He buys a Ferrari Testarossa... and discovers a bill for €70,000!

Buy a Ferrari Testarossa is a piece of automotive legend. An icon of the '80s, with its Pininfarina design, V12 flat engine, spectacular side air intakes... and appearances in Miami Vice. But sometimes, behind the dream, lies a far less glamorous reality. That's what François, an enthusiast of fine mechanical engineering, discovered when he thought he'd sniffed out a bargain. The verdict: €70,000 in repairs. He shared his unfortunate experience with Le Figaro.

A dream Ferrari... on paper

Already the owner of a Porsche 911, François fell under the spell of a 1988 Ferrari Testarossa, red with black interior, sold by a professional in the south of France. The ad is promising: "vehicle in good condition, serviced". The advertised price? €122,000. But after negotiation and a few minor defects (electric windows, temperamental windscreen wipers), the car was finally purchased for €80,000. In our opinion, too good a deal to be true.

"It wasn't very reasonable not to have had it inspected first," admits François. He had sent a friend to take a look, and at first sight everything seemed fine. But his confidence was soon to be put to the test...

An expert report and a chilling verdict

Shortly after the purchase, François decided to have his Testarossa appraised. And then the nightmare begins.

✅ Bodywork repainted to mask an old impact
✅ Seats replaced by inferior copies
❌ And above all... a faulty Tipo F113 A engine, with major power and injection concerns.

The estimate? 70,000 worth of repairs, including €35,000 for defects considered easily detectable by the professional seller. François was stunned.

Hidden defects or lack of professionalism?

The seller, a reputable professional, only half-heartedly admits his responsibility. He even admits to François: "I'm surprised by the expert's diagnosis, we should have seen it before."

An attempt at amicable resolution follows. François sets out his conditions:

"Either he takes over the car, or he takes over part of the catering."

But the case is legally complex: the seller is not the owner, but is acting on behalf of a third party. The result: "There are at least four of us in the story: the owner, the surveyor, the seller and me." A case that resembles the Lamborghini Aventador at €320,000but with hidden defects.

Keep or return the car?

François is adamant:

"At no point do I say to myself that I'm going to keep the car in this condition."

And understandably so. For despite the Testarossa's timeless beauty, this story is a perfect illustration of the very real risks involved in buying a classic car, even from a professional. Especially when the expertise is neglected...

This testimonial reflects an increasingly common reality: maintaining an old Ferrari can cost more than its market value. Already, last May, a German youtuber revealed that his Ferrari 360 Modena had accumulated over €100,000 in repairs, including €50,000 for engine replacement !

So, should we shy away from dream models at attractive prices? Not necessarily. But one thing's for sure: never buy without a serious appraisal. And above all, never believe that a simple "good condition" in an advert is enough to buy with your eyes closed...