I have seen this video four or five times, and I still love it. An 80's Ferrari, a white jacket, a Rolex, South of France...and British humor It is for me one the best video of Chris Harris.
I can't really find a more appropriate forum to tell my story than this, although probably noone is going to read it. But I have to get it out of my system. So let's begin. I was around 6 years old. Year 1994. My father got a scholarship for phd-students (he was an assistant professor teaching informatics back then) in northern Italy. He got a little apartment in Gallarate, near Milan. He spent several months there, and we went to visit him with my mom and my little brother, who was 4 at the time. So he doesn't remember much, and neither do I, but still, I conserved the essence of the place. I'm Hungarian by the way. So imagine: a 6 years old boy, from Eastern Europe, where 4 years ago was still socialism. I've arrived to northern Italy, the richest region of the country with the best looking cars the world has ever seen. We went by car. An old, Czechoslovakian stallion, the Skoda 105S. You can imagine the faces of the Italians overtaking us in Alfas on the highway. They were laughing so bad. And we had to stop occasionally to refill the cooling system with water from the rice fields, because the summer heat wasn't very merciful with the rear-engined car - the radiator was placed in the front, a major design flaw -, we had to turn up the heat to the maximum, and only the front windows were able to lower. This function for the rear ones was an optional extra. But nevertheless, we arrived, and although we were obviosly short on money (both of my parents were teachers back then. Imagine the average salary for an Eastern European high school teacher and an assistant professor...), we really enjoyed everything. One day, we've decided to visit Zürich in Switzerland. It was pretty close, so we went there by car. We parked it somewhere, and then we took a walk in the center. And there, between the old buildings, on a narrow street, a Ferrari 512 Testarossa turned into our direction. A red one, obviously. It was as wide as the street, we had to put our backs against the wall to let it pass. I really couldn't believe my eyes that something like that exists. Me, the little boy from the poor and undeveloped Eastern European country, where the streets are filled with Ladas, Skodas, Polski Fiats, two-stroke Trabants, occasionally a used Panda - so basically only shitty cars, and stopping to refill the cooling system with ricefield water is completely normal -, there I stand, and this magnificent, wide, flat, intimidatingly humming huge red beast goes by. I didn't have any base for comparison in my mind. The first time I saw a Ferrari in real life, and it was a 512 Testarossa. I've never seen one ever since. But this movie really brings me back there, because without any words, it communicates the whole package, the clean message of what this car is about. I still have difficulties to put in words, and obviously back then I had nothing but the feeling that I'm seeing something from another galaxy, but here's what I have: this car made me a fanatic petrolhead. This very car kindled that huge fire in my soul what cars mean to me today. I've always thought that the Countach is a more outrageous car, and honestly, it is. But this one is just pure, pure '80-s beauty, and the definition of THE supercar to me. And the starting point of a fantastic journey I'm still going on. Whoever reads this, thank you for wasting your time on my stupid little detour on memory lane here. A little kid from Hungary approves :)
TheCriticalAss ... cool story, I thought it would be about seeing Ferraris in Italy. The Testarossa is an icon and one of the top 10 cars in my opinion. A car collection would not be complete without a red-head, nor a Countach. I'd like to say that Ferrari has made more beautiful cars since the Testarossa, but nothing comes to mind. Isten veled.
Not a waste of time at all. It's a great story from your childhood that a lot of us can relate to. Where are you living now? Are you closer to achieving that dream car of yours? ;)
Greetings from Poland. Thank you for your story. I was born 8 years before you and I undestand you very well. Still remember datsun 280 which one I have seen when I was 6 year old like you then where your story happen.
Köszönöm részére cserépdarab a érdekes történet. Értem, és vonatkozhat. Bár született az USA-ban tanultam angolul az iskolában, és mivel néhány évvel idősebb (kiadási időt a Szülőföld előtti berlini fal) is emlékszik a felértékelődése látva az ilyen ritkaságokat. Számomra ez egy platina ezüst 1983 930 Porsche az autópályán. Az én-m legjobb kívánság barát-ban élvez ez csodálatos élet.
