magnun pi : a real one or not ?

Several real cars used... not a kit that I know of.

Do a search here on 'magnum'.

 

You might be confusing it with Miami Vice.

The Daytona was a McBurnie on a Corvette chassis.

 

I also heard that a few years ago. Not sure how true it is, so I wont agree with ya. Some cars were real, some were kit cars I was told. But cant back it up 100% sorry.

 

There was a post on this board about this and IIRC there were 4 or 5 real 308/328 and one kit car that was used for crashes and the like. This was over the life of the series.

 

That was what I heard by memory. Something like that.

 

Actually, if you watch the scene where Mac dies ("Did you see the sunrise?" episode) they didn't even use a Ferrari for explosion/fire. The car doesn't even look close to a 308.

Maybe they used a kit for some of the other crashes. A 308 was a pretty expensive ride when it was new.

 

I'm not sure if this is true but I remember reading it somewhere that they used a FIAT X1/9 for the explosion/fire.

 

There was a real car that was used obviously not for any of the stunts. I saw the car at one of the Ferrari Owners Club events in the L.A. area a number of years ago and the title was held by the studio. Came with a letter of authenticity and signed by Tom Selleck. The car looked to be in fairly good shape externally. Undercarage was beat to sh*t, but was painted over with black paint. It's out there somewhere with someone who likes TV souvenirs.

 

One of the Magnum cars was at Universal Studios in Hollywood for a while. It was beat up pretty bad. Another car (1979 308) was sold by Ferrari of Costa Mesa a while back. Pictures of it are still on the website. www.ferrariservice.com
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I remember the 308 shell that was left out for the masses to abuse. I'm sure we have a picture of me 15 years younger sitting inside of it (no seats - just a black steel floor).

 

It now has custom seats.

So sad.
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They were real Ferraris. My dad and I met Larry Manetti (Rick on the show) at a Giant Eagle a few years ago in North Olmsted, Ohio. At the time, my dad was interested in buying a 308 so he asked him about the car. He told us he bought one of the show cars actually, but had a lot of reliability issues with it which unfortunately turned my dad off to the 308.

 

I read somewhere that the seats (bottoms) were gutted so Magnum could fit in it and you will notice that the targa top is never on the car because his head sticks above the roof.

 

I remember a clip posted on f-chat that had Magnum driving with the top on, and you see him reach up to remove the top, and its gone in an instant. He doesnt even have to stop to store it, it just disappears.

 

You're right and the roof disappeared but IIRC it was on for a moment as the car was sitting still. I wandered how many people knew that disappearing roof was fake.

 

heres the youtube link to the opening scene... its hilarious.. its all in one shot... he shoves the top back, then he pulls away and the top has vanished completly. Some stagehands probably grabbed it and carried it off camera just in time...
really strange when you know that its not possible...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_EIuqgMIdY

GT

 

Cool vid. Funny now that you mention it.