1996 Ferrari Testarossa 512M Coupé
Coachwork by Pininfarina Style
Registration no. N307 FKW
Chassis no. ZFFVA40B000099951
Engine no. F113G37579

Ferrari's flagship model, the Testarossa supercar revived a famous name from the Italian company's past when it arrived in 1984. A 'next generation' Berlinetta Boxer, the Testarossa retained its predecessor's amidships-mounted, 5.0-litre, flat-12 engine, the latter now boasting a maximum power output raised to 380bhp at 6,300rpm courtesy of four-valve cylinder heads. Despite the power increase, smoothness and driveability were enhanced, the car possessing excellent top gear flexibility allied to a maximum speed of 180mph.

Rivalling Lamborghini's Countach for presence, the Pininfarina-designed Testarossa succeeded brilliantly, the gill slats feeding air to its side-mounted radiators being one of the modern era's most instantly recognisable – and copied - styling devices. A larger car than the 512BB - the increase in width being necessary to accommodate wider tyres - the Testarossa managed the trick of combining high downforce with a low coefficient of drag, its graceful body being notable for the absence of extraneous spoilers and other such devices. Despite the increase in size over the 512BB, the Testarossa was lighter than its predecessor, the body - its steel doors and roof excepted - being, somewhat unusually for a production Ferrari, of aluminium. Luxury touches in the well-equipped cabin included air conditioning, electrically adjustable seats, tilting steering wheel and plentiful leather.

Unlike some of its rivals, the Testarossa possessed light controls and was relatively easy to drive, factors which, allied to its outstanding performance and stunning looks, contributed to an instant and sustained high level of demand. In 1992 the original Testarossa was succeeded by the updated 512TR version, which came with 428bhp on tap, while ABS brakes were added to the package before the 512TR was replaced by what would be the Testarossa's final incarnation – the 512M – for 1995. For the first time there were major cosmetic changes: the original pop-up headlights being replaced by fixed lamps beneath clear covers, the grille size reduced, round tail lamps adopted and three-piece wheels fitted. Titanium connecting rods went into the engine, which produced marginally more power and torque than before. Only 501 examples of the 512M had been completed when production ceased.

This last-of-the-line example of the legendary Italian supercar retains all matching numbers and its original colour combination of Rosso Corsa with Nero leather trim and matching carpets, while featuring propeller-style 18" Speedline alloy wheels. This car left the factory during the model's last year of production and was delivered on 24th May 1996 to its first owner. It is the only example sold new in Holland by the official Ferrari dealer, and it has always retained its Dutch registration. Three years later, when it had covered 29,000 kilometres, the Ferrari was sold to the current owner who sent it to the Dutch distributor Forza Service for a full service. He enjoyed the car for three years and then sold it in April 2001 to Mr Van Leperen. The latter covered 12,000 kilometres in a dozen years, keeping all the documents relating to its history, then sold it back to the person he had bought it from! At this point, the odometer read 54,219 kilometres and, once again, the car was subjected to a thorough inspection. Kroymans, the Ferrari dealership in Holland, carried out a full service and replaced the timing belts in July 2013. Since then the car has had another full service at Forza Service. It has been prepared for Ferrari Classiche certification, which will be possible in 2016 when this stunning F512M will be over 20 years old. It has covered only 55,000 kilometres to date. The service books, handbooks, keys, fobs and the original leather-cased Ferrari toolkit are with the car, which is MoT'd to September and comes with a V5C registration document.