The Ferrari 308 GTS is a TV and Movie Star, and an Icon that Helped Ferrari Go Mainstream
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- This was the Ferrari of my youth - moreso than the Daytona or BB512, and all because of its presence in popular culture. Like the 560SL for Mercedes-Benz, ask anyone of a certain age to think of a Ferrari, and this is the one they will picture. For a while in the 1980s, it was everywhere. For the most part, it's because of the bright red 308 GTS from Magnum P.I., being shuttled around Hawaii by Tom Selleck - and it was almost a Porsche!
Enzo Ferrari did not really want to make V6 and V8 Ferraris - to him, they should all have 12 cylinders. But Ferrari needed an entry-level car that a modestly wealthy person could afford, and one that could be produced in significant quantities. At first, this was the Dino, and then the 308.
Styled by Pininfarina, the lines of this car are classically Italian, and have retained their beauty to this day. Sumptuous curves and subtle lines come together in a wedge shape that just works perfectly - then and now. It's frankly difficult for me to review this car without being awed by the fact that I'm actually getting to play with one.
At first, the driving seemed unusually high effort. The steering is non-assisted, the clutch is stiff, and one has to put some muscle in to move it around a parking lot. But get it out on the road, and it all comes together - the steering feel is nothing short of awesome, the engine sounds aren't quite beautiful, but are very sufficient, and the gated shifter with the dog-leg pattern is something from a 50s race car. By the time I was finished with the car, I absolutely loved it - on a more personal level than I was able to as a kid.
Long story short, this car is all Ferrari, and an absolute hoot to drive. I didn't even mind the attention, of which it got plenty.
Full review and test drive by Bill of Curious Cars. Vehicle is for sale at Autohaus of Naples, on the web at www.AutohausNaples.com, or at (239) 263-8500.
I bought a 308 GTB when I was 25, at 55 I still have it. I still love it.
Good move
Do you enjoy the hell out of it?
What color?
You crack me up…you’re talking about Ferrari and somehow you work a photo of Hitler in.
benito mussolini was just as bad, if not, WORSE!
@@Paperbag-om6mh just hung with the wrong crowd. Lol
@@Paperbag-om6mh there’s no way he was worse than Adolf.
Hitler’s love of Ferrari’s is well documented. Bastard loved his exotic cars.
Somebody has to do it. 😂
Bill, you have some of the most informative, entertaining, fun videos to watch. Your knowledge, wit, humor, phobias are totally entertaining. I am hopelessly addicted to your videos. They are a highlight of our week! Seriously! You could easily have a car show on radio or tv.
Did you grow a stache for this one?
No need to grow. The Stache comes standard.
@@slumpbuster27 my kinda car.
Back in the late 80s my uncle had a dealership that used to sell mostly 3 to 5yo Mercedes but, he got occasional Porsches and a very occasional Ferrari.
Back then, I was a thin, good looking young woman. Now, I had grown up with Magnum PI and I loved these cars every bit as much as the guys did. In fact, I am humming the theme song to myself as I type this. Oops, wait, that's the Dallas theme. Okay, now I got Magnum.
To make a long story short, my uncle let me drive it for a half hour or so before picking up lunch. It was a glorious drive but, afterwards, I was sitting there eating lunch with the front office staff and I noticed I had indeed grown a stash myself.
@@shananagans5 a small price to pay, and the cost of doing business
I'd wager Bill has an excellent stache.
You are so lucky to fulfill the dreams of your youth. 308’s engine sounded like a Symphony. We all love your videos keep up the great work
This was my childhood favorite car from the 1980's. Magnum was also one of my favorite shows (Do not watch the remake its terrible) Your car reviews are fantastic and the comedy is top notch. It has me laughing like a madman. Keep it up.
the remake is terrible-but the car is fantistico
This car you can just stare at for hours And get mesmerized by all of its beautiful lines. Today’s super car just got too big -I like the compact size of that vintage 308. I love your candid review of the car, along with some design commentary. Like you said, you’re driving 308 that’s all that matters.
0:11 wow...there's no way the Florida Tourist Board will use that lol.
