The wedge styling, outrageous side strakes, and imposing proportions of the Ferrari Testarossa caused nothing short of a sensation on launch in 1984, and by the end of the decade the model had become synonymous with the unbridled ambition and sense of excess that marked the era. Capturing the imagination of the public and carving out a niche in popular culture, the Testarossa took a starring role in hit US television series Miami Vice, while global icons including Michael Jordan, M.C. Hammer and Mike Tyson clamoured to add the sportscar to their garages.

Ferrari’s landmark supercar is no less a status symbol today than it was in period, thanks not only to its poster pinup good looks, but also class-leading levels of performance. With a thundering 4,943-cc flat-12 engine mounted amidships—in true Ferrari tradition—the Testarossa produced 376 horsepower in catalysed 1990-specification, and was capable of reaching 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds and storming to a top speed of 180 mph.

Chassis 86939 is finished in the timeless combination of Rosso over Nero, and was ordered new via Maranello Concessionaires. It is significant for being one of just 438 examples from a total production run exceeding 7,000 to be configured in right-hand drive. This Testarossa has remained in the care of its original owner for the past three decades and has been carefully stored during that time. At the time of cataloguing, the odometer read just 161 kilometres, mileage that can likely to attributed to pre-delivery testing while still in the care of the factory. The car, which retains its matching-numbers engine, is accompanied by a leather folio containing an owner’s manual and service books.

Beautifully specified in one of the most desirable colour combinations in Ferrari history, this remarkable Testarossa is surely one of the lowest mileage examples of its type.