February 2008 Archives

Bargain of the day: Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa

Missed out on that incredible Shelby Super Snake we showed you a
couple of weeks ago? Or maybe you decided that the GT500 was just a
bit brash and American for your discerning palate?

Either way, we've got another eBay bargain for you. This time it's a
1956 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa, one of only 20 ever built and up for
auction at just, erm, $5 million.

The 500 was the first Ferrari ever to bear the Testa Rossa name, and
featured a host of at-the-time revolutionary technical advances,
including coil spring suspension and a synchronised transmission with
a two-disc clutch.

The TR's two-litre engine developed 190bhp - a huge amount for the
time and enough to see this car to victory at the inaugural Laguna
Seca race in 1957 in the hands of the brilliantly named Pete Lovely.

Sorry for getting a bit estate-agenty on you there, but look at the
500. Just look at it. Sure, it costs the same as a Caribbean island.
Or a bedsit in Mayfair. But how much fun are you going to get from
either of those?
Read more: topgear.com