One of the most recognizable sportcar ever built. you don't even need to be a car enthusiast to know thats a Ferrari. The Ferrari Testarossa is as iconic as the Kalashnikov AK47 is in the world of firearms. This car is a 20th century icon. .
@@raoiii8352but it's a derivative of the iconic 80s Testarossa, and the white suit is clearly a nod to the iconic white suit that Crocket wore in the Miami Vice show while driving....a Testarossa.
The part I loved, is How Ferrari designed the perfect amount of space in the vehicle for crap, stuff, and crying kids. None. No Power steering, no automatic transmission, No turbo lag, No outdated GPS NAV screen. Flat 12 with 48 valves singing to your manual analog control. cheers
THIS is what a super car should be. Manual gearbox, mid engined, naturally aspirated. None of this computer controlled non sense like we see now. Just a driver, 3 pedals, plenty of power and looks to kill. I'll miss cars like this
And so will the market. Due to their current car making decisions they're gonna induce a whole new set of numbers for vintage car money. The true definition of assets.
I remember thinking the Testarossa was SO FAST back in the day. Funny here we are 22 years later and I now drive a family saloon that puts it to shame, at least in straight line and braking performance. Gotta love progress!
Funnily enough designed by FIAT not Pininfarina, and a lot of people in Ferrari didn't like the design including Enzo. The sales numbersproved them wrong though.
Chris really caught the moment with his best "Crockett" face and cotton wardrobe. If you're not from the 80's, you didn't get any of it. It was one of the best vintage car reviews ever and not a single word was spoken! The Testarossa mostly came in red, the side vent styling was outlandish, and it leaned real heavy in the corners. You had to know what you were doing with this car or you would find yourself wrapped around a tree. The gated shifter and camel interior! This was the ultimate statement! It was a legend (inside and out)! I love the Testarossa! All you haters can F-Off! This car was the first supercar you could actually drive around in town. You would need to drive early in the morning or late at night in warm climates. The air conditioning couldn't keep up on a hot day. This was the car that revolutionised the "supercar" breed!!
I messed up big time. Here in San Diego, several years ago in downtown at an historic car museum/dealership was selling a clean Testarossa in white (Totally "Miami Vice") that just had the $10k belt service done and only about 20k miles on it and they were selling it for $30k because they were cleaning house (it's a small place). I was going to buy it, but for some reason I backed out, and now they're going for like $100k+. Huge missed opportunity. This freakin' video had to remind me. Thanks Harris. Thanks.
Hey -- I had opportunity to buy a Dino 246 for 25K in 1991. (About 45K today.) OK, so I passed. Now they are going for 400-600K. Had another opportunity to buy 288 GTO for 300K or F40 for 350K ten years ago. F40s going for over a mil, 288 going for 2 mil and up. Don't feel bad.
Seen alot of Harris videos in my day but this one tops them all. Love the style of video, one of my favorite cars, and I love the sound that thing makes. Keep up the good work.
While the ending of dropping the baguette on the table was fine, i would have preferred if Chris had said to himself, "I forgot the butter!" and got back in the car :) .
"Damnit, also forgot the tomatoes..." "Shit, the Lettuce as well...." "Oh for Christ's sake, the cheese..." "....forgot the meat as well...." (people at house) " You're just finding ANY excuse to drive that car aren't you?" "Of course, but wouldn't you?"
What a joy to return to this video a decade later with what has to be one of my favourite videos from Chris Harris' Drive series. Bought the song off iTunes back in the day and still love driving my 80's era sports saloon to it!
Why do I love these older Ferrari's? Because a competent and detail oriented mechanic can still work on them on their own, at their own house. Can't do that with the 360 and newer models.
I've done it a few times when working for a certified repair shop, owned and operated by a Ferrari Engineer in Colorado. Put the car on jackstands, use an engine lift. The part that is tedious is disconnecting everything in the engine bay to access the engine mounts, because you can't just get at them from the bottom, you have to get at them from the top. Its not like a Honda where you can have it out in about an hour, it takes a long time yes. But its very doable.
