Why This Young Ferrari Mechanic Refused to Buy a Modern Car | Jay Leno's Garage

#machinery #motorbikes #occupations #career

Most Ferrari owners send their cars away for service—Vittoria Bruno (‪@motoribruno‬ ) dropped the subframe and did the work herself. Jay Leno welcomes a rare "driven" 1987 Ferrari Testarossa to the garage, owned and restored by a young mechanic who proves that true wealth is the ability to maintain your own machine.

This isn't your cliché "Miami Vice" red Testarossa; it’s an unusual black-on-black specimen that downplays the iconic side slats for a more sinister look. Vittoria, a graduate of the prestigious McPherson College (the only school in America offering a four-year degree in auto restoration), acquired this Ferrari after it sat for over 20 years. With only 12,000 original miles, it needed a complete mechanical "refresh" to be road-legal again.

Jay and Vittoria dive deep into the mechanical soul of the Testarossa, discussing:

The Engine-Out Service: Dropping the subframe to replace belts, seals, hoses, and rebuilding the water pump.

The Flat-12 Powerplant: A 4.9-liter descendant of the F1 motor producing nearly 400 HP and 360 lb-ft of torque.

Mechanical Injection: Why Vittoria prefers the Bosch mechanical system over complex modern electronics.

The Daily Driver Reality: A surprising discovery that this 80s supercar is actually cheaper to insure than a modern Tesla.

Beyond the nuts and bolts, this episode is a masterclass in automotive passion. From the gated shifter to the "Italian frunk," discover why this 1987 icon remains one of the most comfortable long-distance cruisers ever to come out of Maranello. As Jay says, if you want a Ferrari, sometimes the best way to own one is to fix it yourself.