1984 Ferrari 288 GTO

The Ferrari GTO, commonly called the 288 GTO, opened the modern flagship lineage in 1984. Its familiar silhouette concealed a purpose-built machine: the V8 moved to a longitudinal rear-mid position, turbocharging raised output, and lightweight composite body panels helped control mass. Those choices made the GTO a clear bridge between Ferrari’s competition work and a new generation of low-volume road supercars.

288 GTO at a glance

Launch date	Geneva Motor Show, March 1984
Production period	1984–1986; some references extend the run to 1987
Body style	Two-door, two-seat berlinetta coupé
Engine & drivetrain	2,855.08 cc, 90° twin-turbo V8; longitudinal rear-mid layout
Power	400 cv at 7,000 rpm
Torque	496 Nm at 3,800 rpm
Transmission	Five-speed manual
Dry weight	1,160 kg
Performance	0–100 km/h in 4.9 s; maximum 305 km/h
Production status	Completed historic model
Production total	272 road cars, according to Ferrari
Variants	One road-car specification; five GTO Evoluzione development prototypes are separate
Predecessor / successor	No direct limited-series predecessor · Successor: F40

Ferrari’s official name was GTO. The informal “288” combines the approximate 2.8-litre capacity with the V8 cylinder count, distinguishing it from the earlier 250 GTO without suggesting a direct model relationship. The Group B brief called for a minimum road-car production run; Ferrari planned 200 examples, all sold before the Geneva unveiling, then built 72 more.

From Group B idea to flagship template

Ferrari developed the GTO with Group B competition in mind, but the category’s cancellation meant the intended racing chapter never arrived. Instead, the road car established a template: a limited-run Ferrari at the top of the range, shaped by motorsport engineering and built around a distinctive powertrain. Its longitudinal twin-turbo V8 and composite body gave the car a different character from the transverse, naturally aspirated 308 that informed its proportions.

The five GTO Evoluzione prototypes explored the competition direction and informed the next step, but they should not be folded into the 272 road-car total as production variants. The F40 followed in 1987 with its own structure and sharper, more stripped-back brief. The sequence continues with the F40, F50, and Enzo.