Since you’re enough of a car person (and cool person) to be hip to our little website here, there’s a solid chance you’re also into some variety of car-collecting. I doff my cap–my new Autopian cap–if you’re bucks-up enough to collect actual cars. That is fantastic! But as for the rest of us pleebs, we’re talking Hot Wheels and Matchbox, Lego (sorry, LEGO®) Technics sets, die-cast models (it’s Bburago for me, cheap but good), maybe slot cars or radio-control cars … all good stuff. But have you looked at Playmobil?
The brand has been on a bit of an adult collector tear these past two years, and like LEGO (eye roll), Playmobil has leaned heavily into licensed properties. You may have already seen the very impressive Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise set, which is built just as solidly for kid-play as any other Playmobil toy but commands a healthy $500 asking price. Like I said, adult collector–not a kid in sight! Thankfully, Playmobil’s license binge includes some terrific car brands as well as TV shows and movies that feature cars in starring roles. Theses vehicles are as wonderfully rendered as James T. Kirk’s interplanetary pickup machine, but available at much lower prices (and more easily displayed sizes) .
The latest small-screen machine to get the Playmobil treatment is the Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole famously driven by one Thomas Magnum, indelibly played by mustachioed hunk Tom Selleck in Magnum, P.I. (You knew this, of course. Come on, it’s Magnum.) As the brand has with previous cars such as the Volkswagens Beetle and T1 Camping Bus, Magnum’s Ferrari is much more faithfully rendered than expected for a toy, but also charmingly toy-like and rugged so you won’t shudder to let your nephew (or niece, we’re cool) give it a spin on the living room rug. Or you can play with it, you’re an adult, you can do whatever you want. Let’s check it out.
You don’t need to squint to see that’s a Ferrari 308. It looks right! The proportions are a slightly cartoony to suit Playmobil’s figures, but that’s very much part of the charm. It appears Playmobil even got the number of slats over the headlights correct! Do some 308s have them in black? Don’t know. Don’t care. The wheels are wonderful too, right down to the prancing-horse center caps.
Whoops, looks like the toy team goofed on the signature school-bus-style taillights, omitting the red lenses and going with a full set of four ambers minus their white reverse lamps. Oh well. But the 308’s quad (dual-dual?) exhausts and louvered lower engine cover are neatly simulated. Nice!
Look closely at the toy 308 and you’ll see Playmobil has also applied the Ferrari prancing horse in it its correct position, as seen here on the real thing.
Sadly, Playmobil has not released photos of the engine bay, but it does open. If Playmobil’s rendition of the SF90 Stradale ‘s engine bay is any indication, the 308 should have a nice-looking replica of an F106 AB V8 in there. And the headlights pop up! Nice!
[Editor’s Note: The headlights are no surprise; Plamobil has proven themselves to be very in tune with the desires of automotive lighting fetishists. – JT]
The Ferrari 308 set not only includes Magnum, resplendent in his signature Hawaiian shirt of course, but also Higgins, T.C., and Rick. Plus walkie-talkie, binoculars, and a camera (essential P.I. stuff), a palm tree because Hawaii, and a parrot. To reenact this scene, I suppose? It’s all wonderful.
The 308 joins Playmobil’s roster of cool-car sets that includes James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 , the A-Team Van, Mini Cooper, Knight Rider’s KITT, a lovely Mercedes-Benz 300SL, Porsches including the Mission E, Carrera RS 2.7 and 911 GT3 Cup, the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine, Ghosbusters Ecto-1 and Exto-1A, and the Delorean time machine (sadly discontiued, but still in stores). All highly collectible, affordable (if not cheap, but they are fantastically well-constructed toys), and lots of fun.
All Playmobil Ferrari 308 images courtesy Playmobil
I’m from Honolulu, there is a 308 with the plate MAGNUM, it could be one the show used but I don’t know. The car from Five O is around, plate is BOOKEM,
Fun fact: as a toddler, I used to kiss the TV every time Magnum P.I. was on. My father had a moustache and was tall (at least compared to me), so I thought Tom Selleck was my dad!
