The Ferrari 308 GTS from Magnum, P.I. is one of the most famous television cars of all time. During the 1980s, millions of viewers watched private investigator Thomas Magnum, played by Tom Selleck, drive a red Ferrari across the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The car became as recognisable as Magnum’s moustache, Hawaiian shirts and Detroit Tigers baseball cap.
This is everything you need to know about the Magnum P.I. Ferrari, including the story of the series, why the Ferrari 308 GTS was chosen, how the cars were modified for Tom Selleck, which versions appeared on television and why surviving examples are now so valuable.
Magnum P.I. and the Ferrari
Magnum, P.I. was first broadcast in the United States on 11 December 1980. The series starred Tom Selleck as Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV and continued for eight seasons before ending on 8 May 1988. A total of 162 episodes were produced. The programme became one of the most successful television series of the decade and helped turn Selleck into an international star.
The opening credits played an important role in establishing the programme’s style. The theme music became famous in its own right, while the red Ferrari 308 GTS appeared as one of the main visual symbols. The combination of the music, Hawaiian scenery, Tom Selleck and the Ferrari created an image that viewers immediately connected with Magnum, P.I.
What is Magnum P.I. about?
Thomas Magnum is a former United States Navy officer, Navy SEAL and Naval Intelligence agent who served during the Vietnam War. After leaving the military, he becomes a private investigator in Hawaii and lives in the guest house of Robin’s Nest, a large beachfront estate owned by the mysterious author Robin Masters. Magnum is allowed to stay on the estate because of his security knowledge and his relationship with Masters. He enjoys many of the estate’s luxuries and regularly drives Robin Masters’ red Ferrari 308, which carries the licence plate “ROBIN 1”. Although the car does not belong to Magnum, he often treats it as if it does.
The estate is managed by Jonathan Quayle Higgins III, a strict former British Army Sergeant Major played by John Hillerman. Higgins regularly argues with Magnum about the Ferrari, the wine cellar, the tennis courts and Magnum’s relaxed use of Robin Masters’ possessions. Magnum is also helped by his former military friends T.C. Calvin and Rick Wright. Their friendship became one of the central parts of the series. During the final seasons, Magnum begins to suspect that Higgins may secretly be Robin Masters, although the programme never gives a clear final answer.
They almost picked a Porsche 928
The Ferrari 308 GTS is now so closely connected with Magnum, P.I. that it is difficult to imagine Thomas Magnum driving anything else. However, the Ferrari was not the only sports car considered for the programme. According to the widely told story behind the production, Tom Selleck initially requested a Porsche 928. The German sports car was modern, expensive and unusual enough to match Magnum's lifestyle, but there was an important practical problem. Selleck is approximately 6 feet 4 inches, or 1.93 metres, tall and fitting him comfortably into a low sports car while allowing television cameras to clearly film him was not easy.
Photo: Porsche
Different accounts explain the problem in different ways. Some say Porsche was asked to make more space for Selleck, while others say the production wanted a much larger roof opening for camera shots. Porsche did not agree to produce the requested special version, so the producers looked for another car. Ferrari supplied the 308 GTS and the decision created one of the most famous car and television partnerships in history.
Why the Ferrari 308 GTS was perfect
The Ferrari 308 GTS was an ideal television car because it was attractive, compact and instantly recognisable. Its low body, sharp Pininfarina styling and bright red paint looked impressive against the green landscape and blue ocean of Hawaii. The GTS also had a removable targa roof panel, which allowed the cameras to show Tom Selleck clearly while he was driving.
The Ferrari also suited the unusual position of Thomas Magnum perfectly. Magnum was not a millionaire, successful businessman or international celebrity. He was a private investigator who happened to live on the estate of a wealthy author and had almost unlimited access to the owner's Ferrari. This created an important contrast between the car and its driver. Magnum rarely treated the Ferrari as a precious collector's item and simply used it to travel between investigations, visit friends and occasionally chase criminals.
The Ferrari represented the luxurious world of Robin Masters, while Magnum's relaxed treatment of the car reinforced his easy going personality. From a television perspective, the 308 was photogenic, exotic and instantly recognisable, making it a recurring visual symbol and an important part of the identity of the series.
