Magnum 308 wrecked in season 2 "Try To Remember".

I have read somewhere that there were six (?) genuine Ferrari 308s used in the show, as well as one Fiero-based "replica."

I would imagine that for the brief scene in the show you're referring to, they didn't even wreck the Fiero. A decent fiberglass tech could probably build an already "wrecked" mock-up pretty easily that would look convincing enough for the show.

Does anyone else have any information about the Magnum Ferrari(s)?

 

I have seen a few of the original 308's for sale in the past.
When living in Hawaii years ago there was an ad in the paper advertising one of the actual "Island Hopper" vw buses. It was around $3000!. How much would this fetch today on ebay or BJ auction?


--Dave

 

Some of the stunt cars were tube framed, fiberglass mock-ups. When working at Universal Studios back in the 80's, I would occassionally see one of the stunt cars. The real Ferraris were too small for Tom Selleck. They had to resort to bolting the seat to the floor and pull-out the seat cushioning so that Tom Selleck could fit into the car.

The wrecked Ferrari very well may have been one that got crashed during filming or a mock-up. I doubt that they would have intentionally crashed a Ferrari and placed it on the sharp volcanic rocks.

Bob

 

Would one of the stunt mock ups be used in the scene in season 3 where they blow up the 308 with explosives and kill Mac (instead of Magnum as the intended victim?)

Birdman

 

Do a search, there was a big Magnum/Miami Vice discussion last year. Miami Vice actually used a roll-caged re-bodied Pantera as a stand-in for the TR for serious stunts. A couple people claimed to have (recently) seen one of the cars at the Universal lot parked outside just rotting away.

FYI: my avatar photo is the reaction shot of Sonny Crockett when his "Daytona" was blown up...

 

Here is a funny observation; In the episode, "Italian Ice" a crazy blonde really gouges the right front fender. In the close up, it is suddenly a European spec 308 that is all scratched up. When the camera backs off, it is back to a USA car again. Same season as "Try To Remember" too.

I guess they had a beater euro 308 for the abuse scenes.

Seriously, pull the DVD and see what I am talking about...

 

The TR from Miami Vice is at The Ferrari museum at the Sunrise flea mkt. in Ft.lauderdale. Saw it there a few months ago.

 

While in Hawaii I am on a quest to locate Magnum PI's 308.

ANY LEADS WOULD BE APPRECIATED

Aloha

I will post a picture when I find it. So far, 2 days and NO Ferraris.

 

Did Ferrari donate the 308's to the show? Was there anything different about the Magnum PI 308 than what was sold by Ferrari?[/QUOTE]ZR1 I read a article quite a few years back and they ask Ferrari to donate one for the show and Ferrari Said if you want one buy one and then later they gave them one.
DM

 

Last time I was in Honolulu (probably 15 years ago now) just about all the little rental car places had at least one beat to hell 308, usually with a big 'RENT MAGNUM'S CAR' or similar sign attached.

 

My car spent almost all of its existance in hawaii. I was told by a guy from Shelton's that it was most likley a rental. The carfax and PPI would suggest otherwise. It's an 89 black & tan 328 with 50k on the clock.

 

My favorite scene I believe is from the first episode where Magnum reaches up and opens the top by just pushing it back. Wonder where that top went?

 

I too lived in Honolulu just after Magnum went off the air, from 88 to 96. The Island Hoppers VW Vanagon was sold to a local balloon shop and I saw it for years running around the island delivering balloons with the original Island Hoppers paint and logo still on it.

One of the 308s was auctioned and featured in a spread in the early 1990s in the Honolulu Star Bulletin. I kept a copy of the article for years but no longer have it and unfortunately, the online edition only archives back to 1996.

There were only a couple of the 308s floating around Honolulu after the series ended with the majority of the Ferraris being taken back to the mainland.

But if you're cruising around Hawaii and want to see some of the old locations, "Robin's Nest" is actually an estate called Pahonu on Kamehameha Hwy in Waimanalo. It's pretty covered by by foliage and netting from the roadway but if you wade across the rocks from the nearby park you can walk along the beach fronting the estate and take a swim in the tidal pool a la Thomas Magnum. You should have no problems because all beaches in Hawaii are public access.

 

Ferraris that have 'seen service' in Hawaii usually don't last long. The tropical humidity coupled with the salt air is dangerous for 308 lifespans. I seriously doubt Magnum-era 308s are still living on the island. Not without a great deal of care and preservation work (and garage storage).

Back in the late 1990s, a place in Waikiki called Ferrari Rentals was in operation. You could get into a white Testarossa, a Mondial Cab, or a 355. I rented the TR for the (then) bargain rate of $400/day plus $1 per mile over 50 miles. Lucky for me, the odometer was broken. Rental Ferraris were BEAT HARD on the island - the intense sun absolutely fried the leather seats and dash, the coastal driving corroded the aluminum bits and rusted the steel bits. A later trip to Hono/Waikiki three years later, I found the white TR on a used car lot - or at least I 'think' it was the same car.....it was beat to the ground. Rental cars there are battered like you wouldn't believe.

 

No kidding. I can actually put a towel down back there and go swimming if I want to without the cops showing up? Really? Because if I can do that without getting into trouble I am there for sure when I travel that way.

 

This car was for sale on JRs site....
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...Hawaii!!
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Doesn't look too rusty to me!

 

One of the "Documented" original cars from the series was for sale in 2005 , in Longmont Colorado. I remember because that was the year I bought my 308qv. I didn't go after the Magnum car, because it carried a price Premium that I wasn't willing to pay, I think they wanted $50k.

 

That's what they mean by it being a "20 footer"

 

LOL!

It was actually in good shape.....high miles, IIRC.......I guess they did a lot of laps around the island.......

 

I remember reading somewhere that they often had to stop filming and wait for people to leave the beach since they couldn't kick them off.

BTW, here's a web page with some aerial photos of the estate: http://www.pbase.com/goislands/2002_10_01_flight_mpi

Pretty funny to see that the "Island Hoppers" pier is actually right next to the estate.

Oh, and here it is on google maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Waimanalo,+HI&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=21.325006,-157.679931&spn=0.001859,0.002934&t=k&om=1

 

I seem to remember seeing it advertised as well but never looked at it as I wasnt serious about buying an FCar at the time.

However, what I want to know is.... HOW THE HECK DID A MAGNUM CAR END UP IN COLORADO????

Anyone remember if it was actually legit? I remember the discussion we had on FChat awhile back talking about it, but I thought it was determined that it wasn't a legit Magnum car.

James in Denver

 

IIRC, there was something odd about the wrecked 308 in "Try to Remember". I'll have to go back and see what it was. But I do remember watching that episode and saying to myself, "That's not correct!".