On Ferrari Friday’s, William Ross from the Exotic Car Marketplace will be discussing all things Ferrari and interviewing people that live and breath the Ferrari brand. Topics range from road cars to racing; drivers to owners, as well as auctions, private sales and trends in the collector market.
In this episode William talks about his favorite Ferrari the 288 GTO.
Episode 10
And welcome back everybody to the Ferrari Marketplace. This is William and I am your host. It’s been a little bit. Uh, I kind of lost track of time, so to speak in regards to, I realized it’s been basically a month since I did another podcast, I kind of weeks for getting away from me there. I was busy doing a few other things and I kept saying, Oh, I got to do it tomorrow.
I got to do my podcast. I got to do my podcast tomorrow. And then before I know it, it’s like all of a sudden it’s the weekend. It’s like, Oh, I’ll do it next week. Oh, what’s one more week. I’ll say I looked at the date, you know, looking at my downloads and stuff on Buzzsprout. I was [00:01:00] like, Whoa, it’s been over a month.
So getting back to it, I again, I apologize and hey, I appreciate it. Went out to this download and listen to the podcast. said, I’m working on this is just a work in progress is always going to be. Um, and if you want, you also can start checking out. I’m putting together a YouTube channel. Now the YouTube channels, I got the Ferrari marketplace, the YouTube channel, but I’m also actually doing.
It’s 65 look it up, it’s 60 the word, S I X T Y, the number 5 Motorsports, look it up. Because that’s going to kind of cover everything I go and see. The Ferrari Marketplace itself will just be stuff dedicated to Ferrari, I’m also going to have the Porsche Marketplace. Um, so, just wanted you guys to maybe check those things out, trying to build those up also.
And get some things moving forward here. Onward and upward! Today Our topic is my all time favorite Ferrari. I mean it’s a close tie between this one and an F40. But this one basically is my favorite since, you know, I was a teenager when this thing [00:02:00] came out. But my all time favorite, the 288 GTO. Now this car is legendary, limited build quantities, only made 272 of them.
But you know, this car is, you know, it was my poster car. I mean obviously, you know, the F40 came out, that was another one. But, you know, I was You know, 14 years old when this car came out and it got put out there and it’s cars just absolutely spectacular and it’s something I just lost after and I’ve been fortunate enough in my life.
This is a few years back. I got to drive one once too. So we can talk about that a little bit down the road here. But anyways, it does live up to its. Lives up to it. Definitely. Definitely. So, but anyways, let’s talk about the 288 GTO. Now, as we all know, prior to that, the only other car Ferrari put out that carried the moniker GTO, Gran Turismo Obligato, was the 250 GTO.
Now, so that, you know, obviously carried a [00:03:00] lot of weight, you know, be able to pull off that moniker, having that attached to your, uh, you know, designation to your name of the car, because you know, they had a 250 GTO. That’s legendary. I mean, that’s beyond legendary. I mean, that’s just, I mean, that’s like the top of the food chain.
Now, some other people argue some other ones, but to me, I think the 250 GO is the top of the food chain. But anyways, you know, so it had been close to, what was that, almost 30 years since they had actually used that moniker on a car, so they brought it out. Now, some people actually go and say the argument is, or not say the argument, but the history is, oh, they built a 288 to go Group B racing.
Well Yes, and no, they actually didn’t build that car to specifically go group B racing. They built the car because they were fiddling around and I don’t know how many of you are familiar with Italian tax laws and you know circumventing those laws But in the late 70s mid 70s whatnot, you know, [00:04:00] Italy’s way of taxing the car was on engine displacement So Ferrari’s kind of way around that was IE, let’s turbocharge the cars.
And so they had the 208 that was in Italy that came out with, and it was turbocharged and that was just basically the circumvent kind of tax laws and whatnot, because the engine displacement. So they were like, you know, in discussions and whatnot. And so, you know, getting up a little bit, but, you know, talking with his other people that are involved with their Ferraris, like, Hey, you know, we need to build.