Modifications for Tom Selleck
Although the Ferrari 308 GTS had a removable roof, Tom Selleck's height still created a major problem for the production. The 308 was a compact mid engined sports car with a very low driving position and limited space inside the cabin. A mid engine layout means the engine is positioned behind the seats but in front of the rear axle. This arrangement helps improve weight distribution and handling, but it also means that passenger space can be limited. At approximately 6’4 (1.93 metres) tall, Selleck simply did not fit comfortably into a standard Ferrari 308 GTS.
The cars used for filming were therefore modified to create additional space. Padding was removed from the seats so Selleck could sit lower in the Ferrari and the driver's seat was positioned as far back as possible to increase legroom. Even after these changes, Selleck remained a tight fit and his head could sometimes be seen above the windscreen frame. For this reason, Magnum usually drove with the targa roof panel removed during filming. The open roof improved comfort and made Selleck easier to film, while the sunny Hawaiian location meant that the decision looked completely natural. The modifications helped create one of the defining television images of the decade, with Magnum driving a red Ferrari through Hawaii wearing an Aloha shirt and sunglasses.
Ferrari 308 GTS engine and design
The Ferrari 308 GTS was powered by a 2.9 litre V8 engine mounted behind the passenger compartment. This mid engine layout means the engine sits between the seats and the rear axle, which helps improve balance and handling. The GTS used a removable roof panel, while the related 308 GTB had a fixed roof.
Early Ferrari 308 models used carburettors, which mix fuel and air before it enters the engine. Ferrari later introduced fuel injection to meet stricter emissions rules, particularly in the United States. This reduced engine power, but the later Quattrovalvole version helped improve performance again. Quattrovalvole means four valves and refers to the use of four valves in each cylinder.
Photo: Quatro Rodas
The importance of the Ferrari 308 goes far beyond its role in Magnum, P.I. because the model helped establish one of the most important bloodlines in Ferrari history. The mid engined V8 layout of the 308 became the basis for a long series of Ferrari sports cars, followed by models including the 328, 348, F355, 360 Modena, F430, 458 Italia and 488 GTB. This direct V8 lineage essentially reached its final chapter with the F8 Tributo in 2019, but the basic idea of a mid engined Ferrari sports car continues today.
Models such as the V6 hybrid 296 GTB and the 849 Testarossa show how the concept has evolved with new engines and hybrid technology. In that sense, the 308 defined a type of Ferrari sports car that has remained central to the company for more than fifty years.
Which Ferrari 308 models were used?
The Ferrari seen in Magnum, P.I. was not one single car and the same version of the 308 was not used throughout all eight seasons. As Ferrari developed the 308 during the 1980s, the television production also moved to newer models. An estimated fifteen Ferrari 308 cars are often said to have been used during the production of the series, although exact totals differ between sources. These were working television cars and different examples could be required for driving scenes, close camera shots and normal production use.
Photo: Ferrari
The first season used carburettor equipped Ferrari 308 GTS models, including 1979 examples from the early group of cars connected with the production. The early carburettor version produced considerably more power than the fuel injected model that followed. For the second and third seasons, the production moved to the Ferrari 308 GTSi. The letter "i" referred to fuel injection and American specification versions produced approximately 205 horsepower. This reduction in power made the GTSi one of the less desirable versions among some Ferrari enthusiasts, particularly when compared with the earlier carburettor cars.
For the remaining seasons, the Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole became Magnum's main car. Quattrovalvole means "four valves" in Italian and refers to the use of four valves in each engine cylinder. The additional valves improved the movement of air through the engine and helped Ferrari recover some of the performance lost when fuel injection was introduced. The Quattrovalvole produced approximately 235 horsepower in American specification and represented the most developed version of the 308 seen in the series. For normal television viewers, the differences between the cars were probably difficult to notice. For Ferrari enthusiasts, however, Magnum, P.I. unintentionally created a television history of the development of the Ferrari 308
How many Ferrari cars were used in Magnum P.I.?
The exact number of Ferrari 308 cars used during the production of Magnum, P.I. is difficult to confirm. An estimate of approximately fifteen genuine Ferrari 308s is regularly mentioned, although the total differs between sources. This is understandable because the series ran for eight seasons between 1980 and 1988 and the Ferrari 308 itself changed during this period. Several cars were required for filming and different examples could be used for normal driving scenes, close camera shots and other production requirements.
