Tom Selleck's Magnum P.I. Ferrari. The car that defined Ferrari in the 1980s for American audiences. The V8 that succeeded the Dino established Ferrari's mid-engine V8 lineage through the 328, 348, 355, 360, 430, 458, and 488.
History
The 308 GTB replaced the Dino 246 GT as Ferrari's entry-level sports car. Pininfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti designed a taut, angular body that was more aggressive than the curvaceous Dino. Early 308 GTBs used fiberglass bodies before switching to steel in 1977.
The F106 V8, Ferrari's first production V8, used a flat-plane crankshaft, four Weber carburetors, and dual overhead camshafts per bank. It produced 255 hp and revved to 7,700 rpm with a sound that was distinctly Ferrari despite having only eight cylinders.
Magnum P.I. (1980-1988) made the 308 GTS (targa-top variant) the most recognized Ferrari in America. Tom Selleck's red GTS appeared in virtually every episode, doing more for Ferrari's US brand awareness than any marketing campaign.
The 308 evolved into the 308 GTBi (fuel injection), 308 QV (Quattrovalvole, four valves per cylinder), and eventually the 328, which enlarged the engine to 3.2 liters. The lineage continued unbroken through seven generations to the current F8 Tributo.
12,004 308s were built across all variants, making it one of Ferrari's best-selling models. Clean early fiberglass GTBs command $80,000 to $150,000.
Production & Heritage
Value estimates are editorial assessments based on recent auction results and market trends.
Technical Specifications
Engine Details
Performance
Tags
Designed by Pininfarina (Leonardo Fioravanti)
