Got to drive a 288 GTO this past weekend...........

My favorite road going Ferrari. I wish I get a chance to get a ride in one let alone drive one.

 

Thanks - yes.

I had my bell housing looked at last year........!!

 

A special coating to cure porousity or a replacement is the solution there.

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

The 288 GTO is without question the manliest looking Ferrari ever made. The interior looks a bit antiquated now, but don't say that near the car, because it will kick your ass!

 

Dan, what an experience! Thanks for the lift. It was a pretty awesome day that's for sure. Maybe next time you can borrow it when there is less traffic on the road. That car needs some exercise! Man what a fantastic time. I am still all geeked up.
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Whats this Bugatti in the Mirror?

What a day!

 

The 288 GTO is the "muscle car" of Ferrari's.

-F

 

you lucky guy. I am lying on the floor in a fit of jealous rage.

 

nice story Dan! the car certainly look gorgeous.

 

Well-spoken! If you love muscle cars and you love exotics, the 288 GTO will tear your heart to pieces. Simple, elegant, and menacing at the same time. So many of our enthusiast comrades say that it is their all-time favorite (me included). And to think that a select few could have been allowed by the factory to purchase one for $85K. I bet that they could have enjoyed the heck out of the car for a few years and still have sold it for more than a quarter mil. Not bad.

Thanks for sharing the experience. You are, indeed, a lucky dude. And, if it were my car, I'd rather have you stall it than over-rev it and tear the clutch to pieces. hahaha Great pics. Thanks again

 

I agree that the 288 GTO could be the "muscle car" of Ferraris due to it's bulbous curves and mean stance, but where does that leave the GTO Evoluzione??

Both cars are actually very refined to drive given their era.

 

Please tell me you have a picture of the 288 and the Veyron in the same shot, that would be a sight to see.

 

Hey RTB id love to photograph your 288 some time, i realise its allot to ask, but hey if you dont ask you dont get. It would be nice to meet you properly any how, after narrowly missing you at Salon Prive this year! I'll PM you.

 

Maybe some kind of Shelby special that evolved a street model into a race car. Or possibly a raced Superbird. I'm not real familiar with the muscle car family tree.

The 288 GTO is a stripped down, pumped up, outrageously engineered Ferrari; very high qualities considering the company it's in! That's what muscle cars were during their time.

-F

 

Furmano,

I too agree that the 288 GTO is a sort of Ferrari "musclecar", and it certainly gives off that notion due to its "bulbous curves" as RTB describes it. Its twin-turbocharged engine unit gives it plenty of performance muscle to flex as well.

However, I must politely take issue with the 288 being described as "stripped down" as you put it. In fact if you look closely at its interior appointments, they are quite plush with nice carpeting, well-stitched full leather sports seats, velour dash and door panels, all complimented with top-of-the-line Ferrari switchgear of the period. The cabin is quite GT Luxe if you know what I mean, one of the car's endearing qualities I think (perhaps one reason why the various wives appreciate it so much! LOL).

I suggest that there is but one truly "stripped down" road-going Ferrari Supercar, and that car is the incomparable F40. When you take stock of the fact that you have just a draw-string to open the doors, naked carbon-fibre floors and door panels, manual wind-up windows, almost no sound-deadening material, cloth seats, clamshell bodywork that opens to expose most of its chassis, then the F40 is the Ferrari Supercar that can truly be described as "stripped down". The 288 GTO by comparison isnt stripped down, but in deference to your well-made points, I must concede that it manages to be very light indeed due to its specification and the use of magnesium in some of its major components.

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

You're right. The GTO is not stripped down, especially compared to the F40. Heck, the 288 is more plush than an Enzo.

-F

 

great thread write up !

 

Thankyou for taking my view in the spirit in which it was intended.

Joe
www.joesackey.com

 

Muscle Car Comparison:

everyone has their own views, but the original mid-late sixtes "muscle" cars used massive cubic inch engines to deliver their power. very few were turbo-charged much less even dual chargers. also a muscle cars has to be carbed imho. none were mid engine , and they all used the largest block engine their manufac. had available.

now the 288 body is wide and has a low stance with fat rears tires as muscle cars do. but imho i dont see to many other comparisons.

for a Ferrari to be compared to a muscle car it would have to be front engine V12 due to largest carb engine available and not have the added turbo boost. the 288's body does resemble a muscle car but enigne size and layout; a Daytona is more a muscle car "type" than a 288. thats just me though. plus its a 12 year time span between 365 and the 288 so many changes during that time frame/

the feel and ride do have muscle car characteristics from what i am reading; firm and tight with ease of using rear end slide. so thats another point for the muscle car comparison but the engine size, type and layout is tough to overcome.

Now please dont get me wrong , the 288 is a stellar ride but i was just referring to the muscle car types.

288's outside mirrors and interior are imho one of the first moves by ANY car manufactuar to bring a F1 "feel" to a car produced for the public. Classic body style, rear lights are perfect, etc etc. One of the great Ferraris as everyone has pointed out. But instead of a muscle car comparison, in imho it was produced as a modern day track or race car that car be also a daily driver, thats why its a GTO

Whats the gear ratio of a 288 ?


-edit: Congrats Dan, sounds like a great day.

 

You are one of the few lucky individuals on earth that has driven a 288 GTO! From what I've read, it's an amazing driver's car. I can only imagine how cool it would be to blast through some winding canyon roads staying in the boost winding out 3rd and 4th gear, well into triple digits. Sadly, they are so rare and valuable, I'm sure most of them are rarely driven like that.