Rare 1990s Ferrari Testarossa Spider: A Four-Wheeled Gem from Arcade Games

Rare GEMS - For those of you, game fans from the late 1980s to early 1990s, do you remember the arcade game titled OutRun which was first released in 1986 on the Sega platform? Well, the game invites us to compete with dexterity to pass many obstacles while driving a drop-top Testarossa – which in fact the model had not been made by this Italian prancing horse automaker at the time.

Ferrari Testarossa Spider OutRun is built by Pininfarina in 1990 and inspired with similar car existed on the 1986 arcade game titled OutRun. (Picture from: RM Sothebys)

Who would have thought that as Yu Suzuki and AM2's classic arcade OutRun grew famous at that time, it turned out that there was a rich fan who was interested in the roadster's design, which at first glance resembled the Ferrari sports car, and then commissioned Pininfarina to make it into real in 1990. They called it the Ferrari Testarossa Spider OutRun.

The similar car appeared on the 1986 arcade game titled OutRun, then inspired someone to turn it into the Ferrari Testarossa Spider OutRun through Pininfarina in 1990. (Picture from: Autogids.be)

As is well known, during that era, Pininfarina was known to handle a lot of work on building special models of prancing horses for special clients such as the Sultan of Brunei or his younger brother, Jefri Bolkiah. As far as we know, details are sketchy, but as many as seven units of the Testarossa Spiders were built by Pininfarina and went to the Sultan and his royal family.

Ferrari Testarossa Spider OutRun was commissioned by one of Pininfarina's 'important clients', who  rewarded the coachbuilder's hard work by never registering the car for road use or driving it. (Picture from: RM Sothebys)

The car we are discussing today is not actually one of the ex-Bruneian Ferraris. Instead, it was commissioned by another of Pininfarina's 'important clients', who rewarded the coachbuilder's hard work by never registering the car for road use or driving it, really.

Ferrari Testarossa Spider OutRun has a unique convertible top, and is still in very good condition, from the exterior to the engine with the odometer only 400 km. (Picture from: TopGear)

Who actually commissioned this Testarossa Spider OutRun? No one knows. As quoted by Top Gear, the only spider ever made with the prancing horse emblem was made specifically for Gianni Agnelli, the boss of the Italian automotive giant, Fiat, once they acquired Ferrari back then. It was a silver one with a blue roof.

Ferrari Testarossa Spider OutRun is powered by a 5-liter 12-cylinder inline engine which is said to be capable of providing an output of 375 horsepower with 470 Nm of torque. (Picture from: TopGear)

The unique car with a convertible roof is equipped with a 5-liter 12-cylinder inline engine, which is said to be capable of providing an output of 375 horsepower with 470 Nm of torque. With that much engine power, the Ferrari Testarossa Spider OutRun accelerates from rest to 100 kph in 5.7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 290 kph.

Ferrari Testarossa Spider OutRun accelerates from rest to 100 kph in 5.7 seconds, and is driven up to a top speed of 290 kph. (Picture from: TopGear)

Some of you might be curious about the price. In early November 2022, this one-of-a-kind car was auctioned off by RM Sothebys in London. At the time, the car was still in very good condition, from the exterior to the engine, with a travel record on the odometer of only about 400 kilometers.

 

Not surprisingly, this prancing horse iconic roadster is highly coveted by automotive collectors. The Testarossa Spider OutRun was restored by Pininfarina and Ferrari in Maranello. After a fierce auction process, the red roadster was sold for £1.4 million or around Rp.26 billion. WOW!! It's a kind of precious four-wheeled gem.

This story not only brings nostalgia to those who grew up playing OutRun but also highlights the fascinating intersection of video game fantasy and real-world automotive excellence. The Ferrari Testarossa Spider OutRun stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of classic arcade games and the timeless allure of Ferrari's design and engineering. It reminds us that dreams, no matter how far-fetched, can sometimes become a reality in the most unexpected and magnificent ways. 😉 *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PCGAMER | TOPGEAR | RM SOTHEBYS | WIKIPEDIA | AUTOGIDS | RED-HEADED ]

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