My wife and I were wondering when your latest video was going to drop. Glad to have you back and irascible about the world as ever. Roll the Magnum PI theme!
Each new video I feel like I am meeting a longtime friend again .
Thank God that Bill is back! I was getting worried that those evil birds finally got him.
Used to laugh at how Tom Sellecks head stuck out the top lol
Not good in a roll over situation
Wasn't that the car Christi Brinkley was driving in National lampoon's Vacation also lol. Still a Iconic beautiful ride 💯🚘👍
it is mentioned with a photo @4:31
Thank you. I had a 308 in 78. Went from a Vette 72 with a 454 to a Dino 246GTS to my 308. What a world. Spent my entire inheritance, but I would do it again to drive that 308 across the moon lighted Nevada Desert.
This car is the greatest icon of the 80's, A timeless design, if I could only have one, this is it.
I think testarossa is the iconic 80s car dont get me wrong the 308 is a lovely car
I almost bough one in 1984 it was black on black with red piping on the seats it had 23k on it I was afrade the cops would pull a 21 year old kid over every 25 min and the money . Looking back I should have bought it .
You should’ve. I’m 25 and I wish I could get my dream car
Sammy Hagar featured his black 308 in the video for I Can’t Drive 55. He went with the black model because the waiting list for the red version was months long thanks to Magnum PI.
I believe is was a BB, not a 308
@@liveox9 Could be. I just remember Kurt Loder explaining on MTV how the waiting list for red Ferraris was very long because of that show.
I grew up watching the Rockford files with my old man when I did not ha e control of the television. Later on , it was Magnum and Miami Vice through the adolescent years. Just a great time to grow up.
Rockford was the man!
Cars like these are like really beautiful women. Great for a weekend but longer than that, the maintenance kills you.
Not really if you do your own work. I do.
@@ODucks55 I don't do my own dental work either.
Well of course Bill owns a Chernobyl snow globe; goes without saying.
I never laughed so hard.
Another great review by Bill
Question
Didn’t this car inspire GM to make the Pontiac Fiero (aka the poor man’s Ferrari)?
Pontiac dealers sold the factory option "Mera", a conversion of the V6 powered Fiero GT to look like the 308.
The Fiat X1/9 was the prototype of the 1980's mid engine sports car. That said, as I recall, early 308's had the engine mounted transverse. Later iterations of the car had the engine mounted longitudinally. But you can tell by the enormous size of the Fiero engine bay that some GM engineers had grander plans 😀 (otherwise, some of the insane V8 engine swaps that people do to these cars wouldn't be possible!)
@@brentboswell1294 the fiero was a good idea, too bad gm killed it off as it was cheaper than the new c4 corvette.i first read about the fiero in road and track and had a lot of illustrations and cutway of the design.
@@giorgiocisilino4874 I owned an '88 Fiero in college (the one and only year of the Lotus suspension). I had plans to do a Quad 4 swap on it after college ( it was a 4 cylinder car). Unfortunately, I was rear-ended by a guy driving a Crown Victoria one morning on my way to work my senior year...😥
This car is so fast it goes 10mph standing still. According to the speedometer, anyway.
Italian electronics and mechanicals?? If you complain about maintenance costs you shouldn't be allowed to own it.
I love these 308s. I didn't come from wealth, but growing up my dad had C3 Vettes, and my aunt had an AW11 MR2. So, of course I love pop up headlights! And, I really loved the manual steering and fun factor of the MR2.
I hope you were also wearing short shorts and aviator glasses.
A guy running a pyramid scheme in my church rolled up one Sunday in 1984 in one of these. I was 14 and my jaw smacked the concrete. A year or so later he disappeared; my parents explained what a "pyramid scheme" was to me and my Dad said he'd gotten out early but a lot of people were looking for that guy to sue him. I never forgot the Ferrari. A few years later he showed up at our house to pick up some clothes my Mom had put aside for his family----he was driving a rusted out 1976 Corolla...
Don't forget Against All Odds and To Live And Die In LA....
That race on Sunset was awesome.
