Ferrari 288 GTO expected to fetch £1.3m

A 1980s legend is going under the hammer at Bonhams auction in May. The 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO could fetch as much as £1.3m at the Monte Carlo auction on 13 May.

With only 272 Ferrari 288s built, the model was always going to be in demand. It was originally developed to fulfil the FIA’s newly-introduced Group B race and rally rules, which required at least 200 road-going models be built before a car could compete. Before the 288 could be raced, however, the FIA disbanded the class following a series of accidents.

Bonhams James Knight said, ‘Rarely does a car take on iconic status when new, but the Ferrari 288 GTO achieved just that. It was, and still is, considered by many to be one of the finest high-performance cars ever built.

‘In many ways, it is seen as the modern-era supercar that inspired the production of the Porsche 959, the Ferrari F40, the Bugatti EB110 and the McLaren F1.

‘For a relatively young car, this example has one of the most impressively comprehensive and detailed files, with six general folders of invoices and correspondence; owner’s wallet with all books; and the Ferrari Classiche certification. The car is exceptionally well maintained.’

Finished in Rosso Corsa livery, this 288 GTO was acquired new in April 1985 by a London-based businessman and avid Ferrari enthusiast. He took delivery of the car directly from the Ferrari factory in Maranello in Italy, and then drove it to the UK. The car has remained in the family ever since.
 
Bonhams inaugural Monaco Sale will present an exclusive auction of 40 hand-picked, exceptional motor cars. Timed to coincide with the Monaco Grand Prix Historique, the Sale will take place on 13 May 2016 at the Fairmont Monte Carlo hotel, overlooking the Grand Prix circuit’s famous ‘Station’ hairpin. For further information on Bonhams visit: www.bonhams.com/cars.