An ex-DeLorean engineer couldn’t afford a real 1950's Ferrari Testa Rossa so he built his own
Published on Jan 24, 2026 at 12:19 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jan 22, 2026 at 8:13 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
An ex-DeLorean engineer couldn’t afford to buy an authentic 1950s Ferrari Testa Rossa supercar, so he decided to create his own version instead.
The engineer in question was Peter Giacobbi, and he wanted to experience what his boyhood heroes had back in the late 1950s.
The likes of Dan Gurney and Graham Hill drove cars like this back in the day, and with the car worth at least $15 million, there was no way he could stretch to that.
But using authentic Ferrari parts and a lot of time and skill, he created his own version that he could throw around.
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How Giacobbi built the Ferrari Testa Rossa
As far as replicas go, this supercar is about as authentic as it can get.
The Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa was Giacobbi’s favorite car, so it made sense for him to build it.
By chance, he had found a handmade aluminum body for a 1959 Testa Rossa, originally intended for the Ferrari factory.
But for whatever reason, it never made it to Italy, and it was left abandoned.
That, however, allowed him to build his own.
Giacobbi got lucky, as he was able to find the correct taillights for the car.
He also copied the chassis, built the instruments, and the headlights, too.
There are some differences, but it is as authentic as he could possibly get it.
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What powers the replica Ferrari?
Giacobbi couldn’t find an authentic 3.0-liter V12 engine, which an original Testa Rossa would have had.
But he was able to get a 4.4-liter Colombo V12, another engine used by the Italian manufacturer.
That engine allowed his replica to produce 400hp, and in total, the car weighed just 2,300lbs.
He even dressed the engine up to look like an original 3.0-liter unit.
The extra power provided by the 4.4-liter engine ensures his replica is incredibly fun to drive.
The American also left the Ferrari Testa Rossa unpainted, as it was when he found it.
Other than logos and stickers, all he did was clean it up, leaving the hand-hammering by the original builders.
Incredibly, it is basically a daily driver, as he drives it regularly, often to the local coffee shop!
This might be the ultimate way to live out your childhood fantasies.
Ferrari’s racing legacy milestones
1947: First Ferrari badged car, the 125 S, wins its debut race
1952: Alberto Ascari brings Ferrari its first Formula 1 title
1961: Wins its first F1 Constructors’ Championship
1967: Ferrari 330 P4 battles Ford at Le Mans in iconic duel
1975: Niki Lauda wins the F1 World Championship for the Scuderia
2000–2004: Ferrari and Schumacher dominate F1 with five straight titles
2023: Returns to Le Mans Hypercar class – wins on its comeback
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
