Gone! The Last 288 GTO Evoluzione Ever Built Has Been Sold

As you all know, we are particularly fond of and actively trade in all of the Ferrari supercars but announcing the sale today of another 288 GTO Evoluzione (which is the second example we have sold in the last year) is a very special moment for our team indeed. The Evoluzione is a model which is more akin to a myth than a car that is seen in public, let alone traded. Only five of these fabled machines were ever produced and only three of those five have remained in private ownership from new, with the other two proudly residing and on display in prominent institutions.

The Evoluzione is a model which is more akin to a myth than a car that is seen in public, let alone traded. Only five of these fabled machines were ever produced and only three of those five have remained in private ownership from new, with the other two proudly residing and on display in prominent institutions.

The model was originally designed to compete in Group B racing but Ferrari didn’t get the opportunity to showcase the cars’ capabilities due to the series being cancelled by the FISA after the tragic accident of Henri Toivonen and his co-driver Sergio Cresta in his Lancia S4 at the Tour de Corse in May 1986. The series was banned due to the cars being deemed ‘too powerful and dangerous’. However, Ferrari committed to building five examples and those cars were then sold to their most important clients of the period.

Chassis #79888 was the last example produced and built to the highest spec, with the model specific competition engine which produced a whopping 650 bhp (not all examples were built with that spec engine). It was sold new through legendary Ferrari importer Jacques Swaters Garage Francorchamps to noted Ferrari racer Jean Blaton before later being re-purchased by Swaters for his own impressive Ferrari collection.

In the last three decades it’s been owned by some very prominent Ferrari collectors and in recent years, totally restored by model experts Michelotto. It also benefitted from Ferrari ‘Red Book’ Classiche certification, the only example of the five we believe to boast such. The car is now off to sunnier climates and to join a very impressive stable where we have no doubt it will remain for many years to come.

“This would be the EVO I would want to own if I was to own one myself” – Cristiano Michelotto