It was the 308 GTB 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. But although visually fairly similar to the 308, the left-hand drive only 288 was to differ radically under the skin.

The engine was moved from a transverse to an in-line layout, necessitating a 4.5-inch increase in wheelbase. The engine was basically the 32-valve 308 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 1-mm smaller bore to give 2855cc—important given the FIA’s 1.4-turbocharger equivalency factor which multiplies capacity to 3997 cc, within Group B’s 4.0-liter limit. And potent the V8 certainly was, producing a highly impressive 400 bhp at 7,000 rpm and a huge 366 1b.-ft at 3,800 rpm; allied to a five-speed, magnesium-cased gearbox, it provided staggering performance—189 mph, 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and 0-125 mph in a stunning 15.2 seconds.

Notably, much of the GTO’s design came from the Ferrari Fl designer Harvey Postlethwaite and it came as no surprise to find extensive use of Kevlar, carbon fiber and other high-tech composites for the stress-bearing areas of the GTO’s beautiful, Pininfarina-styled body. This was widened behind the 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 250 GTO’s famous trademarks. Wings front and rear were also radically flared to accommodate an almost 4-inch increase in front and rear track and huge 225/55 front, 265/50 rear tires on 10 x 16-inch 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. Just 278 examples of the GTO were built (including track versions), making it much rarer than the later F40.

This GTO was first registered in England in October 1985, to a collector of the marque, who kept it for ten years before selling it to an independent Ferrari specialist, who in turn sold it to the current owner. Only 24,000 km have been recorded.

This 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO Review and Buyer's Guide appeared in the February, 1999 Issue of Sports Car Market Magazine.