Miguel Sánchez
Of course, the Ferrari Testarossa is one of the icons from the Maranello factory. More than 10.000 were produced but there is one, one in particular, that is unique.
And not just for being a spider; Ferrari engineers went to great lengths to make the necessary reinforcements in the bodywork and to couple specific elements such as the Valeo semi-automatic transmission. If to all that we add the elegant silver color ... we are facing a frankly interesting specimen.
What was the reason for investing so much effort? The answer is simple: you had to please the boss. And no, we are not referring to Enzo Ferrari, but to the chief of bosses in the Italian industry: Gianni Agnelli, the president of Fiat who made the company what it is today, the most important business group in Italy. Gianni, grandson of the Agnelli founder of FIAT in 1899, in 1986 turned 20 years at the head of the automobile conglomerate in which Ferrari participated. And from what we see, I wanted to celebrate it in style.
A UNIQUE CAR FOR A UNIQUE MAN
Personalization had to be at the height of the event, and therefore Maranello engineers did not limit themselves to a simple redesign. However, the first thing that impresses us is the aesthetics, since it is the only Testarossa Spider to come out of the Ferrari factory. And there the thing is not, because in the visual section there is also a riddle: What is the denomination of silver in the periodic table? Exactly, Ag. The first two letters of Agnelli. For this reason, this unique specimen wears that elegant silver color, which earned it to win the last cElegance competition held in Maranello for the 70 years of the brand.
Although we are talking about this unit because it is the only Testarossa Spider manufactured by Ferrari, it is also frankly interesting because it incorporates a semi-automatic transmission. Gianni Agnelli suffered an injury to his left leg, which made it difficult for him to operate the clutch; therefore the engineers assembled the Valeo transmission, early embryo of this type of scheme; with it, all you have to do is press a button to switch from manual to automatic. Quite a technical show for the time.
All that adds to the already in itself spectacular engine of almost 5000 cubic centimeters, 12 flat cylinders and 390 hp. In this version spider has to be amazing listening to the symphony produced behind the driver's back. A unique luxury designed for the great boss of FIAT. A man who also commissioned the only Lancia Delta Spider Integrale; all to walk with him through the summers of St. Moritz. Speaking of driving through magnificent places in dream cars, let's see Agnelli's Ferrari driving through the night in Paris ...
THERE ARE OTHERS, BUT THEY ARE NOT 62897
However, there are other Testarossa Spiders. But beware, they are not units produced by Ferrari. These are after-sales preparations devised by mod shops like Straman -responsible for one in silver and with Spanish registration-, Baldini -who has made a blank unit and another in blue- or Pavesi -in yellow-. The only Spider version to come off the assembly line in Maranello is this one that we present to you., which was auctioned for just over one million euros less than two years ago.
Agnelli was a unique man, and for this reason he commissioned a unique car: the Testarossa with chassis number 62897, a specimen to pull back the hood and let the magic of the V12 Ferrari flow ...
Photographs: Artcurial
