Cars in Miami Vice

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The Cars of Miami Vice mainly involve the Ferrari Daytona Spyder and the Ferrari Testarossa, but also include other automobiles driven by the characters on the show. Currently the Ferrari Daytona (kit car) used on the show, and the Ferrari Testarossa stunt car both reside in Kingsport, Tennessee to Carl Roberts of Carl Roberts Motor Group.^[1]

Contents 1 Daytona Spyder 2 Testarossa 3 Other Characters 4 Notable cars 4.1 Season 1 4.2 Season 2 4.3 Season 3 4.4 Season 4 5 References

[edit] Daytona Spyder

During the first two seasons and two episodes from the third season, Detective Sonny Crockett drove a midnight black 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder 365 GTS/4 with a Florida license plate ZAQ178.^[2] Although Tom McBurnie is credited with planting the Daytona Spyder in the mind of the public, it's actually Al Mardekian, an importer of gray-market exoticars, who originally sold Miami Vice two look-alike Ferrari's for $49,000 each.^[1] McBurnie was hired to build the bodies for the Corvette-chassised cars.^[1] It was blown to pieces with a hand-held Stinger missile launcher during an illegal arms deal.^[3] The Ferrari used in the first two seasons was a kit replica based on a 1980 Chevrolet Corvette C3 chassis that had been modified with Pininfarina-designed body panels by specialty car manufacturer McBurnie.^[4] (Little known fact: The first appearance of the Daytona in the pilot episode is actually a real Ferrari. It only gets about ten seconds of screen time. The car is stationary, and Sonny is sitting in the driver’s seat, reading a newspaper. It can be clearly identified as a real Daytona (American version) by the door handles, side markers, windshield rake, and side vent windows.)

Although the Daytona was a hit with the fans, the Ferrari hierarchy, it seemed, was incensed at the weekly bastardization of the regal; the Daytona portrayed on Miami Vice was a kit car, more dog-and-pony than prancing horse.^[1] Together, the pinstripe suits at Ferrari and Turbo Sunglasses of Hollywood cut a deal. They'd blow the svelte imposter out of the consciousness of the American public.^[1]

[edit] Testarossa

"Why beat a real Ferrari to death with power slides and 180s or mar its flawless skin with camera mounts for tight driver's shots when a stand-in stunt car could do the job quite nicely?" Carl Roberts[5]

Enzo Ferrari who was growing furious at these copycats who were taking his name and styling filed a lawsuit asking McBurnie and four others to stop producing and selling Ferrari replicas.^[1] Miami Vice producers on the other hand wanted no legal troubles and accepted Ferrari's offer of two free Testarossas, on the condition that the fakers be demolished.^[5] Unbeknown to Carl Roberts, that the Testarossa was replacing the Daytona, he offered to build two new Daytona's for the 1987 season (third season of Miami Vice).^[5] When he learned that the Daytona was out, Roberts proposed a trade.^[5] He would build Miami Vice a Testarossa stunt car in return for the doomed Daytona.^[5] Carl's original plan was to remove the Daytona skin from the Corvette and replace it with Testarossa body pieces, but this resulted in poor results and lead to Roberts to devise another plan.^[5][4]

Roberts searched and found a 1972 De Tomaso Pantera, which was perfectly suited for the Testarossa body pieces.^[5][4] The Pantera was rigidly modified to withstand the duties of filming.^[4] It was raised 1.5 inches for additional ground clearance,^[5] 2.5 inch wall-thick square tubing was used to prevent potential roof buckling and added a reinforcing railing that doubles as a skid plate,^[5] an auxiliary braking system designed to assist drivers in controlled spins, the master cylinder was repositioned in the brake line to enable it to feed the rear wheels enabling the driver to lock the aft end on command, and the auxiliary master cylinder utilizes the original master cylinder's reservoir and is installed in series with the outlet of the original master cylinder port leading to the rear wheels.^[5] When the stock brake is applied, fluid passes freely through the stunt master cylinder inlet port and compensating port and out the exhaust port to the rear wheels.^[5] When the stunt brake is applied, the piston in the master cylinder blocks off the compensating port to the exhaust port and pressurizes the rear brake system, cutting off the original brake master cylinder besides the compensating port in the stunt brake.^[5] BF Goodrich TA's were added for enhanced stick, as were Tilton brake calipers. The improved traction required installation of a hydraulic in-line brake power booster lifted from a Volvo P-1800.^[5] It operates on engine vacuum to aid in breaking loose the pavement-hugging TA's.^[5] To further enhance the growl of the vehicle, Robert's team installed a NOS port-injected nitrous system, which was later replaced with a plate-type configuration.^[5] He also replaced the carborator replacing the stock with a Predator which reduces fuel lag.^[5][4] A Modine all-aluminum four-core radiator was used to guard against Miami's hot weather, and liquid Auto-Meter gauges to monitor the temperature.^[5]

