1 1985-1990 FERRARI TESTAROSSA

WHY IT’S SO

AFFORDABLE Marque devotees never quite got over its cartoonish proportions and rock star image. Ferrari certainly shocked its followers with its BB 512i successor. The Testarossa’s newly chiselled wedge profile came in a road-hogging package that made it – at 1978mm – the widest car on sale at the time. Meanwhile, the outsize cheesegrater side strakes – which sucked air into the twin rear side-mounted radiators – were like nothing else.

The Testarossa was soon famous the world over after a white one appeared in the TV show Miami Vice. Demand exploded, with 7177 examples sold.

Those many owners would have found a car that looks intimidating but is actually quite easy to drive, with surprisingly light controls and a very comfortable cockpit. The wide tyres keep it anchored to the ground and it feels amazingly nimble – not to mention alarmingly quick. All of these features still ring true today, and there’s even some reasonable luggage space in that broad, flat nose with its anachronistic pop-up headlights.