The 1980s is a glorious decade that concluded with the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) and the end of the Cold War (1991), but for those less interested in politics and global affairs, this was the age of Nintendo games, action-packed movies, fast cars, and the weirdest fashion trends. So, when a TV series came out that incorporated all the new trends, viewers went crazy for it. And that’s exactly what happened with Magnum P.I., a series that showcased the life of a private investigator who lived on Oahu, Hawaii.

In the TV series, Thomas Magnum, played by Tom Selleck, saves the day and always catches the bad guy, while remaining stylish and manly despite the colorful Hawaiian shirts and casual attire. As you would expect from such a cool leading guy like Selleck, he was not only a fashion icon but also the ultimate car guy. In the series, Magnum drove nothing less than a red Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole. Star Adviser claims producers featured three distinct Ferrari model years (1978, 1980, and 1984) in Magnum P.I., some used for the driving scenes and others for close-up footage.

Meanwhile, Bonhams points out that during the first season of the hit TV series, Magnum drove a 1978 308 GTS. However, for the second, third, and beginning of the fourth season, he drove a 1980 308 GTSi. Midway through the fourth season, producers swapped the 1980 308 GTSi with a 1984 308 GTS QV, which was then used for the rest of the series. According to Bonhams, each series used around five different automobiles, with those in immaculate condition used for light action/close-ups, whereas the others ending in action shots. Ferrari North America supplied all of Magnum’s cars in the hit series. When a vehicle was no longer needed, Ferrari North America would take it back, refinish it, service it, and then sell it to the vehicle's “first” owner.

Related: A Detailed Look Back At The Ferrari 308 GTS

Magnum’s Ferrari Became The Symbol Of An Era Of Excess And Luxury

Magnum PI Ferrari 308 GTS - red
via dailymotion.com

The 1980s was an era of wealth creation and luxury defined by paradoxes. And Magnum P.I. contributed to that image of excess. Although Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV appears to be a very relaxed guy who hunts criminals and lives in paradise, the TV series actually altered people's perceptions of both the West and action shows. During the Cold War, people in the East turned to TV shows to understand life on the other side of the curtain. Most teens and boys in the East wanted to be cool like Magnum, who drove beautiful sports cars and lived in the most breathtaking setting. Additionally, everything that was then shown in the TV series rose in popularity and of course, Magnum’s Ferrari also gained a following. The Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole became, for many, the symbol of success and unattainable luxury. And the Prancing Horse became a recognizable symbol even in distant countries, where the governments popularized cars like the Trabant and the Romanian Dacia.

The Pininfarina Styling Remains Fashionable Even Today

Ferrari 308 GTS
via Rent A Classic Car

Pininfarina’s Leonardo Fioravanti designed the 308, and it became famous for its curved wing-tops, stunning air intakes, and its fiberglass body built by Ferrari's Scaglietti subsidiary that they replaced later on with steel. The Ferrari also had removable roof panels that made the car look even cooler. Given the stunning design elements, it is hardly surprising that this V8 mid-engined, two-seater became a huge market success that dominated the 1980s. Ferrari built more than 12,000 308s over the nine years from 1976 to 1985.

“Between 1977 and 1980 Ferrari sold 3,219 copies of the GTS,” says Autoweek. “To meet emissions requirements, all 308s got Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection in 1980, reducing output to 205 hp. Later Quattrovalvole models recouped some of the power loss.”

In 1982, the Ferrari 308 GTSi came equipped with four valves per cylinder in the engine, which boosted power and made the vehicle even faster. According to Motorious, the 2.9-liter V8 engine generated 237 horsepower at 7,000-rpm and 192 lb-ft of torque at 5,000-rpm.

Related: 8 Things We Love About The Ferrari 308 GTS (2 Reasons Why We'd Never Buy One)

These Were The Best Features On Magnum’s Car

Magnum P.I. Ferrari
via Flickr user decampos

According to Autoweek, Tom Selleck, who is a tall man at six feet and four inches, couldn't fit inside the car comfortably without making some adjustments, so production had to alter the vehicle. But despite minor changes, everything else about this vehicle was perfect. Naturally, the best feature is the V8 engine that was shared with the 308 GT4. This powerful high-torque engine could produce a lot of horsepower. The vehicle also had comfortable seats, beautiful carpeting, and a stunning instrument binnacle.