This Ferrari 512 TR Spider is 1-of-3 ever built. It rolled off the production line in 1994 wearing Blue Cobalto, had a single owner since new, and is now worth over $3 million. And there is one more reason for that staggering estimated price: that single owner did not even drive it much!
It was the early 1990s, and Ferrari had the iconic Testarossa, with its mid-mounted flat-12, 385 horsepower (390 PS) and 361 lb-ft (490 Nm). It was time they came up with something else. The Testarossa still had some energy left in it, and sales figures proved it.
But it was its sixth year on the market, and Ferrari needed to bring something new to the market and needed to do it fast. It needed something that would not make the brand's enthusiasts nostalgic about the Testarossa, but happy to see, buy, drive the new creation.
And so Ferrari unveiled the direct successor of the Testarossa, the 512 TR Spider, with the '5' in the designation being a reference to the cubic capacity of the engine in liters (rounded up) and the '12' referring to the number of cylinders. Meanwhile, the TR' – easy to guess – was short for 'Testarossa.'
The model entered production in 1991 with slightly redesigned front and rear bumpers, improved aerodynamics, and better ergonomics. The nose and tail were brought closer to the ground, while the radiator grille sported the Cavallino Rampante (Prancing Horse) badge placed in the center.
Photo: RM Sotheby's
The car came with newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels, which were a modern take on the Ferrari five-spoke design. They were 2 inches larger, a solution that Ferrari resorted to because they needed the extra space to fit the ventilated cross-drilled brake discs clamped by four-piston calipers.
Ferrari lowered the chassis to reduce roll and put the center of gravity lower. Consequently, the engine and gearbox dropped by 30 millimeters (1.1 inches). The 512 TR still featured the suspension of the Testarossa, but retuned for the larger diameter wheels.
Yet Ferrari kept the best for last: it was the 4.943 cc Tipo engine with extra oomph compared to what the Testarossa came with, due to the use of high compression pistons that raised the compression ratio from 9.3:1 to 10:1, larger valves, as well as a new Bosch Motronic M2.7 ignition and fuel injection system.
They all brought along 38 horsepower over the engine that powered the Testarossa, taking it to a total of 422 horsepower (428 PS), while torque was rated at 360 lb-ft (488 Nm).
Photo: RM Sotheby's
The engine was linked to the same five-speed manual gearbox, while the car could hit 60 mph (97 kph) from 0 in 4.8 seconds and go all the way to a top speed of 195 mph (314 kph).
In 1994, Ferrari built three units of the 512 TR Spider. Two of them ended up with Alfred Tan of Hong Seh Motors, Ferrari’s official dealership in Singapore, with strong ties to the Brunei Royal Family.
He sold one of the two to a French CEO, but kept a model finished in Blue Cobalto. Chassis number 97310, his car is actually the world’s only Ferrari 512 TR Spider with the spectacular Blu Cobalt paintwork over the Blu Scuro Connolly leather interior. Also in blue was the floor mat. The convertible also came with a navy blue roof to support the all-blue color scheme.
But why was Alfred Tan offered the two 512 TRs? He was the one who coordinated the production of the three Testarossa Spiders for the Brunei Royal Family. Tan knew the value of the Ferrari he had received and hardly drove the car, keeping it at the dealership most of the time or in dry storage, away from the elements. Today, the odometer shows only 570 kilometers (354 miles), which pretty much turns it into a garage queen.
Photo: RM Sotheby's
Everything about this Spider remained original. The almost 30-year-old paint is impeccable, the upholstery does not show its age either, and the matching numbers 4.9-liter flat-12 engine and gearbox kept their ground.
Three years after purchase, in 1997, Alfred Tan was invited to display his car at the 50th Anniversary of Ferrari in Rome. This is how the 512 TR Spider was exhibited there and photographed, with the photos now part of the digital history file.
The unique blue-themed Ferrari 512 TR Spider is the only chance anyone would get to drive home one of the only three ever made, as the other two are not in circulation.
The car is now going under the hammer with RM Sotheby’s. The auction is scheduled for November 4 in London. Organizers expect it to fetch anywhere between 2.1 million and 2.7 million pounds. That translates into $2.5 million and $3.27 million. Those interested in taking it home must know that the car is offered without registration papers,
Google News