You know, uh, is the super car term hyper car? They went to hike you want to call it, you know, really what it was not back then was not, you know, in play It was not being utilized to describe any type of vehicle But you know Ferrari need to be Ferrari. They needed to come out with something that was, you know, legit, you know Hey, this is the you know, you know top of the food chain I’m gonna use that I guess wording by me a little too much but You know, they needed to have something that had power, it could get out [00:05:00] there and get up and go.
And, you know, in talking, using the car, I said, well, let’s turbocharge, we got the eight cylinder, let’s, hey, let’s go turbocharge that. And they decided, hey, let’s go that route. Now, a lot of people also say, and kind of technically it was, the car was kind of derived from the 308, 208. But in actuality, it’s a completely new different car from that when they built it.
The only thing that remains the same was basically the roof. Um, other than that, everything else, and I think possibly the hood just a little bit. But, um, not completely. But other than that, it was all completely new. Chassis the whole nine yards. They didn’t just stick it on something else. Because what they actually did was, this is kind of weird, is they lengthened the roof.
The chassis, your wheels, they lengthened the chassis, but shortened the car. So they lengthened it, made it longer, but made it shorter. Also, if you understand what I’m saying. And they also made it wider than the 308. Now, another thing is, [00:06:00] this was the first use of carbon fiber. Well, it’s Kevlar and fiberglass.
You know, kind of the premonitor, precursor to utilizing carbon fiber. So they started to utilize that. But now it was only utilized on the hood. And the roof. So now I say, well, I thought they used the roof for it. Well, they use the same, you know, shape and have the roof there. But they really only use it on the roof and the hood.
Everything else was aluminum. And they actually shaved close to, God, what was it? 500 kilograms off of this car. Or 500 pounds, roughly. Um, off of that, of the Rio 308. I mean, so, that’s a significant amount of weight. On a car that’s not very big. So I think it was just, you know, in the 308 form was something that’s just a little over, like 3, 100, 3, 300 pounds, and then they got it down to like a little over 600 pounds when they utilized all the lume and everything on the car.
So I mean that, that in itself [00:07:00] played a major role in making this car perform. So, getting to that, so they obviously designed the body, they stretched out the wheelbase, shortened up the body itself, and they kicked out the tires, and obviously, you know, one reason too is, is they had to be able to accommodate the wider tires they put on there.
And obviously for grip, handling, what have you. So, you know, they had to accommodate all that space, so they had to make room for it. So they make everything wider. So what in turn that did, as we all know, gave that car that stance it has, which is just, I mean. You have to know your Ferraris to an extent, I mean, to the layman, they probably wouldn’t understand what it is, but everyone knows that when they see it, oh, that’s a 288 GTO.
I mean, it’s subtle enough. It wasn’t like super obnoxious and aggressive when they built those in regards to kind of, you know, beefing them up, make them a little more muscular, you know, with the fender flares going on the front and the rear, you know, um, they, they really, really did a, they did a perfect, not a perfect job, but you know, they did a phenomenal, phenomenal job.
Not [00:08:00] making something that was completely obnoxious. Now the, the one, you know, I guess the thing against it, and this was the problem they were going into a little bit, trying to sell these a little bit in the beginning, even though they had no problem, they ended up selling them all really quick. So, you know, they had to build the, you know, um, the, the 200 cars, because it’s got to go back down for the groupie.
But anyways, we’ll get back to that. Um, but some people, uh, looked at it, then kicked themselves now for it too. It all looks too much like a 308. So they wouldn’t go for the car. And it was almost twice as much. Um, so they wouldn’t bother with it, but anyways, they had to, you know, again, now when they’re building these was more along the lines just to build a real car.
