The 288 GTO: A Modern Ferrari Like No Other

There are many points of conjecture in the automotive world, but one that is emphatically not true is that the 288 GTO is the best-looking modern Ferrari. This sentiment was echoed by commentators back in the day who struggled to reconcile the advanced technology with the car's sheer emotion and lightweight appeal. Today, the 288 GTO sits proudly as a relic of the past, its design feeling about as modern as a spinning Jenny compared to the Porsche.

However, it is precisely this combination of old-school charm and cutting-edge technology that makes the 288 GTO so special. Its flocked dash, basic but effective, may not seem like much at first glance, but it smells, looks, and feels absolutely perfect. It's easy to understand why these cars are worth more than their F40 counterparts now. The 288 GTO is a more special car, specification-wise, with 400 horsepower from its twin turbo V8 and 365t lb-ft of torque. This last figure is quite interesting, as it puts the Ferrari in a slightly different league compared to the Porsche.

The differences between the two cars are almost perfectly defined in their boot lids. The Porsche's perfectly molded piece of plastic rises on two gas struts, while the Ferrari has a thin piece of aluminum with two little screw clips here and there. A catch that pops up and down, it comes up perfectly every time. It's a totally different experience, one that is both captivating and intimidating. Underneath the 288 GTO lies a Twin Turbo V8 motor shoved forward by a long way, gearbox behind it, and two great big intercoolers that are instantly recognizable from photos taken back in its heyday.

From behind the car, there's so much gizzards available to see, almost semi-naked. In fact, the Ferrari was actually cheaper than the Porsche 18 months after its release but now it completely outstrips the Porsche in terms of value. These cars are knocking on for half a million pounds now, while the Porsche is still probably in the hundreds.

But what about the driving position? Some might say it looks ridiculous, but our host can attest to the fact that it fits him perfectly. His legs are in the right place, and if he were any bigger, he'd be a bit uncomfortable. The seats are very lovely, special even, and it's clear why this is one of the most desirable cars ever made.

Having conventional suspension means it can actually be used properly without dampers going wrong, which is just lovely. It feels big, but not too big; it feels wide, but not too wide. And the gearbox? Absolutely fantastic. When Dicky gets behind the wheel, he knows that they're in for a wild ride. One of these 288 GTOs is a technical statement that even 24 years after its release still seems quite preposterous in its numbers and performance.

