It’s not every day that we find a 1994 Ferrari 512 TR for sale, especially one that has covered only around 17,000 miles. However, that’s exactly what’s currently advertised on Craigslist. The car in question has apparently spent the last 14 years tucked away in storage, which explains the low mileage.
Located in the Danville and San Ramon area of California, this Rosso Corsa over tan 512 TR is being offered with an asking price of $458,000. The seller describes the Ferrari as being in excellent condition, although its lengthy period of inactivity means a buyer would need to approach that description with some caution.
The listing states that the Ferrari was fully serviced at Ferrari Palo Alto immediately before being placed into storage, including replacement of its timing belt. However, that was a long time ago, and the owner acknowledges that the car now needs fluids, mechanical inspections, electrical checks, and other recommissioning work before returning to regular use.
The seller currently plans to have that process begin toward the end of August 2026 if nobody buys the car first. Anyone willing to take on the project as it sits can make an offer, although the owner warns that the asking price will rise as additional restoration and servicing work is completed.
Fourteen Years Is A Long Time For Any Ferrari To Sit
Photos accompanying the listing suggest the 512 TR has at least been stored in relatively clean surroundings rather than abandoned in a damp barn. Its red paint, tan cabin, wheels, and exterior trim appear remarkably presentable considering how long the Ferrari has reportedly remained parked.
Appearance only tells part of the story with a car that has been stationary for well over a decade. Rubber components, seals, hoses, tires, fuel-system parts, brakes, fluids, and numerous other items can deteriorate through age even when mileage is not accumulating.
The timing belt mentioned by the seller is particularly noteworthy because it was installed before the Ferrari entered storage. Its low mileage since replacement does not erase the fact that the belt itself is now roughly 14 years older, making a thorough mechanical inspection an obvious priority before anyone starts exercising the flat-12.
The 512 TR Was A Serious Evolution Of The Testarossa
Introduced as the successor to the original Testarossa, the 512 TR arrived with numerous improvements underneath the familiar wedge-shaped bodywork. Ferrari revised the chassis, suspension, transmission, engine positioning, and powertrain, creating a car widely regarded as a sharper and more developed version of its famous predecessor.
Behind the cabin sits Ferrari’s naturally aspirated 4.9-liter flat-12, producing roughly 421 horsepower and 362 lb-ft of torque in period specification. Power reaches the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission, giving the 512 TR the mechanical character that has helped make analog-era Ferraris increasingly desirable among collectors.
Production of the 512 TR was relatively brief before Ferrari introduced the more heavily updated F512 M in 1994. That places this particular 1994 example near the end of the 512 TR’s run and within the final chapter of Ferrari’s road-going flat-12 lineage.
Is $458,000 Too Much?
The largest question surrounding this car is its price. The Craigslist ad asks $458,000, while reports covering the Ferrari have referenced earlier figures around $400,000, suggesting the seller’s expectations may already have changed.
A low-mileage, documented, and freshly serviced 512 TR can command substantial money, particularly when presented in the classic red-over-tan combination. This example’s 17,000-mile figure certainly helps, as does the seller’s claim that its previous maintenance was performed through Ferrari dealerships.
Long-term storage complicates the calculation considerably. Paying near top-tier money for a car that still requires recommissioning leaves the buyer assuming the risk that seemingly straightforward maintenance could uncover expensive mechanical problems.
Its Next Owner Has An Interesting Decision To Make
The seller appears aware of that dilemma and says he would prefer to put money into the Ferrari before trying to capture its full value. His plan is to gradually return the 512 TR to turnkey condition, increasing the asking price as that work progresses.
For the right buyer, purchasing the Ferrari beforehand could offer an opportunity to oversee the recommissioning personally and document everything from the beginning. For everyone else, waiting until the car has been thoroughly inspected, serviced, and proven on the road could justify paying extra for considerably greater peace of mind.
There is no denying the appeal of a low-mileage red-and-tan 512 TR emerging after 14 years in storage, especially with one of Ferrari’s legendary flat-12 engines sitting behind the seats. The tougher question is whether that story makes this particular car worth $458,000 in its current as-is condition.
How much do you think this 1994 Ferrari 512 TR is actually worth? Would you buy it now and handle the recommissioning yourself, or wait until the seller has completed the mechanical work? Let us know in the comments.