But at that time, group B was. You know coming into play and fruition and there’s another manufacturer out there It’s kind of the same boat that did the same thing with the 959 so The car wasn’t they didn’t go and say, okay We’re gonna build design this car because we want to go group B racing they wanted to build this car to build a you know, [00:09:00] a collectible low volume very muscular very fast car and Their thought was then okay.
It will You know, fit into the parameters, you know, that we could take it and modify it and go group E racing. So the driving factor in making this car and building it wasn’t, hey, we need to build these 200 cars to homologate it to go group E racing. It was, we’re gonna build this car and hey, since it’ll fit in those parameters and requirements, let’s, we can take a group E racing, let’s build the 200 that are required.
You know, and they end up building the 272. But again, the key thing was, is here, was building the low volume. Make it a highly collectible car, which they did. Um, you know, right now, currently these things trade in, you know, the 3. 5 to 4 million mark, depending on mileage, shape, whatnot, class C certification, what have you.
And they’re creeping up, you know, five, six years ago, you were probably at the two and a half million range, you know, that part, you know, so pretty much. [00:10:00] Almost any Ferrari Enzo era Ferrari, especially if it’s a man, you’ll start to grow up, but I mean, you’re starting to have the newer ones that are coming out too, that are just.
You know, uh, I’ve seen like getting up there in price, but you know, and that’s what it is, you know, that’s how they do it. They only build X amount and their waiting list is absolutely scary. So trying to get it is just nuts. I mean, the only way you get in line to be able to come for our customer and start buying old for buying used ones.
So, you know, and to be able to be on the list to buy. The, like say the LaFerraris that come out, what have you, they’re such limited numbers. I mean, you got to be the top of the food chain in regards to a Ferrari collector and to start that out, you know, hey, you got to start buying the cars and start having your collection.
You got to have five, six, seven of them and you can’t just have some like a 348 or something like that. No, you got to have The big dogs and be able to kind of get in that line to be able to get considered for it. Cause those ones, you know, they choose you, you know, and they really monitor [00:11:00] what you do with your cars also and how you present because you’re representing their brand.
It’s kind of, it’s, it’s really interesting how they go about. Handling the brand itself in regards to an ownership side of it now, not to say that. Hey, you know, anyone, you know, if you have the money, hey, you can go buy one. But I said, if you really want to work up the food chain there and get, you know, in line to be able to own and get that phone call from, you know, the Ferrari North American president or what have you saying?
Oh, hey, Mr. So and so, you know. This is coming out. This is, you know, top secret, blah, blah, blah. We’re going to invite you to this showing, yada, yada, yada, you know, that kind of jazz, you know what I mean? That takes a while to get to it and you got to have a lot of money, let me tell you. But anyways, let’s get back to the 288.
So anyways, you know, this car was built and designed and it was, as I said, it was again more along the lines to they wanted to build. Their next, you know, hot thing, so to speak, you know, their, their car. So it just happened. The fact is, Hey, this will fit in the parameters, go group B racing. And we’ll get back to the group B [00:12:00] homologation stuff a little bit later, because they do end up making a, I wouldn’t say modify, but they make the 288 GTO evolution that is, was.
Basically designed and made to go for groupie racing You know, I made six of them, but obviously with the demise of group B at the time wise what not that’s all they end up Making was that was it so and I’ve really got utilized for what was for and those things are, you know Very highly collectible also because they only made six so that is something also to keep it out there It’s a really different interesting looking car in regards to how they modified it.
They went, you know The aerodynamics, the Venturi tunnels. I mean, they went extreme on that car in regards to making it competitive. And it would have been cool, really cool to see that thing running in a rally event like the Monte Carlo or something like that. Because, you know, you kind of think, Oh, well you look at WRC now, you know, you see the cars in a four wheel drive, all this stuff.
Well, back then, you know, obviously Audi was the one coming in with the four wheel drive, but you know, a lot of the majority of everything [00:13:00] was, you know, where we’ll drive with Lancia and the Oh three, seven dollar was the one that was the last car, rear wheel drive car. To win the, uh, uh, rally championship, you know, then everything started going to four wheel drive, but you know, then they had those monster group B stuff.
