1995 Ferrari F512 M

Offered for sale is this 1995 Ferrari F512 M – the last iteration of the mighty mid 80s Testarossa, representing the ultimate in that mid-engined Ferrari supercar’s story. The last model to use that incredible mid-mounted flat-12 cylinder engine, Ferrari switched to a front-mounted V12 for the 'replacement' model – the wonderful but substantially less-dramatically-styled 550 Maranello.

The Testarossa line, which ran from 1984 to 1996, was a great success for Ferrari, both in sales totals and its public image. Its straked sides and high-mounted mirrors made automotive headlines, and by becoming an integral part - even legitimately its own character - in the smash 80s television show 'Miami Vice', it cemented its status as a cultural touchstone, forever representing the energy and feel of the era it came from.

The introductory Testarossa model ran from 1984 to 1991, and was replaced by the very-subtly-different 512 TR, running from 1991 to 1994, with larger wheels and a subtly-restyled front bumper with clear lenses being the only easily discernible difference. 

The F512 M is the rare model, with only 501 examples produced, manufactured for 1995 and 1996. Visually, it had subtle but significant differences compared to the exterior of the 512 TR it came from – the switch from pop-up headlamps to fixed units behind clear covers, and the removal of the long horizontal slats at the rear, replaced by the quad round tail light treatment that Ferrari is so well known for. The incredible modular alloy wheels were also hard to miss, but thankfully, the iconic side strakes remained.

While the 512 TR had an output of 428 horsepower and 362 lb-ft of torque, the F512 M had respective increases of 12 horsepower and eight lb-ft of torque, with its engine 16 lbs lighter than that of the 512 TR, courtesy of a new crankshaft and new titanium connecting rods. Overall, not only was the car 40 lbs lighter than its predecessor, it was more than 100 lbs lighter than the first Testarossa. This decrease in weight allowed the F512 M to take reign as the fastest modern Testarossa, boasting a top speed of 195 mph (314 km/h) and an impressive 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) time of 4.7 seconds.

This last version of the Testarossa line was not without controversy. The deletion of the rear taillight strakes and the pop-up headlamps caused a relative uproar, given the minor changes that they were relative to the overall design. The rear taillights certainly followed the more traditional Ferrari design ethos with the four round lenses, as opposed to the more plain lamps hidden behind the strakes on the earlier cars. But these changes sparked a furor that seems dramatic in historical context – having the lights stand proud of the recessed strakes was more visually interesting, and had held up as a choice that still looked like a proper Ferrari.

Up front, the controversy continued. The front lights had the projector and high beam lights laid behind the fixed clear cover, replacing the pop-up headlamps normally hidden under a body color cover, and that also had people getting riled up. Besides being more aerodynamically efficient, it’s hard to find a sports car with a low nose that doesn’t have something similar, and again, help tie the F512 M in visually with other Ferrari models of the era.

Even the excellent, lightweight modular wheels came under fire. Normally the exposed bolts seen here are seen as a sign of welcome high quality, and the twist design of the spokes were designed to promote air coming through the wheel to help keep the brakes cool and effective under hard use. But all of these improvements gave some Testarossa fans reason to complain.

Yet, in retrospect, these elements have become part of the reason this model continues to hold higher values than the preceding Testarossa and 512 TR versions. With slightly higher power than the 512 TR and across-the-board improvements to the car’s chassis and running gear, the F512 M has steadily become the desirable specification for fans of the model.

This F512 M was built in 1995 and delivered new in Italy. The last keeper, registered in 2009, drove it until 2015, when it moved to Belgium through an official Ferrari dealer. It has since been kept in a collection, regularly moved, but not used. Earlier this year, the car had an engine-out, brakes-off, full mechanical overhaul. It comes with extensive maintenance records, too, dating from its in-service date, up to and including the major service performed in March of this year. Records also include the original purchase invoice, factory-issued maintenance booklets with dealer stamps, and written notes on the car’s history.