Ferrari Testarossa – Undervalued?

Ferrari produced the iconic Testarossa between 1985 and 1991. In all, some  9,939  examples left the factory gate (7,177 cars branded Testarossa, the remainder 512 TR and F512 M). The Testarossa competed with the Lamborghini Countach for the “it” car of its time. On one hand Miami Vice. On the other, Cannonball Run. Powered by a mid-engined Flat 12cyl, the Testarossa offers combines impressive performance with a distinctive exhaust note. So why is it . . . .

You can buy a pre-loved Testarossa in excellent condition for the same money it cost brand new? True story. The Ferrari’s MSRP in the 1980s was $140k. It holds roughly the same price point today ($140k in 1994 equals $285k in today’s money). While there are Testarossas and there are Testarossas, a quick look at the list of previous Bring a Trailer sales gives us an idea of the vehicle’s current average market price.

“Price”:

YearMilesSoldPriceDate
19871,640 miSOLD$274,400Aug 18, 2023
198731,805 miSOLD$134,400Aug 18, 2023
19873,553 miSOLD$257,600Aug 18, 2023
198810,490 miSOLD$151,200Aug 18, 2023
199118,876 miSOLD$123,200Aug 17, 2023
199039,389 miSOLD$110,000Aug 16, 2023
198913,000 miSOLD$193,000Aug 14, 2023
198729,000 miSOLD$133,000Aug 12, 2023
198574,265 miSOLDAUD197,500Aug 10, 2023
199114,000 miSOLD$128,000Aug 5, 2023
199018,000 miSOLD$138,000Jul 28, 2023
198916,000 miSOLD$147,000Jul 14, 2023
19892,800 miSOLD$205,000Jul 11, 2023
198540,000 kmSOLD$150,000Jul 7, 2023
198614,600 kmSOLD€214,560Jun 30, 2023
199018,035 miSOLDNot AvailableJun 28, 2023
199013,979 miSOLDNot AvailableJun 26, 2023
198523,000 miSOLD$152,000Jun 22, 2023
198714,221 miSOLD£110,500Jun 19, 2023
198847,745 miSOLDNot AvailableJun 18, 2023
19884,400 miSOLD$147,600Jun 15, 2023
198942,888 miSOLDNot AvailableJun 11, 2023
198833,000 miSOLD$118,000Jun 4, 2023

YearMilesBid/SoldPriceDate
1989EuroBid$294,0002/27/23
19882,300-MileSold$283,0001/25/22
19912,100-MileSold$241,0001/14/22
19885k-MileSold$238,00011/29/22
199019k-MileSold$237,0005/6/22
198611k-MileSold$225,0003/22/22
19893,800-MileSold$193,0008/9/21
199011k-MileSold$190,00011/2/21
198918k-MileSold$186,5434/5/23
19892,600-MileSold$184,0008/31/21
19885k-MileSold$177,00010/26/21
198619k-MileSold$176,0003/22/23
198616k-MileSold$175,9997/1/21
19888,900-MileSold$175,0008/10/22
198816k-MileSold$170,0003/29/23
198616k-MileSold$170,00010/8/21
1988983-MileSold$168,50012/12/17
198617k-MileBid$165,07010/2/22
19913k-MileSold$165,0002/26/21
199010k-MileSold$165,0007/18/21
19889k-MileSold$164,0008/13/21
1987Sold$163,0007/27/22
19898k-MileBid$160,0009/17/22
199018k-MileSold$159,6668/3/20
19916k-MileBid$155,0002/23/23
19897k-MileSold$155,0008/3/22
19884,400-MileSold$153,0008/22/19
1986Sold$153,0002/19/21
199027-YearsBid$152,0006/17/22
1985Bid$150,00012/6/21
198633-YearsSold$150,0009/25/22
19899k-MileSold$150,00011/9/21
198820-YearsSold$149,00012/20/21
19897,600-MileSold$145,00011/16/21
199119k-MileSold$144,9995/18/22
199017k-MileSold$142,00012/13/21
1989EuroBid$138,5003/15/23
19896k-MileSold$137,0007/11/21
199118k-MileSold$136,0008/26/20
198820k-MileSold$136,00011/7/22
1991Sold$135,00012/28/21
1987Sold$133,00010/19/21
1988EuroBid$132,00011/14/22
1990Sold$131,0005/18/21
198739k-MileSold$130,0009/2/22
19883,700-MileBid$130,00010/14/20
198830k-MileSold$130,0003/18/22
199111k-MileBid$130,0007/25/21
1986Blu SeraSold$130,0006/15/18
198722k-MileSold$129,90010/9/22
1991One-OwnerSold$126,0008/1/21
1989Sold$126,0002/23/22
19908k-MileSold$125,00010/28/20
19907K-MileSold$125,00012/27/17
1990Sold$125,0007/8/22
1987Sold$125,00010/16/22
199019k-MileSold$125,0004/19/23
1991Sold$123,0004/23/22
19918K-MileSold$120,0005/23/18
198820k-MileBid$120,0008/17/22
199128k-MileBid$120,0006/24/22
198714k-MileSold$117,0009/24/21
198722k-MileBid$116,5006/3/22
1988Bid$116,00012/5/22
1987Sold$115,0006/10/22
198511k-MileBid$113,0006/24/21
1989Sold$113,0005/13/22
198615K-MileBid$113,0006/9/16
1988Sold$112,0004/12/23
19875k-MileSold$110,0005/17/19
19913k-MileBid$110,00012/11/18
19879k-MileSold$110,00010/2/19
1989Sold$109,5222/12/22

Vehicles from the same era have seen substantial increases in value. The fact that the Testarossa’s price has remained relatively unchanged for almost four decades is astonishing, given its 12-cylinder engine and iconic ’80’s sports car status.

While maintenance isn’t cheap, the Testarossa’s relatively inexpensive price of entry and the likelihood of it catching up with other automotive icons from the same era, make it an undervalued treasure. Collectors and enthusiasts would do well to capitalize on this opportunity before the rest of the market catches on.

Photo credit : Bring A Trailer.

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