And I tell you what, if you never have go onto YouTube, look up group B rally and watch some of these videos. It’s insane. Not only watching these people drive, but watch the spectators. These people are nuts in regards to how close to like stand out in the road. I mean, it’s insane. What these people do. I mean, it’s absolutely nuts, but anyways, let’s get back to my favorite car, the 288 GTO now.
The cool thing about the GTO is, you know, the 288 GTO is the fact is, you know, it’s not that big of a car. Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever seen one in person or got up to it, but it’s not that big of a car. But the one thing is, it’s very comfortable. Now, the one thing you do is, you sit very, I don’t want to say upright.
You, you, you know, you’re not sitting in the car. You’re almost kind of sitting [00:14:00] on top of it. If you can understand what I’m saying, you know, and the steering wheel is fixed. So it’s not like this has got, you know, a button or a lever on there where he can tilt and you know, all that, you know, the steering wheel or telescope or anything.
Nope. It’s fixed to where it’s at. So you get in there again. You, you, you sit up top and say, I, I don’t know if you’ve ever had a chance to sit in one, but if you ever sat in like a 3 0 8 or something like that, it’s kind of the same feeling. You, you sit up on it. It’s kind of an odd feeling. You’re not sitting in it because again, you know, this car’s not like a, a tub.
It’s not a carbon fiber tub. How they built it and get down there, you know how this thing is made. It’s on a, you know, this chassis that’s made onto, so you’re kinda sitting up on it. It takes a little bit of getting used to. Um, and if you’re taller than 6 foot, you’re gonna be in there tight. I will tell you that.
I’m 6’1 and my head’s hitting the top, what not. But I didn’t care because, hey, I was getting to drive it. And again, you know, leg room wise, what not. You know, first of all, the Italians [00:15:00] I’m not saying this in any type of racial profiling way or something, you know, they were a bit smaller, you know, and shorter, and especially back in the 80s, you know, so they were kind of, I don’t want to say building it for them, but, you know, basically you got your designer and manufacturer and engineers, they’re kind of building it around themselves.
So, the car’s a bit on the smaller side, so if you’re taller than 6’1 you’re not going to be comfortable. You’re not going to be driving this thing all that much. But, and again, on the other side though, like for me, I didn’t care because, hey, it’s my dream car, and you’ll tolerate that stuff. Now, I don’t see myself being able to take one and go for a drive across country in it because, oh my god, I’d probably just be dead after about an hour of my back.
But, anyways, it’s an interesting driving position that you’re in. Now, all these cars, they’re all built in red. All of them are red. There was one black one that was done special, but the 271 of them were all red, all with black interior. So if you see one that’s a different color, um, and if you see that black one, you got to find out if it’s [00:16:00] actually the true black one that was built.
But if you see in some other color, like there’s some white ones out there, some yellow ones, you know, they’re, they’re a wrap or they got repainted. So don’t let anyone tell you differently. No factory, all I built was 271 reds and one black. Now I’ve tried to dig into that to find out why or who was that one black one was for.
And I really couldn’t find much on it, which I was a little bit surprised. Um, cause you would think that that would be pretty easy to find cause you know, out of that car and do it is um, Do it. So now I know some people say that none were done in black, but you know, um, From what I could tell they they One was black.
So I don’t know why I don’t know how they pulled it off But someone did but there’s one black when it came from the factory Don’t let me tell you differently [00:17:00] because there was one that was came in black but anyway, so we got a v8 Twin turbo IHI turbo chargers that put out there now they were using on the other cars like when they did that two away It was the KKK stuff and that but for I guess engineering purposes I guess you could say and just build fit in the car and how these is the IHI’s were a better fit Because they needed to fit that vehicle.
