Ferrari Testarossa: From Maranello to Miami Vice

The production of the television series Miami Vice, which aired from September 1984 until January 1990, provides a notable case study in the intersection of automotive engineering and intellectual property law. The show’s transition from using replica vehicles to authentic Ferraris was driven by a legal conflict over trademark infringement and the protection of brand identity.

During the first two seasons and portions of the third season, the character Detective Sonny Crockett drove a black 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder 365 GTS/4. While it appeared to be an authentic Ferrari, the vehicle was a replica built by specialty manufacturer McBurnie Coachcraft. The technical construction of this vehicle involved fitting Ferrari-shaped body panels onto the chassis of a Chevrolet Corvette (C3).

The use of these replicas was a necessity of production, as Ferrari North America had initially declined requests from the Miami Vice crew for authentic vehicles.

Intellectual Property and Trademark Litigation

The reliance on replicas eventually led to a legal confrontation. Ferrari filed a lawsuit against the production crew, McBurnie Coachcraft, and other parties, alleging trademark infringement. The company maintained that the production and sale of replicas constituted an infringement on its brand name and creative intellectual property.

The tension between the production and the manufacturer escalated during the first episode of the third season, when the crew used an empty Daytona body shell in an action sequence that resulted in the vehicle being blown up.

To resolve the lawsuit, Ferrari and the production team reached an agreement to keep the brand prominent on the show through authentic means. Ferrari donated two new Testarossa Monospecchios for use in the program. These vehicles were originally delivered with black paint and beige leather interiors.

However, the technical requirements of the show’s cinematography led to further modifications. Producer Michael Mann requested that the cars be repainted white to ensure they remained visible during the frequent night scenes filmed for the series.

Engineering for Stunt Performance

While authentic Ferraris were used for hero shots, the production required specialized vehicles for high-risk stunt sequences. This necessitated a different engineering approach to maintain visual consistency while ensuring durability and safety.

The team utilized a fiberglass replica for stunt work, which was built by Carl Robert. This specific replica was engineered using a 1972 De Tomaso Pantera as the base. The choice of the Pantera was based on a specific technical alignment: the vehicle possessed the same wheelbase as the Ferrari Testarossa, allowing the replica body to fit accurately over the chassis.

Other stunt variations included vehicles featuring Ferrari body panels mounted over custom chassis equipped with V8 engines and Turbo Hydramatic GM automatic transmissions.

Current Status of the Vehicles

Several of the vehicles used during the production of the series have since moved into private and public collections:

• One Daytona replica (Car #1) is currently on display at the Volo Auto Museum, while another (Car #4) is held in a private collection.
• A Ferrari Testarossa hero car with chassis #63631 is part of the Witvoet collection, owned by Bastiaan Witvoet in Belgium.
• A Ferrari Testarossa stunt car is owned by Carl Roberts of the Carl Roberts Motor Group and is located in Kingsport, Tennessee.