BiffBallbag Thats probably coming from your upper lip. Maybe brush your teeth once in a while and use mouthwash as well. Maybe swish some peroxide to be doubly sure.
The Ferrari 512TR. As much as I love the limited models such as the F40-F50, etc. If I had the money to buy any Ferrari on the face of the Earth, I'd get the Ferrari 512TR. The most beautiful and one of the most different Ferraris ever made.
Simply the best. I saw her once on the highway. Gorgeous as it advanced as if the road was all its own. On the side, the enjoyment of the 12 cylinders that stomps and becomes a ferocious melody ready to attack. From behind, the beautiful back that seems to eat the road. Something that makes you shiver, the certainty that if there is a car with a lot of soul and voice, it is the TR. Of Ferrari I have always dreamed of 12 cylinders, aspirated, boxer and flat. No 8 cylinders of Maranello, although performing and bad, can fight against this sound. Point. The rest is just commercial. Of course, cars like GTO, and F40 make a separate story. Always respectful. But the Testarossa series, except the M, I still consider it, the most exciting as bodywork, engine and driving.
I think the most beautiful and desirable Ferrari's ever made were made in the fifties. If I could own just one, then it would be either a 250 Europa, a 340 America, or a 410 Super America. I think the market agrees with me too, as these are the cars that command the highest prices, other than the 250GTO, which is an anomaly in some ways. The earlier cars are rarer. While there were nearly fifty GTO's, the earlier cars were done in numbers like 8, or 15. Yes this makes them harder to get your hands on, and is one of the reasons there aren't many clips of them on youtube. I bet Chris Harris would drool to do a test on a 410. I like his 512 TR, they are a very good Ferrari, but nothing like the old hand built fifties cars. I have to say, i thoroughly approve of the way Chris exercises his cars properly. After all these were the top 'performance' cars of their respective era's, so it doesn't make sense to drive them sedately. I have a 73 Espada, and it's when you are pushing the car close to it's capability that the real essence of the car shines through.
***** I think it was about the Ferrari V12 by greatest. But you are right that the F355 was one of the last great V8 's on a timeline of 'pure' driving. However I must say that the 458 in all its versions- as I like the mid-V8's a bit more - did grew on me immensely... It got that aggressive predator look , what was missing for 30 years. give it a few years and maybe the 488 I can add to it as well..
Funny story, my dad used to work at a warehouse that stored things for a probate court. A drug dealer got in trouble and they stored a Ferrari Testarossa and a bunch of other cars for the court. The cars had already been gone through to find any drugs or drug money in the car. But somebody my dad worked with found a hidden compartment with thousands of dollars in it.
The Miami Vice theme has been so played out by now, but I have to say this is a fantastic take of it. And as much as I enjoy the Harris tests/reviews, this is simply spectacular - just the car, scenes, shots and a driver with character doing the talking. No words required. Magnificent!!
I also love the last drive before hibernation Porsche video you did, its the vibe the fluff the atmosphere the cinematography and your personality all together, i almost don't even care about information on the cars (although those types are videos you do are great also) i just want vibe atmophere the stuff that makes me feel the energy of why anyone wold even want one of these beautiful vehicles.
Baha T get one when ur retired n ur kids are grown up n left n all ur stuff like your house is payed off n get a Ferrari U can afford to have as a backup garage queen!
Baha T Exactly, instead of moving into a second bigger house, keep this one or get something smaller since the kids are away, and just use that 150k for a Ferrari along with the savings. Yes it will take 20 years but your 20-year-older self will thank you for it.
Love my TR's . Timeless. Flat 12 and sounds to kill for. Its the experience I think this video was about and I think that is his personal TR. Good taste Chris!
@@dancorvalan3205 of all the cars ive owned, this one really hits the soul. Maybe it was the time period, maybe because i grew up in it an it was on my wall. Thank you.
