HomePick of the DayAs seen on TV, Ferrari 308 GTS like the one driven on...

As seen on TV, Ferrari 308 GTS like the one driven on ‘Magnum PI’

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Monday was a monumental day, the premier of the reboot of Magnum P.I.  

The Pick of the Day celebrates the new/old private-eye classic with one of my all-time favorite cars, an exotic Italian that co-starred with Tom Selleck in all seven seasons of the original series, and which also appears in the new version of the show: the Ferrari 308 GTS.

The Pick is a 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi painted Rosso Corsa red with a tan interior, just like that one that Selleck drove.

Ferrari
It’s hard to look at a 308 without thinking of Tom Selleck behind the wheel

The seller is a private owner in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, advertising the Ferrari on ClassicCars.com, who says the 308 was originally delivered to the U.S. as one of only 508 of the 308 GTS targa-top models produced for 1982.  In 2008, this 308 was brought into Canada by the current owner when the car had 49,900 original miles.

The V8 engine had been rebuilt in 2000 at 44,000 miles, the seller says, with a high-performance engine kit, the work done at Ferrari of Central Florida, which also replaced the clutch and inspected the transmission. The car has none of the second-gear synchro issues or dash cracking that are endemic to this model, the ad says.  

Ferrari
The Ferrari 308 was designed by Pininfarina

This Ferrari has a number of nice upgrades, including 16-inch Superformance wheels with Michelin Pilot tires, a modern electrical fuse block, a QV rear spoiler and a carbon-fiber intake plenum. The car also retains its original owner’s manual/pouch, tool kit, extensive service/ownership history, shop manual and three sets of keys.

The total mileage on this car is a bit high at 82,000 miles, but considering that the engine has only 42,000 miles since its rebuild, there should be little if any worry about mechanical issues. The car received a high-quality repaint in 2010, the seller notes, and is in excellent condition.

Ferrari
The tan interior matches that of the original ‘Magnum PI’ car

After many years of being a low-hanging Ferrari model of modest value, the 308 turned into a hot commodity a few years back, its values rising along with those of high-end and competition models.  But more recently, the prices have settled back down so that the 308 is once again relatively affordable. 

This good-looking 308 has an asking price of $53,500, which seems to be a decent price for a well-sorted Ferrari.  The new owner could enjoy living the Magnum PI lifestyle, as well as enjoying a possible boost in the car’s value if the rebooted show becomes a hit once again.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.   

Andy Reid
Andy Reid
Andy Reid's first car, purchased at age 15, was a 1968 Fiat 124 coupe. His second, obtained by spending his college savings fund, was a 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2. Since then, he has owned more than 150 cars—none of them normal or reasonable—as well as numerous classic motorcycles and scooters. A veteran of film, television, advertising and helping to launch a few Internet-based companies, Reid was a columnist for Classic Motorsports magazine for 12 years and has written for several other publications. He is considered an expert in European sports and luxury cars and is a respected concours judge. He lives in Canton, Connecticut.

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