Originally introduced at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in Germany in 1977, the targa-topped 308 GTS hit its stride when it became a regular staple on the “Magnum P.I.” show. At the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction in South Florida, April 16-18, a 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS Targa that was driven by Tom Selleck in the pilot episode and early on in Season 1 of the popular ’80s show will cross the block at No Reserve.
Seat modifications had to be made by the production team to make room for the 6-foot-4-inch Selleck inside the 308 GTS. They removed all the seat padding and bolted the seat as far back as possible, but even then, Selleck had to drive the car with the targa top removed in most scenes.
The 1979 308 GTS gets its power from a 2.0L quad-cam V-8 equipped with four Weber carburetors, electronic ignition, quad-exit exhaust and limited-slip differential. The wheels receive power via a 5-speed manual transmission with a gated shifter. It also features 390mm Cromodora wheels and four-wheel disc brakes.
The vehicle is painted in Ferrari Rosso Corsa, better known as “Magnum Red,” by fans of the show, and the interior sports Crema leather. Pop-up headlights and a removable targa top are all part of the car’s classic silhouette.
The 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS Targa will sell with No Reserve and includes documentation with letters from Marcel Massini, a Ferrari historian, and F-Register to verify it is officially one of several 308 GTSs used on the “Magnum P.I.” show.
