R1-Rider, you have just tread on sacred ground for a diehard
Tifosi like myself.
Gran Turismo Omologato, the suffix attached to the third evolution of the Ferrari tipo 250 Berlinetta chassis, was factory-speak for the fact that the 36 Ferrari 250GTO's built were built solely to homologate (Omologato) the cars for Grand Touring (Gran Turismo) competition. The two previous generations, the 250GT LWB "Tour de France" (so nicknamed because of the tipo's debut victory at the hands of Alfonso de Portago in 1956) and 250 SWB "Lusso" (a nickname carried over from the luxurious road cars) were fiercely competitive cars, but the 250GTO took all of the lessons learned from them and revamped the chassis and engine into a truly awe inspiring package which was then cloaked in bodywork considered by most if not all critics to be the most beautiful automobile of the postwar period.
In the years 1962, 1963, and 1964, this car scored more international wins, more class victories, and more overall podiums than ANY other GT car before or since. It took Carrol Shelby's incredibly specialized Daytona Cobra coupes and a Ferrari factory boycott of sports car racing (due to the FIA's refusal to homologate the mid-engine 250LM as a GT car) in 1965 to end the reign of what was essentially a 9 year old design. And even with all of that, privateer teams like NART and Auto Belgique still carried the 250GTO to class wins at Spa-Francorchamps and the Nurburgring.
I'm sorry to all the muscle car guys, but
no dressed up Tempest/Le Mans option package NAMED AFTER THE FERRARI can lay claim to being the keeper of the GTO heritage. The GTO name is a FERRARI name. All other references are homage to history's most awe-inspiring and successful Grand Touring race car.
This is the true GTO. End of discussion.