1987 Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione headed to public sale

The Ferrari 288 GTO was a Eighties icon, however the Evoluzione model took it to an much more excessive stage. Now considered one of these uncommon supercars is up on the market via RM Sotheby’s.

The 288 GTO was the second automotive to put on the Gran Turismo Omologato badge after the 250 GTO constructed from 1962 to 1964. Like its predecessor, the 288 GTO was meant as a racing homologation particular, on this case for FIA Group B rally and highway racing. Group B was canceled earlier than the Ferrari manufacturing unit may race the 288 GTO, however it nonetheless went forward with manufacturing.

FIA guidelines mentioned producers needed to construct 200 highway automobiles to homologate a design for Group B. Ferrari began 288 GTO manufacturing in 1985 and ended up constructing 272 examples of the usual model. However the guidelines additionally allowed for at least 20 Evolution fashions per yr, with a higher scope for design adjustments.

The 288 GTO Evoluzione took benefit of this rule provision, though the cancellation of Group B meant Ferrari constructed simply 5 automobiles. Not like the usual 288 GTO, these had been pure race automobiles.

Modified bodywork was comprised of fiberglass and Kevlar, with a carbon-fiber rear wing, conserving weight down to simply 2,072 lb. the Tipo F114B 2.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 from the usual GTO additionally obtained larger turbos, rising output from 400 hp to 650 hp and enabling a claimed high pace of 229 mph.

The automotive up on the market—chassis quantity 79888—was bought new to Belgian industrialist Jean Blaton, who raced underneath the pseudonym “Beurlys” from the Fifties via the Seventies, usually in Ferraris. The GTO Evoluzione has modified palms a lot of instances since then, with billionaire and present Aston Martin proprietor Lawrence Stroll amongst its earlier homeowners.

Just lately freshened with a mechanical servicing and a repaint, the automotive retains its authentic engine and transmission, and is Ferrari Classiche Licensed.

Whereas RM Sotheby’s didn’t listing a value, this 288 GTO Evoluzione will doubtless promote for critical cash given its rarity and mind-bending efficiency. A normal 288 GTO bought for $4.4 million on the firm’s 2022 Monterey Automotive Week sale, and the Evoluzione is rarer not solely than that automotive, but additionally the unique 250 GTO, of which 39 examples had been constructed.

The desirability of the 250 GTO means the Evoluzione may not attain the lofty monetary heights of that iconic Ferrari, nevertheless. Lately, two of these automobiles bought for about $49.4 million at an public sale and $70 million in a personal sale.