They need to fit the motor in there So and the car the engine itself they fit that thing in there Uh, longitudinally, if I’m saying that correctly and probably not, uh, sorry about my pronunciation, but you know, hey, that’s, it is what it is. But anyways, to fit that in there and how that engine was placed in there, you know, the IHI’s were just a better fit for them and it got in there.
So a nice, nice tight packaging and getting in there. And with that you have about, you know, the [00:18:00] easy numbers, 400 horsepower, it’s usually about 395 to 400. I’d say somewhere in that range. Basically 400 horsepower and 369 foot pounds of torque. So you got a nice power to it. Now, obviously that thing not weighing much, what not.
Now, you know, you think, oh, that thing should be going three seconds. Well, you know, it was a different time, what not. But back then, zero to 60 in five seconds, that was fast. And that was very fast. And so, you know, that car was quick for back in its day. Now, You know, you had a lot of other cars that were kind of getting up there.
I don’t know, now this day and age you got cameras that could go faster than that. But you know, you got to remember the time frame you’re looking at. And again, it’s about the experience because you’re talking about a car, you know, so analog, you know, no power steering, no power brakes, no nothing. I mean, it’s just, just you and the car, the steering wheel and the pedals, which I just love.
You know, to me, that’s what it needs to be. So it is, you know, that analog driving experience. And I don’t know. You need anyone listening, get back out there and find something that’s [00:19:00] like that. You know, I always tell people the story, you know, like me and my first, uh, me and my wife got, first got together and, uh, we got married, you know, but when we first dated and married for the first three years, we were together.
Well, I think the first five years together, she had a Saturn SL1, five speed, just bare bones, you know, first car. She bought herself after she graduated college, everything that. She’s gonna love that car, but by the time we got together what not we bought our house what not that thing had a hundred and 37, 000 miles an hour, but no power steering, had power brakes, but you know, five speed manual and whatnot.
You know, I think it barely had 100 horsepower, but you know, I love driving that thing because it just, it was so analog and just ringing the shit out of it. I mean, it was just, I dug it. It was fun. I mean, you could, you know, scream that thing up there in the RPM range and have some fun with it. You know, now obviously the 280 GT was no Saturn and shoot me now.
I apologize for it. I’m not comparing it. Don’t even go there. I’m not comparing it to that. Not even close. God knows two opposite sides of the spectrum, but [00:20:00] just saying is the analog driving experience that you get is Second to none, you know, it’s one of those things where you know, you feel the road you feel the car you feel it Do it.
It’s not sterilized. It’s not dumbed down. So to speak, you know, it’s you feel what’s going on And you know, it’s just such a better driving experience and you just drove it drive, you know, enjoy it that much more So anyways, so getting back to the car now we’re talking about, you know, uh, you know, sidewise, you know, they had the, on the tires that they had a two piece speed line, aluminum wheels that they put on there.
And, you know, these things were actually center lock, center hubs, they’re not a, you know, five lug nut thing like that. No, those were, it’s a center lock wheel. So, which is really cool. It gives it that, that real, really cool look on it. So, you had the tires going on the back there and you had the 225, 50, 16s at the front.
You had the 255, 50, 16s at the rear. So yeah, 16 inch wheels on this thing now this day and age. Oh, I was rolling on 20s You know, but hey, you know, it’s actually size wise what not, you know, it [00:21:00] fits it good fits it. Perfect again You know, the car is what it is, you know, and it’s just, it’s, to me, it’s, I can say perfect, no car’s absolutely perfect, but to me, in my eyes, that thing’s pretty dang close.
Doesn’t have the obnoxious wings on it, does everything like that, nice and subtle, it’s got that nice, I want to say ducktail spoiler on the back. You know, just giving it some of that aerodynamic, you know, capability, some downforce to it, so. But again, you know, it’s not People aren’t taking these cars out of Radio Basin and driving them at 180 miles an hour.
