This 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO, one of the most significant road cars ever produced by Ferrari, is scheduled to cross the block at RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction on 15 August with an estimated value of up to $11 million. Revered as the origin of Ferrari’s modern hypercar lineage, the 288 GTO predates icons such as the F40, Enzo, LaFerrari, and the latest F80, while remaining the rarest production model among Ferrari’s flagship halo cars.
Developed to satisfy FIA Group B homologation requirements, the 288 GTO was conceived as a competition-focused machine before the cancellation of the championship prevented its intended racing career. Although its motorsport ambitions were cut short, Ferrari completed fewer than 300 examples, establishing the model as one of the marque’s most exclusive creations and its first limited-production special since the 365 California.
Powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.8-liter V8 producing 400 horsepower and 366 lb-ft of torque, the 288 GTO featured lightweight aluminum and Kevlar composite bodywork, enabling a then-remarkable 189 mph top speed. Performance figures of 0–60 mph in approximately 4.8 seconds and 0–100 mph in 10.2 seconds made it the fastest production Ferrari of its era and a benchmark for high-performance road cars.
This particular example, chassis 54789, is the 99th production 288 GTO built and was completed in February 1985. Finished in the model’s signature Rosso Corsa over a Nero interior, it was specified with the desirable factory options of air conditioning and power windows. Delivered new for the European market, the car spent two decades within a distinguished private Ferrari collection after passing through several prominent German owners.
Remarkably, the odometer displays just 1,541 kilometers (approximately 958 miles), placing it among the lowest-mileage surviving 288 GTOs. It is believed that only a handful of original examples with fewer than 1,000 miles remain worldwide, further enhancing its rarity and desirability.
Following its export to the United States in 2021, the Ferrari underwent an extensive mechanical recommissioning at Ferrari of Central Florida between 2022 and 2024. The work included a comprehensive engine, gearbox, clutch, braking, cooling system, and timing belt service, ensuring the car returned to proper operating condition while preserving its originality. In February 2026, Ferrari Classiche awarded the car its coveted Red Book certification, confirming its matching-numbers engine and gearbox.
With exceptional provenance, museum-quality preservation, documented ownership history, and extraordinarily low mileage, this 288 GTO represents one of the finest surviving examples of Ferrari’s pioneering hypercar and stands as a centerpiece opportunity for elite collectors seeking the marque’s most historically significant road cars.
Source: RM Sotheby’s
