---
title: "Rare 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO Stolen During Test Drive Recovered by German Police"
description: "It's unclear at this moment if the $2M Ferrari was found in good condition."
date: "2019-05-15"
modified: "2019-05-15"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/28042/rare-1985-ferrari-288-gto-stolen-during-test-drive-recovered-by-german-police"
categories:
  - "Ferrari News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Ferrari"
---

# Rare 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO Stolen During Test Drive Recovered by German Police

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/05/GettyImages-980750510.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

A 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO worth upwards of $2 million has been recovered by German authorities after it was [stolen during a test drive](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/28007/multimillion-dollar-1985-ferrari-288-gto-stolen-from-owner-during-test-drive-gone-wrong>) gone wrong earlier this week.

We first reported on the theft Tuesday afternoon, as claims that a rare Ferrari had been unlawfully taken away from its owner during a private meeting to sell the car surfaced in Germany. The identities of the parties involved, or any other details for that matter, have not been revealed by the police but we do know that the car was promptly recovered in a garage near the Grevenbroich area. According to the [*Washington Post*](<https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/german-police-recover-valuable-ferrari-search-for-thief/2019/05/15/b9761728-7715-11e9-a7bf-c8a43b84ee31_story.html?utm_term=.903196e6efab>), the car was reportedly stolen in Dusseldorf, so if our Google Maps skills serve us right, the thief only drove the exotic about 30 minutes before stashing it for the night.

Police are on the lookout for the thief but have not released any possible names connected to the robbery. A sketch was released locally by police with the hope that someone in the area might recognize him and contact the authorities. As for the condition of the car, German police did not say if it [had been dismantled or found in the same condition](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27972/ferrari-458-italia-once-owned-by-the-grand-tours-james-may-is-now-for-sale>) that it was stolen in. However, considering this Ferrari's pedigree, chances are someone was either joyriding temporarily or was attempting to export the vehicle so it could be sold to a wealthy overseas collector.

The Ferrari 288 GTO is considered by many Maranello loyalists to be the model that kicked off Ferrari's supercar series. The most experienced car collectors typically aim to amass the [GTO, F40, F50, Enzo, and LaFerrari](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/27984/the-mysterious-story-behind-field-with-more-than-dozen-abandoned-ferraris-other-exotics>).

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)