The Ferrari 288 GTO occupies a singular place in the marque's history: a car engineered for Group B competition that became one of the most coveted road machines of the 1980s before it ever turned a competitive lap. Built between 1984 and 1986 in a run of just 272 examples, it launched at approximately 120 million Italian lire and set a template — in engineering and in philosophy — that Ferrari would follow directly with the F40. KK Scale's die-cast reproduces it at 1:18 in the factory-catalogued Rosso Corsa over a black and red interior.
A 2.8-Litre Twin-Turbo Built for a Race That Never Came
Ferrari designated the 288 GTO internally as the Type F114. Its 2,855 cc V8 — the '288' name references the 2.8-litre displacement and twin-turbo configuration across eight cylinders — was fitted with IHI turbochargers and mounted longitudinally in a mid-engine position, producing approximately 400 hp at 7,000 rpm. The Pininfarina-designed body used kevlar, fibreglass and aluminium composite panels over a tubular steel chassis to hold kerb weight to around 1,160 kg, helping the car reach a quoted top speed of 304 km/h — the fastest production Ferrari of its era.
The Group B Ghost: A Car Built to Race That Never Did
The FIA cancelled Group B in 1986 following a series of fatal accidents in rallying, and the 288 GTO never competed in the series it had been purpose-built to enter. Its intended rivals — the Lancia Delta S4, the Peugeot 205 T16 — raced without it. That absence makes the 288 GTO one of motorsport's most compelling hypotheticals. What it did produce, however, was the direct foundation for Progetto F40: Ferrari's engineers carried the GTO's architecture forward into the F40, making this car the first link in a supercar lineage that continues to define the brand.
KK Scale Die-Cast at 1:18: Construction and Finish
KK Scale produces this replica as a die-cast 1:18 model — the scale that gives the 288 GTO's long, low proportions (4,290 mm in full size) proper presence on a shelf. The livery replicates the Rosso Corsa exterior, the most common factory delivery colour for the 288 GTO, paired with the black interior with red accents that Ferrari listed in its period catalogue. KK Scale's 1:18 die-cast line is built as a sealed model, consistent with the manufacturer's standard approach for this scale.
In the Display Cabinet: Where This Model Belongs
The 288 GTO sits naturally as the opening chapter of a Ferrari supercar lineage shelf — followed by the F40, F50 and Enzo. Collectors tracing Pininfarina's 1980s design output will find it equally at home alongside a Ferrari 308 GTB, the car the GTO was visually derived from. For those interested in Group B homologation machinery, it pairs with 1:18 representations of the Lancia Delta S4 and Peugeot 205 T16 — the rivals it was engineered to beat but never met on a stage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ferrari 288 GTO?
The Ferrari 288 GTO is a mid-engined supercar produced between 1984 and 1986. Ferrari built 272 road examples, homologated for FIA Group B racing. It is powered by a 2,855 cc twin-turbocharged V8 producing approximately 400 hp and was the fastest production Ferrari of its era at a quoted 304 km/h.
Did the Ferrari 288 GTO ever race in Group B?
No. Group B was cancelled by the FIA in 1986 following fatal accidents in rallying. The 288 GTO was purpose-built to compete in the category but never entered an official round, making it one of motorsport's most notable homologation cars that never competed.
What colour and interior specification does this KK Scale model represent?
The model replicates the factory-catalogued Rosso Corsa exterior with a black and red interior — the most common delivery specification for the real 288 GTO and the combination listed in Ferrari's period catalogue.
Who manufactures this 1:18 scale model?
This is a die-cast 1:18 scale model produced by KK Scale, referenced from KK Scale's own product listing for the Ferrari 288 GTO 1984 in red with black/red interior.
