Introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1984, the Ferrari Testarossa succeeded the Berlinetta Boxer with a Pininfarina body defined by its lateral strakes channelling air to the rear-mounted radiators. Two features set the earliest production cars apart: a single centre-lock wheel nut (monodado) and a single left-hand door mirror (monospecchio). Both details were revised shortly after launch, making the cars that left Maranello in that original specification a distinct and historically significant sub-variant of the Testarossa line.
Ferrari Testarossa Type F110: The First-Series Specification
The Testarossa (internal designation Type F110) is powered by a flat-12 engine displacing 4,943 cc, with four camshafts and four valves per cylinder producing approximately 390 hp at 6,300 rpm. Pininfarina's body stretches to 4,485 mm and incorporates the straked side intakes that became the car's visual signature. The top speed of approximately 290 km/h placed it among the fastest road cars of its era when it debuted in 1984.
Single Mirror, Single Nut: Why the 1984 Spec Matters
The monospecchio mirror — fitted on the driver's side only — and the monodado centre-lock wheels gave the earliest Testarossas a motorsport-derived character absent from later cars. European regulations prompted Ferrari to add a passenger-side mirror, and the wheel fastening was also revised during the production run. The cars that left the factory in full 1984 specification, in Rosso Corsa, are the most sought-after iterations of the entire Testarossa series among serious collectors. The Testarossa also became a cultural reference point of the decade, featured prominently in the television series Miami Vice from 1984 onwards.
KK Scale 1:12 Scale Model Car in Die-Cast Metal
KK Scale has built a reputation producing large-format die-cast models at 1:12 and 1:18, with the Ferrari Testarossa among its recurring subjects. This release renders the MKI Monodado Monospecchio in die-cast metal at 1:12 — a format that allows the Pininfarina strakes, the single left-hand mirror and the centre-lock wheel details to be reproduced with a level of fidelity that smaller scales cannot achieve. The Rosso Corsa finish reproduces the most historically associated colour for this model.
In the Display Cabinet
At 1:12, this model commands shelf presence and pairs naturally with other landmark Ferraris of the 1980s and early 1990s. Logical companions include the Ferrari 512 BB Berlinetta Boxer — the Testarossa's direct predecessor — as well as the 512 TR (1991–1994) and F512 M (1994–1996), which carried the flat-12 lineage forward. A 1:12 or 1:18 Ferrari 308 GTB from the same era rounds out a cohesive 1980s Ferrari road car display.
Frequently asked questions
What makes the 1984 Monodado Monospecchio different from a standard Testarossa?
The very first 1984 Testarossas left the factory with a single door mirror on the driver's side only (monospecchio) and a single centre-lock wheel nut (monodado). Both features were changed during the production run, so cars in this original specification are the rarest and most collectible variant of the Testarossa series.
What material is the KK Scale model made from?
The model is constructed in die-cast metal. KK Scale specialises in large-format die-cast models at 1:12 and 1:18 scale.
What scale is this model?
It is produced at 1:12 scale, which provides a large-format reproduction of the Testarossa's Pininfarina body, straked side intakes, and early-specification single door mirror and centre-lock wheels.
Which engine does the real Ferrari Testarossa MKI use?
A mid-mounted flat-12 displacing 4,943 cc, with four overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, producing approximately 390 hp at 6,300 rpm. It gives the car a top speed of approximately 290 km/h.
