The Ferrari Testarossa is the last 12-cylinder Ferrari designed while Enzo Ferrari was alive. The Ferrari Testarossa was introduced in the famous Theatre du Lido located at the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris in October 1984. This introduction was for a selection of VIP clients and selected press and hosted by the local Ferrari dealership, Charles Pozzi. After this event, a photoshoot in Paris followed and two Ferrari Testarossa’s were exhibited during the Salon de l ‘Automobile in Paris (4-14 October 1984). One car was presented at the stand of designer Pininfarina, the other at Ferrari’s own stand. Later that year, the Ferrari Testarossa was shown at the British International Motorshow in NEC, Birmingham (17-28 October 1984) and Turin Motorshow (14-25 November 1984).

The example we have available is the third produced car. Extensive research from our team concluded this is the earliest Ferrari Testarossa available in the world. After this car was presented on the Pininfarina stand in Paris, the car was also shown on the Turin Motor Show in 1984. That makes this Ferrari Testarossa the very first example that was shown to the public in its homeland Italy. The car remained with the factory until the beginning of 1985 and was shipped to Japan.

This was the earliest Ferrari Testarossa to arrive in Asia and more specific Japan. It’s believed this Ferrari Testarossa was the Tokyo Motor Showcar too. The first owner was legendary Japanese race car driver, Sokichi Shikiba. In 1963, the first Japan Grand Prix came around, and Shikiba secured an official seat with Toyota and won the C-V class race with a Toyopet Corona. In 1964, at the 2nd Japanese Grand Prix, history would truly be made – a battle against two marques, Shikiba would drive the Porsche Carrera GT-S to victory that would make it his most momentous event to date. It was during the GT-II Class race that Shikiba, behind the wheel of his Porsche, was passed by his old friend Tetsu Ikuzawa in a Prince Skyline GT-B, giving birth to the Skyline legend. A story of a very close-knit friendship and a rivalry that helped to cement this unforgettable moment in Japanese motorsport history from then on. He was the husband to famous Taiwanese singer Ouyang FeiFei, whom he married in 1978. The full history is documented by copies of Japanese registration certificates and service records.

In the Spring of 2024, the car was discovered in a Japanese collection where it resided since 2002. The car was imported into The Netherlands. After it arrived, the car was completely serviced and prepared in our Real Art on Wheels workshop, including new belts. The car is completely original, as being confirmed by the Pininfarina Classiche Certification which was finalized in September 2024. The car is now road registered in The Netherlands.

The “40 Years of Ferrari Testarossa”-celebration organized at the Theatre du Lido in Paris in October 2024 is built around this car.