The Ferrari 308 GTB S.
No, Robin Masters owned the Ferrari
Robin 2
1977
Magnum's red Ferrari had three different license plates: it started out with 56E-478, then was switched to 308GTSI, and ended up with ROBIN-1.thatz sooo cool hoo iz magnum??? hehehe
One of the Ferrari 308's from the first few seasons is on display at the Peterson museum in Los Angeles Ca.
Magnum PI
Sometimes he drove the Ferrari, but Higgins usually drove the Audi.
1982
In "Magnum, P.I.," Higgins uses the code "1-2-3-4" to start the Ferrari. This simple sequence is a running joke in the series, as it highlights Higgins's struggle with the high-tech sports car, which is often driven by Magnum. The code reflects the show's humorous take on Higgins's character as a more traditional and less tech-savvy individual compared to Magnum.
I believe the car featured in the "Flashback" episode was a 1936 Alfa-Romeo 2900MM Corsa Spider. Although Ferrari was founded in 1929, the company didn't start producing it's own vehicles until 1947. Prior to that, Ferrari customized Alfa-Romeos for racing.
In the original "Magnum, P.I." series, Thomas Magnum did not park in his apartment; instead, he parked his red Ferrari in the driveway of the guesthouse on Robin's Nest, the estate where he lived and worked as a private investigator. The guesthouse was part of a larger property owned by Robin Masters, and Magnum often used the car for his investigative adventures.
Magnum's PI license plate, "ROBIN-1," refers to Robin Masters, the fictitious author and owner of the Hawaiian estate where Thomas Magnum lives and works as a private investigator. The name signifies Magnum's close association with Masters, as he often drives the Ferrari 308 GTS belonging to him. The "1" in the plate indicates that it is the first vehicle associated with Robin Masters, emphasizing Magnum's unique role in the story. This clever choice adds depth to the character dynamics and the show's setting.