According to a statement from Dusseldorf police, the suspect made contact with a classic automobile dealer pretending to be a potential buyer who had indicated interest in purchasing a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO. The suspect also arranged for a test drive with the seller.
On Monday, when the seller got out of the car to switch drivers, the potential buyer sped up and took off.
The 1985-first-registered “vintage automobile,” according to the police, is worth more than EUR2 million.
The Ferrari 288 GTO is a special, limited-edition version of the 308 GTB, a Ferrari that is currently in production. In order to compete in the fledgling Group B Circuit Race, a road racing variant of the well-known Group B Rally circuit, only 272 vehicles were constructed between 1984 and 1987. The 288 GTO is currently one of the most sought-after Ferraris from the 1980s, despite the fact that the series was cancelled before it even began.
The cars are currently valued between $2.5 million and $3.5 million, according to Peter Haynes, a spokesman at specialized auctioneer RM Sotheby’s. In January, the auctioneer earned $3.3 million from the sale of a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO.
According to the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Eddie Irvine, a former Formula 1 driver, once owned the stolen vehicle.
The item was eventually discovered concealed in a garage on Tuesday night in Grevenbroich, a town located approximately 18 miles southwest of Dusseldorf. Nevertheless, police are still looking for the suspect.
It is not a very smart idea to steal this vehicle because it is exceedingly challenging to sell, according to Haynes. It is comparable to a well-known painting in that it would be quite simple for most people to recognize it and extremely challenging to sell.
In This Article...
Introduction
Ferrari created a street-legal vehicle in 1984 that paradoxically and miraculously blended the most exquisite appearance with an extremely raw degree of performance. The vehicle, which was created alongside the Testarossa, also had a name that will go down in Ferrari lore: GTO, or Gran Turismo Omologata. Perhaps the most sought-after and scarcest of all Ferraris is the 1962–1964 250 GTO. It was a highly effective racing vehicle that was approved for GT sports car racing during the heyday. The 1984 GTO has a 2.8 liter twin turbocharged V8 engine with 400 bhp (140 bhp per liter) of power and a top speed that was conservatively estimated at 189 mph.
The GTO’s true home, like that of its ancestor, was to be the public roads designated as FISA Group B racing courses, for which series 200 customer cars had to be homologated. In actuality, Ferrari produced 272 contemporary GTOs, practically all of which were converted to roads thanks to the termination of the Group B supercar series. They have been dubbed the most thrilling autos ever developed for their combination of tranquil control and dramatic aggression.
It is important to note that Ferrari did not import any GTOs into North America, therefore potential purchasers should buy through a Ferrari-authorized dealer to guarantee the vehicle is properly Federalized.
The 288 GTO Is Quite Uncommon
The 288 GTO was created for Group B racing, which required the construction of 200 road-legal models in order to be homologated. Ferrari nevertheless produced 272 units, and given that Group B was disqualified before it could compete, every single one of them ended up being road-legal models. One of the most elusive Ferraris ever is the 288 GTO.
Ferrari also produced five copies of the 288 GTO Evoluzione, as if that weren’t unusual enough. These amazing vehicles were extreme variations of the 288 GTO and included an insane 650 hp power boost, an aggressive aerodynamic package, and a weight reduction of just over 2,000 lbs.
History of the Ferrari 288 GTO model
The Ferrari GTO, also known as the Ferrari 288 GTO, is a luxurious homologation of the Ferrari 308 GTB that was made between 1984 and 1986. Its letters GT and O stand for Gran Turismo and Omologato, respectively (homologation in Italian). The Ferrari GTO was created to compete in the brand-new Group B Race series, and homologation called for a minimum of 200 vehicles. Only Ferrari and Porsche entered the series, with their 959, therefore it was quickly abandoned and replaced by the Group B Rally Championship. Only three Group B races were run by the Porsche 959 (as the Porsche 961), while none were run by the 288 GTO, which remained exclusively a road car. Some of the 288 GTO’s aesthetic cues were originally seen on a Pininfarina 308 GTB concept study that was shown at the 1977 Geneva Salon. This comprised the triple driving lights, front lid radiator cooling louvers, deep front spoiler, wheel arches, and wings. There are different estimates for the entire production run, but it is generally accepted that 273 roadcars and 1 official pre-production prototype were constructed, for a total of 273 vehicles.
Five were made, or six if you count the one that was originally constructed on a 288 GTO chassis. One model is on exhibit at The Factory’s Maranello engine manufacturing site. We’ve sold 79887 a few times, and Auto Italia did a thorough feature on the vehicle. Performance is amazing, and the model serves as an obvious predecessor to and development platform for the next F40 model with 650 BHP and 940 kg.
1984–1986 FERRARI 288 GTO
The famed Ferrari 250 GTO, the most expensive collector car in the world, was succeeded by the Ferrari 288 GTO, which was presented in 1984 at the Geneva Motor Show.
