In 1984, a car rolled off the production line in Maranello that was not simply regarded as a further development of an existing concept, but as a new beginning – the starting signal for a line of Ferrari super sports cars that continues to this day. The 288 GTO was the first in this special series, followed by the F40, F50, Enzo, LaFerrari – and most recently the F80. When people talk about ‘Ferrari hypercars’ today, they are referring to the 288 GTO as the origin.

The car was originally planned for the world of rallying: Ferrari wanted to enter the competitive arena with Group B homologation. The regulations required at least 200 road-legal vehicles – Ferrari met the requirements, but before the 288 GTO could actually be used, the entire Group B class was discontinued for safety reasons. What remained was a finished car with motorsport genes, but without a racing series.

Demand did not suffer in the slightest. On the contrary: what was intended as a functional machine quickly became a legend. Ferrari built fewer than 300 units, creating the rarest production model in its supercar family.

Chassis 54789 with only 1525 kilometers.

The vehicle up for auction at RM Sotheby‘s has the chassis number 54789 and was completed in February 1985. It is the 99th model produced and, like all 288 GTOs, was delivered in Rosso Corsa with a black interior. Air conditioning and electric windows were included in the equipment. The first owner was an entrepreneur from Viersen, who never took delivery of the car. Instead, the car remained at Auto-Becker in Düsseldorf and was hardly ever driven. To date, the vehicle has covered just under 1,525 kilometres – an exceptionally low mileage that can be traced throughout.

It was not until years later that the car passed into the hands of several renowned German Ferrari collectors. Particularly noteworthy is the period it spent in Eckhard Bluhm’s collection, where the 288 GTO took its rightful place alongside an F40, F50, Enzo and a Formula 1 car driven by Michael Schumacher. Throughout this entire period, the car was hardly ever driven and was cared for with the utmost attention.

In 2021, the GTO arrived in the United States, where it underwent a comprehensive technical overhaul at Ferrari of Central Florida. The service included new timing belts, clutch and transmission repairs, new tyres and a complete brake service. The mileage today is only 1,525 kilometres, documented and traceable. Ferrari Classiche certification (Red Book) has been applied for and is in progress. The 288 GTO plays a special role within the Ferrari special series – not only as the first super sports car in this line, but also because of its rarity. Many vehicles have been used intensively or modified over the decades. A model with this history, substance and authenticity is almost impossible to find today.

The Ferrari 288 GTO will be auctioned during Monterey Car Week at RM Sotheby’s, one of the most important international meeting places for classic cars and discerning collectors. Looking ahead to the upcoming auction, one thing is clear: anyone looking for a 288 GTO in exceptional condition will find this car to be virtually limitless – both technically and in terms of collectability.

Photos: Jorge Guasso for Sotheby’s