What is the one thing that comes to mind when we hear the word ‘Testarossa’, well Ferrari! You would say, of course. However, things are about to change. A German court has decided in the favour of a toy company which wants to deal in an assortment of bicycles and shavers. The company called Autec AG, based in Nuremberg, Germany is responsible for tearing away the name that made Ferrari an icon in the ’80s. The argument cited behind favouring the toy company is that Ferrari has not used the name Testarossa in about two decades, which would act as a warrant to retain the name. Since it has been some 20 years, other brands can come ‘prancing’ over to take the badge away from the Italian manufacturer.
Ferrari, in its defence, has said that it has been constantly maintaining and refurbishing the existing cars from the ’80s, which should reason enough for it to able to protect its rights. The only way out for Ferrari is to reboot the name in the form of a new production model. Whether or not that happens is only guess work, but we do hope Ferrari manages to resolve this somewhat harrowing episode.
The first Testarossa greeted the world in 1984, replacing the 512 BBi ‘Boxer’ as Ferrari’s top of the range 12-cylinder Berlinetta. The name, which literally translates as ‘redhead’, was taken from the famous 250 Testa Rossas of the 50s with their red cam covers.
It was Ferrari’s first 12-cylinder Berlinetta not raced at the top level international GT races, partly because there was no suitable series to pit it in and even if there was the Testarossa wasn’t really suited for the track with its high centre of gravity and inaccessible engine.
