Automobili Maggiore is a Tuscan company born in 2019 from an idea of its founder Gianluca Maggiore, active in the creation of unique or limited series cars made with artisanal methods to give customers maximum customisation possibilities. Automobili Maggiore specialises in Restomods and its latest creation is called GranTurismO, a model with which the company has decided to follow a more aggressive approach in terms of style, design and performance. The inspiration comes from the Ferrari 288 GTO, Maranello’s first true supercar and the pinnacle of the 308’s evolution. The GranTurismO was born from the need to satisfy the demands of those customers who love the 1980s, but are looking for more extreme atmospheres than the M Project.
The chassis is based on that of the 208-308-328 family, which is completely restored and reinforced to withstand the new levels of stress. A subframe is attached to this to anchor the longitudinally mounted engine and the new 6-speed manual gearbox. The entire car has been completely redesigned, inspired by the more muscular 288 GTO, and the entire bodywork is made of carbon fibre. At the front, the low spoiler, together with the squared-off mouth, strongly recall the style of the 1980s, as do the strip of LEDs for the daytime running lights and the iconic pop-up headlights, which in this reinterpretation are smaller than the originals and use a pair of latest-generation halogen spotlights set in two carbon tubes.
The mudguards have important volumes, but have been lightened by ribs that accentuate the feeling of strength of the whole car together with the tapering of the door area that leads to a coca-cola shape in the top view, typical of Formula 1 cars. The air intakes, very important for power supply and engine cooling, are very large: 3 on each side and made in a more modern, squared-off shape. The main intake on the door originates on the high shoulder rib and gives dynamism to the whole side, the one behind the side window has a three-dimensional volume that emphasises its character and the third is hidden in the final part of the miniskirt. At the rear, the extractor dominates the lower part, while at the top the beautiful headlights set in small volcanoes are as if cut in half by a band of shiny material, recalling concepts from Maranello’s most recent productions.
