August 2007 Dream Car of the Month - Ferrari 288 GTO

Conceived in the mid 1980s as a Group B race car to compete with the Porsche 961 (a 640HP race version of the 959), it was built on the Ferrari 308 platform and is the only other Ferrari to wear the GTO name besides the legendary 1962 250 GTO. Due to Group B homoligation rules 200 cars had to be built for the public. Unfortunately, since Ferrari and Porsche were the only two manufacturers entered in the Group B series and due to a rash of racing deaths, the series was cancelled. The GTO and the 961 never met on the track. Ferrari took the cars built for the race series, detuned them, slapped in an interior and sold them to the public. Total production numbers are stated as between 272 and 277 depending on where you get your info.

Though based on the 308, the GTO used a longitudinally mounted twin turbocharged 2.8l V8 as opposed to the 308's 3.0l naturally aspirated, transversely mounted V8 engine. The longitudinal orientation in the GTO along with the turbos and intercoolers consumed the area that was used in the 308 for the rear trunk space. Even that wasn't enough so the car was stretched. The overall length of the GTO is about 4 inches longer than the 308. This engine was good for 600+HP in race trim and was detuned to 400HP/366TQ at 11.6psi for the street. The body was composed of exotic materials for the day. Only the doors were steel, the rest of the car was a mix of kevlar, aluminum and fiberglass to keep the weight as low as possible. The result was a curb weight of about 2550lbs which combined with the powerful engine launched the 288 GTO to 60 in the mid 4s and blasted the 1/4 mile in the mid to high 12s. Top speed was over 190MPH. Staggering performance for 1985.

288 GTO Evoluzione

There were also five 288 GTO Evoluzione models built which added extensively revised bodywork and aerodynamics that greatly resemble the Ferrari F40 that followed the 288. The Evo boasted as much as 650HP and it is believed that only 2 examples survive today. One of which is owned by non other than one of the worlds richest men and Ferrari fanatic, the Sultan of Brunei.

This car has always been one of my favorite Ferraris. Its understated in it's appearance unlike the other cartoonish supercars of it's day as well as the Ferraris that followed (F40 and F50). It's performance was mind blowing 20+ years ago and it can still hold it's own today. It truly deserves to be considered one of the greatest supercars of all time.