Ferrari Testarossa (1987)Early releases, Park n Plates and California Customs

The plain black and white cars

Both early colors use Ultra Hots wheels and red interiors. The black car has a black Malaysia base; the white car has a white Malaysia base. Neither wears printed body decoration. The carded photographs show the clean sides and the distinctive slotted wheel faces.

Look closely at the nose, door edges and rear corners. Chips stand out against black paint, while white paint needs a well-lit close-up to show yellowing or touch-ups. Blister glare can hide both, so a bright reflection is not evidence of a clean surface.

The red Turbo Trax car

The 1987 Turbo Trax release has a white glow-in-the-dark arrow over its red body, with a red interior and red Malaysia base. It also uses Ultra Hots wheels. That broad arrow is the useful distinction from later red cars carrying Ferrari lettering or an emblem.

The reference photo shows the arrow’s shape and visible edge wear; it does not demonstrate how strongly this particular example still glows. Ask for a separate demonstration if that feature matters to you, and inspect the pale printing for rubbed or missing sections.

Keep similarly named cars separate

This guide covers the casting introduced in 1987. The later Corgi Testarossa is a different casting. A white car with racing numbers is also a different release from the plain white example shown here.

Match the body shape, underside and wheel faces before assigning a release. Keep a photograph of the packaging with the car when you have it. An attractive loose example can still have replacement wheels, so condition and originality deserve separate notes.

The loose-car checklist covers the extra views to request before buying.

The red Speed Fleet car

This is the red car to compare with the arrow version above. Ferrari hood markings and a tan cabin distinguish the documented Speed Fleet release. South Texas Diecast dates it to 1988; the Newsletter groups comparable item-5111 cars under 1989. Keep that date difference in your notes rather than dating a loose car by color.

Silver Park n Plates: look through the windows

The cabin is worth a second look on these. The two-piece interior also forms visible bumper details, so a side view and a straight rear view help record the combination accurately. A white-and-tan combination is documented too.

Both photographed cars carry Ferrari hood decoration. That conflicts with the older South Texas Diecast “no tampo” description; do not use that line to dismiss the visible markings. A Getty promotional car is a different target: metallic red with Getty branding and stripes, rather than this silver finish.

Magenta chrome California Custom

The reflective coating is the giveaway. This example has red-and-blue interior pieces, yellow wheel centers and a large windshield script. Look along the side strakes and wheel openings for missing coating; the photograph shows wear that a distant listing shot could hide.

Fluorescent California Customs: wheels and interior pieces

Record both interior colors, the wheel type and the windshield script. Calling one simply a blue-interior car leaves out the yellow seat and dashboard pieces visible here. Likewise, a pink-looking photograph does not turn the painted finish into magenta chrome.

South Texas Diecast and the older Newsletter study date these fluorescent versions to 1991; the current Newsletter catalog groups the photographed examples under 1990. Packaging evidence matters when assigning a specific year. None of these photos establishes production totals or rarity.

Later red cars with five-spoke wheels

Compare the hood before grouping this with an earlier red car: this example has the shield without the large Ferrari word beneath it. The older Newsletter also records a five-spoke version in the Target Then and Now set. A loose-car photograph cannot establish which package originally held it.