reading thru an old R&T World's Fastest Cars from 1987. Testarossa top speed 185MPH. 288 GTO 179MPH. Curious does the street version of the 288 GTO have a higher road tested top speed.
I actually remember another European magazine reaching 307 km/h. I don't recall which one... The factory claimed 305 km/h, but we know that in the 80s top speed was a synonym for performance and the manufactures used to "inflate" the numbers a lot, specially the Italians...Ferrari claimed 255 km/h for a 308 back then! Also, lots of the magazines were note really accurate when measuring top speed...
AM & S used electronic timing in 1985, so we can conclude the 188 mph was accurate, the factory's claimed 189 mph was @ Nardo also with electronic timing although strictly speaking that wasn't an independent test.
Autocar got a carb 308 GTB to 154 mph, I think 249 km/h so not that far off the factory claim. It would be interesting to see the in gear acceleration Testarossa versus 288.
Here's the factory claim of 189 mph as measured at Nardo for Road & Track magazine Image Unavailable, Please Login
In 1984 F1 pilot Didier Pironi also drove the 288 GTO to just over 188 mph for French magazine Sport Auto. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Perhaps, but these are two completely different cars in terms of the driving experience, chalk & cheese. The TR is fast once it gets there but IMO it feels very heavy and through the twisties it rolls around like a drunken sailor on deck in a storm, whereas the GTO feels light & nimble, focused & fast through the corners, a much more fun driving experience and with the application of boost it's a rush to drive. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yip my experience with the TR is very limited but I have had a short spin in a GTO and that way that car goes is nothing short of amazing. A friend of mine raves about the handling of his GTO through the Alps.
