Carson's Car Pics

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Ferrari 288 GTO

The 288 GTO is the first of six supercars in Ferrari's ultimate modern road car lineage. It was produced from 1984 to 1987 and began as a modified version of the 308/328 to minimize costs and allow Ferrari to build the car quickly. When it was completed, the 288 GTO was transformed into an almost entirely different car from the 308/328. Powering the 288 GTO is a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 with 400 horsepower and 366 pound-feet of torque paired to a five-speed manual transmission. It can launch from zero to 60 mph in just under five seconds and tops out at 189 mph, making the 288 GTO the world's fastest road-going production car in the mid 80s. The 288 GTO is also the first-ever Ferrari turbocharged road car and was initially created for Group B racing homologation. However, the FIA suspended Group B racing by the end of 1986, and the 288 GTO was never able to compete in this motorsports division. Its body is constructed of kevlar, carbon fiber, and Nomex, and rides on a tubular steel spaceframe chassis. The most significant styling cues that differentiate the 288 GTO from the 308 GTB are the former's flared wheel arches and sets of three gills behind each of the rear fenders. Unlike a few of its successors, the 288 GTO contains more subtle styling and creature comforts, signaling its added purpose of being driven somewhere rather than just all-out performance.

Only 272 units of the 288 GTO were ever built in the mid 80s, most of which were painted in Ferrari's signature Rosso Corsa red and making it one of the rarest Ferraris of the modern era. While it was originally primarily sold in Europe and never federalized for the US, the 288 GTO can be legally imported to American shores. Ferrari 288 GTO examples that find the open market today typically sell for between $7 million and $9 million. The most recent recorded sale of a 288 GTO occurred at an RM Sotheby's auction during this year's Monterey Car Week, in which one sold for an astonishing $11.555 million. Pictured here in this post is the only 288 GTO I ever remember seeing in person, which took place at the Ferrari Concours show in Carmel during Monterey Car Week last month. It was also the top highlight and one of the coolest cars I saw on display at the second show I attended as part of the one day I traveled to the Monterey area for Car Week this year. While it may not perform as well or turn as many heads as its successors do, the 288 GTO remains one of the most important, special, and exclusive vehicles in Ferrari's history, and I am thrilled to have seen one up close at this year's Ferrari Concours show in Carmel. Stay tuned for more from the Carmel Ferrari Concours show coming up in the next two posts.

Vehicle Specifications Sources: Classic.com, Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale

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Friday, September 11, 2026

Best of Legends of the Autobahn 2026 Part 5

Now that my vehicle-specific posts from Legends of the Autobahn are complete, it is time to wrap up the first stop I made during the one day I was in the Monterey area for Car Week by showcasing the coolest and my favorite cars I saw at this year's Legends of the Autobahn show. This was my first time ever attending one of the largest gatherings of primarily Mercedes-Benzes, Audis, and BMWs anywhere in the automotive landscape. While there was a bit of a drizzle in the morning when I first arrived at this particular show, the few holes at the Pacific Grove Golf Links that this show was spread out on provided some spectacular and beautiful scenery. Each section of display vehicles was arranged based on automaker; the BMW section was the largest, followed by Mercedes-Benz and Audi. On the other hand, the Mercedes-Benz section featured the coolest display vehicles at this year's Legends of the Autobahn, while there were certainly some cool, rare, and unusual Audis and BMWs on hand there as well. In addition, a variety of different other extraordinary and amazing vehicles were found in the spectator parking lots at Legends of the Autobahn, with the coolest and most notable ones being Italian exotic supercars. The last two top highlights worth noting here from Legends of the Autobahn this year were me purchasing a Mercedes-Benz Club of America 70th Anniversary t-shirt from that particular club's booth and the somewhat surprising amount of familiar faces I would normally see at local car shows and cars and coffees that I saw in attendance there that morning and early afternoon.

As for my Best of Legends of the Autobahn 2026 compilation series, I have split this into five parts based on manufacturer and type of vehicle due to the large amount of vehicles from there that I have placed in my winner's circle, concluding with Porsche, McLaren, and Aston Martin for Part 5. Overall, Legends of the Autobahn is certainly one of, if not the best car show I have attended so far this year. Enjoy and stay tuned for content from this year’s Ferrari Concours show in Carmel coming up in the next three posts.

Porsche 911 S/T (992)