[550JM]

I found this on a Dutch (Ferrari dealer) website and it's for sale for
€ 147.500,-....(@ today's dollar rate $ 206,500.-) It is being advertised as a Ferrari 288 GTO Evoluzione Jim Carpenter, do you guys know anything about it? It says they used a 328 GTB for the conversion and only 4 were ever built. Currently there are 3 in Europe and 1 in the US.
A collector from Holland is selling this one.

I know what a real 288 GTO looks like but before I start saying stupid things, is this a serious replica? Does anyone know why it looks so ehm..different and is so expensive? Would anybody here consider buying something like this and is it worth the 200K+??

[RossoVeloce]

That's one of five race race 288 they built before group b racing was ended. There are only 3 left. They had 650 up and a top speed of 225. What the Jim Carpenter means is beyond me.

[JayG]

My god it looks like a shelby daytona Z in the front.

[sunskr]

I do like the trailer.......

[Granucci]

Rear Vent holes could have been simpler, and reminds me somehow of this: http://www.ferrarilife.com/forums/148272-post2.html

But from the looks of the interior and trailer I'd expect it is either an overkill tribute, or truly honest racer of which I believe the latter. And agree, the front is very dated as the rear.

[RossoVeloce]

Here's a legit one:
Ferrari 288 GTO EVOLUZIONE - SOLD

The F40 was basically a detuned road going version of this car. I think the F40 has aged better in terms of looks.

[tazandjan]

JM- If they used a 328 as a starting point, then it is definitely not a 288 GTO Evoluzione. They certainly managed to make it ugly, though, which takes some doing because the GTO and the 328 were both attractive. The real Evoluzione is attractive.

For 145K euros, I can think of a whole lot of cars I would rather have.

[550JM]

Originally Posted by tazandjan

JM- If they used a 328 as a starting point, then it is definitely not a 288 GTO Evoluzione. They certainly managed to make it ugly, though, which takes some doing because the GTO and the 328 were both attractive.

For 145K euros, I can think of a whole lot of cars I would rather have.

I couldn't agree more! However, it must be special in a way, why else would a well known Ferrari dealer risk his reputation selling an ugly car and calling it a rare opportunity?

[Andrew]

I don't think you'll find a lot of buyers for this. Eventually someone will bite. The paint choice also adds to it's ugly factor. Can't recall seeing the green/white lines at the bottom of the car, and then the CS style stripe down the middle just doesn't do it any favors either.

[GrayTA]

I have seen real 288 Evos and that is definitely not one of them....



PDG

[Killer58]

Looks like a Fiero with a body kit. I'd be surprised (floored) if that was real.

[bst1]

Originally Posted by Killer58

Looks like a Fiero with a body kit. I'd be surprised (floored) if that was real.

I agree the short wheelbase and profile look Fiero all the way. So why would it be at a Ferrari dealer?

[Killer58]

Originally Posted by bst1

So why would it be at a Ferrari dealer?

No one is around, the place is locked up tight as a drum.

I'm betting they went there on a Sunday and staged the photos.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by GrayTA

I have seen real 288 Evos and that is definitely not one of them....



PDG

+1, no idea what it is but it is definitely not a real 288 EVO.

This is a real one:

[JayG]

I will say it's strange that first car appears to have Autometer or the like tachometer. Seems out of place, like alot of things on that car.



The dodge resemblance from the front though.....Million dollars or not I would find SOMETHING else to do with that money.

[t1fosI]

Originally Posted by sunskr

i do like the trailer.......

+1.

.

[slhetal]

"Carpenter" referred to by the listing agent on the [tribute] 288 GTO EVO stands for Jim Carpenter in Arizona. He builds those cars from Ferrari 328's.

[tazandjan]

That is a waste of a perfectly good 328, unless he is using slavaged cars.

[m5guy]

Originally Posted by slhetal

"Carpenter" referred to by the listing agent on the [tribute] 288 GTO EVO stands for Jim Carpenter in Arizona. He builds those cars from Ferrari 328's.

Correct. Jim was known in the '80s for taking the 308 and putting new fiberglass body panels on it to make it look like a 288 GTO. His cars were featured at least once in Road & Track. If you google "Jim Carpenter 288 GTO Ferrari replica" you will find plenty of old web pages referencing his work.

[PTFunk]

This discussion reminded me of a 308GTB for sale at the 2011 Concorso Italiano that had been converted to a 626HP "288 GTO style" car via bodywork, engine, and suspension upgrades (see below). When I cross-checked the e-mail address on the description (ferrarihill@hotmail.com), it appears to be Jim Carpenter's, as m5guy suspected.

Can anyone provide some insight into Jim's conversions? This one's pretty intriguing, though purists would perhaps be against a wholesale modification such as this (especially as it dresses the car up as something it's not).