So, will testarossa’s EVER go up in value?

And how much are any of those toilets worth? And who gives a rats ass about them?

Even if you wanted to keep one running it costs nothing.

 

I agree it's NOT numbers, it's perception. I have a couple of Austin Healey 3000's that sold for $3500.00 new, and they routinely sell from 50 to 90K in good shape. A twenty to thirty times increase, on a car that frankly while it LOOKS good, drives like a tank. HUGE production numbers compared to a TR.

 

Obviously the reputation 355s in particular have developed is somewhat overblown, but my impression is that a TR is more expensive still because there's more labor and parts involved in any repair. Is that generally correct?

 

So it's downfall is being a success.

A few years back, absolutely. As it stands, there will be more people wanting TR's than BB's.

In the end it's all about a model's place in the F hierarchy. If the TR doubles but it's less valuable than 3x8's and 355's it's still funny.

 

Ferrari 355 - 11,273 produced
348 - 8,844

TR including 512TR, 512M - 9,939

328's - 7,412
3x8's - more than 12k

BB - 2,323
246 - 3,569

So it's not really the production numbers holding the TR value "back"

 

Market cap to the rescue

 

Lets face the facts- The car buying public knows Testarossa's need to have the engine removed to do a major service. Horror of horrors, better do it every three years or the timing belts going to break, bending all of your valves costing tens of thousands of dollars.

Taking my sample of the 308 Quatrovalve advertised in this post- wow how easy to service, no engine out required.

And that's the general perception. BUT a Testarossa is DESIGNED to have the engine come out. It's NOT very hard to do. When the engine is out, a person can comfortably work on it on a cart or work bench. What a CIVILIZED method to do a service. No crawling under fenders, or reaching over an engine like in a 308, 328. While everyone APPLAUDS the 308-328 that the service can be performed in situ- SOMETIMES it would save HOURS if it wasn't so hard to get out of the car. Some dick GLUES the back valve cover on with super glue, and removing the valve cover just rips the gasket in half, leaving gasket material on the head surface and the valve cover, a mechanic has to spend HOURS with a mirror and flashlight with a razor blade, craning their head to try and get the gasket off. There's NO easy way to do it. Removing plugs on the back bank isn't very easy either. The entire time you're either under a fender or trying to not scratch or dent any of the fenders. Or you're trying to reach the car from the rear, or somehow laying across the little trunk area, trying to NOT damage the flimsy vinyl cover and weather strip.

SO why does NO ONE just compliment the Testarossa design on it's relative simplistic engine R&R. SO WHAT- the engine has to come out, the design is pretty wonderful. Certainly rather do a Testarossa engine out service than work on some other cars that you pull you hair out doing certain jobs. Doing accurate work with an engine in the car, is MUCH harder. PLUS everything comes out. There's the transaxle, clutch, suspension, brakes.

I bet if someone searched Ferrari Chat for a post where someone posted the fact I just wrote about- it doesn't exist. Everyone's perception is removing the engine in the car is a frightfully awful thing to do. It's NOT! It's very straight forward and every operation after the removal is simpler than doing anything in a car. What a GREAT design. It's ALL attitude! Spread the word, and our car's values will skyrocket. If that matters.

 

As I understand it, you pretty much negate the time saved working on the drivetrain when you include the labor to remove and reinstall the subframe. A 308 major service is still materially less expensive (generally) than any of the engine out cars. Whether it's less of a PIA or not doesn't matter to most owners, it just comes down to $$$.

 

There aren’t enough TRs out and about on the road to build up the lust, in my opinion. Whenever I see one I’m shocked at the low height and proportions. Photos do not do it justice. If owners want to boost value, let others see them at cars and coffee and valet parked. No substitute for in the flesh.

For many years they were $50-60k, and then jumped. There is another jump coming, but as has been said, 7,000 models is a lot for Ferrari. Do NOT count the 512TR and F512M in the equation, not the same car. Just like each of the three Boxer models are not the same.

Get a TR now before they’re permanently above 200 even with miles and issues. Remember when a Countach was under 200? I do.

 

Check the production numbers above. 7k is not the issue.

The 512TR/M are not the same car but they're the same family and if anything will impact TR prices that will, and it has.

When the TR was 60k, the BB was 85k, the Countach was 85k, the 246 was 60k.

Short term they're going down, along with everything else.

 

Interesting discussion as things like this tend to be…..

Quite simply, the supply/demand ratio drives pricing…yeah common ECO 101 stuff. They made a similar number of Dino 206/246 so it is obvious that the demand is greater. That is why comparing a Ferrari to a Porsche isn’t valid, the number of Porsche aficionados is MUCH greater.

