Ferrari 288 GTO

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Ferrari GTO
Also called:	Ferrari 288 GTO
Manufacturer:	Ferrari
Production:	1984–1985
Predecessor:	Ferrari 250 GTO
Successor:	Ferrari F40
Class:	Mid-engined coupe supercar
Body style:	Berlinetta
Engine:	2.8 L turbocharged V8

The Ferrari GTO (often referred to as Ferrari 288 GTO) was an exotic homologation (thus the O) of the Ferrari 308 GTB produced in 1984 through 1986.

1 Background
2 Engine
3 Evoluzione
4 Legacy
5 References

[edit] Background

The Ferrari GTO was built to compete in the new Group B Race series and a minimum of 200 cars were required for homologation. However as only Ferrari and Porsche, with their 959, entered, the series was soon abandoned leaving just the Group B Rally championship. The Porsche 959 {961} only raced three times in Group B, but the 288 GTO never raced and all 272 cars built remained purely road cars.

[edit] Engine

The GTO was based on the mid-engined 308 GTB. The 288 refers to its 2.8 Liter V8 engine, though, as it used a de-bored (by 1 mm) V8 with twin IHI turbochargers, intercoolers, and Weber-Marelli fuel injection. The 2855cc engine capacity was dictated by the FIA's requirement for a Turbocharged engine's capacity to be mutiplied by 1.4.This gave the GTO a theoretical engine capacity of 3997cc, just under the Group B limit of 4.0 litres.

Unlike the 308, the engine was mounted longitudinally, using the 308's rear boot space. The wheelbase was 110 mm longer at 2,450 mm, and the track was widened also. With 400 hp (almost 140 hp per liter) and 366 ft·lbf of torque, the GTO was an impressive performer. 0-60 mph times were in the upper 4 second range and Ferrari claimed 0-125 mph in 15 seconds flat! Top speed was a staggering 190 mph.

[edit] Evoluzione

Ferrari also built 5 288 GTO Evoluzione models with more aggressive and aerodynamic body styling and increased power. The engine in the Evoluzione originally put out as much as 650 hp; however, this was dialed down to 450 hp after Group B was banned as a whole in 1986.

[edit] Legacy

Unlike the later F40, the 288 was equipped with most of the basic luxuries – air conditioning, sound system, and so on – which made the car relatively comfortable to drive.

The GTO was the first in a series of Ferrari supercars, continued with its much-modified version, the 1987 F40. Also, the later V12-engined F50 and Enzo would not have been produced if not for the 288 GTO.

In 2004, Sports Car International named this car number two on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s, behind its German rival. Former Formula One driver Eddie Irvine has owned a 288 GTO since the early days of his career.

[edit] References

Buckley, Martin & Rees, Chris (1998). World Encyclopedia of Cars. London: Anness Publishing. ISBN 1-84038-083-7.
The Ferrari Pages. Cars From Italy. Retrieved on November 18, 2004.
Ferrari 288 GTO at the Group B Rally Cars.

<-earlier		Ferrari road car timeline, 1960-present (edit)
Type		1960s										1970s										1980s										1990s										2000s
		0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
FR	GT	America				330		365		Daytona																												550						575M				599
		250				275
	2+2	250GT				330GT			365GT				GTC/4		GT4			400			400i						412									456 GT						456M GT					612
RMR	V6/V8									206		246					308					308i		308qv			328					348					F355				360						F430
																						208
	2+2														GT4						Mondial 8					Mondial 3.2				Mondial T
	F12													365BB				512BB					BBi			Testarossa							512TR			F512M
supercars				250 GTO																						288 GTO			F40											F50		F50 GT		Enzo			FXX