My grandfather was a bit “concerned” with this (on account of being on his fifties on semi-rural Brazil of 1985), but he kept it to himself, and finally figured it out when he saw me doing the same thing when Charles Bronson was on. I guess he was flattered?
Anyway, I hope my kid do the same when he sees Anson Mount – what, a guy can dream!
Dustcatcher
Somebody let me know when they have the EM-50 from Stripes. Also let Mercedes know, she loves those GM Motorhomes.
OK, but tell me when they get Jeff Goldblum and his Triumph TR7 from Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
Get Higgins to call Zeus and Apollo, because this kills.
Next we need the Simon & Simon Camaro and Power Wagon combo pack. And they’d better include Mom, Marlowe and Downtown Brown!
No deep dive into those taillights?
Did German model 308s have all amber at any point? Season 1, Magnum had 1 79 308GTS, season 2-6 were 81 308GTSi, season 7-8 were 84 308GTSi qv.
We bought the Mystery Machine for my daughter and I’ve got to say the quality of this thing is pretty darn nice. Tons of detail, and honestly pretty fun to put together. Highly recommended.
Honestly, I pretty badly want that DB5 for myself.
This seems like a good time for Mattel to dust off the tooling for Barbie’s 328, that thing was rad.
I’ve got the Playmobil GT3 Cup, which also comes with all the pit garage fittings a Porsche race team would need. Can confirm all the small details on it are very well thought out!
This is rad!! my brothers and I had heaps of Playmobil when I was a kid. During COVID I bought myself the Playmobil BTTF Delorean set, you know, because why not
I had tons, and now my kids play with them. My son turns three in September and I am so excited to have a reason to buy this.
This is rad, however a Chevy Express based Mystery Machine is offensive.
Haha, I’ll admit it sort of sucks that it isn’t a cabover design.
I’m glad the Magnum figure isn’t wearing the shorty shorts. Shudder. FWIW, Archer does an amazing Magnum intro parody.
If Playmobil made a Miami Vice set with the original Fauxrrari Daytona, would they have to get a license from Ferrari?
I so hope they make that!
The A-Team set has a tool kit AND an acetylene torch!!!
I love it when a plan comes together!
Jonathan Quayle Higgins III: [angrily] Oh, my God, Magnum!
I am so in for this. I was to cheap to shell out the $500 for the U.S.S. chunkyprise NCC-1701 no bloody A, B, C, or D.
I gave my son the Mystery Machine as a present a few years back. I assume the lack of Shaggy and Scooby was to push other Scooby sets Playmobil offered. I also gave him the BTTF Delorean and the animated series on DVD (I assume both ended up collecting dust in the back of his closet).
Unfortunately, you’re spot-on with the Shaggy and Scooby thing. When I got the MM for my son, of course I had to get the Scooby and Shaggy w/bad guy in ghost costume figure set. Fortunately it wasn’t very expensive but still…
The Playmobil set I purchased from Walmart did have the Shaggy, Scooby and ghost figures included with the van. It must have been one of those Walmart exclusives deals.
I get they’re going for A-list shows most people remember, but tell me a Coyote X with McCormick in his racer jacket and the judge with a baseball cap wouldn’t be the coolest?
Drive! Push it to the floor till the engine screams.
Yes I would be there for an H&M Coyote X too.
And while we’re at it, a Fall Guy truck and throw in Airwolf for good measure. I may not have shelled out the $500 for Star Trek (irregardless of my name), but I may well do it for Airwolf.
Oh that just wins – I haven’t thought about Fall Guy for ages! I’m not a truck guy at all, but it was a lifted GMC, right?
More than a lifted GMC: a BROWN and GOLD lifted GMC.
One of the greatest theme songs ever too.
https://youtu.be/iNizcrfnQ4E
“Well I never spent much time in school
But I’ve taught ladies plenty
It’s true I hire my body out for pay…a-HEY-HEY!”
