FERRARI 288 GTO

powww, i dont like this modification for the tubi exhaust...the 288, nothing better than the original

 

Of course you are always correct-however, according to your numbers perhaps that'd mean only 6 crash test cars. I know there were at least 4 used in such a manner and the yellow one brought back to life. Remember? You may have shown pics of the car earlier but mentioned (knew) nothing of its history. As for the others-you are merely speculating-logically or not

 

Ah I can see that once again you have completely missed the initial point. My initial posting clarified that according to FML there are an ADDITIONAL 13 GTOs over and above the 279 cars which covers the 272 production cars, and 7 pre-production cars. The 13 extra cars are in fact Clienti Speciale cars, for example the half dozen made for Brunei, more for the Middle East, and a pair for two well-known Formula One drivers.
I have not suggested how many cars were originally crash-tested (that number is in fact two) and how many were 'destroyed' (a further two, one burnt and the other crashed). It is you who suggested that the extra 13 were "perhaps crash test cars", to which you are completely wrong.
Unfortunately for you also, you are completly wrong in your poorly-researched suggestion that I knew nothing of the yellow prototype's history, because if you actually read this thread carefully youll note in post number 137 that I clarified the car's chassis number (47649), the fact that I had personally seen it in Italy in 1994, and the fact that it remains the only single-mirror 288 GTO I have ever seen. I also clarified in the aforementioned post that I was quite familiar with its history which comprised of long-term ownership by the Modena Ferrari concessionaire Motor SrL (where saw it). I pointed out that I had been informed that the owner had returned the car to Pininfarina to be repainted in Giallo Fly. I went on to further clarify that the next time I saw the car again in Modena in May of 2006 it had magically sprouted a passenger door mirror. So contrary to your misguided suggestion, I am indeed well-versed with its history.
Finally, in closing I would like to suggest that there is absolutely no possibility that the extra 13 cars that FML was referring to were crash-test cars as you so erroneously suggest, as these cars have chassis numbers clearly pointing them out to be post-production GTOs - no speculation on my part, logically or otherwise.

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

perhaps I'm guessing...

but if there are 7 prototypes of various sorts, 272 production cars, and 13 cars identified as 288 gto's by their S/N... would that not make a TRUE production run of 285 cars? Why beat around the bush?

 

Thankyou. Exactly as Ferrari should say it.

But I suspect the 'extra 13' are "unofficial" items from the land where anything is possible. Anyway, lets not forget the extra 13 comes to us courtesy of FML's findings...

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Full documentation on their S/N's build sheets etc. would dictate weather or not these ares were production or not... as I've read thus far, we still do not know anything besides they exist, separate from production, and separate from prototypes... for now.

 

Yes, but their chassis numbers are in some cases beyond those of the production cars so it appears that they are post-production cars. By the way if these were 'unofficial' cars for extremely VIP customers, perhaps we shouldnt expect definitive documentation to surface anytime soon. Perhaps thats the way Ferrari wants it... youll have to ask them

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Im coming across more owners who actually prefer the all-black interiors (Shill 288 I know you are one) and perhaps this is because the original red nomex used on the seat inserts of these cars fades so badly?

Perhaps the image below should be captioned: A country road & megaphone pipes

Joe
www.joesackey.com
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

The Matsuda 288 GTO...

Joe
www.joesackey.com
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Joe,

Yup, I'm a fan of the all black interior. I would have loved the "red" insert interior if it was done like some Daytonas, the small vinyl section in Red. But, that orange/read never did it for me. But, that wouldn't have made a difference to me. What the made the difference is that I live in California and waited 18 months for a California legal GTO to become available. When it did, I bought it sight unseen. It just so happens it came with the all black interior, electric windows and air conditioning. I wouldn't have quibbled either way.

On the issue of how many GTOs. As one Ferrari old-timer once told me, defining the "last" of anything in Italy is impossible, so don't even try. Oddly enough, this was over a discussion about which Miura was the "last" Miura. But, it applies to Ferrari, et. al., as well. Once Ferrari decided to start building cars for wealthy individuals outside of the normal production run, the "count" is however you choose to define it. Even worse, is the problem of later super cars, like Enzos, where more than one car has the same VIN. I can only guess why they choose to do this. Marketing reasons? (Keep prouction numbers looking low? Promises to owners that only so many were made? Avoiding taxes?) I can only imagine what happens if the taxing authorities show up and want to see if accounting is proper and you have money coming in more than once on a particular VIN. Or, being Ferrari in Italy, does anyone really check or care?

By the way, this isn't new for Ferrari. They were pulling all sorts of VIN switches on chassis and engine blocks back in the good old days to make sure whatever race car showed up to race was allowed to race. Not to mention reducing their tax liabilities going across borders. Or, so I've been told. Naw, this never happened, did it?

Steve

 

Steve,

Love your insight. Id love to talk to you more about the 1,000-mile GTO that I found in California last week.

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

288 GTO belonging to Brazilian collector, Mr. Kogan to be auctionned off at RM's first London Auction! Among many other Ferrari's and interesting cars including a Benz 540K, a Miura P400, Bizzarinis and more.

 

I think the Benz 540k is part of the Bernie Ecclestone collection. His pal Walter Wolf (proud naturalized Canadian) was a rabid 288 GTO fan driving one from new, until he purchased the new F40, at which point he promptly forgot about the 288 GTO! LOL.

More GTO art as located by my son. Enjoy...

Joe
www.joesackey.com
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Bill Cosby's 288 GTO... the funnyman appreciates his Ferraris.

Joe
www.joesackey.com
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Being used for the purpose for which it was created.... in a driving event. A great way to meet fellow like-minded enthusiasts! These days Ferrari North America is dedicated to producing more of these events such as the small but special F40 20th annivesario at Laguna Seca, and the Challenge Rallies.

Joe
www.joesackey.com
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I think this is the first 288 GTO I saw in person. It must have made an impression...


Joe
www.joesackey.com
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

In Southern California with just 998 miles from new. Desperately needing to be driven... and its wish is about to come true.

Joe
www.joesackey.com
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

looks nice and polished....

 

Agreed. Sitting patiently upon a grassy meadow

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Greenwich concours - circa 2001
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

OMG just 998 that´s nothing and...would you drive it or the new owner?

BTW i have some pics of a 288 GTO that i saw in the FoH i´ll try to post´em later.

 

Excellent cross-examination, Ill give you that

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Joe there was a Gentleman by the name of Morris Kessler that had a beautiful GTO and F40, do you know if he still has the GTO?

 

Ferrari's that get so little use are pointless . . . why not just buy a picasso or some other form of decoration? To be lucky enough to be a custiodian of such a machine and not use it should be a crime . . . sorry about the dodgy quality of the shot - he didn't hang around long enough for me to get my camera.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Talking about.....
Image Unavailable, Please Login