Zachary Lagler They don't do them any more sadly, well not a real manual but they do have that beautiful metal gear mechanism. Can you even buy a gated manual on any car for sale now? I really hope there is one out there.
This car makes the 458 and all other gismo crap look like something for nerdy toddlers. The sound, looks, the handling and simple fun of driving, the new stuff has no shit on this marvelous old school beauty.
I am loving the seemingly 1980s inspired music. And that white suit screams Sonny Crockett. If I could only own one Ferrari, this car just might be it.
This is THE Testarossa to have IMO. Usually prefer the original model of most cars but the TR has the perfect blend of slightly updated styling without ruining anything and a little performance increase. The 512M just went too far and ruined the looks
I always thought these looked stupid for the longest time. In pictures they just dont do it for me. It looks so "miami vice" and I always thought it was more tacky than cool. Then one day, my neighbor bought one.... My god in person, its just intimidating. It looks so MEAN. It was so amazing to look at, and everything about it was just super cool. Needless to say, my mind has changed about these things :)
Happens with a lot of cars honestly, always better in person. Nothing close to a Testarossa, but before I bought my 944T or my '85 Camaro, I thought they were ugly as hell. In person though, pretty badass.
As you can see from pic, I had the pleasure of driving a Testarossa across the Yorkshire Dales. It was big, cumbersome and had stiff steering, but it was loud and fast when you put your foot to the floor. I remember a VW Golf VR6 flying up behind me on an incline. Foot down, lots of noise, and it was a mere spec in the mirror.
Firemarioflower Technically, yes the 512TR was a 90s car, but the Testarossa, which many would still consider the 512TR and F512M to be, was produced in the 80s (1984). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_Testarossa
It's an individual view I think. Technically, a modern paddle shift type gearbox(DSG/PDK etc) is better as it's faster/smoother etc, but personally I'd prefer an open gate manual as it's more involving.
Actually it IS from a driving point of view, and that's absolutely the point. It isn't better for the numbers game, or on paper. But driving? That's the sole reason for a manual.
People on automotive show are always banging on about how ugly this thing looks. The only think I can say is they weren't 8 years old when this car was being built. I loved the way it looked then and I still do.
I was 10 years old when Testarossa came out. I didn't like it back then, it was too radical and new, at least on pictures. I much preferred 288 GTO which came out the same year. But the Testarossa quickly grew on me. The main things missing for me on the 512TR is the lack of characteristic Testarossa headrests and the amber/red tail lights looked better too than white/red. Still, this is THE most beautiful Ferrari. If so many people consider this ugly, I don't really know what to say...
At 1:52 We see Chris Harris channeling his inner Sonny Crockett.. Lol.. Pardon me what's you're name ? Johnson, Don Johnson.. Awesome short Chris but I think your narrative can sell everyone on pretty much any car.. Some people start watching your reviews about some cars with opinions formed, decision made thinking this fucking thing is dog shit with 4 tires & a steering wheel & nothing Chris Harris can say or show me will ever make me change my mind.. Cut to the last 10 seconds of your review & these same people are now thinking, Chris made some valid points it's actually not a bad little car.. Followed by the next thought DAMNIT !!! Why is he so likeable & a damn good driver too.. Your bread & butter Chris, I'm telling ya..
Chris this is great. I've only just seen this but it's so nice to see you all being creative for the hell of it instead of telling us all about the cars. I'm not complaining about the informative videos but this is a nice break from the norm. I tried to find other /DRIVE films on the channel but there weren't any. What the feck? This is great and you should make more of them! Love this kind of stuff.
The first time I ever fell in love with the 512TR was on a DOS game (still play it today too), when I was 4\5 years old..it was on The Need For Speed SE, and I pointed at it on the screen when I showed my mum and dad and said; "I'm going to buy this someday.." Your video helps keep my dream alive and I'm still in love with the car the very same way when I fell for it 20 years ago.. Thank you CH!
