Lot 399: 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO

The name GTO, recalls what many regard as the ultimate Ferrari and the promise was that the new 288GTO would be no different; Maranello had already been quoted as saying that it would be the fastest and quickest accelerating Ferrari ever built, one insider later describing the homologation special as 'an act of faith to the racing world'; neither Ferrari nor its customers were to be disappointed.It was the 308GTB that Ferrari chose as the base for the GTO, a car, like Porsche's contemporary 959, designed for international Group B racing and for which a minimum of 200 examples had to be built; indeed the metamorphosis from 308GTB to 288GTO was to be no different than that from 250GT SWB to 250GTO two decades earlier.Not only was there an immensely strong steel tubular chassis, against the 308's semi-monocoque structure, but also the engine was moved from a transverse to an in-line layout, necessitating a 4.5" increase in wheelbase. The engine was basically the 32 valve 308/Mondial V8 but strengthened in many areas with improved lubrication and cooling. It also had twin IHI turbochargers and twin intercoolers, separate Weber/Marelli ignition and fuel injection systems for each cylinder bank and a 1mm smaller bore to give 2,855cc - important given the FIA's 1.4 turbocharger equivalency factor which multiplies capacity to 3,997cc, within Group B's 4.0 litre limit. And potent the V8 certainly was, producing a highly impressive 400bhp at 7,000rpm and a huge 366lb.ft at 3,800rpm; allied to a five-speed, magnesium cased gearbox, it provided staggering performance - 189mph, 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds and 0-125mph in a stunning 15.2 seconds!Notably, much of the GTO's design came from the Ferrari F1 designer Harvey Postlethwaite and it came as no surprise to find extensive use of Kevlar, carbon fibre and other high tech composites for the stress-bearing areas of the GTO's beautiful, Pininfarina styled, glassfibre (but steel doored) body. The latter, against the 308, was widened behind the rear side windows into engine air scoops while the rear used an elegant, integrated spoiler; a particularly nice touch was the three brake cooling slots in the rear wings, imitating one of the 250GTO's famous trademarks. Wings front and rear were also radically flared to accommodate an almost 4.0" increase in front and rear track and huge 225/55 front, 265/50 rear tyres on 10" x 16" composite alloy racing rims. Behind them were large Ferrari/Brembo ventilated disc brakes, while wishbone/coil spring suspension and an anti-roll bar were fitted front and rear. All of which made the 288GTO one of the most desirable Ferraris ever built, not merely a purposeful and effective machine, but one that was also a statement of Ferrari's classic love and commitment to racing. This very original example of the GTO is presented in fantastic original condition. It was purchased directly from the factory and has remained with its first owner from new. Like all of the other cars in this gentleman racers collection the car has been maintained without regard to expense. An exceptional example not to be missed.Questo esemplare di GTO, assolutamente originale, stato acquistato dall'attuale proprietario, un gentleman driver e uomo d'affari, direttamente dalla fabbrica. La manutenzione della macchina stata regolarmente effettuata da specialisti della marca, senza alcun risparmio, e non ha mai necessitato di alcun intervento di restauro. Sia l'interno che la vernice sono originali. Questa Ferrari 288 GTO senza dubbio la migliore che sia mai stata da noi proposta negli ultimi anni ed la pi rara Ferrari stradale degli ultimi 34 anni.