On the hunt for a Miami Vice 38 KV
 

We are looking for an original 38 KV Miami vice themed boat for our collection. Any help by OSO members would be appreciated.

P -Rob

run a search on the Forums here for "Miami Vice 38 KV" There is a bunch of archival information.

I looked into this not long ago being a fan and considering one myself. As I recall there were actually only 5 ever used in the TV show production and if you find one it will have camera mount holes in the deck and on the dash. i think I read that 2: of them are presently in Europe. Reportedly Don Johnson has one tied up behind his Dad's place in Missouri.

I remember seeing them occasionally down here during the shows production which was shot on location most of the time.
We would see Don in his "My Vice" occasionally around Haulover, Sunny Isles and his home on Star Island just North of the port of Miami.

This was THE place to be in the '80's...I still love it.

Good luck on your search.

There are (AFAIK) 3 known boats that were used on the TV show. One is in North Carolina, one is around Maryland, and the other one that used to be in Germany is in my shop. :) Join the MV Scarab facebook page. There are a couple of MV-edition Scarabs for sale...just not screen-used boats.

Plus the one in Finland which was also in DJ's personal use, came over here already 1989 straight from the Auction. Friend has it stashed away.

Glad to see you got it home. Awesome project.

Welcome to the club!

Please check out our Facebook Page which is dedicated to the Miami Vice Scarab(s) both the Miami Vice Edition boats and the TV show boats, I started this along with Wayne on this site to put to REST all the stupid mis information that seems to surround the boat. We both have spent HOURS talking with Wellcraft reps (including a former VP) Universal Production people and various other characters that went along with the TV show.

Our Facebook page is here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wellcr...49728885074292


We have been able to locate several boats and have set up album pages with pictures. We believe only 35 Miami Vice edition boats were produced and another (6) TV show boats for a total of 41 38KV "Miami Vice" Scarabs. Our goal is to locate all boats, provide an avenue for owners to discuss and share the passion for the boat and have some restoration threads/pictures so that others in the future can maintain this iconic boat.

I have owned my Miami Vice Edition Scarab for several years and enjoyed every minute of it, I truly enjoy the boat and can't imagine ever selling her.

Please give our Facebook page a "Like" and feel free to join in with comments!

Randy
38KV Miami Vice Edition "Jet Lag"

Thank you all for the feed back however I like to stay off the radar with all the social media scene so navigating Facebook is not an option, just looking for a clean complete unit as a collectable, in 33 years have bought and sold 7 offshores with the latest being the 43 zr Donzi that we love. Any leads no matter what pricing will be reviewed.

P-ROB

Randy,

Was the 38KV we used to see running around down here named "My Vice" Don's boat or was it a clone?

Thanks.

That would be Don's boat. Wellcraft loaned him a 38KV Scarab and he had to give them back. I am sure there are a few 38KV's to copy that name in the past few years.

We have a video on the site with Don Johnson running around with Barbra Walters in the 38KV named "My Vice"

What do you know about the one that is "reportedly" tired up behind his Dad's house? I would like more info on that.

Delete.....

I think I read it on a web site. I'll research a bit but I think the story was related to Don's winning the Law Suite in the UK over rights to "Nash Bridges". Don was in tight shape financially and that settlement put him back in the "chips' in a major way. He celebrated reportedly by buying his Dad a place in Mo on a lake and put the KV there.

you and me both! good luck with your search, those are some cool scarabs!

I don't know if this is relevent or not but I thought I would mention it. A few years back I went and saw a 38 KV in New York near the Hudson and I-84. I don't remember the town but the boat was marroon , grey and white. A friend delivered it for an old guy who got in too deep with it with a resto project. It was totally apart when I saw it, sitting on a myco trailer. Even though I know its not one of THE ONES maybe someone on here has seen it too. The gentleman who owned it I think was sick. Sorry I don't know more. Might have some pics around. Good project for someone who wants those.

Takes me back...
 

I love the Facebook Page....takes me back to before "Vice".

I have lived in SE Florida since '76..and lived in Dade and Broward Counties during the '70's and '80's. Before Miami Vice, South Miami Beach was a sewer. Old run down Art Deco hotels, Pimps and Whores running the streets with derelicts and Drug Pushers. No body went south of the Fontainebleau and all of the Beach was past it's glory days when Sinatra, Martin and the Rat Pack were headliners at the Eden Roc and Fountainbleu.

Then Michael Mann sold the Pilot to NBC....Don Johnson standing on the steps of the "Carlisle" on Ocean Drive...watching some break dancer with a Boom Box. He turned to Jimmy Smits and said "Five Thousand Street Corners in Greater Miami ...and Gumby here has to pick ours!"

That was the beginning of the resurrection of South Miami Beach. After Season one finished in 1984 there was a real estate boom in South Beach that is still running crazy 30 years later. Miami Beach owes it all to Don Johnson, Michael Mann and Wellcraft Scarab 38 KV's

http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/KV%20Scarab%203.jpg

I've put some thought to selling my 86 Vice edition.
It was repainted by Snap On, but the original colors are still there
Wayne

I remeber the snap on boat I was running my Miami Vice KV in the 90's at the Pier 33 poker run and the snap on boat was there as well. Also i remeber a kv like mine but was painted all red. I still miss my Miami vice KV every day

Let's talk
 

If it's the one that was owned by the canadian publisher and sold to the Ross's I know the boat. Before the Ross's purchased it he brought it down to lake Erie to the Leamington Marina during a boat show, took a selected few for rides, Be nice to get it back home.

