Magnum's TV Ferrari 308GTS question

[FourWheelDrift]

OK remember seeing this originally on TV as a boy and recently saw "Dream Machines" on C5 when they showed some clips.

Anyway back to the question, I always thought 308 GTS's has a hard removable targa panel, but I'm sure I see Thomas Magnum "slide" the roof panel back when he first get's into the car in the first episode. This happens when he drives off after he's trying to guess the alarm code to start it and escape from Higgin's Doberman.

So is this just TV fantasy or by some flukey chance did they do something like this for the fickle US market?

(If it's any help the original car used was a 1979 308 GTS)

[FourWheelDrift]

jaydee said:

TV fantasy. Roof is GRP covered in fabric. Rigid (well, rigid-ish).

Thought so...thanks.

[FourWheelDrift]

jaydee said:

But now we'll have to find the first episode and check

you're reading my mind

[FourWheelDrift]

jhoneyball said:

wasnt there a "splash cover" rollblind that could be pulled out?

That sounds like the thing I remember seeing, any info on that?

[FourWheelDrift]

Twin Turbo said:

The TV production company originally wanted Magnum to drive a Porsche 928. When Porsche refused to provide cars with larger than standard sunroofs (the originals are pretty small), the TV company decided to use the 308 GTS instead. Well, at least that's how the story goes

Mentioning Porsche has just made me think. Porsche wanted to call the 911 originally the 901 but Peugeot argued that they had the rights to all "numbers" with a Zero in the middle., so.....................

308 ??????? Did they miss that one or did Ferrari pay them off?

[FourWheelDrift]

nevpugh308 said:

In the first episode, as he pulls up just outside the gates of the estate (having just 'stolen' the 308) it cuts to a shot where Magnum has the (hard plastic, btw) roof semi off, and he shoves it backwards with some force to it "disappears" off shot (the camera only goes as far back as the B pillar on shot). If that was real world, the roof would have clattered on the engine deck and made a right mess So it's TV makers artistic license. I've read somewhere that there were two people stood behind the car to catch the flying roof panel ! As a point of interest, the standard roof has 2 clips at the rear, and the roof then "hinges" at the front and you lift it straight out. I've never heard of a "soft" or splash version of this roof (what would be the point ? the hard panel fits nicely in the car behind the seats, vertically) >> Edited by nevpugh308 on Tuesday 12th August 08:59

That's it!!!! At least someone else remembers it

I'mnot going mad after all

Thanks Nev