Very few shapes embodied the 1980s quite like the Ferrari Testarossa. Wealth and excess were celebrated and the sports cars of the time mirrored society’s ideology. Just look at the Lamborghini Countach and the Porsche 911 Turbo as well. The jewel in the crown, though, was the Testarossa, which, after the Berlinetta Boxer, continued the bloodline of mid-engined 12-cylinder Ferraris built for the road.

The design was by Pininfarina, headed at the time by Leonardo Fioravanti. It exploited the geometric design trends of the decade: angular, with dramatic straked intakes along its flanks. It quickly became the supercar to own and, as this was the 1980s, flaunt.

After six years of production and with a new decade looming, the time came for Ferrari to introduce something a touch more contemporary. The resulting 512 TR was a perfect evolution of the Testarossa, with those straight edges subtly rounded off. The message was clear: if it ain’t broke. Ferrari had chosen to be remain loyal to the fundamental ethos of the original design. And who are we to blame it? The Testarossa was decade defining and globally synonymous with excess and success.

The car’s underpinnings, however, were revised and several key mechanical components were upgraded including the 5-litre flat-12 engine and the gearbox. This was a car with which Ferrari could seamlessly cruise into the 1990s.

On occasion, Ferrari answers to its most loyal (and wealthy) clients who demand the unique, commissioning special ultra-low-volume or one-off projects that allow the design envelope to be pushed even further. Historically, of those VIP clients, the most notable is arguably the ruling Royal Family of Brunei, whose plethora of special bespoke Prancing Horses today rightfully boast a certain sense of mystique. The 512 TR Spider was one of those cars.

The brainchild of one Alfred Tan, the Singaporean Ferrari concessionaire and confidant to the Royal Family of Brunei, the idea was to take the 512 TR and transform it into an irresistible drop-top supercar. As was – and remains – the case with Ferrari’s bespoke models, you could count the number of 512 TR Spiders built on one hand. Ferrari worked on reinforcing just three chassis, entrusting Pininfarina’s Special Projects arm with converting them from closed coupés to open Spiders, before finishing their production back in Maranello. All were ordered by Tan directly with Ferrari, destined for Brunei.

Chassis number 097310 is one of those three factory-commissioned Spiders. However, in an interesting turn of events, neither this car nor its sister ever made it Brunei. Instead, it was purchased by Tan himself, the project’s brainchild, via the official Singaporean Ferrari concessionaire Hong Sheh Motors in June of 1993.

Its triple-blue specification is a visual symphony and, in keeping with the exclusive ethos of this project, unique to this chassis. It’s finished in shimmering Blu Cobalto over a Blu Scuro leather interior and a navy fabric roof. Tan kept chassis number 097310 for 30 years, carefully storing it at Hong Seh Motors and in his personal collection. 

In the summer of 1997, Ferrari’s 50th-anniversary celebrations took place in Rome. The Italian capital saw a plethora of the marque’s most coveted models parade through the cobbled streets, led by Works Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 drivers Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine. As good an excuse as any to show off his special 512 TR, Tan took chassis number 097310. The car became a key part of the ensemble when Tan’s son drove the former Ferrari Formula 1 driver Gianni Morbidelli, much to the delight of the Italian’s fiercely passionate home crowd.

Former Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 driver Gianni Morbidelli hitches a lift on this 512 TR Spyder during the Ferrari 50th-anniversary celebrations in Rome 

This Ferrari changed hands for the first and only time in 2023, its current custodian subjecting the car to a meticulous 500-hour refresh with the multiple Pebble Beach-winning RM Auto Restorations in North America. Totaling more than 65,000 US dollars, the works included refinishing the 512 TR Spider in its stunning shade of Blu Cobalto, replacing the Blu Scuro carpets and the matching power-operated fabric roof.

Only sparingly driven by its mere two former keepers, the odometer currently reads just 570km. Unsurprisingly, this 512 TR Spider retains the engine and gearbox with which it left the factory.

Twelve cylinders, open topped, a manual gearbox and a simply stunning body finished in a beguiling shade of blue. One of just two built and unique in its specification, chassis number 097310 is a factory-ordered special project undertaken by Ferrari, which would no doubt be welcomed at concours events and road rallies around the world. Once more, this unique 512 TR Spider presents in as-new condition, having been in the fastidious long-term care of the individual who conceived its existence. Above all, it boasts the cult allure of being born for Brunei.

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