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Ferrari 288 GTO | Gran Turismo In Racing Sauce
GRAN TURISMO OMOLOGATO
Words Marco Rallo / Photos Ferrari Media
Many people, when they hear GTO, immediately think of the legendary 1962 250 GTO. And who can blame them, since it is an authentic icon that goes beyond the collective automotive imagination, taking on the image of a cult object, a car of almost inestimable value and testimony to how the shapes of a car were as pure as it gets, back in the sixties. Then add the fact that it was a model dedicated to the world of competitions, where the prancing horse from Maranello could show off its deepest skills and you have that fateful scent of legend that spans the decades, cementing its image as the ultimate representation of Italian charm. An object made of sheet metal, tires and liquids that contains a universe of emotions and stories of great people.
It could even end here, if it weren’t for the fact that in 1984 another GTO arrived, equally capable of making its way into the hearts of enthusiasts and collectors: it’s called 288 GTO and it’s yet another Ferrari masterpiece that represents an era – that of the 80s – as different as it is still linked to the analogue schemes that allow a car to enjoy its own essence. These objects have a soul and when unleashed it gives life to a deafening roar, something equally melodious and scratchy as the V8 positioned back there. To make it incredibly exclusive, we have a production that lasted just 2 years and which gave birth to only 272 units.
The genesis of the GTO – Gran Turismo Omologato – is one of the many controversial stories that undergo improvised anecdotes with the passing of time, where some inaccuracies contribute creating a small aura of mystery about the absolute reality of the facts. It is true that the GTO was also developed with the aim of taking part in Group B competitions and in this regard, during 1985 a dedicated version called 288 GTO Evoluzione was developed, of which 5 examples exist. At the same time, the 288 GTO should not be considered as an evolved version of the more modest 308 GTB, with which it only shares the construction principles. In fact, if there is no doubt that at least on an aesthetic level there are strong similarities, the work carried out by Pininfarina was subtle, but enough to make the look of the GTO extremely more aggressive and perfectly in line with the engine in mid-rear position, a 2.8 V8 (hence the acronym 288) capable of delivering 400 horses at 7,000 rpm and 496 Nm of torque at 3,800 rpm. Remember that it’s only 1984? These are astonishing numbers, above all due to the aerodynamics kept clean and which renounces any conspicuous appendage.
The innate elegance of the 288 GTO is equaled only by the drama with which the power is managed by the rear-wheel drive combined with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Compared to the design of the 308 we find widened fenders, a new profile at the front and a more pronounced spoiler at the back, all with a body made of Kevlar. The engine, here mounted longitudinally, was turbocharged and positioned in front of the gearbox unit. Now try to imagine, despite the excellent weight balance, managing a power of 400 horsepower that arrives suddenly, after the proverbial lag that characterized the supercharged engines of those years, without any type of control while you keep the throttle down a frantic race towards a top speed of 305 kph. Impressive.
Since it is ultimately an “omologato” car and therefore suitable for road use, the 288 GTO has a cockpit that does not give up comfort, although it is still limited to what is strictly necessary, so as not to distract the driver from the main reason for which you find yourself at the wheel of one of the most exciting Ferraris ever: driving. We therefore have air conditioning, electric windows and a stereo system, a handful of pluses which however are in the background compared to the salient features of a cockpit represented by the mechanical gearbox with visible cage and close lever, contrasting leather seats and a three-spoke steering wheel which embodies the dream of millions of motorists for decades. The ultimate link between the driver and the road, the rudder with which to navigate on waters made turbulent by a nervous and demanding engine. No buttons, just a yellow shield with an embossed black prancing horse, to remind you where daydreams begin. A love tinged in red which has seen its prices increase to over the threshold of one million Euros, even reaching 3 million, for some specimens sold at various auctions around the globe. Important figures that contribute fueling its legend, thanks to rarity, historical importance and that mechanical (and metallic) flavor of an old school engine capable of awakening from their lethargic torpor those who think that turbo lag could ever be a problem.
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