It was to be one of the stars of the sale. An icon of the 80s, instantly recognizable, immortalized in the Magnum series, P.I. and driven by Tom Selleck himself. Yet, a few hours before it went under the hammer in Florida, the Ferrari 308 GTS announced as “authentic” is now sowing doubt. What if the story is much murkier than expected?
A legendary Ferrari... with a vague pedigree
When Barrett-Jackson presents this 308 GTS, everything seems to line up perfectly. Chassis number 28251, expert documents, alleged participation in the very first episode of the series: on paper, this is one of television's most mythical cars.
But a number of details quickly come to light. Contrary to what one might expect for such an iconic vehicle, the documents proving its involvement in the series are not freely available. Worse still, some of the requests by Autobild's investigative journalists for access to the evidence were simply ignored. In the rigorous world of classic cars, this kind of opacity is never a good sign.
An investigation that shakes up certainties
Further investigation reveals a number of inconsistencies. Photos from previous sales show a Ferrari with the same chassis number, which has already passed through various hands in recent years. So far, nothing unusual. But one detail changes everything: the state of the dashboard.
In images from a 2025 sale, a specific crack in the dashboard is clearly visible. In the current photos of the car up for auction, this area shows a different deformation, without the initial crack. A simple aesthetic change? Or proof that this is not the same vehicle?
Officially, the answer is simple: the car is the same, but restored to its original beige interior. An explanation that leaves many observers sceptical, as the differences seem so difficult to justify by simple restoration.
The mystery of number 28251
The heart of the matter lies in this famous chassis number: 28251. According to specialists such as F-Register, this number corresponds to one of the Ferraris used in the series. But a disturbing question emerges: is it possible that several cars are now claiming the same identity?
Some documents mention the existence of another example linked to this number, without confirming an official duplicate. In theory, however, there is only one car with this VIN. The grey areas continue to accumulate, and no one is today able to state with certainty that the car offered for sale is indeed the one driven on screen.
Why such doubt... and at what cost?
The stakes are high. A classic Ferrari 308 GTS usually sells for between €60,000 and €130,000, depending on its condition. But as soon as a link with Magnum, P.I. is mentioned, the value immediately climbs. At a previous sale in 2025, an example presented as a shooting car fetched around $115,000. A significant premium, enough to explain why some might be tempted to “reconstruct” a story.
In this context, falsifying documents or modifying a car to give it a more prestigious identity could generate tens of thousands of additional euros. A very real risk in the world of classic cars.
A high-voltage sale
In the end, this Ferrari 308 GTS was supposed to be a simple auction star. Instead, it's becoming the center of an investigation worthy of an episode of Magnum. Is it really the car of the series' driver, or a copy whose history has been embellished? At this stage, even the most seasoned experts refuse to make up their minds. And therein lies the problem. Because in this type of transaction, doubt is sometimes enough to tip a sale over the edge. Read the full report on Autobild website.
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