In the second episode of the third season,^[6][4] Crockett complained to Lt. Castillo about driving vehicles that did not fit his high-roller image; that he was going around "looking like Li'l Abner", to which Castillo told him "It's out back." Sonny was delighted to find his new white 1986 Ferrari Testarossa, Florida license plate ATF00M.^[6]

[edit] Other Characters

Ricardo Tubbs drove a 1963 Cadillac Coupe de Ville Convertible.^[7][4][8][9] Stan Switek drove a turquoise 1963 Ford Thunderbird.^[4] Gina Calabrese drove an 1971 Mercury Cougar XR-7 convertible.^{[citation needed]} When Stan and Larry were undercover, they drove a Dodge Ram Van.^[10][11] Crockett's ex-wife drove a 1983 Ford LTD Country Squire.^[12][11]

[edit] Notable cars

Other notable vehicles that appeared in Miami Vice (other than a Ferrari), that were driven by villains, police officers, and other characters on the show included, brands such as Lamborghini, AMG Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Maserati, Lotus, DeLorean, Porsche, and Corvettes. American muscle cars, such as the GTO, Trans Am, Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, or a Plymouth Barracuda also made appearances.

[edit] Season 1

• Chevrolet Camaro^[13][11][14]
• Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse Stretched Limousine^[13][11][15]
• 1983 BMW 633 CSi^[16][11]
• 1980 Cadillac DeVille Stretched Limousine^[16][11]
• 1974 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray^[16][11]
• 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am^[16][11]
• 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z28^[17][11]
• 1961 Ford Thunderbird^[17][11]
• 1965 Ford Mustang^[17][11]
• 1984 Cadillac Fleetwood^[12][11]
• 1983 Chevrolet Camaro^[12][11]
• Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL^[12][11]
• 1968 Pontiac GTO^[12][11]
• Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC^[18][11]
• 1975 Checker Marathon^[19][11]
• 1980 Maserati Quattroporte III^[19][11]
• 1981 De Lorean DMC 12^[20][11]
• 1955 Ford F-100^[20][11]
• 1983 Maserati Biturbo^[20][11]
• 1937 Packard^[14][11]
• Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow I^[14][11]
• 1968 Chevrolet Corvette^[21][11]
• Fiat 124 Spider^[21][11]
• 1956 Ford Thunderbird^[22][11]
• 1972 Mercedes-Benz 350 SLC^[22][11]
• Lamborghini Countach S^[23][11]
• Mercedez-Benz 600 Pullman^[23][11]
• 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9^[23][11]
• 1974 Checker Marathon^[24][11]
• 1967 Ford Mustang^[24][11]
• MG B^[24][11]
• 1978 Ford Thunderbird^[10][11]
• 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T^[25][11]
• 1961 Ford Thunderbird^[25][11]
• Porsche 911^[25][11]
• 1983 Renault Alliance^[25][11]
• 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS^[26][11]
• 1981 Chevrolet Corvette^[26][11]
• 1971 Mercedes-Benz 350 SL^[26][11]
• 1980 Mercedes-Benz^[26][11]
• 1985 Pontiac Grand Am^[26][11]
• 1983 BMW 733i^[27][11]
• 1978 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine^[27][11]
• 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am^[27][11]

