Liberty Walk Just Ruined Magnum P.I.’s Ride

The Ferrari 308 is a true classic. Never mind the fact that the car was the true star of Magnum P.I. – its chiseled looks, gated manual gearbox, and naturally aspirated engine all contribute to a timeless recipe that will always be treasured. It’s clean and classy, terms that will never be attributed to anything built by controversial Japanese tuners Liberty Walk. We’ve gone back and forth on the creations that the company has built over the years, and although there are rare builds that look semi-decent, the vast majority of the tuner’s builds are generally hated by all but the attention-seeking who love controversy, something LW’s latest LB Works build is brimming with.

This is one of Liberty Walk’s more restrained builds, featuring a ducktail spoiler, over-fenders, and the obligatory air suspension setup. Aftermarket wheels wrapped in semi-slick tires are also included, so the overall look isn’t too bad, and with those bolt-on fender extensions in black, there’s a bit of a classic Japanese tuner look to the car, but the reason that such changes are so controversial is not just that they change the character of the car – it’s the way that they are carried out. In order to fit the wider wheels and arch extensions, the body of the car needs to be irreversibly cut, and that’s the part that enthusiasts take issue with most.

Thankfully, the interior of the 308 GTB seems to have been left unmolested and looks to be in pristine condition. Still, this Ferrari will displease many enthusiasts, and we don’t blame them. With Liberty Walk rumored to be going after the most iconic Ferrari next – the legendary F40 – the brand is going to anger even more fans of the prancing horse. Of course, there would be less backlash if the tuner were to apply its skills to the current F8 Tributo since it’s not yet a classic, but we have no doubt that this model will be attacked with a grinder and some bolts too. But what do you think? Is this one of Liberty Walk’s better efforts, or should the brand just stop ruining classics?