As an enthusiast with gasoline coursing through my veins, I clearly remember the Ferrari 308 GTS driven by Tom Selleck’s character in the 1980s TV Series, Magnum, P.I. The car used during the first season was a 1979 model, making it identical to our featured Ferrari. This classic doesn’t just look superb; it’s been meticulously maintained, with Service Records dating back to Day One. Its next journey could be to a new home, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Barney for spotting this Italian exotic listed here on Craigslist in Scottsdale, Arizona, for $98,000.
Released in 1975, the Ferrari GTB was penned by Leonardo Fioravanti during his twenty-four-year tenure at Pininfarina. The 308 GTS followed in 1977, featuring a Targa top for genuine open-air motoring. Our featured GTS left the Maranello factory in 1979, ordered in traditional Rosso Red. The seller provides some excellent close-up images, confirming that this Italian classic has no cosmetic shortcomings. The paint shines nicely, and the panels are spotless. Rust won’t be a concern since the Ferrari has spent its days in a dry climate. The panel gaps are as tight and consistent as you would rightly expect from a hand-built exotic in this price range. The top fits snugly, the glass is clear, and the beautiful 14″ alloy wheels present at their elegant best.
In keeping with its sporting credentials, this Ferrari’s interior features body-hugging bucket seats in hand-stitched Black leather, a range of gauges clearly visible to the driver through the beautiful three-spoke, leather-wrapped wheel, and a gated shifter, a hallmark of many Italian exotics. The front section of the console looks patchy in some shots, but that may be due to the lighting. The upholstery shows no significant wear, and the carpet looks excellent. The seats are particularly noteworthy for their lack of visible wear. Entering and exiting a 308 is not an elegant process, and sliding across the outer seat bolsters is almost inevitable. However, these seats look excellent, suggesting the seller has always been particularly careful to avoid damage.
In typical Ferrari fashion, this car’s model designation derives from its engine configuration. It features a 3.0-liter mid-mounted V8, sending power to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transaxle. Cars sold in North America were slightly detuned compared to their European counterparts, delivering 240hp and a factory-declared top speed of 156mph. European buyers received 255hp, although the extra ponies only raised top speed to 159mph. The seller indicates this GTS has an odometer reading of 51,200 miles, and the figure is probably verifiable through the extensive collection of included Service Records. It has been meticulously maintained and is ready for action with its next owner behind the wheel.
If you gave me a choice between any modern Ferrari and this 1979 308 GTS to park in my garage, I would choose this car in a heartbeat. Admittedly, the latest model would be more refined, user-friendly, and loaded with modern creature comforts. This 308 could be cantankerous, require more maintenance, and be less comfortable. However, it will provide a pure driving experience, with the driver’s pleasure not spoiled by interfering electronic “nannies.” The person behind the wheel would have total control of their speed and destiny, which is how it should be with any exotic of this type. The seller’s price looks realistic, and though they probably won’t have potential buyers beating down their door, I believe it will find a new home. I only wish that it were mine.
Because of Magnum PI, this was THE Ferrari that a lot of kids like me dreamed about. In fact, I actually have a remote controlled one from about 1977 that my Grandpa bought me when I was a kid. This has to be the nicest looking, most maintained 308 we’ve ever seen here. It’s a lot of money, but where would you find one that’s nicer? And, not only from first seeing the opening picture, but also because of Adam, I now have the theme song from Magnum PI going through my head. ( Not an entirely bad thing). Maybe it’s because of my childhood memories and connections, but the Ferrari 308 is my absolute favorite. Once again, thank you Adam, I really enjoyed this, and the great memories too. And of course to Barney for finding this beauty. It’s just stunning in those photos. I really hope it finds a good new home and receives the same care its received all these decades.
Thanks again Adam! Damn you! I caught myself drooling in my cereal again! What a beautiful car! I wouldn’t be able to keep up on the maintenance as I would be driving it nonstop. The only times I would stop would be to eat and gas it up!
