'The Ratarossa': The Testarossa Spider Rebuild Project | FerrariChat

'The Ratarossa': The Testarossa Spider Rebuild Project

Discussion in 'Boxers/TR/M' started by spiderscott, Sep 15, 2015.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,654
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    #1 spiderscott, Sep 15, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Hi Guys

    Ive just taken delivery of this Testarossa project. The history of the car is very vague but at some point a spider conversion has been started and quite a large chunk of the body work has been done and chassis strengthened.

    Got my work cut out with this but it sure looks fun ...

    I'm planning on documenting the rebuild process on here & hoping at the same time you experts can help me with all the questions that are bound to arise.

    Its a non runner car but mostly complete, I'm waiting on two large boxes of parts to clear customs and at the moment it looks like they have lost the cars keys which is not good at all :(
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,654
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    as you can see I'm fortunate enough to have another Testarossa that is going to prove vital to help with where parts and wiring need to locate on the car.
     
    Natkingcolebasket69 likes this.
  3. lear60man

    lear60man Formula 3

    May 29, 2004
    1,829
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    Christian
    Good for you. The second I saw the first pic I recognized the car from earlier posts here. Please give us the back story.
     
  4. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,654
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    cheers thanks for the kind words. I know that its a sin in Ferrari world to modify Enzo's creations and hack the roof off but I actually love the look of the Testarossa Spider that Ferrari never officially made.

    Would love to see any previous threads about the car, I searched many times and couldn't find anything on it prior to buying ?

    Back story is, I had just purchased the 1990 TR (in my garage pic) and was doing some research when the spider 'project' appeared on my google search, anyway the ad was around 4 years old but i emailed the owner anyway and to my surprise it was still available (that should have been my first clue to run ha ha) anyway the more and more I thought about it, the more i fell in love and wanted to get the car back on the road and complete the project. Long story short I did a deal and got the car shipped over from the states to the UK.

    As mentioned I'm waiting for the 2 boxes of bits to arrive, but don't know the complete contents. I then need to piece together the puzzle and work out exactly the extent of the missing parts and where to source them worldwide. Ive already managed to collect a few known parts that are required. Hopefully they are also able to track down and locate the keys

    And thats where I'm at now .....

    The project begins
     
  5. red27

    red27 Formula Junior

    Sep 7, 2010
    829
    London UK
    Full Name:
    Mark Oliver
    Looks like great fun! I look forward very much to following your progress, hopefully starting with the reappearance of your keys!

    Cheers.

    Mark.
     
    spiderscott likes this.
  6. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,654
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    #6 spiderscott, Sep 15, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  7. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    25,038
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    That's not a "rebuild" -- that's a complete resurrection! I dub thee: THE PHOENIX PROJECT ;)
     
    spiderscott likes this.
  8. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,654
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    Thanks Mark, I'm really hoping they can locate them otherwise thats going to cause a major headache.
     
  9. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,654
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa

    Cheers Steve, I know for a fact I will be calling upon your expert knowledge whist trying to resurrect this Testarossa :)
     
  10. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    25,038
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
    Full Name:
    Steve Magnusson
    Only meant as encouragement -- look forward to seeing your progress, and seeing how it was done. That suicide rear bonnet is very Boxer-esque...
     
    spiderscott likes this.
  11. Todd308TR

    Todd308TR F1 World Champ

    Nov 25, 2010
    11,070
    LA
    Full Name:
    Todd
    Good luck.
     
    spiderscott likes this.
  12. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,143
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    Wow, I think the missing keys are the LEAST of your worries!!!

    That's a Straman conversion, or no?
    WILLIAM H has a nice example of that....

    But, I think they just started out with a Sawzall, and took it from there!
    Great thread....
     
    I'm 360 Canuck and spiderscott like this.
  13. turbo-joe

    turbo-joe F1 Veteran

    Apr 6, 2008
    8,866
    southwest germany and thailand
    Full Name:
    romano schwabel
    take out one of the door locks and bring it to a keymaker. he can make one for you .
    if not, send a doorlock to me and I will make you
     
  14. sparta49

    sparta49 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Mar 3, 2001
    7,802
    LA
    Full Name:
    Frank
    Why weren't the parts put in the container with the car?
     
    spiderscott likes this.
  15. rpissm

    rpissm Formula 3

    Aug 11, 2013
    1,620
    Salt Lake City, UT
    Full Name:
    Joe
    Wow! Gotta say, that engine appears to be in much better condition than I thought it was going to, based on the condition of the body!

    So what is the backstory on this? Guy started the spyder conversion and died / ran out of money / got divorced / all the above?
     
    spiderscott likes this.
  16. phrogs

    phrogs F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 13, 2004
    7,113
    Michigan
    curious, what did it cost to get it across the pond? and how long did it take?
     
  17. chabch

    chabch Formula 3

    Aug 15, 2010
    1,075
    France
    Full Name:
    Christophe
    Fantastic project! It won't be easy but very rewarding to see it back on the road. It's crazy how much Outrun has marked our minds when you see a TR spider from behind... I personally think they've been completely under the radar so far, even mostly today, but they will be recognized and (very) valued for sure soon, especially the Stramann conversion.

    Good luck, and keep us posted! This will be a fun thread.
     
    spiderscott likes this.
  18. simsko

    simsko F1 Rookie

    Feb 5, 2012
    3,635
    Interesting project. Looking forward to the thread. The 360cs looks good.
     
    spiderscott likes this.
  19. lear60man

    lear60man Formula 3

    May 29, 2004
    1,829
    Los Angeles
    Full Name:
    Christian
    A spyder TR is just as pretty as a coupe. I remember seeing a picture of your TR in a backyard half covered by a shed. It looked like some place in Arizona.

    If you Google 'Testarossa Convertible Project' your car will come up in the first couple of result lines.

    If you got it for a good price, Im jealous. Sweat equity goes a long way.
     
  20. Total Recall

    Total Recall Formula Junior

    Aug 21, 2014
    324
    East Yorkshire, UK.
    Full Name:
    Dominic Bradley
    Wow that is going to be amazing!

    Outrun was a big influence on me buying a Testarossa - and a spyder is as close as it gets.

    Can you imagine the sound with no roof!


    The ultimate winter project lol.


    Dom.
     
    spiderscott likes this.
  21. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,654
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    Good idea re keys Turbo Joe, I may take you up on that offer if they cannot locate them.

    Cost wise to ship from CA over to UK was about £800 then I've paid duty and tax etc.
     
  22. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,654
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    They were, but some idiot has completed paperwork incorrectly so they appear separate on the manifest. Now I have to try and clear parts separate
     
  23. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,654
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    Looks like I have managed to resolve the first problem and finally get clearance for my boxes of parts through customs. I don't know exactly what parts are in the boxes and which parts I will need to source, so quite excited :)
     
  24. spiderscott

    spiderscott Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2004
    1,654
    Ratarossa HQ UK
    Full Name:
    Ratarossa
    #24 spiderscott, Sep 17, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  25. turbo-joe

    turbo-joe F1 Veteran

    Apr 6, 2008
    8,866
    southwest germany and thailand
    Full Name:
    romano schwabel
    before you try to turn the engine with the starter take the engine out and replace the belts.

    nice T-shirt :)
     

Share This Page