One to Buy: 3rd example built ex-Paris & Turin Motor Show 1984 Ferrari Testarossa
Unlike some other Italian design houses whose work was often influenced by the latest fads, by the 1980s Pininfarina had long since established a reputation for elegant, classically styled machinery that really stood the test of time.
However, when it came to a replacement for the outgoing Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer, Pininfarina embarked on a rare trip into avant garde territory and in doing so created arguably the most iconic automotive design of the 1980s: the Ferrari Testarossa.
With its elaborately slatted side intakes and tail fascia, dramatically sculpted rear fenders and air-piercing nose, the Testarossa caused a sensation on its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 1984.
Today, that very car displayed on Pininfarina’s stand in Paris between October 4th and 14th of 1984 is being offered by Real Art on Wheels in Amsterdam’s Lake District.
Understood to have been just the third Testarossa completed, chassis 53285 subsequently went on to appear at the Turin Motor Show a few weeks later (November 14th to 25th), after which it was dispatched to Japan.
Following its arrival in the Far East, chassis 53285 was sold to renowned racing driver and 1964 Japanese Grand Prix winner, Sokichi Shikiba.
Since having returned to Europe in the spring of 2024, this all original numbers matching machine has been the subject of a major service and must surely rank among the most significant Testarossas in existence.
Reprinted below is Real Art on Wheels’ description:
The earliest Testarossa available
Formerly shown at Auto Salon Paris, Turin Motorshow and Tokyo Motorshow
The earliest Testarossa to arrive in Asia, the first in Japan
Pininfarina Classiche Certified
Matching numbers and colors
71,112km
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 Show car 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.
