Checkpoint! Sega Outrun Ferrari Testarossa Spider for sale at auction

Frankston Roller City, 1987.

In between sessions on the rink, skating to the Top Gun soundtrack, a month’s worth of grass-mowing and car-washing earnings were being shovelled into the greatest computer game machine that society had ever seen. Sega Outrun!

A coast-to-coast race against the clock, with the pumping electro-synth soundtrack second only to your choice of wheels; a convertible Ferrari Testarossa. A car so exotic, it was thought to never officially exist … except that it did.

While one Testarossa Spider was officially built by the Ferrari factory as a gift to Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli, (to celebrate 20-years in the top job), the famous design house Carrozzeria Pininfarina, who created the Testarossa in the first place, built a small number of examples for well-heeled clients.

Although most were destined for the infamous Sultan of Brunei collection, this one was not, and it is now offered for sale for the first time ever.

Recently restored by Pininfarina and Ferrari in Maranello, the Rosso Corsa 1990 Ferrari Testarossa Spider, with just 413km on the odometer, has been fully restored and is set to be auctioned this weekend by RM Sothebys in London.

Powered by a 5.0-litre, 48-valve, flat-12 cylinder engine, the 1990 Testarossa offers 280kW and 470Nm (down slightly on older models with 287kW and 480Nm due to the use of catalytic converters), but still features red cylinder heads that give the car its iconic name.

Performance is quoted as being able to perform a 0-100km/h sprint in 5.7 seconds to a top speed of around 290km/h.

A unique and iconic car, the Testarossa Spider is expected to fetch between £1.4 and £1.8-million (A$2.5 to $3.2m) – which at 1987 prices (one $0.20 coin per credit) is enough for 16-million plays.

If you’re longing to relive those Roller City days, here’s a full playthrough of Outrun. Checkpoint!