Dam you Driveinstile! Now I’ve got that song in my head!! Just kidding, and yes, not entirely a bad thing ..but I’m with you on the Ferrari, it’s kinda like the phrase ‘muscle car’, in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Terretto’s black Charger beside the entry..well, this car should rest firmly beside ‘Ferrari’. Also with you on the condition, I haven’t seen one that’s as perfect as this one since, well since Tom was buzzing around Hawaii in his bosses’. And like Adam, if I had to choose between this beauty and a brand new one hand made for me, this one would be in my carport..and of course I would be enclosing said carport!
Sweet!! But for that amount i would try to find a 348, or 355 but those have gone way up now.
Obviously a beautiful car in so many ways, but you better sit your arse in one first to see if you fit. The Average tiny Italian will, but the average tubbster American will not. Selleck had to have the bottom seat rails removed so he could somewhat fit, plus he still had to have the top off, ALL THE TIME. Yet, his head still stuck out a top of the windshield. Then, try shifting with your size 13 footsies in that tiny narrow space they call the well.
I have seen everyones favorite Mr T. pictured with one from years back. (I mean the obvious one, not the cool one who hung out with the A Team) That dude has always been beefy and 6 foot 3, if we are to believe him at his word (why would we not?). I bet wasn’t even his car, just a publicity shot to pretend wealth. He couldn’t have possibly comfortably driven one, besides, so much better in a limo where one of the little people up front do all the work.
Made for Italian male smokers with 32 in waist, preferably 5’8 or under. But still a beauty
Almost up to the mid-80’s sports cars at least in Europe, were designed with the fighter pilot in mind. You have to be around 1,75CM (5f 5in) to fit in and usually there was little room for adjustment. The Fiat X1/9 suffered also from the same flaw, until Bertone in 1989 redesigned it. Only recently, around 20 years, the aviation (and the sports car) industry, changed that and they now advertise for fighter pilots of bigger sizes to apply.
The standard driver size 20 years back or more for sports cars in Europe was exactly the fighter pilots size of 1m 75cm (5f 10in). It’s obvious in many Italian or even some British sports cars of the era. My Fiat-Bertone X1/9 had exactly the same problem that was fixed around 1989 by Bertone. Greek AF 10 years back advertised like “apply for pilot, now all sizes fit”! My mechanic in England in 1982 proposed to exchange his Ferrari 308 with my X1/9 but i refused thinking of the maintenance cost, in the end of the day i was still a student (postgraduate)
i doubt the person looking on C/L is shopping for a Ferrari close to 100k.
Maybe if that doesn’t work they can try a yard sale.
Yes, in Beverly Hills.
Nearly, but just like the tv show Ferrari this is never going to be something for me.
That money could buy me a lot more useful things
It was advertised by the original owners son for sale on FB Marketplace in the end of July for $70K this year. Looks like someone is making a lot of money for flipping it! I believe the service records also show the nose being repaired quite a while ago as well. Nice car though!
77 & 78 the bodies were fiberglass. Don’t know if they still were in 79. Seems like it was just those 2 years. I had a customer, my 1st customer actually, that had a couple of gray market ones. He actually had them imported over here in the early 80s when the $ was really strong against the lb.
Nice Ferrari but I heard about the maintenance woes for this car. If anything in this picture I would love to have in my driveway is that lovely C2 Stingray lurking in the back.
That’s so wild. 14” wheels. 😆. Now it’s all about 18’s, 19’s and 20’s. Still a timeless beauty. ❤️❤️
14″ wheels shows how small this car really is!
I hate to be “that guy’ but can we please stop with the Random Capitalization of important sounding Words?!?!
The only Ferrari I really loved the looks of. Didn’t realize even those only had a 85mph speedo. I guess that would be cringe worthy if it was yours lol.
I have to agree with Adam, I too would take this over any modern Ferrari, it just leaves them all for dead in the looks department.
Amen, Amen, Amen !!! One of the prettiest F cars ever! Plus I, too like the higher profile 14″ wheels. They ride much better than the new low profile’ rubber band’ tires and wheels!! Simple elegance also in the interior….
Nice