10 Cool Facts About Jim's Pontiac Firebirds - The Rockford Files
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 чер 2024
- Watch the new revised video here: rumble.com/v4q6qw9-10-cool-fa...
Revell 1970 Pontiac Firebird Model Kit: amzn.to/4a6gaQi
MPC 1977 Pontiac Firebird Model Kit: amzn.to/3TOTP40
New Diecast Channel "Show & Tell Diecast": / @showandtelldiecast43
In "The Rockford Files," the Pontiac Firebird holds a significant role as the iconic car driven by the show's protagonist, Jim Rockford, portrayed by James Garner. With its sleek design and powerful performance, the Firebird perfectly complements Rockford's character as a private investigator navigating the streets of Los Angeles. Throughout the series, the Firebird becomes synonymous with Rockford's escapades, serving as both a mode of transportation and a symbol of his independent and resourceful nature. Its distinctive appearance and memorable presence contribute to the show's overall charm and enduring popularity among fans of classic television.
-Enjoy
-----------
(DISCLAIMER: This video description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I might receive a small commission.) - Авто та транспорт
I'll tell you a fun fact about one of The Rockford Files' Firebirds: I went to graduate school with a young woman who bought one of them. She wrote to Universal Studios and asked what the producers did with the cars at the end of each season and if they were sold, she'd like to buy one. They wrote back and gave her contact information and she bought one of the cars. In the glove compartment was a note from James Garner congratulating her on the purchase and hoping she'd have as much fun driving it as he did.
Cool, yep Garner was an awesome dude for sure 😉👍
Thats awesome, do you know which model year she purchased?
That's so cool
When I was a kid I met him while he was filming an episode called the Empty Frame in Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach. We stumbled upon the shoot one night while they were on a break and he spent the time to talk to 3 of us kids and answer all our questions about stunt driving and sign autographs. He was a total class act.
Wow, very cool man!
That is awesome! When I was a kid, I used to ride my bicycle to the Bel Air Cinema on 8 mile. On hot summer days, the garage doors would be open at the Conner Ave Assembly plant. We would watch the Vipers being hand built.
Lucky LaFong... I remember one of Rockford's quotes, " You do a dandy two step but I'm tired of dancing". For some reason I remember that. I did date a girl from Rockyford. She was just a bit more fun I think. I was driving my 1979 Firebird Esprit at the time. That nose didn't harm my busy dating schedule at all.
My father met and took a picture with Mr Garner when he filmed the movie Tank in Fort Benning GA. My father was a member of the Fort Benning fire department at the time. As far as I know he still has the picture 👍🏿
Did he give you a bunch of BS cans to use everytime you post a comment?
Brings back many memories of watching the Rockford Files as a kid with my Dad. I miss them times
Likewise. Back when TV was worth watching. A great time to live!
The autumn moon lights my way…
The word "dad" doesn't get capitalized. It's an ordinary noun.
@@mikegarippo7815 As far as my Dad was concerned he will always be worth a capital letter to me.
So like it or not hard luck :-).
😉👍
I read Garner‘s biography, which was quite interesting. Apparently he was awarded 2 purple hearts from his service in Korea, but his army antics were legendary, including digging out the basement of a building to make a pool for the guys lol. He was a good guy, a committed Progressive, who helped others throughout his Hollywood career. Also his mom from Oklahoma was a Cherokee, and that’s why his production company was called Cherokee productions.
Even though he was a Democrat, I doubt Garner would endorse the unhinged lunacy of today's Left.
Indeed and well said 😉👍
James Garner decorated combat veteran, excellent actor, driver and car guy. A real man. The Rockford Files was a great show and Jim never over acted just understated and down to earth. One of those people I regret never meeting.
Well said 😉👍
You knocked the Rockford Files Firebird out of the park with this video! Outstand tribute to James Garner and his every man’s car.
Thanks much and glad you enjoyed it 😉👍
I was in high school when this show was on, we used to just call the J turn "a Rockford", and of course had to go out and learn it...
