I remember watching Entertainment Tonight in 1980 (or thereabouts) and seeing a preview of a new detective show coming on TV called Magnum p.i. It looked intriguing, but when I saw that the star drove around in a Ferrari 308, I knew I was going to be a frequent viewer. As it turned out, Magnum p.i. is one of my favorite TV shows of all time, but it was only in part because of the car. Tom Selleck and gang actually had more to do with my loyal viewership.
FIRST OPENING:
LATER OPENING:
Plainly, for anyone who lived through the 1980s, it cannot be denied that Magnum p.i. put the Ferrari 308 into the forefronts of the American car enthusiasts' psyche. Whenever a 308 was spotted nearby, you would often hear something like, "That's the Magnum p.i. car!"
As the show was more than the car, so the car was more than a star on the show. A good partnership indeed, so much so that Enzo Ferrari personally made certain that the show's Ferrari stables were full.
Twenty-five years on and the Ferrari 308 has now attained that rarified status of being one of the most popular sports cars in history, and, of course, one of the most beautiful. Personally, I prefer the GTB closed coupe version, but for sentimental purposes, I've shown GTS pictures here, with a few nostalgic Magnum p.i. shots.
FAMOUS CAST QUOTES:
"T.C., I'll pay you back." (Magnum)
"Oh...my...GOD! Magnum!!!" (Higgins)
"Relax Higgy-Baby." (T.C.)
"Where's Thomas?" (Rick)
1984 Ferrari 308 GTS - More than Magnum
