1981 Ferrari 308/288 GTO Conversion #034555
SPECIFICATIONS
Is your F40 with F40LM turbo upgrades feeling a little sluggish? Want the classic “Magnum–esque” look of the 308/288 but with a massive amount of oomph? Here is the car for 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 of cars in no time.
1981 Ferrari 308 GTBi s/n 034555, originally a USA model, now a tasteful but wild 308/288 GTO conversion finished in very good black paint with a full carbon fibre interior including carbon fibre seats covered in red cloth.
The body is a full look–alike 288 GTO body complete with fender shields, big flares, splash guards and the correct vents. There are no headlights, although there are Hella driving lights. The car also has correct modular deep–dish centre–lock wheels with highly polished rims and a 288 GTO Evoluzione–style adjustable rear wing wrought in carbon fibre of the highest quality. The air intake ducts for the motor are beautifully made carbon fibre and are aesthetically pleasing as well (these alone were about $10,000). The shut faces of the engine compartment are also carbon fibre, as are the insets of the front NACA ducts and air extractor duct from the radiator. The front screen is Lexan and all of the other windows are Plexiglas. The door windows have sliding side windows, � la F40 LM. The engine cover is also Plexiglas, allowing a view of the 328 Quattrovalvole–based engine.
The interior features extensive use of carbon fibre. The sills, dashboard, floors, doors panels, rear view mirror and Sparco seats are all carbon fibre (a carbon fibre OMP competition seat is also included with the car). There was no expense spared in shaving excess weight off this car. If it could be made lighter, without sacrificing quality or safety, it was. There are also 5–point Sparco full competition harnesses and a chromed SCCA–approved roll bar. The interior carbon 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 information provided by these gauges include manifold pressure, charge temperature, exhaust temperatures etc. The dashboard itself is covered in stitched alcantara. Between the seats are knobs for the adjustable turbocharger boost and for the brake bias.
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 Turbonetics 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 by Carobu Engineering, one of the best Ferrari engine shops in the country, 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 and executed by Jim Carpenter of Arizona, who did many other 288 GTO conversions in the late 80s as well. It is estimated that Spillman spent about $400,000 on the car. The car was sold by the State of Texas to Miles Irish who spent about $60,000 with Carobu engineering to fit the Motec dash, engine management system and wiring, and to rebuild the engine, gearbox and brakes. The car was 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 Indy car team and the IMSA 930, 956 and 962 race efforts. The result is a car with dyno sheets showing more power than an F40 with the F40LM turbo upgrade.
The attention to detail throughout this car is truly fanatical and has to be seen to be appreciated.
A 308 GTBi with a very wild 288 GTO conversion. 328–4V with copper head gaskets, special head studs by A.R.P., Carrillo rods, twin turbocharged, twin intercooled, twin wastegates, straight Tubi exhaust, Motec engine management and a twin oil cooler dry sump oil system engine powering a Porsche G2 gearbox through a Tilton racing clutch with aluminum flywheel. Full 288 GTO body conversion with many carbon fibre components, NACA ducts, twin air intake ducts, “Evoluzione”–style rear wing, Pexiglas windows and a Lexan windscreen. Air jacks, Bilstein shocks, Brembo brake system with dual master cylinders and bias adjustment, OMP fire system, Motec dash, Sparco seats and harnesses, OMP competition seat, chromed SCCA–approved roll bar. Carbon fibre everything interior, drilled alloy pedal cluster, gauges and switches galore. New 265/45/16 and 335/35/17 tires. Oh, and 530 horsepower with 420 ft. lbs. of torque at 5,700 rpm.
1981 Ferrari 308 GTBi, USA model, November 1980 production. Now a 308/288 GTO conversion finished in black with red F40 style carbon fiber seats with a twin–turbo 328–4V engine.
1985, 8 Nov., per carfax, 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., per carfax, 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. per carfax, 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 wild 288 GTO conversion. The body is a full look–alike 288 GTO body 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 weave carbon–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 is carbon fiber.
The front and rear fenders are 288 GTO replicas with the 288 GTO rear lower louvers. The rear wheels are deep dished 288 GTO copies with knock offs.
The car also has a 288 GTO Evoluzione 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 the car. As per Tom, this car has:
Full look–alike 288 GTO bodywork.
The body has NACA ducts and 288 GTO rear lower louvers.
Carbon fiber front splitter.
Carbon fiber front hood scoops.
All new Brembo brake system.
288 GTO replica knock–off wheels. (Probably 16 x 8 fronts and 16 X 12 rears).
New tires.
New lightweight lexan windshield.
Plexiglass sliding side windows, a–la–F40 LM.
Air jacks.
Carbon fiber competition OMP seats.
Competition seat belts.
Chrome roll bar.
Carbon fiber door sills, door panels, foot wells.
Full F40 LM style LED dash.
Drilled alloy pedal system.
Digital instrument cluster.
Center instrument cluster with dual boost gauges, rocker switches, etc.
Carbon fiber floor.
Carbon fiber 288 GTO Evoluzione type rear wing.
It needs: MOVED.
2002, 28 Jan., engine pulled and given to Carobu Engineering for a complete engine rebuild and all new engine management and on board analysis equipment.
After a detailed inspection and a work up on the computer analysis system the crew at Carobu believe they can get 450 to 540 hp at 7–10 lbs boost. More power than an F40!
Carobu Engineering’s work included:
A new, “state–of–the–art”, Motec electronic engine management system.
A new “state–of–the–art”, Motec dash system that will integrate with the new electronics.
Mandatory engine–out overhaul.
Lower compression pistons.
Brembo brakes rebuild.
Bilstein shocks rebuilt.
New TILTON RACING clutch.
Rebuilt Porsche G-50 (5 SPEED) gearbox.
All original street equipment is still with the car.
2002, March completed. 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. Total costs were just over $60,000. Dyno sheets are posted to the main page.
2002, 09 July, sold to John Goodman, Seattle WA.
2002–2003, carbon fibre engine intake ducts were installed at a cost of $10,000. Plus:
Engine drysump oil pump and tank.
Extra right front oil cooler with carbon fibre intake ducts.
Extra left front water cooler with carbon fibre intake ducts.
Turbo water pump for extra cooling.
Racing seat and window net.
Dual master cylinders with booster bias adjustable.
Removable steering wheel.
Racing slicks and race set up for Laguna Seca — very quick.
Large fire system for driver and engine.
SCCA log book.
Total spent app $40,000.
2004, 18 Mar., sold to current owner. The current owner spent approximately $10,000 on new street tires, removing the racing decals, installing the street Sparco seats, a tune-up and detailing.
2006, January, on consignment to Michael Sheehan’s Ferraris-online.com and Fantasy Junction.
