No hype. No drama. Just two guys enjoying a 308. | FerrariChat

No hype. No drama. Just two guys enjoying a 308.

Discussion in '308/328' started by Octonion, Dec 26, 2024.

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  1. Octonion

    Octonion Formula Junior

    Dec 30, 2020
    344
    USA
  2. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    May 4, 2001
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    Tommy
    I will go to my grave not believing the seat story and Selleck
     
    Ferraripilot and TheMayor like this.
  3. Sigmacars

    Sigmacars Formula 3
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    Jul 19, 2006
    1,218
    Yes Doc the seat story is true there is a documentary out there about Selleck making the show I seen it showing the mod to the floor and seat so his head would not be over the Windshield and most cars where Kit Cars.
     
    miketuason likes this.
  4. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Feb 11, 2008
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    Vegas baby
    Less talk. More driving.
     
  5. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    The thing is no one can find that documentary. It originally got started I believe from him saying it on Letterman.

    That has "disappeared" too.

    I'll believe it when I see Selleck saying it. Until then it's just rumor and hearsay.
     
    TheMayor likes this.
  6. smg2

    smg2 F1 World Champ
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    Apr 1, 2004
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    Why is it hard to believe?
    Us tall guys just don't fit in these cars. I'm 6'4" and can not drive the 308 B without tilting my head to the side and my knees are still cramed into the steering column. On the S it's just easier to remove the top and I can see right over the windshield, I find it dangerous so I don't drive them .

    We took the seat out of the B once, no seat and I fit perfectly fine, pedals steering etc.. All reachable. Just not comfortable sitting on fiberglass covered carpet.

    So I totally believe any scenario where removing the seat or modifying the car a bit for 6'+ drivers real. Otherwise it looks like a clown car when I squeeze into it.
     
    Rifledriver likes this.
  7. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    To me the entire "Magnum" thing is boring. Do people keep referring to the VW Bug as "Herbie The Love Bug"? The 250 California GT as "The Ferris Bueller car"?

    Time to move on.
     
    ProvaMo and dflett like this.
  8. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
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    Mike 996
    Frankly I enjoy the Magnum car comments/related conversations that occasionally occur at filling stations. But I admit that if I owned a '69 Dodge Charger I wouldn't care for any "Dukes of Hazard" comments! ;)
     
  9. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    I don't believe it because besides two scenes, he always drove with the top out. They have a ****load of legroom with the seat all the way back too. But mainly because it is like Bigfoot. Someone knows someone who heard it, or they heard it - somewhere.

    All I am asking is for someone to produce the video where Selleck says this. I mean, we are all going by what Selleck said anyway and since so many people have seen it it cannot be THAT difficult to find now with the internet at our disposal.

    Frankly I would love to see it and be proven wrong once and for all.
     
  10. smg2

    smg2 F1 World Champ
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    Fair enough..
    Though I beg to differ on the leg room.. Not even close. Cramped as mother.
     
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  11. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Really?
    I'm 5"11 and can't push the pedals in well with the seat all the way back
     
  12. smg2

    smg2 F1 World Champ
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    You're fortunate to have either short legs or proportioned to your height. My long legs.. Don't afford me that.
     
  13. LE06

    LE06 Karting
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    Sep 26, 2022
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    Lee
    I am 6 even and I don’t have the seat all the way back ether. My older son is about 6”3 and he can drive it in the same position I have the seat in. You do have to have long arms though.
    Are you saying Bigfoot is not real? Next someone is going to say Santa is not real ether. :D
     
  14. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    Brian Crall
    I am 5'11 and that is just not the case with me. I drive with the seat all the way back.

    2 of my liaisons with the Ferrari factory at various times covered Hawaii in their territory and oversaw the maintenance and repairs to the TV show cars. They both told me directly the cars needed to be modified so he could fit. And even then he was rather contorted. There is simply no argument here. Its well known.
     
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  15. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    You are one of the few second hand information sources on this that I would have faith in.
     
  16. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    I drive an 82 Alfa Spider and with the seat nearly all the way back, my knees almost hit the back of the steering wheel. Any further back and I wouldn't be able to reach the steering wheel.
     
  17. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    The Alfas had a very different spacing of seat/steering wheel and seat/pedals.
     
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  18. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    I know, I was just pointing out how screwed up Italian seating positions can be.

    I fit in a 308 like it's a fitted glove. If I didn't really like Alfa Spiders since I was a kid, I wouldn't own one if someone paid me. They are just terribly uncomfortable for me to drive.
     
  19. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
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    Mike 996
    Pic taken the day I viewed/bought my 328. I'm on the left - 6ft even. The previous owner is standing next to me. He drove the car regularly and it became my daily driver for 8 years.
     

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  20. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    I had three Alfa Spiders, 2 308's and now a 328.

    For me if I don't get the seat at the exact right distance I sometimes hit my shin under the dash when shifting. If I'm too far away I can't push the clutch in all the way. But as long as I find that one magic notch in the seat adjustment, it feels perfect. But one notch more or less and there's something wrong. So, they are pretty sensitive.

    I've always felt Italian cars are not for everyone. With my Alfa 4c I bet half of America couldn't get in and out of it without looking like a fool. But they're not alone.

     
  21. ChevyDave

    ChevyDave Formula Junior

    Dec 21, 2019
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    Dave W
    I too love the Magnum connection.
    I think non-enthusiasts feel a connection with the 308 which enables all kinds of interesting conversations that probably wouldn’t occur with another car of similar vintage.
    It may sound silly, but I absolutely feel a responsibility to share this rare and incredibly beautiful object called the Ferrari 308 with the rest of the world…and actually enjoy talking to folks about it.
    Regarding the video, I found it interesting listening to the thoughts of a couple of Millennials. If the comments are representative of these younger enthusiasts, I feel the 308 and 328 have nothing to worry about when it comes to their future desirability.
    - Dave
     
  22. Octonion

    Octonion Formula Junior

    Dec 30, 2020
    344
    USA
    Inseam to height ratio may be the factor that's being overlooked when people state their height and say they fit in the 308 perfectly fine or not. The average inseam-to-height ratio seems to be around 0.46 to 0.47. Not sure if this is true across the OECD countries. So, anyone who does not fit this ratio may find it difficult to fit in cars designed around that average.
     
    LE06 likes this.
  23. bitsobrits

    bitsobrits Formula Junior
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    Nov 12, 2011
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    Omaha, NE area, US
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    Steve
    Another not talked about parameter is the size of ones ass, which has a large impact on how far forward, and how high, you sit in the seat. :rolleyes:
     
    LE06 likes this.
  24. Michael DB

    Michael DB Karting

    Dec 22, 2023
    231
    UK
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    Michael D Beswick
    2” spacer on the steering wheel and custom head rest needed for me. Long body shorter legs -6ft. And then a means on bringing the turn signals stalk a bit closer.


    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  25. 26street

    26street Formula Junior

    Jan 30, 2021
    466
    Westchester New York
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    Mark k
    the whole magnum thing is really funny to me, one reason why i made sure i did not get Rosso Corsa, instead i have a Blu Chiaro, but still when people ask what kind of Ferrari have i say "81 GTSi" and they have no idea what i am saying then i show them a pic and they all say "the Magnum car" every time,

    as far as sizing i am 5'7" and fit the car great my son 6'3" has some fitment problems mostly his feet in the pedal box head room little tough but can work.
     

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