Magnum PI Show Car

There is one of the 308s in the Peterson Museum, Los Angeles. Knowing the movie business a little, there were probably several cars over the years.

 

1983? Quattrovalovle from the series is on display in Deadwood South Dakota, Nelson's garage/casino. Spoke with the owners about possibly purchasing it some years ago. Economy went down and the asking price jumped another $40,000 the following month. Very nice gentleman, deal just wasn't going to happen at that point. Car has set for a lot of years,

 

Not really.

We have a bunch of the chassis numbers posted here but besides the Peterson one and one owned by a lady up near the Bay area out in CA, we don't really know where the rest are.

 

There was one on display here in Melbourne last year at Motorclassica. Owned by a local guy.
Unfortunately I don't have too many details on it.

 

According to many people on the street, my car is a Magnum PI car!

(As in "Hey, is that a Magnum PI car?" or "Hey, there's a Magnum PI car!" )

 

Hahaha. I get that with my 328 GTS too !!

 

Yep, I remember our exchanges about that list; with two cars for each season (one principal, and one back-up) the total was about fifteen or sixteen cars, for which we had about twelve confirmed chassis # already, isn't it?

To the O.P: does the Bonham's litterature for the auction list a chassis number for the car they will be auctioning?

Rgds

 

As per catalogue,
VIN. ZFFUA13A4E0051941

Bonhams : 1984 FERRARI 308 GTS QUATTROVALVOLEEngine no. 00383

 

Thanks! I'll browse my list and revert ASAP.

Rgds

 

My pleasure.

 

Well, seems we have a winner here!
51941 is indeed one of the chassis numbers usually listed as a car having been used for the show...
See discussion here-enclosed.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328-sponsored-yellow-compass-group/430369-magnum-pi.html

Rgds

 

I've had the same thing said when I've been out in My Ferrari! - And I drive a 348 TS!

Confusing the 328 for the 308 I can understand, but a 348? - A lot of people seem to just remember that it was a Ferrari with the roof panel removed I guess!

 

Uh, oh...1980?...correct or not correct...that is the question!

"Throughout the series, Tom Selleck's co-star was a Ferrari 308 GTS. In the first season of the show, Selleck drove a carbureted 1978 308 GTS. The next year, Selleck's car was upgraded to a 1980 308 GTSi which was used for the second, third, and beginning of the fourth season."

 

OK...this is awesome!!! Its actually a car from the list. Here's the topic for discussion though, does being confirmed in the show justify the $150,000-$200,000 price tag for what would be a $70-80k car?

 

I know the car in the auction. Did some work on it under warranty just after FNA sold it to the new owner after it was retired from the show.

 

Justify the high price? It will go for more than $200K at auction!

 

I've gotten the "Magnum PI car!" comment a number of times. Just happened the other day when I picked it up at the mechanic and another customer was enjoying seeing a Ferrari in person. I just smiled and said, "YES! Yes, it is!"

Made their day!

...Even though it's a MONDIAL 3.2 COUPE!!!

 

How bad did the show beat it up?

 

This is pretty much 100% inaccurate.

 

I am certain at least one of the firsts was a 79 and (they) were used for two seasons. the inject car(s) which was not an 80 didn't appear until season 3 (82/83). They were 81 and laters.

I have never seen an 80 used on the show but why would they if they didn't begin using the injected cars until 1982? By then it was a top ten show and Ferrari were probably throwing the latest right in their lap by then. No more begging for one for a untested TV pilot.

 

I thought it was an '81 also....

 

Well they had 2. One had a metallic clutch and was used mostly by the stunt drivers to beat up. The other one, this one was the one Selleck drove and they kept it pretty good looking. The woman that bought it got in touch with FNA asking for the car when the show was done with it. Ferrari did a big service, new clutch and brakes and new paint then sold it to her with a new car warranty. I wound up doing some of the warranty work on it.

 

Good foresight on her part. I think this car brings BIG money at the auction, maybe $500K+. Somebody with the resources will just have to have it. When is the last time we've seen a legit Magnum 308 come up for sale?