Ferrari 288 GTO tribute

Is your F40 with F40LM turbo upgrades feeling a little sluggish? Want the classic “Magnum–esque” look of the 308/288but with a massive amount of oomph? Here is thecarfor you. No one would ever call it a sleeper but anyone that doesn’t respect its power to weight ratio is in for a VERY rude awakening. Play for pink slips with this beast and you’ll have a garage full ofcars in no time.

1981 Ferrari 308 GTBi s/n 034555, originally a USA model, now a tasteful but wild 308/288GTOconversion finished in very good black paint with a fullcarbon fibre interior includingrecaro racing seats.

The body is a full look–alike288GTObody complete with fender shields, big flares, splash guards and the correct vents. Thecaralso has correct F40 deep–dish centre–lock wheels and aremovable288GTOEvoluzione–style adjustable rear wing wrought incarbon fibre of the highest quality. The air intake ducts for the motor are beautifully madecarbon fibre and are aesthetically pleasing as well (these alone were about $10,000). The shut faces of the engine compartment are alsocarbon fibre, as are the insets of the front NACA ducts and air extractor duct from the radiator. The front screen is glass and a racing Lexan windscreen comes as spare.. and all of the other windows are Plexiglas. The door windows have sliding side windows, at la F40 LM. The engine cover is also Plexiglas, allowing a view of the 328 Quattrovalvole–based engine.

The interior features extensive use ofcarbon fibre. The sills, dashboard, floors, doors panels, rear view mirror allcarbon fibre . There was no expense spared in shaving excess weight off thiscar. If it could be made lighter, without sacrificing quality or safety, it was. There are also 5–point full competition harnesses and a chromed SCCA–approved roll bar. The interiorcarbon fibre is the yellow and black weave type more commonly seen in F40s. The interior also includes a state–of–the–art Motec digital instrument cluster; sundry other gauges and drilled aluminum gas, brake and clutch pedals. The dashboard itself is covered in stitched alcantara.

The engine is a very “trick” 328–4V with F40 head gaskets, special head studs by A.R.P.,Carrillo rods, a dry sump oil system, big oil coolers, twin intercoolers, and twin turbo turbochargers running ~7–10 pounds of boost. There are also direct atmospheric wastegate pipes that exit below the license plate next to the outlets of the straight exhaust. The engine is mounted in–line with a Porsche G50 5–speed gearbox and connected via a Tilton racing clutch and aluminum flywheel. The engine is fitted with a Motec engine management system, Motec wiring harness and a Motec digital dash. The engine and gearbox rebuild were done byCarobu Engineering, one of the best Ferrari engine shops in the USA, between January and March 2002. The twin turbo 4–valve 328 engine puts out 530 hp at 7,500 rpm and a massive 420 ft. lbs. of torque at 5,700 rpm. The brakes are custom–machined Brembo components with two–piece rotors, aluminum hats and massive Brembo calipers. There is also an integrated OMP fire extinguishing system. To get all of this power to the ground, 034555 has new 265/45/16 and 335/35/17 tires!

The original conversion was commissioned by Mel Spillman (read about is incredible ferrari collection) and executed by JimCarpenter of Arizona, who did many other288GTOconversions in the late 80s as well. It is estimated that Spillman spent about $400,000 on thecar. Thecarwas sold by the State of Texas to Miles Irish who spent about $60,000 withCarobu engineering to fit the Motec dash, engine management system and wiring, and to rebuild the engine, gearbox and brakes. Thecarwas subsequently sold to John Goodman of Seattle who spent over $40,000 on race preparation,carbon fiber air snorkels, oil coolers and a thorough going–over (2002–2004) by Walter Gerber, former head of Porsche’s racing efforts with the Porsche Indycarteam and the IMSA 930, 956 and 962 race efforts. The result is acarwith dyno sheets showing more power than an F40 with the F40LM turbo upgrade.

History of the car

VIN ZFFAA01A8B0034555. 1981 Ferrari 308 GTBi, USA model, November 1980 production. Now a 308/288GTOconversion finished in black with red F40 stylecarbon fiber seats with a twin–turbo 328–4V engine.

1985, 8 Nov.,percarfax, info from Texas Motor Vehicle Dept. San Antonio, TX, title #10110614, 52,775 miles.

1986–93,listed in the FOCUSA roster(s) by Mel Spillman, San Antonio, TX.

1993, 25 Oct.,percarfax, info from Texas Motor Vehicle Dept. San Antonio, TX. Title #40748119.

1994, August,entered in the International Ferrari Concours, Monterey, CA by Spillman. Identified as “308 GTBi MODIFIED”.

1995, 31 Oct.percarfax, info from Texas Motor Vehicle Dept. San Antonio, TX. Title 022200048679532, Titled to Mel Spillman, 40 Donore Square, San Antonio, TX 78229.

2001, 14 Dec.,as per e–mail photos sent by the Authorized Ferrari Dealer in San Antonio, this is a 308 GTB with a very wild288GTOconversion. The body is a full look–alike288GTObody complete with big flairs, correct looking wheels with knockoffs, fender shields, etc.

The doors have plexiglass sliding side windows, a–la–F40 LM.

The interior looks like an F40 or F40 LM with yellow/black weavecarbon–fiber door panels,carbon fiber bucket seats with red F40 type cloth covering. The interior even has the yellow/black weave F40 style rocker boxes, drilled aluminum brake, gas and clutch pedals, an F40 type dash, a digital instrument cluster and a center instrument cluster with dual boost gauges, rocker switches, etc. The floor iscarbon fiber.

The front and rear fenders are288GTOreplicas with the288GTOrear lower louvers. The rear wheels are deep dished288GTOcopies with knock offs.

Thecaralso has a288GTOEvoluzione style rear wing.

The engine is a much tricked out 328–4V engine. Has solid copper head gaskets, special head studs by A.R.P., stock Ferrari pistons, with about 5 pounds of boost.Carrillo rods, big oil coolers, fitted with twin turbos and twin intercoolers. ad infinitum. It has straight Tubi exhaust. The engine is mounted in line with a Porsche G 50 turbo gearbox.

2001, late December,sold to Miles Irish by the State of Texas, District Attorney’s office.

2002, 7 Jan.,delivered on consignment for project management and sale from Miles Irish to Michael Sheehan’s European Auto Sales by Tom Speer, the mechanic who maintained thecar.

2007 sold To Frank Nania from Milford Michigan

2011 Sold the current owner in Australi, the car was restored and upgrade for road registration at cost of over $100,000 .

The car is locate in Western Australia Perth, I will help to organise transport back to USA