen Tillman's mod to his 328 GTS, poke around in the TX section, you'll see pics. Very similar in terms of how changing a minor detail of the rear window treatment making an enormous difference.

Can't wait to see pics of the real deal!

 

Thanks Dave for your feedback.

I originally made the image for Tillman to preview his 328 with that mod; I've been brainstorming about TR's for a while and this is the first thing that needed tweaking IMO. That angular window always seemed out of place to me. I think this really brings out the main lines of the car in a positive way.

 

Fantastic!

Pinin Farina will probably regret that he did not think of that! It is absolutely an improvement of the line of the car.

Congratulations.

 

Ryan, I am very interested in a pair of those...it really is an awesome improvement!!

 

I guess I am too much of a purist. I don't see the point of this specific modification, does it have a functional purpose or is it mainly for cosmetic only?

The Testarossa does not need to look like any other cars nor does it need to follow any trend. There is no need to make it look more like another Ferrari from any other era. Much the same way you would not want to make the Daytonas to look like a California or Marenello. IMHO, that's what makes Ferrari special, that each model and design is unique as they should be. And to me, that has been one of the biggest difference between Ferrari and Porsche.

 

If Ferrari/Pinin listened to you, the 512TR would have looked the same as the TR!

 

That's fine, Anthony. It's only a cosmetic modification.

I'm just trying to offer things to people who want to be distinctive about their cars - although the TR is already 'extreme' as is - for some a 1-in-8,000 car isn't unique enough. There are so many more TR's than Californias or Daytonas, that I see them as an ideal canvas for creating exciting new art... without worrying for a second about harming an 'endangered species' of the automotive world!

Let's face it, there are a lot of sacrifices made to the look of a car in order to make it more driveable in a wide variety of conditions and appeal to a wider customer range. Since I'm not selling to every TR owner, I don't have to play to the middle like the factory does, and can provide a bolder product that won't be everyone's taste.

As for "purism," I think there is an intriguing trend in Ferrari history: back in the earlier years, when you were a big time Ferrari owner (ie. Rosellini) there was more emphasis on having a one-off or custom-bodied Ferrari - whether from the factory, Scagletti, Zagato, etc. Then it seems that in the late 70's/early 80's, this trend died out and buyers became adamant about keeping their cars stock ("the way Enzo would have wanted it"). My guess is this coincides with increased production and less individual attention or customization options from the factory, and people wanting to be just like Tom Magnum or Don Johnson. The biggest notable to fight this trend in the 80's was the Sultan of Brunei.

Now we're entering into a new era where this generation of young professionals are graduating to exotic ownership - and after having had plenty of aftermarket options for modifying their Hondas, Acuras, and Nissans, they want to take modifcation to the next level. As Martin has mentioned, in Miami, a stock 360 won't make many people turn and look (except tourists!).

I'm not shy about my goals of elevating these projects to the point of being a modern-day Zagato - indeed, I have plans for starting a set of full rebodies, which will probably not happen until '07. These components I'm working on now are part of building up to that.

 

Hate to break this to you, but the 512tr or the 512M are still basically a Testarossa. Ferrari may have "pumped" up the performance numbers, but they are still just a copy/evolution/mutation of the original Testarossa DNAs. And don't even get me started on the direction Ferrari is heading with their road cars, the simply fact of lacking an mid-engined 12 or 10 cylinder cars in their lineup just sickens me (No, the F50s and the F60s do not count, as most of them garage queens and are not used on a regular bases).

Ryalex ask for opinions on an open forum, and I gave him an honest one. I am simply not big on making cosmetic modifications, especially when it comes to the Ferraris or any other low volume cars. I would think that I am not the only one on this forum that feels changes from the factory is one thing, aftermarket add-on's are an entirely different story, regardless how they look.

 

Don't take it personal, because it isn't. Bottom line is, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. People can do whatever they want to their cars, and that includes underbody neon lights if that's what floats their boat. I, like many others, do not own a Ferrari to attract attention, in fact, that is my least favorite part of owning one. By all means, feel free to explore your creativities. I am simply expressing my opinion since you asked for feedbacks on your thread, and unfortunately in this case, I had to give a negative feedback instead of a positive one.

 

I enjoyed the way you've put this into perpective. As Tillman was pointing out to those questioning his mods and possible wheel swaps... http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=134614966&postcount=34

 

Oh, I didn't take what you said personally - you didn't say anything negative about this piece at all, just that you didn't want to change your car. That's cool. I'm acutely aware that there are two large camps in Ferrari-dom about modifications (and you might be in the more populous one, to be honest)!

It's interesting you mentioned you're an introvert though; before you even mentioned that I was theorizing that maybe introverts like to keep their car original to minimize the 'flashiness' of it, while still being able to get the kicks of Ferrari ownership, which brings enough attention for the introvert as is. Maybe this needs a poll!

 

Hi Ryan,

IMHO, you took a diamond and made it shimmer even brighter. The lower curve that you added to the rear 1/4 window, fixed that which has been bothering me for years!! Beautiful vision!!

Cheers, Hank

 

Ryan,
thats so beautiful, well done!!!!
I thought I would never chnage anything.....you got me!
Please sign me in for a set for my TR.
The curves are amazing and fits just perfect to the whole lines of the beast.

 

Ryan, a before and after picture would be great...

 

Thank you very much Hank and Wolfgang for your kind words.

Here Carb:
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You don't get a PAIR, you only get one...! That's the whole point... To be REALLY unique, you can only have one on ONE side...


Thanks, Ryan...

 

How do you envision it being mounted?

 

Just like the louver mod Tillman just had done to his 328. We'll pull the whole TR window and the weather seal around it. Either donating their stock windows or us providing a new pair, cut/grind down the window to the curve and fit it to the composite piece.

Then remount the set back into the space left by the original window, with new weather stripping around the (now) 3 edges of the window. The outer edge of the composite will be adhered to the car and sealed - perhaps with that black seal TR's have between their panels.

This way it can be returned to stock by refitting the old window or buying a new pair if the stock was the donor.
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Hmmm.....I kinda dig it.

 

My concern is it would cut back on the already dismal rear visibility. That's the biggest problem (IMHO) w/ these mid-engine exotics, you cant see a damn thing out to the back/sides. And this would seem to only make it worse.

I must say though, it looks smashing.

 

Never look back, its not interesting whats behind you
The challenge is always in front of you

I realy love Ryans idea and I hope to get a pair of this for my TR.