Impeccably groomed mustache.
Tigers cap, aloha shirt, short shorts.
Bright-red Ferrari 308 racing around Hawaii in a quest for justice.
We all know the drill. And we all know the reality: If not for “Magnum, P.I.,” would the Ferrari 308 be the legend that it is today? And can you go one step further and argue that the landmark TV show helped introduce the Ferrari brand to the masses?
Most everyone–your brother, your banker, your baker–can ID a Ferrari 308. Can the same be said for a modern supercar at more than a hundred paces?
Bonus: The 308 can actually cost less than many of those other derivative mid-engine machines. Like most everything, Ferrari prices spiked during covid. But since then? Relatively flat: Figure a little north of six figures for top cars, with many trading for about half that–sometimes maybe even a little less.
Despite those classic, consistent outward appearances, however, the 308 evolved during its run: Steel bodies replaced fiberglass, fuel injection replaced Webers, the open-topped GTS joined the GTB coupe.
Some things, though, remained the same–ones dear to the Ferrari faithful: a gated, five-speed manual shifter, high-revving V8 engine and those ever-iconic round taillamps. Pininfarina, the Italian design powerhouse, penned the shape.
Is the red too much for you? The palette also includes black, white and shades of silver.
You’d be welcome nearly anywhere, from a local get-together to most any event at Monterey. A 308 can serve as your all-access pass.
Ferrari 308 Practical Guidance
Bruce Trenery
Fantasy Junction
The carbureted 308s, which are from ’76 to ’79, are a little bit purer in the sense of the sound of acceleration through the carburetors and things like that. They respond really well and, in my opinion, are kind of the purer version and more fun to drive.
But even if they have all the smog stuff on them and they’re in good shape, it’s almost impossible to get a legal smog certificate. So, the carbureted ones really should be sold outside of the state [of California] no matter if an owner says, “But my car has all of the requirements, it was sold new here, etc.” They just are very, very difficult to get past the requirements that are in place now in states like California.
[The GTSi and GTBi] are fine to drive; they’re more like a regular modern car in the sense that you don’t have to use a choke, and they don’t smell as bad because they burn the fuel more cleanly and things of that nature.
The Quattrovalvole brought back the power and still kept the smog possibilities so that they could be registered. So, any of those injected cars can be sold in California if they have all their requirements and are in good shape.
Everybody ordered red with tan or red with black in those years, and so finding one that’s blue with cream or green with tan or green with gray or some other color combination can make a difference of maybe 25 or 30% in the value of the car. If you’re repainting a red one and you decide to go with another color, try and go with a color that was offered on the car, even if your car didn’t have it. That’ll help your resale value.
Recently Sold
Sold: 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB
$165,200 • Broad Arrow Auctions Monterey
Billed as one of the hundred fiberglass cars sent to the U.S., with more than $248,000 spent on work since 2015.
Sold: 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi
$82,500 • Mecum Houston
The iconic open-top model, with this example carrying nearly $25,000 in receipts.
Sold: 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB
$60,500 • Mecum Kissimmee
Not quite 44,000 miles on the odometer and coming from the Schroeder Family Collection.
3 More to Watch
1987 Ferrari 328 GTS
$82,500 • Mecum Kissimmee
Similar to the 308 but a little more power plus an updated nose.
1983 Porsche 911 SC Cabriolet
$45,750 • Bring a Trailer
Recreate your own Sunset Boulevard chase scene from “Against All Odds,” the 1984 romantic thriller. (Okay, don’t really do that.)
1974 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4
$46,000 • RM Sotheby’s
Before the 308 GTB and 308 GTS, Ferrari offered the Bertone-penned 308 GT4. Similar powerplant but crisper lines.
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