The production also used Ferrari 308 kit cars for some of the more aggressive driving scenes. These fibreglass replicas were built on Pontiac Fiero chassis and allowed the crew to film demanding action without placing a genuine Ferrari at the same level of risk. This means that not every red 308 seen being driven hard in Magnum, P.I. was a real Ferrari. However, genuine examples of the carburettor 308 GTS, fuel injected 308 GTSi and later 308 GTS Quattrovalvole were used throughout the series. Today, identifying an original Magnum P.I. Ferrari requires careful research into chassis numbers, production records and documented connections with the television programme.
The famous ROBIN 1 licence plate
The “ROBIN 1” licence plate became one of the most recognisable details of the Magnum P.I. Ferrari, although the famous plate was not used from the very beginning. In the pilot film, Robin Masters' Ferrari mainly carried the Hawaiian registration “56E 478”, while “561 068” briefly appeared in one scene. For the rest of the series, the Ferrari used the much more memorable “ROBIN 1” plate, which clearly reminded viewers that the car belonged to Robin Masters rather than Thomas Magnum. Interestingly, the original “56E 478” registration continued to appear in every episode as part of the opening title sequence. It can be seen in the classic shot of Magnum smiling towards the camera before accelerating away and sending the Ferrari into a controlled slide.
The licence plate also supported the long running conflict between Magnum and Higgins. Magnum used the Ferrari whenever he wanted and often behaved as if it were his personal car, while Higgins treated it as valuable property belonging to the Robin's Nest estate. The programme never explained who paid for the Ferrari's fuel, insurance, repairs or general maintenance, which only added to the humour surrounding Magnum's almost unlimited use of the car. Over time, “ROBIN 1” became almost as closely connected with the series as the red Ferrari 308 itself.
Pop culture icon
The Ferrari 308 followed Thomas Magnum throughout eight seasons and 162 episodes of television. Its bright red body and distinctive shape made it immediately visible on screen, while the Hawaiian landscape created a perfect background for the Italian sports car. The combination of Tom Selleck, the open targa roof and the Ferrari became one of the defining television images of the 1980s. Even viewers with little interest in cars could recognise Magnum's Ferrari.
The programme introduced the Ferrari 308 to a worldwide television audience. As a result, many people still refer to the model as the Magnum Ferrari. Other Ferrari models have become famous through television, including the Ferrari Testarossa from Miami Vice, but few cars are as closely connected with one character as the Ferrari 308 and Thomas Magnum.
Chassis 28251 308 GTS
One of the most important surviving Magnum P.I. Ferraris is chassis number 28251. This 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS appeared in the original pilot episode, Don’t Eat the Snow in Hawaii, and was also used during the first season.
The car was originally supplied in Fly Yellow before being repainted in Rosso Corsa for the television series. It is also believed to have been driven from New York to Los Angeles by author P.J. O’Rourke for a road trip story connected with Car and Driver magazine.
Photo: Barret-Jackson
In April 2026, the car was sold at the Barrett Jackson Palm Beach auction. It achieved a hammer price of $345,000, with the total price including auction costs reported to be close to $380,000. Its value came from its direct connection with Tom Selleck and the early history of Magnum, P.I.
The Ferrari 488 Spider in the Magnum P.I. Reboot
In 2018, Magnum P.I. returned to television with a modern reboot of the original series. Jay Hernandez took over the role of Thomas Magnum, while Perdita Weeks played Juliet Higgins, Zachary Knighton appeared as Rick Wright and Stephen Hill played T.C. Calvin. The basic idea remained familiar, with Magnum working as a private investigator in Hawaii and living at Robin's Nest, but the characters and stories were updated for a new generation. The reboot ran for five seasons between 2018 and 2024, first on CBS and later on NBC.
A modern Thomas Magnum also needed a modern Ferrari and the classic 308 was replaced by the Ferrari 488 Spider. The red, mid engined V8 sports car continued the visual tradition established by Tom Selleck and the 308 GTS, while its open roof made it a natural choice for the Hawaiian setting. The 488 Spider was a much more powerful and technically advanced car, with a 3.9 litre twin turbocharged V8 producing 670 horsepower. However, its purpose in the series was much the same.
The red Ferrari remained an important part of Magnum's image and a direct visual connection with the original programme. The 308 GTS will always be the true Magnum Ferrari for many fans, but the 488 Spider showed how easily the famous combination of Thomas Magnum, Hawaii and a red Ferrari could be updated for a new era.
Which car is more iconic? The Miami Vice Testarossa or the Magnum 308?
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