The 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO not sold in the US when new, but thanks to the 25 year rule this example will be up for sale in RM Sotheby’s auction to coincide with 2022 Monterey Car Week. It is scheduled to take place on August 20.
288 GTO is the second car to bear the Gran Turismo Omologato moniker after the rare and expensive uber. 250 GTO. Like its predecessor, the 288 GTO was intended as a particularly similar race car, in this case for FIA Group B and road racing. But Group B was canceled before the 288 GTO could race, prompting Ferrari to sell a heavy road car to sell to customers.
While it resembles the smaller one Ferrari 308 GTBThe 288 GTO has a longer wheelbase and a bespoke engine. The mid-mounted 2.8-liter Tipo F114B twin-turbo V-8 produces 400 hp and 366 lb-ft of torque, helping the 288 GTO accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 4.9 seconds.
1985 Ferrari 288 GTO (photo via RM Sotheby’s)
The V-8 is housed in a tubular steel chassis with mostly fiberglass body panels, although the hood and hood are made from a mixture of carbon fiber and Kevlar. The large fender accommodates tires that are 8.0 inches wide at the front and 10 inches at the rear.
This example — chassis 58335 — was originally sold through a dealer in Los Angeles, and features optional air conditioning and power windows. It has been certified Ferrari Classiche and currently shows 9,323 miles on the odometer.
In the end, Ferrari built 272 copies of the 288 GTO, a lot more than the 39 models of the 250 GTO, but less than 599 copies of the 250 GTO. 599 GTO (which is not for racing). That’s the backdrop for pre-auction estimates of $3.7 million to $4.2 million – a substantial amount, but still a fraction of the 250 GTO commands.