The Hidden
He said,"Money'd elite" but it sounded like "money delete". And I thought to myself,"Yeah. Ferrari's do that don't they?"
Did I also the "gays of Enzo"? 12:23 mark
Man you have a great job sometimes. What a beautiful and classic Italian exotic. Great review.
Yeah now ya gotta tell us about Mary Ann if Peter is out sleezin around lmfao !!!!!!
I noticed that just before I hit the like button that there were 308 likes!
288 GTO still my favorite F. this is so close.... Great Upload !!
Not enough snowflakes in the comment section
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
There that’s better
Something like every 5,000 miles the cam belts must be replaced and the engine given a thorough tuneup plus other things - costing $10 -15 K. It may look nice and shiny in red - but it is a nightmare to own!
The diecast ones are a breeze to own.
There is no belt service every 5000 miles also it don't requires and engine out so that saves a lot of money for a belt service
Not if you do it yourself. I have a ‘78 gts, very easy to work on.
Literally did a spit take at the "599 Carly Fiorina" lmao
Drove a 82 and 84 in the early 2000s when i was 20 & 22. I thought wow this sucks. Had no appreciation, much like the delorean. They are hard to drive, rarely start without issues, terrible at stopping, and uncomfortable. But... they do look good.
"I have my douchebag leather gloves." I'm dying.... 😂
I love how the gloves are on in the finale! 🤣 haha
They customized sellecks interior and seat so he'd fit
He was always leaning forward in photos of him sitting in the car.
Such a beautiful and iconic car. You can tell it really isn't very fast at all, though, which is fine and just a reflection of the times.
There was also a Corvair Spyder.
Bill, you are hilarious, don't change a thing!
The snow globe alone was worth the thumbs up. Lol
Another awesome video - a car of my youth as well. A suggestion: invest in a GoPro camera - with the right attachments you can be hands free 👍
Before Bill became politically correct, he said wearing a GoPro made him look 'retarded'. People might mistake him for Dalton!
Beautiful car, but like all 70's, 80's and 90's Ferraris; an absolute nightmare to maintain!!
Wow, engine sounds great on this one.
This made me happy. Thanks bill. Takes me back to the greatest time ever.
I remember a rich customer of mine had one,, it was 1984, I was 21 and he let me get in it.
I was 6' 3" tall and a 170 pounds and I could just barely get myself in there, so I can imagine Tom Selleck as big as that guy was, was miserable in that thing...
Did you find the hidden compartment with the leather jock strap ?
Bill listen, there's no need to apologize for schedule delays and such. We're RUclipsr's here, not real stakeholders; and we understand you and your situation. I'm not sure any of us adhere to a strict 'Curious Cars' posting schedule. If you do, sir or ma'am, you seriously need to incorporate other variables in your life. While 'Curious Cars' is absolutely great, you probably need some hobbies. I hope I speak for all of us when I say, it's a good day when we get 'Curious Cars' content, but we don't sit around pissed off, clicking refresh, expecting a 'Curious Cars' Video at exactly 1400 on Wednesdays. I prefer you enjoy your life and post whenever. Or don't; we love you miserable too.
Damn this is a late one. Isn’t it past your bedtime Bill?
I’m young this is the Ferrari!
“Higgins, did you steam opened my mail?!?!”
My uncle purchased that car around 1985 and was always worried someone would purposely scratch or ding it. My cousin would actually take the car joy riding while he was in Switzerland and against his demand. A 18 wheeler sped through a red light and my cousin crashed into it totaling the car. He hid from my uncle at his friends house for a week. It wasn’t his fault for the accident and the insurance paid for the car. Later he said his 1976 Formula Firebird gave him more happiness. After that he purchased Mercedes sedans and said goodbye to those exotic cars.
Magnum, P.I.
I loved this car since I was a kid!
Late 80s sci-fi thriller The Hidden has a great car chase scene in the beginning with a black 308 GTS. Then later they show a Mondial and a Porsche 928. The movie is entertaining.
Surely has to be in the all-time top 10 of sexiest cars. Who back then though would have predicted that within a few decades a cheap family car would match or surpass it in acceleration and top speed...
