Aside from those of us who have decided to ignore whatever the media is reporting on a daily basis (and God bless you if you’re one of them), many of you likely saw that Ferrari was exorciated for its recent product announcement. The Luce, apparently a car that was not intended to be a late April Fool’s joke, has become the butt of hilarious AI-generated skits and also the source of great angst for many brand loyalists. Perhaps that’s why the seller of this low-mileage 1988 Ferrari Testarossa listed here on craigslist decided to list his car now with the realization the golden age of Ferrari is long gone.
Most of the the time, we’d roll our eyes at seller-hyped hyperbole, but in this instance, he’s not wrong: this is the last of the mid-engined 12-cylinder Ferraris made while Enzo was still alive. In many ways, you could argue he personally blessed the production of this iconic flat-12 powered supercar that became legendary for its connection to Miami Vice and so many other mediums that held the fashion and vibes of the 80s in high regard. While the Lamborghini Countach was considered a poster child of the era by many, I would confidently argue that the Testarossa is the true 80s icon.
The Countach can trace its roots back to the LP400, which was conceived in the 1970s. It’s a first-generation Countach, effectively. The Testarossa is a wholly-80s creation, which is why it is still considered an icon today. The side strakes, pop-up headlights, wide stance, and 5-spoke wheels combine to create an aura that cannot be mistaken for any other era. While the 512TR represented a very mild progression from the Testarossa, there’s also no denying that it is clearly a car born from the 90s. The Testarossa, by the way, has just 3,598 miles on the clock and presents as new, inside and out.
The seller is asking $517,000, which is an enormous sum for this car. However, the Testarossa has been selling for well under what it will someday be worth. For some reason, it has not enjoyed the same explosive rise in value as the Lamborghini, with decent drivers still selling for around $130,000. That train is quickly leaving the station, however, and you may have already missed your window of opportunity to experience 380 b.h.p. and 354 lb.-ft. of torque screaming in your ear. The seller is asking for all the money, but his timing may prove quite strategic. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the find.
That is all the money, but find another. Hopefully it gets driven, as Enzo intended. Incredible automobiles, with a soundtrack second to none. 🏁
How many readers are going to bash the seller for listing it on Craigslist?
Listing a car like this in Craigslist practically screams “Fake ad”, and/or raises a great big red flag. These are normally brokered, at an exotic dealership or sold at specialized auctions.
They shouldn’t.
Steve R
Beautiful car. I was just about to purchase this, but a wild fire burned all my money trees. Sigh. Oh well, a car of my dreams will have to stay in my dreams.
If the seller wants to deal with all of the flakes, they can list the car wherever they want.
Notice how it looks nothing at all like a 1987 Nissan Stanza.
Not sure what is worse, the price or Craig’s list?
3598 miles? Just about ready for it’s engine out, $20,000 tune up. Ah, to be rich…
you are describing the belt change service which runs about 10 grand
at least – that’s only for the engine out service which doesn’t take into account any other additional issues the car may have, especially with such low miles.
Excoriated, not exorciated. Sorry, had to point it out.
I hadn’t heard of the Luce before. After seeing it, I wish I still hadn’t.
RIP Ferrari.
Hello, yes, I saw your Testarossa on Craigslist. My son loves Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton and is interested in it for his 16th birthday. I am willing to buy it for him, but he would like to drive it. When can we meet up?
Should we all copy and paste that into the reply section of the ad?
Located in Pontiac, Michigan
Well written Jeff… ‘his timing may prove strategic’. It is! Well maintained exotics are going to have an added appeal to new buyers.
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I find it difficult to understand why someone would buy a car on such a premium with this kind of mileage.
It is just a reason why you can not use the car, other than trailer it to concours meetings and that kind of stuff.
I like to use my cars, not just look at them. And the cars that are used most often give the lease amount of trouble. And the most fun of course.