Even further back—I’d like a Starsky & Hutch Torino
Thanks a lot for that ear worm.
Just make sure it’s the season 1 Cody Couote, and not the monstrosity they made for Season 2.
Plus, combo pack it with the “D JUDGE” Corvette.
I now also want a Gold Firebird Esprit that comes with Jim in a checkered sport coat, Rocky wearing that beat up hat, and Angel in a red polo shirt.
FWIW, I have most of what everyone listed in my collection that I purchased back in the 1980s. All are 1/64 scale of course.
*H&M Coyote-Ertl
*Fall Guy GMC-Ertl
*Airwolf Helicopter-Ertl
*Simon & Simon Camaro and ’57 Chevy-Ertl
*Starsky & Hutch Torino-Corgi & Corgi Jr. Both large and small)
Magnum PI Ferrari-Matchbox
A-Team GMC Van and Chevy Corvette-Ertl
Knight Rider KITT-Ertl
You can still get them on Evilbay-if you’re willing to pony up the cash. They aren’t cheap!
Why is there no Shaggy & Scooby with the Mystery Machine?
Some sort of incident with Velma is word in the hood.
It’s a mystery.
Too many “Scooby snacks”.
“Aw Scoob, we spaced on Fred picking us up!”
“Ruh-roh!”
Aside from making them all look very European, Playmobil got the character’s outfits right too – Magnum sure, but TC’s advertising T and suspenders combo, Rick’s ’80s white on blue dress shirt, and of course Higgins’ the sun never set on the empire safari getup are all spot-on.
I was expecting Magnum to have short shorts, not pants.
I have both the James Bond DB5, and the Delorean, with additional Doc and Marty from 1955 figures. Who wants to touch me.
Well that takes the shine off my Lego Countach.
You could get both and do a minor Cannonball Run moment.
I have that and the Ferrari 512. Splendid models, far better than this year’s Speed Champions.
TFW your playmobil Ferrari is more reliable than your real one
Too bad nobody cool ever drove a Mondial QV; Bburago didn’t even make one!
AFAIK no-one makes one.
My wife got me a little 1:43 scale version–it’s a cab, so good, but it’s the wrong color interior and the proportions just look…wrong. Better than nothing for the desk at work prompting a curious colleague to question.
PCX87 makes a nice 87th scale Mondial, but I think it’s a Mondial 8. I have two.
https://fmb-shop.de/shop/en/20473/870140-pcx87-ferrari-mondial-2-2-1980-rot
Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) drove one in Weird Science, so that’s reasonably cool.
And Wyatt the Porsche 928. John Hughes did more than a library reading room full of C&D magazines to introduce my generation to European sports cars.
Weird + Science = NERDS, the anti-cool!
Also Madonna was ferried in one in the Material Girl video, plus there was a quick pan-Italian montage in something with RDJ and Marissa Tomei whose name escapes me…but ain’t nobody making little red homages to that movie!
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – Steve Martin
Scent of a women -Al Pacino
Vegas Vacation – Christie Brinkley
to name a few 😉
Will you have the pasties on?
AGAIN WITH THE FUCKING PASTIES.
See, it’s fairly hard to tell if you’re still under the weather or back to your usual self. 😉
They need to do a Saint with the Volvo P1800.
Magnum’s Old English D stood for Detroit Tigers.
What does a Times New Roman D stand for?
It means no copyright infringement and more profit. 🙂
Now, they need to add TC’s helicopter and I’m in.
And his Island Hoppers VW Vanagon.
Hot Wheels did one in 2008. I have one.
Excellent, add Zeus and Apollo to chase Magnum and it would be perfection.
Bonus points for the Magnum figure not able to sit correctly in the car due to it’s height.
And for the deep cut, an end of production bonus pack containing naval officer Magnum and daughter Lily in her sailor outfit.
Cool, Playmobil also does a decent VW Beetle and some sort of BMW motorcycles