Matt Hubbard reviews The Book Of The Ferrari 288 GTO by Joe Sackay
The Ferrari 288 GTO is an important car in Ferrari's history. Created to comply with Group B regulations, two hundred 288GTOs were constructed and on 1 June 1985 Ferrari SpA was given homologation approval by the FIA.
The homolgation number was 'B-273', noting "Ferrari GTO (cc 2855,1) + 1 turbo coeff of 1.4 = cc 3997, extensions 5."
Then Group B was dropped. Thereafter the 288 GTO could have faded into obscurity but such was its beauty, its design and inception, the fact it was the last car to be personally overseen by Enzo Ferrari and its legacy and influence at Ferrari it is perhaps the second most well known Ferrari after the original GTO.
Joe Sackey is an international Ferrari Supercar Specialist, focussing on the 288 GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo. His knowledge of the subject is almost unparalleled. In 2009 he organised the 25th anniversary of the 288 GTO in America, where fourteen 288 GTOs and one Evoluzione attended. That meeting, and the owner's tales of their cars, forms one of the many fascinating chapters in this book.
For someone with only a basic knowledge of the car this book is an interesting few hours read. As well as the author's guide to the car's inception, design, production, interviews with owners and legacy it is rammed with information about the car.
Want to know the chassis numbers of all 288 GTOs made, who they were sold to and what factory modifications were made? You'll find all that info.
Want to see a complete scan of the original owner's manual? Check that too. Images of the original hand made luggage designed to fit in the front boot? Check. Photos of the original tool kit? Check. Front pages of all magazines that have featured the 288 GTO? Check.
Even a scan of the gearbox manual is included. This book is a completists paradise.
But it's one that is imbued with the enthusiasm and knowledge of the author. It's an interesting read for someone interested in Ferrari but it's probably compulsory reading for the hardcore Ferrarista.
The book costs £50. At that price most casual readers would pass it by but there will be plenty of Ferrarista who will beg and borrow for a copy of this book. And they'll love it. It's sumptuously appointed with photos, anecdotes and plenty of insights into the team that created the car, and the car itself.
Recommended reading.
You can buy the Book of the Ferrari 288 GTO from Veloce Publishing
Note: All images here are amongst 326 contained in the book.
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Review by Matt Hubbard