Cool and indeed 😉👍
That's what we called it also. It was the Holy Grail of car maneuvers to learn.
That’s right that’s what we called it when we tried to do it in our mom and dad’s car lol
@@Porsche996driver Lol, yep, in my case a 66 Pontiac Strato Chief 4 dr with a 283/Slush-n-slide.
Yep. Pull a Rockford.
Loved this show as a kid. James Garner was so cool. In my opinion, up near Steve McQueen level. Very personable and warm personality who didn't take himself too seriously.
he & steve mcqueen would sit around & smoke pot.
He didn't mess around behind his wife. Rare in Hollywood.
Indeed 😉👍
Real-life nextdoor neighbors! James and Steve
@@nowitsabadtime Yeah, apparently Steve would occasionally pee over the fence into his yard!
Best show ever on television IMO
Great show .. I think Colombo may have been the Best show in that Genre
😉👍
@@mikeskidmore6754 "Columbo" wasn't too bad, either! 😉
@@bobjohnson205 Yes Colombo was great! Very cleverly written .. How Colombo acted like he was a bit incompetent while figuring out the missing links and finding the real killer.
James sent me an autographed 8X10 with a personal inscription simply by writing to him and asking for one. That's the kind of guy he was. I miss the days when men were men and women knew how powerful femininity was. Miss ya Maverick.
Nice 😉👍
James Garner was a real car guy , racer, and a decorated Korean war veteran , and all around good guy. If they thought those Firebirds were possibly a bit low on horsepower, judging by the tire smoke , they weren't lacking torque. I dont blame him for not wanting the 1979 Firebird front, it looks horrible, its verging on looking like Mark Hamill's Corvette, and you'll know how awful that was. Actually the last properly good looking Firebird was the '74 model IMO.
Garner was also a Raider fan. I saw him on the sidelines of several games when they were in Los Angeles.
Agreed all around there and yep, plenty of torque for sure as I directly mentioned in the video 😉
73 model IMHO 👍
1968 & 1973 were beautiful. The later ones… 🤢🤮
My first car I bought with my own money was a 94 Firebird . I loved the body style . Sadly I was a 20 year old toolbag that didn’t know about routine maintenance. I drove it into the ground and always wanted to get another one . The 70s bird were also pretty awesome
As a 58 year old brit🇬🇧
James Garner WAS america to me
Lol 😉👍
Just "A Rockford" and every car guy knows the reference !
Many variants out there of it for sure, but certainly 😉👍
Yup
Can see the tire smoke now!
Rockford Files, James Garner, great show, great actor. Love that Pontiac Firebird.
😉👍
Rockford was the star & the Firebird was the co-star.
Indeed 😉👍
Was a kid back then. At 62 I still tell my wife I'm doing the "Rockford" turn lol.
😉👍
Even though James Garner attended Norman High School 33 years before I did, I had the same english teacher that he did. Yes, she was probably in her 60's when I had her. She remembered him quite well though.
Cool, lol 😉👍
I had a similar thing. My second grade teacher was my Dads second grade teacher.
Shane- come back Shane!
@rb89509 how old are you ? I’m guessing about 33 years younger than JG.
I’d like to spend a day driving a gold firebird around Malibu, for some reason the vibe about that time and place makes me want to visit it.
😉👍
Cool story, I really enjoyed James Garner, I got to meet him and work with him on a movie once.. He's a class act.. I had a new 1979 Trans Am with the 400 cubic inch 6.6 liter T/A Pontiac V8 with WS6 package back in the day.. That was the "it" car of 1979..
Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍
When i was staying at the family friend for a few weeks they show was on fairly regularly and he said that jim rockford fit james really well cause he was the guy that was doing his best but never got the pay he deserved for his work.
Indeed 😉
I loved the Rockford Files, wish it would show up again somewhere, great show.
Hulu. "get" channel.
It's on UA-cam TV every weekday.
