Please refresh my memory: Since "Magnum, P.I." ran through the 1987-1988 television season, was the 308GTS that Magnum drove for most of the show's run replaced by a 328GTS for the last season or two?
Not that I know of and I used to watch it all the time. I believe they may have used a 308 GTSI. Nick
No, Magnum P.I. never drove the 328 series. Cars used in the series were a 308 GTS, 308 GTSi and 308 GTS QV.
If he drove a 328, I'd like to know which episode it was because I certainly don't remember it. In the old archives there was a thread or two about all the 308's he drove during the series. There is some website (I don't remember which) out there that lists each one used on the show. They used 2 per episode, one for the driving scenes, and one to look pretty while parked. They sold them off periodically as the newer cars came out. They had to modify the cars slightly so Tom Selleck would actually fit and be able to drive. That's also why you will rarely see him drive the 308 roof on.
there was a 308 ( i believe a 79 model) that has been sold with documents supporting the the t.v. history in the dupont registry. the car was used for "on screen" shots. if you do not place the top behind the seats, you can fit a much larger person. i believe that this is what was done for tom selleck. keep in mind, the "driving" scenes were not that common. i do not believe they modified any car for the show. i am 6'1" and had no problems fitting into my 308. sure i could have been a few more inches taller and adjusted, but it would require any modification to make that adjustment.
No 328s were used in Magnum. They actually did have an 85' QV too. I looked at one of the 308s used in Magnum, a GTSi 2V inj., that was forsale a few years back. They didn't drill any holes in the seat rails for more movement. It was pretty much stock. I still keep looking for them but they are usually way over priced.
From Ferrari308.com: The 1980s TV series Magnum P.I., starring Tom Selleck, took the already popular Ferrari 308 and turned it into an icon. The Magnum Ferraris are undoubtably responsible for much of the mystique and desire for Ferraris starting in the 80s. This is demonstrated by the fact that the Ferrari 308 (and its decendant, the 328) are still commonly referred to by casual admirers as "the Magnum P.I. car." Throughout its history, the show featured three distinct types of Ferrari 308: 1979 308 GTS 1981 308 GTSi 1984 308 GTS QV Between 3-5 examples of each car were used during filming, employing different cars for various types of shots. Cars in pristine condition were used for close-ups, and less cared for cars were used for action scenes and stunts. Some sources claim that the car used for stunts was not a real Ferrari, but a kit car. Universal Studios has a 308 GTS on their backlot that they claim was used on the series, but various sources claim that this example is actually one of the kit cars used for stunts. A picture of this car can be seen here and here (I have no idea who the lady in the picture is). Because of Tom Selleck's large stature, certain modifications were made to the cars for the show. Padding was removed from the seat so that he would sit lower in the car, the seat was bolted in the furthest position possible from the steering wheel to provide maximum room, and rarely (if ever) was Tom seen driving the car with the roof on. Known serial numbers for cars used in the show are as follows: #29109, 1979 308 GTS #34567, 1981 308 GTSi #57685, 1984 308 GTS QV On an interview on the Late Show with David Letterman in 1997, Tom Selleck talked about the cars used in the series. He claimed that 5 different cars were used, and that they were all auctioned off at the end of the series for outrageous prices. Selleck stated that the first car used on the series had a modified racing clutch, which described as very stiff. He said that when he released the clutch, the camera crew almost got run over a few times! From time to time, the cars that were used in the series are offered for sale. Larry Manetti, who played Rick "Orville" Wright on the show, bought one of the early cars from Universal at the end of one of the seasons and later sold it. In August of 1996, S/N 57685 was offered for sale by Algar Ferrari of Philadephia for $53,000.
I remember in the last season they did use a 328. It was the one where the car was crashed into. They used a kit car for that scene. We sold several of the magnum cars here in the early eighties. I actually owned one personally at one time. They used two cars about every six months, one for driving scenes and one for stationary scenes. The driving cars actually had a performance clutch in them. I remember we had one that they forgot to change the clutch on and it was very stiff and either in or out. The car would do a burn out in reverse and was not really street-able. The cars came with a letter of authenticity from the studio. I have a copy of mine somewhere.
Just what I was thinking as well. My '85 is ser. no. 54769, and according to the www.308qvregister: '84 QV's were around 48907 thru 52793 '85 QV's were around 52831 thru 59149 Of course, we are talking about Ferrari
The Petersen Museum in LA last year had displayed a 308GTS(i?) that was one of Selleck's drivers. The foam had been taken out of the seat, plus a few other mods, as I recall. I *think* it was an 1981, but not positive.
They also used 83' QVs too. The episodes they are showing now have the 83' QV in them. What episode is there a 328 in? I haven't seen it. I looked at the last 3 episodes of Magnum and the only Ferrari I see is a 308 QV.
I have seen every episode and a 328 was never used. You can tell when he is in the 83 QV because the a-pillar is black. Serial #28525 was another carbed car used in the show's first season.
That is what I thought. I have seen every episode too and I never saw a 328. They had two carb 308s as in the seventh or so episode Digger drove one and they were parked side by side. All US Spec cars too.
Granted, I am going from memory, but I know they used the current year 308 equivalent to the year the show was filmed, thus in '79 they used a '79 and '83 they used an '83. FNA gave them the cars then took them back and offered them to the dealer body. We sold at least four of them from '83 -'85, I could dig up the VIN when I have a chance. I am sure there was a scene near the end of production when the car was run into in I believe a parking garage. You can tell it is a kit from the way the fiberglass breaks. I have not seen the show in almost 20 years, but I am pretty sure. No expert here, just happen to love the 308/328 and used to watch the show just for the Ferrari.
Yes, have noticed this as well on occasion. It's funny to watch a typical later episode and see at least 3 different 308 model years during the course of a show -- obviously, they used scenes from other shows as "fillers" (i.e., driving along the coastline, etc.). Another obvious kit car was used in the 2-part episode "Did You See the Sunrise" where Magnum's buddy Mac gets blown up in the 308. BTW, for all you Magnum fans -- Thursday, Apr. 22, at 1:00 AM, the Hallmark Channel will be airing the episode "Summer School". This is the one where Robin Masters' punk nephew gets sent to the estate for the summer to be "straightened out" by Higgins. The nephew shows up in his own 308 QV in a rare Verdi Green / Tan color scheme. The episode has a lot of high speed action involving both Magnum and the nephew in their 308 QV's!! You might want to record this one -- it's definitely worth it!. On a side note -- I'm sure glad that the Hallmark Channel is airing these again, as I've been using the opportunity to catch a handful of certain episodes that have been missing (they've actually aired a couple of the "rare" ones that A&E and others did not replay). Very shortly, I'll have them ALL on tape!!
Me too. I am close to having them all on tape. I am missing Italian Ice and Mixed Doubles. I think I already missed them on the Hallmark channel too. They are in the 83' season now. So it is Green. I wasn't sure if it was Marrone or Verdi. I would like to see the VINs too. I will try to look up the VIN for the one I looked at. I still have a copy somewhere I think of the letter from Larry Manetti.
Magnum never drove a 328. Sean, Were you referring to episode where Higgins wrecks the Ferrari or the one where Magnum is knocked out and placed in it and the car is dropped off a cliff? They could have used a 328 in those episodes just because they needed a wrecked 3x8. If you look closely you can see that in the chase scenes the Ferraris have the deep euro spoilers for better handling and in the still scenes it is standard front spoilers. "Summer School" proves that Higgins isn't Robin, that and "... Estate By The Sea." Maybe it is worth the extra $50 my cable company charges to get the Hallmark Channel.
