Magnum P.I. In A Porsche? These Cars were Understudies in Hollywood History

Magnum P.I. In A Porsche? These Cars were Understudies in Hollywood History

These are the greatest collaborations that almost never happened.

Ask anyone who was interested in James Bond’s car in Goldfinger, and they will tell you that it was an Aston Martin DB5. Many people, whether they are a petrolhead or not will be able identify a vehicle as quickly as they can recall the cast and crew. It’s not all about automotive acting. Many of the Hollywood car relationships we love and know were close to never being possible.

Many people know that Tom Selleck drove a car. Ferrari 308 GTS In Magnum P. Those who thought a supercar from Italy was too flashy to be a private investigator will be pleased to learn that the producers had originally intended for TS to drive a Porsche 928. The car was too small to fit his 6-foot-4-inch frame so the German automaker refused modification.

Ferrari jumped in and was happy to adjust its car to fit Thomas Sullivan Magnum III’s bravado as an investigative. The prancing horse, regardless of its automotive stardom made a name for himself on-screen. So did Selleck.

Magnum P.I. In A Porsche? These Cars were Understudies in Hollywood History

Although the Bond films and Aston Martin are as close as peanut butter and jelly, it was the DB5 that came very close to losing its 15 minutes of fame in Goldfinger. 007 could easily have been driving a 1931 Blower Blitzer Bentley. Ian Fleming, who wrote the novels, depicted Bond as a humble petrolhead. He kept his pride and joy, which he had kept secret while serving in World War II, under wraps.

According to the legend, Fleming was sent a letter by a disgruntled fan encouraging him fix Bond up in a flashier car. He was the proud driver of the Aston DB3 in the Goldfinger novel, before the movie starring the DB5.

These movies were subject to last-minute changes, but we are fortunate that some classics turned out the way they did. Steve McQueen’s Mustang, Bullitt, and his Myers Manx beach buggy, The Thomas Crown Affair.