This build is a far cry from the die-cast example you might have on your shelf.
While the Ferrari F40, Lamborghini Countach, and Porsche 959 are often viewed as the ultimate Eighties performance machines, you can’t forget about the Ferrari’s other supercar of the era, the 288 GTO. The Group B homologation special remains an impressively capable machine, even by today’s lofty standards. YouTuber Restoration Kamasutra is back with another model-car restoration project, this time centered around the 288 GTO.
Model cars are a great entryway into the world of automotive enthusiasm for younger folks. Restoration Kamasutra continues building that passion by lovingly restoring damaged or dirty models on YouTube, oftentimes modifying the cars to their liking along the way. This time around we’re greeted by a particularly dingy 288 GTO die-cast model, which is missing large swaths of its iconic Rosso Corsa paintwork. There’s also a ton of gunk to be found in the model’s detail work, giving it a particularly distressing appearance. Thankfully our host quickly starts breaking the model down into its individual components, not unlike you’d do during a full-size restoration project. Unlike the metal-bodied model, a genuine 288 GTO features carbon-kevlar panels for most of the bodywork, with aluminum doors, and a tubular steel chassis. It weighs just 2557 pounds.
Once the parts have been separated, Restoration Kamasutra gets right into the bodywork phase of the project. That begins with a nice bath in paint remover, which makes for satisfying viewing. They even go as far as to open up the intakes on the side of the model with a dremel in an effort to more closely mirror the real deal. Some mesh grating is even cut down into shape. The paintwork is completed using the aptly named “Super Italian Red” hue. A second pass with some black paint brings all the rubber bits to life. The interior restoration takes things up another notch, with Restoration Kamasutra doing everything possible to make this a proper 288 GTO clone. Carpets, headrests, seatbelts and a proper dash setup are all made from scratch, enhancing the look of the stock model significantly.
The engine job is similarly detailed, complete with metallic materials and a ton of paint work. The end result looks as close to the turbocharged Ferrari V-8 as one can hope, though it’s surely lacking the 400 hp and 366 lb-ft of torque that made the 288 GTO so quick. While perhaps not as exciting as a genuine Ferrari restoration, these model videos are immensely satisfying to watch. With only just over 270 examples ever produced, the chances of seeing behind the scenes of a real 288 GTO repair job just aren’t that high.
Keyword: Watch This Ferrari 288 GTO Model Get a Full Restoration