You can buy the Magnum P.I. Ferrari 308 GTS at auction
The 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS that appeared in the pilot episode of Magnum P.I. goes under the hammer at Barrett-Jackson's Palm Beach auction in April with no reserve price set.
Rob Leigh
The most famous Ferrari on 1980s television is up for grabs. A 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS used during the filming of Magnum P.I. - the Tom Selleck crime drama that ran from 1980 to 1988 - is heading to auction at Barrett-Jackson's Palm Beach event on April 16-18.
This particular car, chassis number 28251, is documented as the first Ferrari supplied to the production, appearing in the show's pilot episode. Ferrari reportedly provided 15 cars across the 163-episode run with this carburettor-fed example used alongside two others in the inaugural season.
Under the bonnet sits a 2.9-litre quad-cam V8 with four Weber carburettors producing 230 horsepower, paired with a five-speed gated manual. It rides on 15.4-inch Cromodora wheels with four-wheel disc brakes and a limited-slip differential.
At 6 feet 4 inches tall, Selleck needed the seat modified to fit behind the wheel. Those changes were reversed before the car was sold on though the interior was re-trimmed in Nero black. It now shows its age with visible patina, a CD player and a modified rear valance.
Provenance has been certified by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini and the F-Register. A similar 308 GTS from the show sold last year for around $115,000 USD (approximately $168,000 AUD).
No reserve means the hammer falls regardless of price. Australian buyers would need to factor in import costs and compliance as this is a US-market auction. But if you've always wanted to live out a Hawaiian detective fantasy in a Rosso Corsa V8 - and you're comfortable with the patina - this is probably the most achievable version of that dream.