[edit] Season 2

• Rolls-Royce Camargue^[28][29]
• 1972 AMC Jeep CJ-5^[28][29]
• 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz^[28][29]
• Checker Marathon^[28][29]
• 1941 Dodge WC 41^[28][29]
• 1944 Dodge WC 51^[28][29]
• Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse Stretched Limousine^[28][29]
• Porsche 928^[28][29]
• Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow I^[28][29]
• Rolls-Royce Silver Spur^[28][29]
• 1941 Willys MB 'Jeep'^[28][29]
• 1969 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine^[30][29]
• 1957 Chevrolet 3100^[30][29]
• Ferrari 308 GTBi^[30][29]
• 1961 Ford Thunderbird^[30][29]
• 1983 Porsche 911 SC Cabrio^[30][29]
• 1954 Reo Comet^[30][29]
• Lamborghini Jalpa^[31][29][32]
• 1985 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am^[31][29]
• 1978 Chevrolet Corvette^[33][29]
• Mercedes-Benz SL^[33][29]
• Nova Sterling^[33][29]
• 1984 Chevrolet Corvette^[34][29]
• 1973 Ford Mustang^[34][29]
• 1984 Chevrolet Corvette^[35][29]
• 1985 Ford Mustang^[35][29]
• 1948 GMC 300^[35][29]
• 1958 Lincoln Premiere^[35][29]
• 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280 CE^[35][29]
• 1981 Peugeot 505^[35][29]
• 1955 Studebaker Commander Regal^[35][29]
• Lincoln Town Car Stretched Limousine^[36][29]
• Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole^[37][29]
• Lamborghini Countach 5000 S^[37][29]
• Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse Stretched Limousine^[37][29]
• 1975 MG B GT^[37][29]
• Porsche 911 Turbo^[32][29]
• Reo Gold Comet^[32][29]
• 1984 Chevrolet Corvette^[15][29]
• Chevrolet Corvette GTP (Lola T711)^[38][29]
• 1980 Maserati Quattroporte III^[15][29]
• 1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am^[15][29]
• Porsche 911 Targa^[15][29]
• 1969 BMW 3.0 CSi^[39][29]
• 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray^[39][29]
• 1984 Nissan 300ZX^[39][38][29]
• AC Shelby Cobra^[40][29]
• Ferrari 365 GTS/4^[40][29]
• Argo JM16^[38][29]
• Argo JM19^[38][29]
• Aston Martin Nimrod NRA/C2^[38][29]
• 1984 Chevrolet Corvette^[38][29]
• Ford Mustang Probe^[38][29]
• Honda ATC^[38][29]
• Jaguar XJR-5 (Fabcar)^[38][29]
• 1984 Kawasaki 600 R Ninja^[38][29]
• Lola T600^[38][29]
• Lola T616^[38][29]
• March 82G^[38][29]
• March 84G^[38][29]
• March 85G^[38][29]
• 1983 Maserati Biturbo^[38][29]
• 1981 Mazda RX-7^[38][29]
• Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo^[38][29]
• 1985 Pontiac Firebird^[38][29]
• Porsche 906^[38][29]
• Porsche 962^[38][29]
• 1957 Ford Thunderbird^[41][29]
• Lincoln Town Car Stretched Limousine^[42][29]
• Mercedes-Benz SL^[42][29]
• Jeep CJ^[43][29]
• 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300 TD^[44][29]

[edit] Season 3

• Checker Taxicab^[45][46]
• 1986 Ferrari Testarossa^[45][46]
• Jeep CJ^[45][46]
• Mazda RX-7^[45][46]
• 1975 MG Midget^[45][46]
• 1971 Opel Manta^[45][46]
• Chevrolet Apache^[47][46]
• Ford M151 'MUTT'^[47][46]
• Aston Martin V8 Volante^[48][46]
• 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine^[49][46]
• 1985 Cadillac Professional Coach^[49][46]
• 1983 Ford Thunderbird^[49][46]
• 1985 Ford Mustang^[49][46]
• 1984 Nissan 200SX^[49][46]
• Porsche 944^[49][46]
• Chevrolet Camaro^[50][46]
• 1955 Chevrolet Two-Ten Delray^[50][46]
• 1970 Ford Torino GT^[50][46]
• 1977 Ford Thunderbird^[50][46]
• Lincoln Town Car Stretched Limousine^[50][46]
• Pontiac GTO^[50][46]
• 1974 Mercedes-Benz 280^[51][46]
• Lotus Esprit Turbo^[52][46]
• Peugeot 505^[52][46]
• 1974 BMW 2002^[53][46]
• 1954 Ford Crestline Victoria^[54][46]
• 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300d^[54][46]
• Plymouth Barracuda^[54][46][55]
• 1982 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Stretched Limousine^[55][46]
• Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL^[55][46]
• 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix^[55][46]
• Renault LeCar^[55][46]
• Zimmer Golden Spirit^[55][46]

[edit] Season 4

• 1974 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL^[56][57]

[edit] References