Coachbuilding house Niels van Roij Design continues progress on its open-top Testarossa commission, giving an even closer look at what the finished product will be. An update was posted to their Facebook Page HERE.
We’ve covered this open-top Testarossa before HERE, and even more recently were reminded that a similar conversion was offered by Ernst Berg Systems (EBS) back in 1985. How this “targa” style conversion differs remains to be seen.
Earlier drawings revealed by the firm appeared to show more of a hinged “Superamerica” style roof. These more recent images seem to show a split roof – not a T-top, but similarly cut.
Whatever the case, the project is nearing completion, and based on other work we’ve seen by Niels van Roij Design, we’re eager to see the final product.
What: 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Color: Rosso Metallizzato (rossometallizzato; metallic uni; 305/C / 20-R-187; Ferrari) VIN: ZFFSA17A5G0061107 Mileage: 35,000 Price: Upon Request CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Graham Rahal Performance, Zionsville, IN Listing:Link
Maybe it’s EVs making us yearn for classic and obnoxious ICE again, or maybe it’s just Generation X feeling nostalgic as it watches its amassing 401Ks, but Reagen era hedonistic sportscars are enjoying a renaissance that most any of us can get behind.
Take the Ferrari Testarossa. In any other era, a car with those cheese grater intakes on each side would probably be considered extreme, but sitting next to a Lamborghini Countach the Testarossa struck a toned down and almost subtle pose. Add in a factory color yet rare paint like Rosso Metallizzato and it looked even more reserved.
FYI, there’s just such a car right now at Graham Rahal Performance. If you’re seeking a unique car from this era, this one definitely qualifies. Unlike today, paint to sample services in this era were pretty few and far between, making rare shades such as this one a great get if you want something tailored from the 80s era.
What: 1985 Ferrari Testarossa Color: Giallo Ferrari (gialloferrari; non-metallic; 102; Ferrari) VIN: ZFFTA17B000055885 Mileage: 55,000 km, 34,175 miles Bid Price: €1,000,000 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Münich, Germany Listing:Mobile.de
This very unique Ferrari Testarossa is 1 of 1, converted to Targa specification by Ernst Berg Systems (EBS) in 1985. It’s also the only left man drive Testarossa in yellow for a 1985 European spec with the “flying mirror”.
There aren’t a lot of details in the private party listing linked above, though we found the car also offered for sale in last May’s Bonhams Miami Auction with a detailed listing. That can be found HERE.
What: 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Color:Bianco a.k.a. Bianco Avus (bianco; non-metallic; 100; Ferrari) VIN: ZFFTA17B000065669 Mileage: 34,500 Price: Upon Request CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Los Angeles, CA Listing:Link
Why We Love It:
Popping up in RM Sotheby’s Private Party sales is this very desirable 1986 Ferrari Testarossa. Granted, it’s a factory order book specification car, so why is it desirable? We’d point to two reasons.
First, it’s a ‘Monospecchio, Monodado’ configuration. For the non-Italians amongst us, that translates to “single mirror, single nut”. From the beginning of production of the Testarossa in 1984, Ferrari fitted cars with a single mirror mounted half-way up the A-pillar, and center-lock single nut alloy wheels. When the car received its mid-lifecycle freshening in 1987, the mirror was replaced with two conventional mirrors at the base of the A-pillar, and the wheels now had exposed conventional lug nuts.
Next up, it’s Bianco over Bianco leather. Monochromatic colors are always a unique decision – red over red on the F40, green over green, blue over blue, and so on. Bianco over Bianco (white over white) was a standard yet rare option that helps make this car so very 1980s poster spec whether that’s because of the product placement presence of a near identical car in Miami Vice or because that television show likely helped inspire the phrase “cocaine white” for such configurations – cocaine being also associated with the gluttonousness of the 1980s that inspired the Testarossa itself.
This is a European specification example delivered new to Salem Ali Abdul Al-Sabah of Kuwait, a member of the Kuwaiti Royal Family, via the Ferrari dealer in Kuwait. It was imported into the USA in 2001.
We notice this car has what appears to be plus-sized replicas of the original wheels (possibly via Augment Wheel Company where we’ve seen these offered, but we’re not entirely sure and it’s not disclosed in the listing). What is disclosed is that the car is accompanied by its four original Monodado wheels, some original Testarossa marketing literature, a set of manuals, tool kit, jack, original key, Ferrari-branded car cover, and OEM Ferrari seat covers. It’s also got a period-correct Nakamichi head unit with an A/D/S amplifier.
Typically in our series of Remasters, we tend to focus on firms performing limited series production of similar cars built to a largely similar formula. This allows these companies to perfect the car for the most part, which is where clients come in to commission a specification tailored to their desires. With Niels van Roij Design, the idea of bespoke goes quite a bit further for a truly bespoke result.
In this case, that result is a 1987 Ferrari Testarossa whose owner wants more of an open-top motoring experience. Sure, that owner could seek out one of the rare Testarossa Spyders out there. While Ferrari and Pininfarina may have produced one or two here or there, Straman converted Spyders and the like do exist out there somewhere. However, this client wanted something a bit more unique, an idea that’s more Targa and perhaps more structurally rigid… perhaps. And, while they could go the route of a lift-out Targa style roof like the Ferrari 308/328 GTS, it appears the quirky hinged glass application of the 575 Superamerica has been identified as an even more luxurious design befitting the V12-powered Testarossa.
Okay, they likely won’t call it Superamerica. Ferrari, the same company that allegedly gave Pininfarina fits when James Glickenhaus commissioned a neo P4 body conversion for his Enzo, probably would have issues. Still… it’s a rad idea and we’re watching it with great interest.
Niels van Roij has a project page on their own website where they’ve been sharing photos of the Testarossa job so far, and that can be found HERE. They’ve also been sharing images on social media, and recently shared the sketches also seen in this story that depict this “Superamerica” style top design (again, that label is our assessment and not their use).
This particular job was reportedly commissioned by a British expat who currently resides in Andorra.
Niels van Roij Design has been performing coach built transformations for a long time. Remember that Tesla Model S station wagon that popped up a few years back? That was van Roij. So too was a Ferrari 575 Maranello-based shooting brake “bread van” inspired by a similarly configured Ferrari 250 GTO back in the day.
