Original Magnum PI 308 displayed at Universal Studios, Florida?

I've first seen this car on the Universal Studios tour back in the late 90's, but it seems to still be around... does anybody have any input on the car? Is it a real Ferrari? Is it just a prop? Does it run at all?

The hood, and some other parts looks like they are fiberglass copies... the hood doesn't have the grill on it, and is a little distorted in the center... I remember it had that shape back then, and still does! There's also something wrong with the rear wheels offset, isn't it? And what is with those weird seats and dashboard?

Has anybody taken a closer look on that car? If it actually is an original 308, it'd be cool to get to know the chassis number on it, wouldn't it?
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interesting find. Door handles are missing and the window louvers look odd. Also looks like TRX style wheels.

 

That car has been there for years now. It looks so replica but, maybe not.

 

The Universal Studios used a few cars for the different seasons:

28251 - 79 Rosso Corsa/Black LHD, feat. in TV Series "Magnum P.I.", used for the first season

29109 - 79 Red/Tan LHD feat. in the TV Series Magnum, PI

34567 - 81 Red/Tan LHD US ZFFAA02A6B0034567 feat. in the TV Series Magnum, PI

57685 - 85 Red/Tan LHD US ZFFUA13A7F0057685 feat. in the TV Series Magnum, PI

I doubt that my list is complete because it is rumoured that some cars should have been crashed during filming, what in fact is not proven Btw., the pictured car looks very much like a Replica: wrong seats, wrong air intake on front hood a.s.o.

Matthias Urban

www.F-Register.com -The world's largest Ferrai Serial Number Database- Subscribe today to get access and to look for further celebrieties or movie films connected with Ferraris.

 

The front grills on the wings look angled...I'm thinkin' kit.

 

I have a pic taken in 80's at Universal of me standing next to car - of that - with the Robin 1 llic plate - its a mockup of panels mounted on a spaceframe from memory - will dig out the pic from the archive

 

aaaaa ha ha,,, that's gotta be just a side show mock-up.
I saw it also, man...
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Right next to the giant ball of string.


Edwardo
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I'm voting prop/stunt car....Along with all of the named problems, the steering wheel angle looks really wrong, the rear top and window seal looks painted in and the airfoil is a warped mess..............and no niche for a badge on the nose (maybe to stay out of trouble with FNA). Probably a replica that they used for riskier scenes. I just saw a Season 6 episode where the goons clipped the right front corner with their car and the 308 fender, nose and bonnet (which should be steel) just shattered.....like fiberglass. The underside of the body material (primarily the bonnet) showing after the wreck was an uncharacteristic clean white. This might have been one of those cheap sacrificial cars for such a scene. It may not even have an engine, quarter glass, etc.....and they just positioned it for collisions and such. In the later seasons, crashes involving the 308 became more severe, so they probably had to come up with some mock-ups.

Even if it's a prop, it's still a cool piece of history. They should post a write-up about it.

 

WTF That ball of string is a fake ?

 

Hmm... I don't remember that ball of string... it was close to the "Bulldog Café" from "The Rocketeer" movie... between an old car used for "Dick Tracy" I guess and something weird that looked like a battle spaceship... I'll dig out other pictures I took back then...

 

I heard they used about 10-12 308s durring the filmings of Magnum PI. Some were damaged, some were modified so Tom Seleck could fit in them and some were used for stunts at a distance from the camera, in other words modified.

Also, the pictured 308 is missing the amber lenses for the front turn signals and it's missing the rear side marker that is put on U.S. Ferraris....

 

They also had an 83 qv that was used. I don't remember ever seeing a 308 with a black interior on the show only tan interiors but maybe the 79 with black interior was used for exterior shots only.

 

They never used a car with a black interior

 

I was waiting for you to pitch in Dr. Tommy!

 

Also 51941 (red/tan QV) belongs to one of my clients.

I believe there was also a green 308 that appeared in an episode or two.

 

Just found other pictures of this particular car on the net...
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They had an episode where Robin Master's troubled nephew stayed at the Estate and he used a green 308 I believe it was a QV.

 

Seems to have the Designo Pininfarina badge on the flank, though. Why would they have that and not the other badging in a rough prop for long shot action scenes?

 

Also had an episode with Carol Burnett and her charector was posing as a private eye and she drove a red 308.
While we are on the subject the question always comes up was a 328 ever used in the series and the answer is no.

 

Yep, that is correct. Nice episode, can't get tired of watching that one... it has a nice car chase involving said green QV and a Pontiac ;-)

 

I'm more impressed by the "mule" that's next to it, which won't run with 5 by the way.

 

Isn't that badge on the wrong side, or did some come with the badge on the passenger side? Mine is on the drivers side.

 

found it ! how young do I look?
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I like the couple making out in the background.

 

interior probably redone? I have pictures of the car from 2007 with Black int. and aftermarket rims, CA-registred at that time.

Matthias Urban

www.F-Register.com