Pick of the Day: 1985 Ferrari 308 GTS

For eight seasons between 1980 and 1988, Tom Selleck starred in an American crime drama television series called Magnum, P.I. The show ranked in the top 20 programs for its first several years. Sharing equal screen time with the lead actor was a car that Selleck’s character frequently drove: a Ferrari 308 Quattrovalvole. Today, we get to feast our eyes on a car much like the one that so many people loved to watch on TV during the Magnum days.

The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1985 Ferrari 308 GTS listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Voorhees, New Jersey. (Click the link to view the listing)

“Excellent, mint-condition, 37k original miles,” the listing says. “Exhilarating drive, garage-kept.”

With styling drawn by Pininfarina, the 308 GTB (Berlinetta coupe body style) and the 308 GTS (removable Targa top body style) were first shown to the public at the Paris Motor Show in 1975. Subsequent years brought advancements in design and engineering, with a big advancement happening in 1982 when the car received four valves per cylinder. Aptly dubbed the “Quattrovalvole,” (which literally translated to “four-valved”) this car could be identified by a few unique cues such as revised vent panels and marker lamps. No color besides today’s featured “Rosso Corsa” red would look quite right on this car.

The listing says, “Second and current owner since 1988 with original owner’s manual, tool, kit, etc.”

The quad-cam, mid-mounted 2.9-liter Tipo F105 AB V8 is a definite marvel of engineering. It was mid-mounted in a transverse arrangement and used a Bosch K-Jetronic fuel-injection system. The redline was a sky-high 7,700 rpm. Although its factory ratings (230 horsepower and 188 lb-ft of torque) were nothing to write home about, this car wasn’t about a spec sheet: It was about driving dynamics. This car was built with a suspension that could handle the corners as well as its engine could accelerate through them. The setup was fully independent in nature and featured double wishbones at each corner.

Power for the 308 is channeled to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transaxle and a limited-slip differential. Even though today’s featured car has low miles, the seller notes that all services including a timing belt replacement have been recently completed at a dealership.

“A must-see. Pictures do not do it justice,” the listing concludes. This car would make anyone feel like an instant television star. The fame and stardom will set you back an asking price of $109,500.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, you can find the library of archives at Pick of the Day.