FERRARI 288 GTO

Here

 

This is excellent. Thank you.

 

The unique differences on this GTO versus a standard production GTO are that it was a single-mirror (Monospecchio) example using a Vitaloni unit on the driver's door, the Prancing Horse badge is a chromed-finish item and placed on the left-hand-side of the rear panel, a "288" badge is on the right-hand-side of the rear panel, the central part of the lower rear valance has been deleted, a test exhaust system is in place, and Pirelli P7 tires are in use.

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Joe how about sharing a picture from a different angle! This car looked much nicer than the ugly finish on the mostly black and red Testarossa prototype from a similar period in time.
That is a lot of technical detail about this GTO from just the back view in the picture. Though the P7 tread does stand out, now that you mention it.

 

Thank you for this.

I've embedded your images in full size below.

I have the authoritative and well-researched Jurgen Lewandowski book published in the period, and I read it before I published my own book. There is no doubt in my mind now that you have jogged my memory, that this is my source.

Now that I have reviewed the material more closely, I do belive Lewandowski's assertion that a carbureted F114-A GTO engine (production engines were F114-B injection units) did in fact exist, based on his detailed data, text, specific illustration of the aforementioned engine, and identification of the carb GTO specifically as chassis number, 44725.

"44725 GT - The first prototype and the only 288 GTO with a carburettor engine. Four Solex twin carburettors, KKK turbocharger, ZF transmission. Wheelbase 2340 mm: the only 'short-wheelbase' GTO".

Where is 44725 today, does it still exist as 288 GTO, and if so, does it still have the F114-A Solex carburetor engine?

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Single Vitaloni door mirror in evidence.

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Thank You!
and a 'red' front bumper instead of the production black version of the bumper.

 

I just checked and the Jurgen Lewandowski book was published in 1987 just after production had ended when critical corroborating material was readily available and memories were fresh, in fact, he was afforded all the factory DGM illustrations for the car as his book clearly shows, so we know he was direct with the source.

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Excellent Joe, for almost every rule there is an exception to that rule...

 

Speaking of exceptions to the rule, in recent times, a number of assertions I have made in the past have been disputed by others for one reason or another, whatever the case, I've always tried to go to not inconsiderable lengths to ensure that anything I assert here is as close to accurate as possible. I guess, this is turning out to be self-evident as the assertions I have made are upon review proving to have been made on a solid basis.

I'll just say on behalf of all of us that it often pays to have an open mind and corroborate from multiple sources.

 

Joe I do have that blueprint page. In 30 years I never realized it was folded up and tucked under the dust jacket at the back of the book! Thank you yet again.

 

Amen to that.

 

a light moment> Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

One of my favorite GTO images is of the ex-Niki Lauda GTO, which remains just as it left the factory.

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How does that 288 GTO above compare with the ex. Swaters GTO?

 

Condition-wise, similarly nice, although the Lauda GTO has peerless historical significance.

 

Didn't the Lauda GTO undergo 'reconditioning' of some kind at the factory ? I must have read it on here, but don't fully recall.

 

Yes, @ Classiche Maranello, it received a full mechanical recommissioning, cosmetics are as Lauda received it.

 

Did you guys noticed the prancing horse on the left looks like it's over a glue line of another emblem? Looks like the vertical prancing horse emblem mounted on every Ferrari front nose. Also notice on these that the production horse emblem are black. Anybody?

 

The rear panel that holds the tail lights is from a 308 and has the characteristic indentation to hold a euro spec lic plate. For the 308 it uses the silver horse in that location on the left side. There may have been some trial of using a different emblem on the left side and that left an outline on the paint when it was pulled off.
Also because it is a 308 panel the tail lights sit out further from the body than the final solution with the unique GTO rear panel. Since the lic plate is mounted on the rear bumper the central indentation of the panel is not required. The numeral "288" emblem is a unique component as it didn't make it onto the production GTO.
The pictured 308 GTB shows the body design differences compared to a production model GTO> Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Ferrari used the model emblem like GTB and GTS along with a numeral like 308 or 328 consistently on this series so typically you would get the numeral 288 as well for the GTO model. Ferrari ordered thousands of these same emblems. When it came time to order a relatively small amount of the "288" emblems perhaps Ferrari balked at the higher cost for a emblem of limited use to them. Ferrari simply didn't order any "288" emblems for the production GTO models.
Also the prototype has different more upright style for the GTO lettering than the production model received.

 

Always noted this, as shown on the 1st page of this thread.

 

Instagram find:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZjB40sgB9n/?taken-by=vintagewatchdubai
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Gr. Martin

 

Note lower rear valance side-marker.

 

Those big side marker lights are nasty looking. Especially compared to the discreet narrow style of lights fitted in the black horizontal groove between the body panels on some other federalized GTO.