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By
DAVID PIKE
In 1956 Ferrari introduced the four-cylinder 500TR sportscar which was
their first car to use the name Testa Rossa or Red Head because the
cylinder head was painted a bright red. This was followed by the 250
Testarossa clothed in a body by Pininfarina. Not only was it a more
powerful successor to the four-cylinder Testarossa but its 2953cc V12
engine was specially designed to enable it to compete in sportscar
championships for cars up to 3.00-litres, which were expected to be
introduced in 1958. These cars have been considered among the most
beautiful cars ever to race.
In 1958 Ferrari took out the sportscar manufacturers'
championship, winning at Buenos Aires, Sebring, the Targa Florio
and Le Mans. Their main rivals, Aston Martin, won the Nurburgring
1000km event, but it was a small consolation, for, with four
firsts, three seconds, two thirds and three fourth places, Ferrari
took the championship by 38 points to Aston Martin's 16 – and
was so cocksure they didn't even bother to run in the last round
of the Tourist Trophy.
When Ferrari introduced their 1985 high performance car it
seemed logical to use the Testarossa name for this car with its
Pininfarina body especially as its centrally mounted 4942cc
flat-12, four valve per cylinder boxer engine had red crackle
paint finish cam covers. This really impressive power plant
developed 291kW at 6300rpm which gave the car a top speed of
290km/h and enabled it to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in only 5.8
seconds.
The styling of the 1985 Testarossa appeared wildly extravagant
and to accommodate the new radiator position, in the middle of the
car, rather than the front which was more usual, the side air
intakes made it very distinctive. It had a five-speed manual
transmission and was fitted with disc brakes on all four wheels to
ensure its braking performance matched its excellent roadholding
and ride. But as with all Ferraris the major emphasis was always
on engine design.
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