1995 Ferrari 512 M
Key Points: Right Hand Drive Example, The Final Iteration of the Iconic Testarossa, 1 of 501 Examples Worldwide.
The Ferrari F512 M made its debut at the 1994 Paris Motor Show as the final and most developed version of the iconic Testarossa bloodline, following the earlier 512 TR. The “M” stood for Modificata, Italian for “modified”, and it wasn’t just a marketing exercise. Ferrari thoroughly revised the car, refining everything from the styling to the engine internals in an effort to create the ultimate expression of its legendary front-radiator, mid-engined flat-12 grand tourer. Produced for just two years between 1994 and 1996, only 501 examples left the factory, making the F512 M one of the rarest road-going Ferraris of the modern era and a highly sought-after collector’s car today.
Although unmistakably related to the original Testarossa, the F512 M introduced some dramatic visual changes that divided opinion when the car was new. Most controversial was the removal of the signature pop-up headlights that had defined the Testarossa throughout the 1980s. In their place sat fixed projector lamps beneath clear covers, giving the front end a smoother and more modern appearance while improving aerodynamics. At the rear, Ferrari abandoned the familiar black slatted grille and concealed taillights in favor of four exposed circular lamps inspired by the contemporary F355. The car retained its famous side strakes, feeding air to the side-mounted radiators, but gained a redesigned front bumper, integrated fog lights, and unique split-rim alloy wheels with a pinwheel-style design that became one of the F512 M’s defining details.
Under the rear deck sat the final evolution of Ferrari’s legendary 4.9-litre flat-12 engine, one of the last twelve-cylinder boxer-style engines the company would ever build for a road car. Ferrari engineers significantly reworked the internals, fitting titanium connecting rods, lighter pistons, revised crankshaft components, and a higher compression ratio to reduce rotating mass and sharpen throttle response. The result was 440 hp at 6,750 rpm and 369 lb-ft of torque, making the F512 M the most powerful and fastest Testarossa variant ever produced. Power was sent to the rear wheels through a strengthened five-speed manual gearbox with Ferrari’s iconic open metal gate shifter, still regarded by many enthusiasts as one of the best manual transmissions ever fitted to a supercar. Ferrari claimed a 0–62 mph time of just 4.7 seconds and a top speed approaching 196 mph, figures that placed it among the fastest production cars in the world during the mid-1990s.
The chassis also received meaningful upgrades. Ferrari stiffened the steel tubular structure and revised the suspension geometry, pairing it with adjustable gas-filled dampers to improve body control while preserving the car’s long-distance touring character. Larger ventilated brake discs and a Bosch ABS system provided stronger and more consistent stopping power, helping tame the performance of the increasingly powerful flat-12. Despite weighing slightly more than earlier Testarossa models due to added safety and refinement equipment, the F512 M felt noticeably sharper and more responsive on the road.
Inside, the cabin balanced old-school Ferrari drama with improved comfort and ergonomics. The driving position remained low and cockpit-like, surrounded by hand-stitched Connolly leather and a wide center tunnel that emphasized the car’s exotic layout. Ferrari updated the air conditioning system, redesigned the steering wheel, and added drilled aluminum pedals for a sportier feel. Optional carbon-fibre racing seats hinted at the company’s growing focus on high-performance driving during the 1990s, while features such as electric seats and a premium sound system reminded owners that the F512 M was still intended to cover long distances in comfort.
The F512 M also marked the end of an era for Ferrari. It was the final road-going Ferrari powered by the company’s famous flat-12 engine architecture, a lineage that stretched back to the 1970s Berlinetta Boxer. Its successor, the Ferrari 550 Maranello, returned Ferrari’s flagship V12 grand tourer to a traditional front-engined layout, bringing the mid-engined flat-12 chapter to a close. Because of this, many enthusiasts see the F512 M not just as the ultimate Testarossa, but as the last true representative of a uniquely flamboyant period in Ferrari history, a car that combined brutal performance, dramatic styling, and analogue driving character in a way modern supercars rarely replicate.