1985 Ferrari 308 QV GTS

Tony’s Take: 👍 Owning a Ferrari 308 isn’t about speed or handling. It’s about being Thomas Magnum, the mustachioed TV PI living on an island with a 55 mph speed limit. In the show’s last two seasons, Magnum drove a Ferrari 308 QV GTS. The quattrovalvole‘s 2.9-Liter Quad-Cam V8 was Maranello’s attempt to add a little pep in the 308’s federally-emasculated step (and eliminate the non-QV model’s sodium valve failure). The 308’s zero to sixty sprint shrunk to 6.7 seconds. The top end ascended to 157 mph. Good luck not blowing it up at that speed! Just sayin’ . . .

I lost count of how many 308’s I’ve bought over the years. With its bigger, better looking 16-inch Speedline wheels, the QV was my fave. In 2012, I picked up an immaculate California car with 11k miles for under $30k. Those days are gone, but service is still cheap (no engine-out required). An independent Ferrari tech can keep a 308 in fine fettle for around $4k a year. At the risk of offending Rienzi Report reader C J Bove, one could add a blower to a 308 (Ferrari did it with the 208 Turbo). At the Celebration Exotic Car Festival, I watched a lowered, supercharged 308 smoking modern cars.

This red/black BAT-mobile won’t pull down what a red/tan QV combo would, but all the cool kids love “Boxer trim” black bottom cars. This one’s got the popular options: air conditioning, the original Alpine cassette stereo and electric windows. The mileage is low – but not crazy low – and the car won a 2016 Ferrari Club of America Concours d’Elegance First-In-Class trophy. So a seemingly sound car that sounds great. Downside: “reportedly” serviced items tell you someone didn’t care enough to keep the records.