It's shitty because you live in Golden Gate, (not Naples) it's a stones throw from the everglades. :)
Thank you Damon and all for the professional way in which you present my car. It looks outstanding. I love this video; It makes me very proud. I will miss that whine. Sad to see it go after 20+ years, but as for getting in and especially out, I'm not as spry as I once was.
Anthony, I purchased this car. Would love to talk to you sometime.
I think this car inspired much of the (then new) '84 Corvette's styling. In fact, probably the dramatically improved 3rd generation Camaro & Firebird that preceded it.
Bill driving that thing around will definitely score a guy some serious gash!!!!
Meh, Italian cars... I'd go for the Celica Supra... That Chernobyl snow globe tho, that's bitchin'!
I drove one in the very late '80's. Certainly not the fastest car I've driven but definitely one of the most fun.
In High School I had a teacher her husband had one in silver.
My High School teacher’s husband had one in silver.
Silver was nice, for some reason i love the yellow ones.
THIS.GUY!! Just as long winded and cantankerous as ever, but less funnier. jk jk ":^)
Totally right about what Magnum PI did for this car. Loved that show. When you said RIP Tawny Kitaen, I hadn't heard she passed...wow. No details on the cause of death on Wiki.. Still, her on the Jaguars is burned into all of our collective brains.
The official cause of death is now listed as heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy) no doubt brought on by, or made worse by all the drug use, legal and otherwise.
Absolutely amazing video! I loved this car as a kid myself! I was also and remain till this day a #tomselleck fan! He drove a Cadillac Eldorado convertible coupe as Lance the do no wrong private investigator antithesis to Jim Rockford on the Rockford Files tv show. He characters seem to favor the coupe'! Lol! I digress. I believe he gifted one of these to all his cast mates on Magnum PI. I was soo jealous! I finally got to drive one a few years ago at a car dealership just outside of Philadelphia. (Algar Ferrari) I still want one to this very day and it will happen. Thanks again for the trip down memory lane as well. It was most appreciated by me.
You got a dream Job Bill
Could you please turn on the *automatic closed captions* like you have on your other videos?
It's *_so_* helpful for many of us, even those who aren't hearing impaired (for instance, too much background noise to turn the volume up enough, etcetera).
Thank you so much.
Was expecting Magnum to be jumping into that car with Zues and Appallo on his heels !
Well, it might not be as fast as today's sports cars, but it sure looks better than most of the stuff that's on the road... even all these years later. And you've gotta love that engine sound! Did you have your Detroit Tigers cap and Hawaiian shirt on when you were driving it, Bill? LOL
Awesome. One of the few movies I actually own is Cannonball Run and it still holds up today. I had the Magnum PI T-shirt when I was a kid with the 308 on it 😀
Greatest car of my childhood. Magnum PI was also my favorite show at that time.
I ended up being one of many kids wearing Hawaiian shirts all the way to 10th grade.
Guess that gives away my age...
I wonder if the Magnum 308 is still around?
I am sure someone owns it.
A doctor colleague owned a 308 that never had a working reverse. He would have it repaired, and it would break again in no time. I can't tell you how many times I had to push the 308.
Finally Bill sold this car at Southcoast Classic auction for 71000 $ 👍
Such a stunning looking car. One of Ferrari best. However I have actually driven one. What a nightmare. Noisy. Uncomfortable. Dreadful gearbox. Bouncy and harsh until you,surpass 60 mph. Dreams were,shattered.
I have also driven a 400i. Now that was awesome.
Not to mention the build quality on the interior is beyond bad
Bill... I REALLY enjoy and look forward to your car industry back stories in your videos. You are a warehouse of industry knowledge, and I dont say this just to flatter... you gotta get all of these stories on film before you move on to the next emanation man. This is IMPORTANT background context and history that will be lost forever, and... it's permanently accessible to the masses in such an easy format. God speed young buck. :)
The sound is intoxicating. The gear whine a symphony.
