Enzo - Magnum

Hmmm, good question. I would think that he had to be aware of it, I heard the show really boosted Ferrari sales and introduced Ferrari to the mainstream.

Anyone else have any comments?

 

Don't forget Del Boys Robin Reliant or the 'Capri Ghia' (I sold my 2.8i Special because of Only Fools and the flack I used to get!!) ;-)

 

I remember seeing something on TV back in high school showing FNA giving Selleck a 308 because he gave them so much exposure. I think it was spring of summer of 1983.

 

I don't believe Aloha shirts are fashionable in North Yorkshire, are they?



Aloha,
-Luigi

 

I heard porsche offered to give the show free 911's but they turned it down...
is it true there was a new 308 every year?

 

I think it was 928s. They used a 928 in a few shows. TS then promised if the show was a hit he would buy each main cast member a 928. From what I heard he did.
Yes, they used 7-8 308s throughout the show.

 

What I had heard was that FNA had been asked to provide cars for the series gratis and they declined. If they had given one after the fact, in recognition of the exposure, that would sound logical.

 

OK, here's what I heard:

Originally they had planned on using a 928, but they wanted Porsche to custom make an open top/convertible for the show. Porsche declined and then they went with the 308.

I can definitely see them wanting an open car for the better visability and also for TS's size.

Well, that's the story I heard and have been spreading.

Henry

 

Just found this on google:

http://www.vistagroupusa.com/automobile.htm

 

I heard he did buy each cast member a car, however, it was a 308. He mentioned it on a talk show many many years ago...David Letterman maybe.

 

I saw in a documentary that he did buy them all cars but they were 928's

Also, the early shows did use a carbed car, then they did use an injected one and finally a QV. Not sure how many of each though that they used.

 

Yeah I heard 928s on a documentary also. From what I know they wanted to use the 308 from day one and did. The 308 was so popular and getting Ferrari such attention that Porsche wanted to work out a deal. From what I understand they offered a 928 for free just to be used on the show for publicity but MPI declined. TS said that if the show became a huge success he would buy them all a 928. Well, the show was/is a great success and then he bought them 928s.

Larry M. (Rick) did buy a 308 that was used on the show. It wasn't given to him. He purchased one of the 2V inj. cars. I even looked at this car in person and it had a cert. of authenicity from Larry stating that this car was used on MPI.
Anyway, this is going from memory. I just thought I would share.

 

It wouldn't have sounded nearly as good to hear Higgins say "Magnum you can't use the Porsche for two weeks".....now would it.

 

He bought one of the 4V's too. an 84 or 85 (it had red A pillars). I have an old video clip of him driving up in it and talking about it during an interview.

 

Anyone remember the Car and Driver feature from 1980 about driving cross county in a 308? It was by P.J. O'Rourke. It actually began with him stuck in football traffic on I-20 here in Alabama before an Alabama - South Carolina game. Really great reading, funny too. At the end of the artcle, you find out the car is going to be used in a new TV pilot called "Don't Eat The Snow In Hawaii". I think it was about Apr 1980 and is about 5 or 6 pages long. I have it around here somewhere.

 

Nice info Tommy. I would like to see that article. Let me know if you find it. I really enjoy reading articles on the 308. I only have a few road and track articles on them though.

 

Just for those that don't know or if I didn't make it clear; THE car in that article was the one used in the Magnum pilot and the one used in the first season or two. For sure it was the car you see in the show's opening credits. It is interesting to read about its cross country adventures, break downs and races with Porsches all the while knowing just exactly WHICH Ferrari it will be for many of us on this website. I always thought it was cool that Magnum's first 308 was driven thru my town and practically right by where I live (I live just off of I-20 and you can see it from my house) on its way to Hawaii.

 

that is pretty cool tommy!
is that when you became interested in ferrari's?

best,
jeff

 

These are the three Ferrari 308s used for the TV series:

Year Type Chassis# Colors
1979 308 GTS #29109 Red/tan
1981 308 GTSi #34567 Red/tan
1984 308 GTSi QV #57685 Red/tan

Marcel Massini

 

Man, you never cease to amaze me with your wealth of info,

 

my 85 qv had a 56585 serial, which would have been made before 57685 right ? yet mine was an 85. (could it be that the last car used was an 85)

 

They used a lot more than 3 of them. You forgot the 83 QVs that they had. Plus one of my 85s starts with 52 so 57 would be an 85 not an 84.