Only 272 copies
Ferrari 288 GTO. Let's break down the model designation. "28" means 2,8 liters of displacement. "8" is the number of cylinders. So you might ask what Ferrari was doing with the 288 when they already had the excellent 308 - Magnum PI's Ferrari for those old enough to remember the TV series. Why do you need a smaller engine? To create a more affordable Ferrari? That may have been a contributing factor, but the purpose of the 288 GTO lies in the "O". GTO stands for "Gran Turismo Omologato", that is, homologation - perhaps to enter a special engine class for racing? In any case, the engine displacement is closer to 2,9 liters than 2,8 - and delivers a usable 400 HP and a torque of 496 Nm - more than Magnum PI had in his 308.
Production stopped when the racing class was discontinued
The Ferrari 288 never entered racing, as the class it was supposed to enter was discontinued. Only 272 cars were produced, making the 288 GTO a very rare and valuable car. Source
About the picture
The photo was taken at the London Concours 1989. At first I thought it was a 308 GTB, but discovered that it had been somewhat reworked. The family traits of the 308 are nevertheless clearly visible.
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