The 250 GTO, which was constructed in a total of 36 units and was designed only for racing, was powered by a powerful V12 engine that produced 296 horsepower.
The Ferrari 308 GTB, from which the Ferrari 288 GTO’s fundamental building idea was taken, shared a visual appearance with the then-new Ferrari 288 GTO. The 288 GTO was redesigned for a more aggressive aesthetic, yet the alterations were also practical, even though it was difficult to discern the difference between the two from a distance.
The doors were constructed of aluminum, the fenders were made of fiberglass composite, and the panels were made of lightweight materials in an effort to minimize weight. Aluminum was used to make the doors, while carbon fiber and Kevlar were used to make the roof.
The astounding V8 engine that came with the Ferrari 288 GTO produced no less than 400 horsepower, and the sports vehicle could reach 100 kph in only 4.8 seconds.
The 288 GTO’s interior had a sumptuous feel despite its performance emphasis. It came standard with a suede-wrapped dashboard, carpeting, and leather seats. Power windows, air conditioning, and a tape stereo were available extras.
All 288 of the GTOs, which were built in 272 pieces, were painted red, but one prototype was painted yellow by Pininfarina, Ferrari’s official coachbuilder.
RM Sotheby’s sells a 288 GTO at auction.
200 examples would have been required to satisfy the homologation standards. In the end, approximately 300 were produced as a result of strong consumer demand, but they were never raced because of the 1986 ban on Group B vehicles. A vehicle from the 1985 manufacture year will shortly be up for auction in Paris at RM Sotheby’s. Actually, this auction should take place in conjunction with the March date change to the classic car show Retromobile. It is not yet known if the auction date will also be delayed. Originally owned by German race car driver Bepp Mayer, who sold it to Switzerland after two years, was this 288 GTO. Through the Ferrari dealer Gohm in Singen, Monsieur Petitjean acquired the sports car in December 1998. Only 9,559 kilometers had been traveled as of this writing. A hammer price of between 2.4 and 2.6 million euros is what RM Sotheby’s anticipates.
How many remaining Ferrari 288 GTOs are there?
Ferrari produced six 288 GTO Evoluzione variants, featuring more aggressive and aerodynamic body style and higher power (five production vehicles and one prototype). When Group B was discontinued in 1986, the idea for the 1986 introduction of the Evoluzione was also abandoned because it was unfit for use in any other racing series. Ferrari had intended to produce 20 vehicles in order to meet the Group B homologation standards for Evolution models. The twin-turbocharged, improved 2.9 L V8 used in the standard 288 GTO generates 650 horsepower (485 kW; 659 PS) at 7,800 rpm and powers the 288 GTO Evoluzione. The maximum speed it can travel at is 225 mph (362 km/h), and its weight is around 940 kg (2,072 lb). It has a distinctive aerodynamic front end with front canards, channels, and vents, a sizable carbon fiber rear spoiler, and multiple sizable NACA ducts. The Evoluzione had a significant stylistic and mechanical influence on the upcoming F40.
All six are believed to still be in existence, with one belonging to the Factory and on display in the Maranello engine manufacturing plant, and another perhaps having served as a prototype while the F40 was being developed.
Is a supercar a Ferrari 288 GTO?
The 288 GTO is the grandfather of all current hypercars because it is the 308 GTB supercar’s “exotic homologation” variant. Ferrari created the 288 GTO for the FIA Group B race, but before it could even show off its capabilities, the series was eventually terminated due to a number of problems. But there’s no denying that this monstrous supercar was among the best Ferraris ever made. On August 20, RM Sotheby’s will hold auctions in Monterey, California, for one of the 272 288 GTOs that have ever been produced.
How many Ferrari 250 GTOs exist in existence today?
Despite the widespread belief that all 36 of the 250 GTOs are still in existence today, it was just the third 250 GTO to ever roll off the Maranello assembly line. Each street-legal racer rolled out of the Italian factory with a 3.0-liter V12 engine that is rated at 300 horsepower.
The Ferrari GTO—is it unique?
There were only 39 GTOs made between 1962 and 1964, and they are regarded as not just one of the most beautiful Ferraris of all time but also one of the most gorgeous sports cars ever. A vintage Ferrari GTO recently sold privately for over $70 million, and it has scarcity on its side.
How numerous Ferrari F40s were produced?
What Does a Ferrari F40 Cost? Although just 400 units were supposed to be constructed, 1,311 Ferrari F40 vehicles were actually made, 213 of which were shipped to the United States.
A 288 GTO is valued at how much?
The auction floor at RM Sotheby’s sees more incredible automobiles than virtually any other place in the world, but this beautiful 1985 288 GTO with fewer than 15,000 miles (23,500 kilometers) on the clock is sure to compete with anything.