Origin: Modena, Italy
Engine: 8-Cylinder
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
One of the fastest street-legal production cars of its time with a top speed of 189 mph, the Ferrari 288 GTO is essentially a racecar version, or homologation, of the Ferrari 308 GTB. The 288 in its designation represents the car’s 2.8-liter V-8 engine. The GT stands for Gran Turismo (Grand Tourer), while the O stands for Omologata (Homologated). About 272 GTOs were produced from 1984 to 1987, with numbers kept low in keeping with Ferrari’s exclusivity.
Though not originally designed to race in the Group B Circuit Race series, which began in 1982, the GTO is often associated with Group B and rally car racing. The 288 GTO Evoluzione, or Evo for short, was specifically developed to race in the Group B Circuit series, but never got the chance. The series was suspended at the end of 1986 after the deaths of Henri Toivonen and his co-driver Sergio Cresto in the 1986 Tour de Corse. The incident was believed to be the result of their Group B car, a Lancia Delta S4, being too fast and powerful for the race.
This 288 GTO is one of the fastest cars in the car museum. It also only came in red, save for one black one that was made specifically for the Sultan of Brunei. The ‘Nero’ 288 GTO is considered to be the most valuable Ferrari in the world.