Testarossa/512TR nomenclature?

[AMG Merc]

I've been looking at 512TRs and have noticed that, although there's a 512TR badge on the rear, some cars have "Testarossa" on the engine cover and some don't. Is it the case that some owners simply removed the Testarossa badge I wonder? And, are they both (512TRs and 512Ms) considered Testarossas anyway?

[AMG Merc]

AMG Merc said:

I've been looking at 512TRs and have noticed that, although there's a 512TR badge on the rear, some cars have "Testarossa" on the engine cover and some don't. Is it the case that some owners simply removed the Testarossa badge I wonder? And, are they both (512TRs and 512Ms) considered Testarossas anyway?

Following further research it appears that all three (Testarossa (of course), 512TR and 512M) are all Testarossas. Makes sense I suppose but, as said, many I've seen (LHD and RHD) have the Testarossa removed from the engine cover.

See following photos of an M and a TR...

Edited by AMG Merc on Sunday 8th February 18:52

[MitchT]

The 'testarossa' badge was initially a standard item on the 512TR but later dropped. Not quite sure how it's reappeared on a 512M though - I don't know that part of the story.

[AMG Merc]

MitchT said:

The 'testarossa' badge was initially a standard item on the 512TR but later dropped. Not quite sure how it's reappeared on a 512M though - I don't know that part of the story.

Thanks, I'm thinking people removed them following paintwork and/or so as not to confuse. I'm intending to remove mine and possibly paint in body colour. TBH: when I first saw this on the one I've found I thought it was a ringer (i.e.: was a Testarossa changed to a TR), hence my query.

[MitchT]

Bit more information ...

512TRs initially came out of the factory with the 'testarossa' script on the engine lid. It was subsequently deleted. The first car to come out of the factory without it was chassis number #11516.

The car you've pictured is an F512M (unless it's a 512TR that's been cosmetically modified). The F512M actually came out of the factory with all of the engine cover painted the same colour as the rest of the body and no 'testarossa' script. Assuming it is a 512M, as it purports to be, then it's unusual in as much as has a portion of the engine cover painted black (as per all 512TRs) and the 'testarossa' script (as per early 512TRs).

[AMG Merc]

MitchT said:

Bit more information ...

512TRs initially came out of the factory with the 'testarossa' script on the engine lid. It was subsequently deleted. The first car to come out of the factory without it was chassis number #11516.

The car you've pictured is an F512M (unless it's a 512TR that's been cosmetically modified). The F512M actually came out of the factory with all of the engine cover painted the same colour as the rest of the body and no 'testarossa' script. Assuming it is a 512M, as it purports to be, then it's unusual in as much as has a portion of the engine cover painted black (as per all 512TRs) and the 'testarossa' script (as per early 512TRs).

Thanks Mitch, that makes sense now. It looks like the one I'm getting is a lower number which would have Testarossa on the engine cover so it correaltes to the above.

[Johnnyforeigner]

AMG Merc said:

Thanks Mitch, that makes sense now. It looks like the one I'm getting is a lower number which would have Testarossa on the engine cover so it correaltes to the above.

From what I've seen (could easily be wrong) it was the non-ABS TR's that had the Testarossa name on the engine cover (50 cars imported into the UK). The non ABS cars (38) and the M's (@41?) didn't have it.

[AMG Merc]

Johnnyforeigner said:

From what I've seen (could easily be wrong) it was the non-ABS TR's that had the Testarossa name on the engine cover (50 cars imported into the UK). The non ABS cars (38) and the M's (@41?) didn't have it.

OK, thanks. Makes sense now.

[AmoCS]

This one has just come on the market.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

Great cars, had one for 5 years, you can spot a later/updated 512tr as they had black air boxes.

[rubystone]

Foskers have one in too in lhd. Not on their website yet.

[AMG Merc]

AmoCS said:

This one has just come on the market.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

Great cars, had one for 5 years, you can spot a later/updated 512tr as they had black air boxes.

Saw that. It has to be the highest asking price so far. RHD so rare, and very low miles.

[Nmj]

AMG Merc said:

Saw that. It has to be the highest asking price so far. RHD so rare, and very low miles.

well worth it i say

[kith]

If I recall correctly, all versions had 'testarossa' script on their cam covers

[AMG Merc]

kith said:

If I recall correctly, all versions had 'testarossa' script on their cam covers

Thanks. I've since learnt that the later TR covers didn't have a badge - only the early one's (and all M's had the cover colour matched with no Testarossa badge at all). I think Ferrari was trying to differentiate the TR and M from the earlier Testarossa line (even though they are all Testas.

[kith]

kith said:

If I recall correctly, all versions had 'testarossa' script on their cam covers

Here's a pic of the F512M engine clearly showing the testarossa script

[AmoCS]

The Testarossa badge was removed from the 512tr engine lid during 1993, on the cam covers it was throughout the TR range.

[rubystone]

You'd exepct the script to remain on the engine for obvious reasons.

[AMG Merc]

kith said:

Here's a pic of the F512M engine clearly showing the testarossa script

You are correct but I'm talking about the cover on the engine lid.