Headlining the lineup of cars taking part at RM Sotheby’s Villa Erba Sale is an incredible single-owner collection of five rare Ferrari Testarossa, all presented in black paint and original black leather interiors.
The five Testarossas, part of a single owner’s collection, are expected to go for millions at RM Sotheby’s auction that is returning to the breathtaking shores of Lake Como after a three-year hiatus. The auction will be held on May 20 in partnership with Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. The sale is world-renowned as one of the most beautiful actions this year, providing a perfect opportunity for the world’s collectors to buy or sell remarkable cars.
The main attraction for the Black on Black collection is the 1996 Ferrari F512 M. One of only 501 cars produced, the F512 M is powered by the legendary flat-12 Testarossa engine, maxing out at 434 horsepower. The car is estimated to sell for around $370,000 at auction.
Another car in the collection is a 1992 Ferrari 512 TR. The design of this car features an updated Pininfarina style that replaced the original Testarossa silhouette. All 422 horsepower is packed into the dry-sumped V-12 engine allowing the car to reach a top speed of 195 mph. This car is expected to be sold anywhere from $220,000–$310,000.
“We are delighted to have consigned this remarkable collection of Ferraris,” says Stephan Knobloch, car specialist at RM Sotheby’s. “As a marque which is synonymous with the color red, black Ferraris are not only fewer in number, but it is also a color which gives Ferrari cars a highly purposeful look. For me, a black Testarossa is the ultimate specification, and these five cars present a very rare opportunity.”
An iconic automobile in the 1980s, the Testarossa still stands today as a one-of-kind car due to its unique side strakes and imposing width coupled with subtle styling nuances to create an additional visual drama. The 1987 Ferrari Testarossa “Monodado” is a great example of the design, featuring the “Monodado” specification 16-inch wheels that boast a motorsport style “single-nut” design only offered on select variants of the Testarossa model. This car is valued at $150,000–$220,000.
Arguably the most collectable Testarossa is the 1986 Ferrari Testarossa “Monospecchio,” meaning “single mirror,” a feature on earlier models. The car is fitted with one high-mounted mirror, a design based on an interpretation of the European regulations at the time and has become a symbol of the Testarossa models. This part of the collection is estimated to sell between $150,000–$220,000.
To round out the collection is a 1989 Ferrari Testarossa, delivered new to Italy by Concessionaria Autoterminal SpA. The car for auction showcases an open-gate gearbox mated to the iconic mid-engined, 4.9-liter flat-12 powerplant – estimated at $125,000–$185,000.
Learn more at rmsothebys.com.
Photos courtesy RM Sotheby’s
