It was on the 1984 Geneva auto present the place Ferrari first unveiled the 288 GTO, which means the automobile Ferrari calls its first supercar is now 4 a long time previous.

The 288 GTO was born again when these three well-known letters nonetheless held some motorsports credibility on the automaker. The O stands for Omologato, the Italian phrase for “homologation,” because the 288 GTO was a homologation particular for a race automobile designed for Group B competitors.

It additionally meant that the automobile was the religious successor to a different GTO, the legendary 250 GTO from twenty years earlier. The triple facet vents and ducktail rear spoiler from the sooner icon have been even repeated.

When the 288 GTO was conceived within the early ’80s, time constraints and business issues brought on Ferrari to make use of the lesser 308 GTB as the essential place to begin. A brand new physique styled by Pininfarina added a extra muscular look whereas decreasing weight because of a mixture of carbon-fiber and Kevlar-reinforced fiberglass panels. It was the primary time the latter was used on a highway automobile. Ferrari quoted a dry weight of two,557 kilos for the 288 GTO.

Ferrari 288 GTO

The engine was a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-8 that delivered 394 hp. It was mounted longitudinally behind the rear seats and powered the rear wheels by way of a 5-speed handbook transmission. That transmission was much like the one utilized in Ferrari’s Formulation 1 automobile on the time, as have been the 288 GTO’s brake and suspension elements.

Efficiency estimates included a 0-62 mph time of 4.9 seconds, a quarter-mile time of round 12.7 seconds, and a high pace of 189 mph.

Group B was disbanded earlier than any 288 GTOs might race, however Ferrari nonetheless acquired round to constructing 272 examples of the automobile. That is really 72 greater than what Ferrari initially wanted underneath the homologation guidelines.

To assist have fun the 288 GTO’s fortieth anniversary, Ferrari will host the GTO Legacy Tour this fall. Just like the tour held final yr to have fun the F40, this yr’s tour will meander by way of the Italian Dolomites earlier than ending up in Maranello for a parade round Ferrari’s Fiorano take a look at observe.