Magnum opening sequence

You have to remember that, in those days, bad guys were forced to drive cars like Fords and Lincolns, usually in a sinister-looking black.

 

There is a another episode where TC wrecks the Ferrari, and later jumps over the driver's door into the car....how a big guy like that manages that contortion is beyond me...I would figure his feet would go right into the steering wheel!

 

Funny you should mention the steering wheel. Does anyone else think (or know?) if they took off the steering wheel? I watched part of an episode over the holidays here and decided I'd watch how Tom Selleck got in & out so gracefully. I thought they had to have the steering wheel out of the way for how easily he got out. Thoughts? Facts?

 

I remember reading somewhere that the interior was redone so Sellock could fit in it and he could drive it with his longer than average legs. They took the seat out and modified it so it could go back further and was lower in the car. I think this is how he enters and exits so gracefully.

 

I remember seeing one of the Magnum cars at the Universal Studios backlot 15~years ago. It wasn't a F-car at all, but the body was a dead-on replica. I'm assuming they used it for the action sequences.

-Chris

 

I always enjoy the part in the opening credits where Magnum is helping some poor girl learn how to swim. That just goes to show how kind-hearted the people who drive F-cars are...
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no doubt about the seat being moved back--you can see in some shots during the show I watched recently that the seat rests all the way against the rear bulkhead; no room for top storage! Maybe I'll try sliding my seat as far back as it goes and see if I can get in & out reasonably. Still wondering about that removable steering wheel thing, though... hmmm.

 

As far as how they portrayed the performance of the car, I thought for a TV show it wasn't all that bad considering other Steven Cannell shows like the ridiculous "Coyote" VW super-car on Hardcastle and McCormick. The 308 was a great performer compared to most American iron of the time.

One episode that still sticks in my mind though, was one where Magnum was narrating and says something to the effect of how "...nice it is to have a really fast car.." while he is chasing (or being chased by) a '70-ish GTO, and then the GTO blows the 308 away. He then says something sheepish about how it is maybe not that fast.

FWIW, another good Steven Cannell show that I feel is the spiritual precusor to Magnum was Rockford files, with James Garner. Selleck was even on that show a few times. Good car stuff on there too as Garner was an accomplished racer himself.

Dave

 

I think I read somewhere that on Hawaii five-o Ford provided most of the vehicles for the police to drive, and therefore the bad guys were mostly in Caddies and Chevys. Or vice versa. Honestly, to me, all those sedans from that era look alike.

 

****, if i jumped in a 308 today i'd say the same thing! cops still drive slow hoopties.

I've heard that the '00+ "Wimpala" cruisers accelerate from 0-60 in over 10 seconds (including added weight of police equipment especially the light bar) and max out at 109mph. I'm no physicist but I think the 308 could handle those figures fairly easily.

The Crown Vics top out at 126 i believe and run to 60 in over 8 seconds. The police advantage lies in numbers and radio communication.

 

Well, I am a police officer as a "day job" although I usually work at night. We have the police special version of the 2004 Crown Victoria. I will tell you straight out my 1978 308 GTS will leave it in the dust after I get into second gear. The squad car won't even near me in top end. Your Ferrari will out run the cruisers, but it won't out run thier radios. Just a word of advice. =]

 

A repost...but here goes...Magnum/Ferrari trivia:
http://www.ferrariclub.com/faq/magnum.html

 

Thanks Dave, I just recorded the soundtrack on to my O2 mobile and set it as my ringtone. It will be fun when someone rings me while driving my 328GTS with the top off.

 

I was thinking the same 'how did he slide it?', 'where is it stowed?' But this is movie business!!

I love the opening scene when the soundtrack comes on when he slides off from the mudpath on to the road, drifting a bit. So cool.

 

Yeah, but I always grimaced at all the blue smoke coming out of the exhaust.

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30403&highlight=magnum+dvd

Happy New Year!

 

Moreover, a CVPI will run at 126 MPH until it runs out of fuel. Something MOST other vehicles cannot do.

Except the F-Cars, and a few others.