The iconic black Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona driven by Sonny Crockett in the classic 1980s TV series Miami Vice was not a real Ferrari – it was a replica built on a Corvette chassis by specialists McBurnie Coachcraft. But it looked real enough to fool millions of viewers!
Let‘s take a deep dive into the fake Ferraris of Miami Vice and other classic TV/movies. As a Ferrari enthusiast, I love sharing fun facts and stats about these amazing cars!
Why Miami Vice used replica Ferraris
The Ferrari Daytona from the first two Miami Vice seasons was a replica for two simple reasons – cost and durability.
Driving a real Ferrari hard enough to film action sequences would have destroyed the car. And even just normal driving would rack up enormous costs in mechanical repair and maintenance.
Consider that a brand new Ferrari Daytona in the 1980s carried a sticker price of over $150,000 – equal to $380,000 today! Repairing crash damage could easily cost tens of thousands.
So Miami Vice producers turned to Tom McBurnie‘s company to create Ferrari replicas custom built for the demands of filming. McBurnie‘s team installed heavy duty suspension and a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 engine in place of the Ferrari V12.
This replica could handle repeated jumps, spins, crashes, and more. The parts were cheap to replace if needed. And the car cost under $20,000 to build – instead of the equivalent of $380,000 for a real Daytona!
How convincing were the replicas?
Extremely convincing! In fact, many viewers assumed the cars were real Ferraris for years.
The McBurnie team obsessively recreated every detail of the Daytona‘s exterior in fiberglass over the Corvette chassis. The interior was similarly perfect, finished in leather and Italian wood trim. Every emblem and sticker was painstakingly reproduced.
Under the hood, the American V8 was hidden away to avoid giving away the secret. Even the exhaust note was tuned to sound like a Ferrari V12 thanks to special mufflers.
Driving the replica Daytona on the Miami streets, it could easily fool onlookers into thinking it was the genuine ultra-rare Italian supercar worth a quarter million dollars.
Sonny Crockett‘s Ferrari Daytona Spyder specs
| Spec | Real 1972 Ferrari Daytona | Miami Vice Replica |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4.4L Ferrari V12 | 350 cu in Chevy Small Block V8 |
| Power | 352 hp | ~250 hp (est) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | 3-speed auto |
| Chassis | Steel Ferrari tube frame | Fiberglass Corvette platform |
| Cost | $150,000+ (~$380k today) | < $20,000 |
Fun fact: The replica Daytona‘s license plate (ZAQ-178) was an homage to the flight number of the first Concorde test flight in 1969.
Testarossa switch in Season 3
In the third season of Miami Vice, Sonny Crockett upgraded to a white Ferrari Testarossa. Once again, this was a replica built by McBurnie Coachcraft on a custom frame.
The Daytona replica was retired after appearing in over 15 episodes and used for parts. The Testarossa took over as the car producers could crash and damage repeatedly without worrying about destroying a quarter million dollar vehicle!
Where is the Miami Vice Daytona now?
After Miami Vice ended, the original McBurnie Daytona replica was put into storage from 1990 until 2014. This car was Sonny Crockett‘s, used for the majority of action shots and stunt driving sequences.
When it reemerged for sale in 2014, the iconic Miami Vice Daytona commanded a $1.75 million price tag on eBay due to its fame and historical significance.
It failed to sell at that lofty price but did later trade hands privately for an undisclosed (likely lower) amount. Today this replica resides in the famous Volo Auto Museum in Illinois.
Other famous replica movie & TV Ferraris
Ferris Bueller‘s "1961 Ferrari"
Cameron‘s prized Ferrari from the 80s comedy was actually a replica built by Neil Glassmoyer on an MGB chassis. Like Miami Vice, using a replica avoided any risk of damaging a real million dollar collectible!
Magnum P.I.‘s Ferrari 308
While some episodes used a genuine Ferrari, most of Tom Selleck‘s stunt driving scenes were filmed with a fiberglass-bodied EMPI 308 replica. Once again, preserving the real Ferrari for normal scenes.
The Need for Speed "Ferrari 550"
The hero car driven by Aaron Paul in the 2014 film was revealed to be a replica with Toyota MR2 underpinnings underneath the Ferrari bodywork. A bonus behind the scenes feature showed the bare chassis before being turned into a "Ferrari" for the movie.
Why replicas remain common in movies/TV
Using replica Ferraris and other exotic supercars remains standard practice in Hollywood today. The reasons that compelled Miami Vice in the 1980s remain equally true now:
Cost – A genuine Ferrari costs $200,000+ while a replica can be built for under $20,000. Significant savings add up when producing a multi-episode show.
Durability – Heavy movie stuntwork would quickly destroy a real supercar. Replicas are built to handle the demands of filming action sequences.
Risk – If a one-of-a-kind classic like the Ferris Bueller "GT California" gets damaged, it‘s an irreparable loss. Replicas are expendable.
Practicality – Purpose-built movie cars incorporate safety cages, mounts for cameras, and other customizations needed for filming.
So while it‘s always exciting to spot a Ferrari or Lamborghini on the big screen, remember there‘s a good chance it‘s an excellent replica rather than the real thing! But as Miami Vice demonstrated, that doesn‘t make it any less cool.
Whether I‘m watching an 80s classic or modern blockbuster, I love the artistry and passion that go into crafting these iconic custom supercar replicas for our entertainment. The McBurnie Daytona is a prime example – real or not, it‘s an amazing machine with an incredible history!
