One of the Ferraris in Original Magnum PI

Such beautiful examples. Brings back memories. One of my earliest memories of Ferrari and regular watcher of the show just to see the car...

 

I will dig them out and post them. Like I said they are old pictures we will see how they come out.

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I always wondered why they never did anything with the gatehouse which was rather large and right by the entrance.

 

this would be a new sn -
so without further proof, I would not be too sure if it`s the real deal


after 25 years of research among the community, sofar the following sn`s were used on the show:

1979 - carb models: 28251, 28525 and 29109

1981 - 2Vi model: 34567

1982 - 2Vi model: 38527

1982 - 2Vi models: 45579 and 45607

1984 - QV model: 51941

1985 - QV model: 57685

 

Which model/serial number had the quick-release slide-back top?

 

What ME308 is saying is that 46627 is not known to be on the show according to his research but it is possible.

 

Magnum 4th season is all 83 308QV. In the 5th season, the 83 was used for the first few episodes, before the A-pillar becomes red and wheels used are 16". The change over is so late in 1984(oct/nov), that an 85 could have been used.

I mistakenly thought the same thing a few decades ago, and Tommy was quick to tell me the same thing,...go look. I did and the text above is from that message back to Tommy a few decades ago after reviewing seasons 3, 4, 5.

 

also check here for VINs:

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/aussie-ferrari-spotters-thread.67047/page-1502#post-148231533

 

Why did the show go through so many cars? 10+ seems like a lot - was Ferrari providing them?

 

I heard the problem was that they were constantly overheating in Honolulu traffic! They complained to Ferrari so Ferrari came up with the 328 but they never used it in the series.



OK, no, I didn't really hear that!

 

They used a main/star/hero car, a backup star/hero car for in case there is an issue with the main car (also used for 2nd unit filming where no close-ups were required - If you watch drive by shots and shots taken from a helicopter [more than likely the Hughes 500 used as TC's helicopter], you can tell that it's not Tom Selleck driving the car), and a stunt car where there was a risk of the car getting damaged *

(*NOTE: In later series, a custom made replica [not a commercial kit car] was created to use as a stunt car, for scenes where the car could be severely damaged. Where cars were needed to be destroyed, disguised other cars were used, such Pontiac Fiero's)

Filming takes a big toll on cars, with multiple start/stops, short runs (feet or yards - not miles), multiple engine starts, multiple hard 1st gear acceleration scenes etc., etc., etc. Then they have camera equipment mounted on them (which back in the days of Magnum p.i were not tiny little cameras!).

By the end of a couple of seasons filming, the cars were already fairly worn and tired, so they were sold of and replaced with the latest model 308 GTS (they started with 4 carb / 2 valve per cylinder 308 GTS', followed by fuel injected / 2 valve per cylinder 308 GTSi's, and finished off with fuel injected / 4 valve per cylinder 308 GTS QV's. For the final season, it was suggested they used 328 GTS', to show that Robin Masters always had the latest Ferrari, but it was decided that the 308 GTS was iconic to the show to replace them, so used 308 GTS QV's again)

 

They wouldn't run long enough to overheat - For filming, the cars would have run for a few minutes at a time only, at the most

As for the 328, as noted in my post: There was a suggestion to use the 328 in the last season, to show Robin Masters always had the latest model, but the 308 GTS was deemed to be too iconic to the show to replace it with a 328.

 

I can't think that most viewers would have noticed. People always comment "That's the Magnum car!" when I refuel my 328!!