So why has the TR failed to move in price over the years? I’m going to point out the aspect I have heard the most over the years, among non owners like myself, who was not interested when they were $65k and not interested now.

It is the exterior design of the car. Again, look at the comparison with the Dino, even with a low performing V-6 versus a mighty V-12…..the thing is beautiful. You put a Dino body over the TR and you have a million dollar car dead stop, A Countach would go hide in the corner of the garage.

As some have mentioned, the Boxer mystery is a really tough nut to crack. I would walk over burning coals to have one of those, another beautiful design. Probably the issue is they were not actively marketed or sold in the US, which has been the driver of car values. Also, the family resemblance to the 308 is too strong, Ferrari messed up on that.

But never say never on TR values, as someone pointed out circa 2012 when I started looking at Diablos, there were plenty of $175k Countach’s around.

Now excuse me as I prepare to dodge, duck, dip, dive, and….dodge the rocks coming my way, though please take it easy with the wrenches.

 

A few thoughts here. I am pretty sure I said something similar in a BB thread.

If the last run up in prices (COVID run up) did not take the TR's much higher (They did go up.), then what will?

Like the BB, I think the TR's are a true driver's car. Not for the faint of heart. My grandmother could drive a Dino, but not a TR or a BB.

Before you say Countach, I have a feeling the bulk of the Countach's are just bought and garaged like wine and art collections. But the TR market is still made up of people who intend to drive them every nice weekend.

JMHO

 

As a non-owner enthusiast of the Testarossa, I can tell you why I didn't buy one years ago when they were cheaper. The maintenance costs were astounding compared to my 328. The idea of spending 10-15K (at that time) for a major service on a car that was 50-60K was just too painful for me. I believe that these relatively high maintenance costs are still a factor in people staying away from the platform. The values creep up, but so do the service costs.

 

The holdouts all held those cars all the way through 2015 when there was that insane runup in values. They all dumped when that moment finally arrived. There were dozens of TRs on the market at that time with under 1k miles on them.

 

to me this is the answer.
they made some 7200 testarossas, and many of them are in need of some extensive/expensive care, and not only do these mechanical interventions cost money, you have to find a person who knows what he is doing or you will spend twice to get it right. and then there are parts availability issues - i know too much about that.

 

right, the main problem is to find someone who knows what to do at those cars. I´m one of those who do all by myself and save a lot of working hours money.
but also if once done right you not have to spend much money each year for servicing even you not do it by yourself.

yes, a drivers car. but your grandmother also could not drive a countach where you not see the front and not the rear end

 

The car is not a universal car, it was made for the American market and they flooded us. It's a great car in every rendition but it's destined to become the big brother of the 308. The exception seems to be the 512TR, which I love. I can't get a straight take on the early cars, but it seems there is a real problem with the wheels falling off which is why they switched back to a five bolt lug. People argue this fact all the time but prices tell the story. I love the single bolt look but would NEVER buy one, unless I planned to not drive the car which is not my way.

 

There are more 3x8's, 348's and 355's than TR's.

There are more 246's than 512's.

The Countach was the same price as the BB about 20 years ago.

Production numbers is not the reason for the "low" value

 

I never had a wheel fall off my center lug 365 BB, or TR, but good to know it happened to someone (allegedly). Keep 'em tight, fellas!

 

10 years ago was 2013/14

I was hunting Testarossa's and we were buying them for sub $60-70K for a good car, no rust, recent major.

So based off those price estimates you stated, they're up, significantly I would say, even with inflation.

 

Agree with your points, although the later Countach models (5000 and anniversary) were similar to the BB as recently as 12 years ago.

As a frame of reference, Lamborghini made 650 Miuras, 2000 Countachs, and 2800 Diablos over a 35 year period, a total of 5,450 cars, still a good bit less than TRs.

 

How about first gen Diablo compared to F40. Same era similar performance specs similar shock awe and beauty looks ... but one isn’t 2, 3, 4 times as valuable as the other. More like TEN times!

TRs are no less tricky to own than 355s, but the heart wants what the heart wants. And many TRs for sale are solid/nice but need work and there are so many to chose from, so the average price looks “low” but super nice ones command super nice prices too.

 

And they only produced 900 of the early version Diablo (1990-1993) compared with 1,200 F40s….so supply ain’t everything.

The F40 became iconic immediately as the last Enzo green lit car.

 

IT was mentioned on this forum how to keep the wheels on single lug cars. These cars require patience and good knowledge.