Interestingly, the 959 also stands the test of time, despite some areas feeling like too much technology over emotion. But the 288 GTO wins the first episode of Ferrari versus Porsche for Evo, and it's clear why: it is one of the most captivating cars ever made.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthere are many points of conjecture in the automotive world but one of them emphatically not is that the 288 GTO is the best looking modern Ferrari because I'm afraid girls and boys it is you can see why commentators back in the day couldn't quite work out or or reconcile the pous technology with the Ferrari's sheer emotion and lightweight appeal sitting in here now this feels about as modern as a spinning Jenny compared to the Porsche there's a flocked dash everything's very basic but it smells looks and feels absolutely perfect I can understand why these are worth more than f40s now it's just a more special car specification wise 400 horsepower from its twin turbo V8 and 365t PBS of torque that last figure is quite interesting because if the Porsche is 369 and weighs 1450 kg this thing is 1160 dry so let's say just over 12200 maybe 12 30 kg wet but it's got nearly as much talk as the Porsche they're a bit of a handful in the wet GTO and you can see why now the differences between the Porsche and the Ferrari almost perfectly defined in their boot Lids the Porsche's perfectly molded piece of plastic Rises on two gas struts the Ferrari just has this thin piece of aluminium two little screw Clips here a catch that pops up and up it comes look at that it's a totally different experience a totally different experience and underneath there it is Twin Turbo V8 the motor shoved a Long Way Forward gearbox behind it these two great big intercoolers you remember from the photos back in Period and then of course there's so much gizzard available underneath from behind the GTO you're always seeing bits it's almost semi naked back in 1985 the Ferrari was actually a bit cheaper than the Porsche would be 18 months later but now it's completely outstripped the Porsche in terms of value these cars are knocking on for half a million pounds now whereas the Porsche is still probably in the 100s does it feel that it should be worth that much money I think so I think the market rightly acknowledges that the 288 GTO is one of the most special modernday Ferrari it should be worth more than an F40 and this car is utterly utterly beautiful right first of all before we start Dicky can we just discuss the driving position because I know it looks ridiculous but I must be Italian cuz it fits me it does my legs are in the right place and I can and if it got really big on me I'd be a bit over there somewhere but it's fine no it's good these seats are very lovely it's very special in here isn't it oh come on this is just fantastic it's proper it's strong is it there proper and it rides so well too yeah this is I suppose having conventional suspension means it can it can actually be used properly without dampers going wrong it's just lovely and it feels doesn't feel small feels quite wide to me yeah gearbox is just and on boo it goes isn't it yeah fast just a fantastic one of these is a technical statement that even 24 years after it was built still seems quite Preposterous in its numbers and performance the 959 kind of stands the test of time even if in certain areas you think to yourself that it's a bit too much technology over emotion the other car though is just well one of the most Sensational cars ever made the 288 GTO wins the first episode of Ferrari versus Porsche for Evo because it is just one of the most captivating cars ever madethere are many points of conjecture in the automotive world but one of them emphatically not is that the 288 GTO is the best looking modern Ferrari because I'm afraid girls and boys it is you can see why commentators back in the day couldn't quite work out or or reconcile the pous technology with the Ferrari's sheer emotion and lightweight appeal sitting in here now this feels about as modern as a spinning Jenny compared to the Porsche there's a flocked dash everything's very basic but it smells looks and feels absolutely perfect I can understand why these are worth more than f40s now it's just a more special car specification wise 400 horsepower from its twin turbo V8 and 365t PBS of torque that last figure is quite interesting because if the Porsche is 369 and weighs 1450 kg this thing is 1160 dry so let's say just over 12200 maybe 12 30 kg wet but it's got nearly as much talk as the Porsche they're a bit of a handful in the wet GTO and you can see why now the differences between the Porsche and the Ferrari almost perfectly defined in their boot Lids the Porsche's perfectly molded piece of plastic Rises on two gas struts the Ferrari just has this thin piece of aluminium two little screw Clips here a catch that pops up and up it comes look at that it's a totally different experience a totally different experience and underneath there it is Twin Turbo V8 the motor shoved a Long Way Forward gearbox behind it these two great big intercoolers you remember from the photos back in Period and then of course there's so much gizzard available underneath from behind the GTO you're always seeing bits it's almost semi naked back in 1985 the Ferrari was actually a bit cheaper than the Porsche would be 18 months later but now it's completely outstripped the Porsche in terms of value these cars are knocking on for half a million pounds now whereas the Porsche is still probably in the 100s does it feel that it should be worth that much money I think so I think the market rightly acknowledges that the 288 GTO is one of the most special modernday Ferrari it should be worth more than an F40 and this car is utterly utterly beautiful right first of all before we start Dicky can we just discuss the driving position because I know it looks ridiculous but I must be Italian cuz it fits me it does my legs are in the right place and I can and if it got really big on me I'd be a bit over there somewhere but it's fine no it's good these seats are very lovely it's very special in here isn't it oh come on this is just fantastic it's proper it's strong is it there proper and it rides so well too yeah this is I suppose having conventional suspension means it can it can actually be used properly without dampers going wrong it's just lovely and it feels doesn't feel small feels quite wide to me yeah gearbox is just and on boo it goes isn't it yeah fast just a fantastic one of these is a technical statement that even 24 years after it was built still seems quite Preposterous in its numbers and performance the 959 kind of stands the test of time even if in certain areas you think to yourself that it's a bit too much technology over emotion the other car though is just well one of the most Sensational cars ever made the 288 GTO wins the first episode of Ferrari versus Porsche for Evo because it is just one of the most captivating cars ever made\n"