Ferrari
288 GTO
Key Facts:
- One family ownership until 2014
- Ferrari Classiche certified
- Very original and good condition
- Last service with cambelts in September 2020
HISTORY
The 288 GTO marked the revival of the designation “GTO”, for Gran Turismo Omologato. In Ferrari’s world, those three letters are holy. Ferrari was looking to compete in the FIA’s Group B, now considered to be one of the most legendary eras of racing. To do so, the car needed to be homologated for competition, which meant 200 examples had to be produced for the road.
Unfortunately, several casualties during racing struck the world of Group B rally, and the championship got cancelled. Ferrari, which had fully developed the 288 GTO and homologated it, ended up selling the car to its most loyal customers, without racing it.
The 288 GTO boasted lightweight aluminum parts, such as the doors, trunk, and engine-lid. A GRP and carbon compound formed some of the bodywork. Although visually similar to the 308 GTB, the GTO was much wider, and was powered by the then new Tipo F114B V8 developing 400 hp thanks to its twin IHI turbochargers, sending the car to speeds over 300km/h.
Only 272 examples of the 288 GTO were built. Compared to the other models considered as the “Ferrari big 5”, the GTO is the rarest, in fact, it is more than four times rarer than the Ferrari F40.
OUR 288 GTO
Our 288 GTO, chassis number 56751, was delivered new through Sa.Mo.Car Spa Rome (Italy) to Dr. Cristiano Berloco of Modena on the 11th of July 1985. The car was finished in Rosso Corsa over a Pelle Nera VM interior with the optional electric windows and air conditioning.
Dr. Cristiano Berloco was a very senior doctor practicing in Rome and a heir to the large Nomentana Hospital and Clinic. He used the car occasionally whilst his son would use it more frequently. Although the registration changed twice in Italy, first to the company Somafin S.p.A. and later to Mara Martinelli, the ownership remained in the original owners family. Young Berloco used the car quite a bit in the first three years of ownership, afterwards the car was rarely driven and kept away from the public. In total, the car would remain in the same family for 29 years until changing hands in 2014.
After leaving the family ownership for the first time in 2014, a major service including cambelts was carried out. The car was sold to the UK where the owner, a Mr. Evans, exhibited the car at the 2015 Goodwood Revival and went through the process of Classiche certifying the car.
In 2018, the car changed hands again but remained in the UK. The owner decided to have a built-in full fire extinguishing system. Finally, the GTO would find its way to its last owner in Munich, Germany, at the end of 2020. At the time of acquiring the car, a major cambelt service was carried out and some subtle cosmetic work was done to the rear quarters and sills. Today, the car has travelled less than 37,600 km.
The original service book shows services in August 1985, March 1986, March 1987, October 1988, and more recently, a a major service with belts in July 2014, an annual service in September 2015, and a major service with cambelts in May 2018. An annual service was carried out in February 2020 and cambelts were changed in September 2020.
Today, this GTO presents in a very authentic yet beautiful cosmetic condition. Pictures of the underbody show how sound the whole car is, with what seems to be the original wax still protecting the different parts. The original accessories such as the leather pouch with owner’s manual and service book, as well as the toolkits and a set of two keys, are included in the sale. A great occasion to acquire arguably the most desirable member of the Ferrari big five with a great history, good documentation, and a rare authenticity and preservation. The car can be inspected in our showroom in Munich on appointment.