Dark green gauge needles? Very odd and not very visible even with the white tips. My favorite Ferrari, though…
I'll remember this quote "The Ferrari aged better than she did." 08:50
People buy signs with quotes like this at stores like Home Depot. :-)
I come here for the personal opinions on weather, stero types and swearing all the time.
Your videos are a welcome treat. Thank you.
Im sharing Bills videos to friends. Entertaining stuff!!!
the short bumpers are a thousand times better looking
You can’t get under the car to look at it, get it dirty!! Drive it like you stole it
Good Evening! I'm enjoying this...the idea of Bill bearing gifts for his co-workers, radioactive gifts, that is!
You're complaining about the starter, and I'm hearing it, and at the same time, Yves Montand in the movie Grand Prix as Jean-Pierre Sarti, trying to restart his race car at Monza, the pit crew rapidly approaching, and he's yelling at them, "No! Go away, you will disqualify me!" Seriously, it was about the same starter sound, if not as distinctive as the sound of a '60s or '70s Mopar starter.
Here's how to put Ferrari prices back in the day in perspective. In 1973, according to Edmund's mid year price guide, a Beetle or a Corolla had a base price of under two grand. A Fiat 128 was just over two grand before options. That year, my grandparents spent about 3,800 dollars on a Chevelle Malibu that had a 350 2 barrel but was otherwise pretty basic. That money also was about what a bottom of the line Citroen DS cost, or the Audi 100 base model that was my first car, or a BMW 2002. A BMW 3.0 CS cost $8953 before options or delivery charges, more than the $6516 figure that would have bought the Buick Riviera that Motor Trend tested in June pf that year. For the price of two Rivieras so configured and a bit more, you'd get the most basic of Ferrari Dino 246 GTs, a coupe, at $13900. The Daytona was listed at $23,940. That wasn't quite Rolls-Royce money, as the Silver Shadow was a mere $25,200 at the time.
The price of that Daytona, adjusted for inflation, comes to just under 149K. That won't buy you a new Ferrari any longer. The closest you'll get out of what is available right now is a 2010 California that somehow has only 840 miles. That's only $147.900.
Here we go meeting our heroes again, and that engine makes such a joyous noise...
Seems like they would have fixed the zipper, if they went to the trouble of rebuilding the whole car. Must be some tea saucer brake discs on that thing.
I'm sure my Dad has some Dresden Germany, glow in the dark, fire bombing, paraphernalia packed away in some box, somewhere, in his 90 years of collecting depressing crap, somewhere.... Just where?
Hi Bill - have you thought about a headband mounted GoPro for the driving segments?
Bill, thanks for a great review. Lots of dreams about that car in my youth as well. Thanks for giving the Fiam air horns a toot....so classic Ferrari of the time.
I can't drive 55 mean anything to you? Sammy Hagar, my man. He had one in the music vid.
That was actually his Ferrari 512BB
Ohihi=51st state. Awesome, Bill!
Good Sir, an awesome dream car indeed and a great fun video, 45 plus minutes well spent so, thank you very much. Quite a 'revvy' sound for a V8, a bit of Italian 'VTEC Yo'.
35:53 whoa - corrosion alert on the light and turn signal stalks. Buyer beware (thorough check of the interior / IP wiring.
Well spotted!!.. I noticed that too!
bout damn time where the hell have you been dude lmfao !!!!!
Not sure who is more iconic Bill or the Ferrari
Magnum PI hell yea , an oh yes Bill , it's bloody hot an humid here in SC update , it sucks an Bill I feel ya on sweat an fog'd up glass's I worked on a food plant roof insulting some ammonia pipes , bout 100 ft a some valves , dam it was bad hot last Sunday threw Tuesday we worked up there , 9 ft market umbrellas work wonders but still it was hotter than Georgia asphalt . I lost bout 2 lbs of something my britches don't fit same 💩🤓
Hey Higgins saying hello from Barbados 🇧🇧
The 512 BB was my favorite
Bill you’re hilarious! I love watching your videos, love the cars. If I’m feeling shitty in the morning, all I have to do is get on RUclips and listen to you talk about these fabulous cars.
Maybe someday he will get a GoPro...