Hey Mark, how have ya been?
Did you ever get a chance to dig up the info on your KV?
Still want to put together an album for your boat.
Wayne

Thanks for directing us to the FB page! I am a huge fan of Miami Vice and the boats of course. Love all the photos!

Yes it is Bill's old boat.
I've put 50 hrs on it since I bought it from the Brian and Wilma.
The Borgs were the only things that weren't fresh when I picked it up.
Sent them to Tom Huber and had him go through them. Now rated for 650 hp
The graphics were removed when I picked it up. Was bummed about that, but understood from a legal stand point

Thanks, glad ya like it
Wayne

Small world
 

Wayne,

Let's talk, check your PM's.

If anyone comes across or knows any info about a Miami Vice Edition Scarab 38KV please send the info to our Facebook page or PM me or Wayne directly.

I keep hearing about a boat in Maine. Anyone?

Also some are located in the LOTO area....Anyone?

One 38KV was listed on Craigslist in the New York area (it was a Miami Vice edition) and was sold but never heard who got it or what happened to it.

Another "Long Island" boat named "Wild Wild West" was a Miami Vice Edition Scarab that was on ebay for a bit...still trying to locate that one.

Another boat was being restored that was bought at a boat storage place in New Jersey....the guy who owns it is a OSO member but did't keep track of it.....would like to know the status of that boat.

Please feel free to pass along any leads.....

Rumor has it that there is one in dry storage in Dania, Florida (Ft. Lauderdale) I'll be down there tomorrow and will PM you with any info I get.

I love those old Scarabs of that era...especially The "Miami Vice" editions. I would like to do one even if were a clone. Maybe one of my future projects.

I have subscribed to this thread and the Facebook page and will pass along any info I learn here in South Florida...hopefully I might help you guys in some small way. If there is any leg work you need in this area shoot me a PM...I'll be glad to help.

Dania is a new one to.me. By all means if you have time and don't mind, look in to it. We appreciate any help you can give.
Wayne

I looked several times this past summer for the one in the Gravois arm of the Lake of the Ozarks but I guess the guy sold it or something it was never at his dock and I never saw him go across the end of the cove to get gas at Beauty View. (Gas Hole)

Was it a Vice edition or the White one called Thunder?
Wayne

.....am I the only one who keeps checking if this thread has anymore replies? hahhahaha......I think I am obsssed with tracking down all the Miami Vice Scarabs!


Any leads, rumors....ect....would be helpful, thank you in advance!

Trying to dig up pics of the one I looked at in NY. Maybe if someone sees it.......

Awesome! Thank you!


Our goal is to have all the boats listed, and some resto threads/albums so later or rather future owners will have material in place for reference. I have learned a lot about the boats since I started this journey in 2007!

Where in NY?

I think it was in the Hudson river valley not far from the conn border. Can't remember the town.

Randy, your persistence will pay off. It would be helpful though if Wellcraft could give a definite answer on how many they did make.

I am pretty sure Wayne and I have the correct numbers. We both talked with several Wellcraft employee's and a few senior VP's.

.....what we know is about 35 Vice Editions were built. 6 boats were on loan (2 a year) for the Miami Vice TV show. so a total of 41 boats. (Wayne correct me if I have those numbers wrong?) the 100 number you hear a lot about is the TOTAL number of 38KV's built by Wellcraft (not VICE Edition boats)

so far we have located about 25 Vice Boats. The current Wellcraft company has ZERO interest in the boat or history--kinda sad when you think about it.

The Facebook page is growing (550+ members) and it has been fun trying to put all the info together in one place.

My wish is a company would buy the rights (Larry Smith) and produce a retro boat Miami Vice 38KV. I would place an order on the spot.

We've been very fortunate to have caught Bill Erickson's attention with our FB page. Bill was VP of marketing at Wellcraft, the man who put Wellcraft on Vice and dubbed by his peers as the Wellcraft historian. He's been extremely generous in sharing his knowledge and passion for the boats and his involvement with Vice.
Unfortunately the records are long gone and Wellcraft didn't like to share info so we may never know the exact numbers.
Bill said six boats from three model years were supplied for four seasons.
Don Johnson was given a loaner boat for each season and 33 - 35 Edition boats were built. The total for all KVs built was about 103.
Back in 2000 Mike J from Team Scarab told me he thought there was 42 or 43 total Vice boats, which ties in with Bill's numbers.
I was fortunate to meet Mike through ebay when he bought some Vice Scarab kits from me.
He made a call to Wellcraft that got me past the receptionist to Gordon Houser's secretary who was awaiting my call with the build sheet for my KV ready to send to me.
Wayne

Your absolutely right Randy, very sad when you think that that show and boat is probably what got a lot of people into these types of boats. Wellcraft wont care until there something in it for them.

....again shaking the tree for an 38KV's that may be hiding out in a barn or storage shed in Miami Vice colors!

any and all leads appreciated!

Checked the Marina at Dania last week...seems that the KV was on an extended trip to the Bahamas...along with a few other boats. The weather down her has been outstanding this winter so quite a few people are taking time off and running over.

Kind of reminds me of that MV episode in Season 2 "Calderon's Demise"...it's only 50 miles and on a 3' or less day in that boat it only takes 45~50 minutes to zip across the 'Stream to Bimini.

I'll try to get back by there this week.

Thanks for checking.
I leave in the AM for Miami. Will be there through Sunday.
Wayne

Send me a PM when you get in town. Diego9040...another guy from OSO and I are going to the show Friday... maybe we can hook up.

John