Ain’t happening. You know, these cars, you’re meeting your crews. Yeah, you’re going to get over a hundred whatnot, but yeah, you might get over a little bit, but the lift and that thing gets taken care of by the aerodynamics on this car. Now, the one unique thing, and this kind of goes back to the group B aspect of it is the headlights on it.
Now it does have the pop up headlights, but also has those four headlights that I guess you would say are in the lower valance of the front bumper, so to speak. Um, again, that was. For in essence that if [00:22:00] they were going to go group B racing, you’ll need to have the lighting and stuff like that. And you had to incorporate these things into it.
So hence that’s why those lights are, but it gives that really cool, unique fun. I look to it and you really don’t ever have to use a pop up headlights. So, which is great. Now, the other cool thing is if you look behind the rear wheels, you’ll see the three slats in it. That’s kind of homage to the two 50 GTO.
And those are functional. That’s for, you know, letting the heat out, whatnot for the rear engine that’s back there. So keep that in mind. kind of gives you a little idea of what it is. And, you know, again, interior wise, you got the legendary, you know, gated box that, again, if you ever get the opportunity to drive a manual Ferrari, that click, click, click, click, going in and out is just, it’s phenomenal.
I mean, it’s, it’s a, it’s a really, really cool feeling experience and sound once you do it. I mean, it’s a lot of fun. I highly recommend it. If you get the opportunity, definitely, definitely. Take it and do it. So, but anyways, that’s kind of all I want to talk about that on the 288 GTO. Um, I might ramble a little too much on it.
[00:23:00] I apologize, but you know, I just love that car. It’s phenomenal. You know, I definitely look up, watch some videos of it. It’s a, it’s a interesting car to check out and listen to. And like I said, you know, It’s a very, very unique car. Um, you know, it’s in that, I would say the, I don’t want to say the trifecta, but that, you know, the Holy Grail of Ferrari family, the 2.
8 GTO F40, F50, uh, Enzo LaFerrari. So, you know, it’s, it’s in that whole, you know, little group there that, you know, if you’re a lucky enough person to own all those cars, you’re doing quite well in your life. Um, but anyways, I’m going to wrap it up with that. Um, I’m going to go and watch today the second part.
Second practice session for the Miami Grand Prix because that’s what’s going on this weekend. So hey, I’m excited about that It looks pretty cool. Watch the first practice session, but that’s about all I have to say on that and the next episode We’re gonna talk about my second I guess you would say my I want to say second favorite but almost like, you know Say I got my tie there going out to a but do a 28 GTO is a little bit farther ahead You know just a smidge.
But anyways, it’s a [00:24:00] f40 now again. This is another one I had to drive I didn’t get to drive fast But I got to drive around a parking lot real quick and even that was Uh, enough. I just, I about, I couldn’t believe it that I was having that opportunity. And yes, the person that I drove both those was the same person.
They own both those cars. There was one person. So they were kind enough to let me test them out. So anyways, that’s what the next episode is going to be about. We’re going to talk about the F40. But anyways, that’s wrapping up on the 288 GTO. I appreciate everybody listening. Uh, I really, really do. So hey, and remember, spread the word.
Send it out there. Tag, like, or whatever that is on, you know, to let know when new episodes drop so you can listen to those. And if you want to check out the, uh, YouTube channel, got a bunch of videos up. Like I said, you can check out the Ferrari marketplace or you can check out 65 Motorsports and look at what’s going on.
I got some new stuff I just posted from the other weekend, uh, at a cars and coffee I attended and I got, uh, IMSA coming up here to mid Ohio next weekend. I’m going to head down to get some videos posted on that. But again, I appreciate everybody listening. Take care. [00:25:00] Peace.
Copyright William Ross, Exotic Car Marketplace a division of Sixty5 Motorsports. This episode is part of Gran Touring Motorsports, Motoring Podcast Network and has been republished with permission.