On everyday on gettv
Yeah, you can stream it in a number of places at least fortunately 😉👍
The color is Light Topaz Poly
One of my favorite TV theme songs ever!
😉👍
James Garner was an all-around good guy, and definite car guy. His Polaroid commercials with Mariette Hartly had people thinking they were a couple, even though they just had good chemistry.
😉👍
Love seeing Jim’s firebird! Let’s see Rocky’s gmc pickup!
Yeah, I so want to cover that one too at some point 😉👍
@@CarStarz42 How about the awsome pick-up from The Fall Guy?
Or the A-Teams van.
To show how important these firebirds became, the later Rockford Files movies after the show was done always featured the 'Birds with Jim making reference to his car as a classic now and really not wanting to damage it anymore. It of course got damaged. Yikes, that Barrett-Jackson car was the epitome of over-restored. The paint looked wrong, the shiny chromed wheels... I guess it sold solely on it's documentation. I'm curious about the earlier cars being standards. The impression I always got was that they were all autos. I don't recall anyone referring to "doing a Jim Rockford" but I do recall the simpler; "pulling a Rockford" which many of us who learned to drive circa 1980 had to pull off. At least once.
Yeah, I thought the same on the auction car, not sure why they decided to put such a brighter gold paint on it when restoring it, unless it was a funky video quality deal and or lighting effect making it look off, not sure.
@@CarStarz42 I also saw that car at the B-J auction and it was definitely painted the wrong colour. There's one in my town painted that same GM colour, which isn't the colour the '74-'78 "Rockford" Firebirds were. Too bad!
Not only did GM supply the Firebirds, they also supplied Rocky's GMC 4x4 pick up, which was custom built by GM for Garner. There was more than one built, a couple were called "Diablo del Calle", some had a passenger car 454 and 400 turbo transmission.
They also built Garner a special Indy Pace Truck.
GM made the deal with Traco Engineering to supply the 302 small block race engines used in Garner's Lola T70 race cars, and his formula car.
Garner had all sorts of trick GM cars, including L-88 Corvettes, Impalas and Caprices with 427-425HP engines, some were even convertibles.
Indeed, I'll eventually look more into the truck for a video too 😉👍
"The Rockford Files" was my favorite TV show in my early teenage years. Maybe 20 years ago,I built a 1:25 scale replica of the car (as mention in the video), based on an easily sourced MPC '77 Trans Am kit. You wouldn't believe what went into converting a Trans Am body to Esprit specs! Close up.the T-tops and shaker scoop hole in the hood, remove the wheel spats, sand off and fill the fender air outlets. That's just the body changes. I sourced the whitewall tires and Pontiac Rally II wheels from my parts box, as well as the Turbo 400 automatic transmission. I scratchbuilt the power steering pump and A/C compressor, and fully wired and plumbed the engine bay. I also had to replace the shaker scoop.intake with a conventional, round air filter housing.
Inside, I sanded the brake and clutch pedals off the floor and suspended a more realistic brake pedal from beneath the dash, then added a dimmer butyon as well. And I also added such things as sun visors, a dome light, and a rear view mirror. Of course I also had to rework the console from 4-speed to automatic configuration. Topping off the interior were the seat belts (that were never used in the show!), and I reworked the bucket seats so that the backrests would fold forward.
On the outside, I added photoetched Esprit emblems and the aftermarket bodyside moldings that all the Rockford cars had. The final touch was the tiny little business card printing press in the back seat.
Ahh, the good old days. When "trans" was often associated with a cool sports car.
😉👍
Loved that show. I always remember Rockford getting beaten up, but he tuffed it out 😅
Lol, indeed.
I think that's where we got the saying, "no good deed goes unpunished."
I think JR got beat up in every episode
@@MuzixMaker Either beat up or "stiffed" by his client! lol
I grew up watching the show. Cool dude!
Indeed 😉👍
James Garner bought me lunch when he was on a break from filming the pilot. They were filming in Victorville Ca.
Ah Victorsticks! Lived there four years stationed at George. '87-91
Tacos of course?
@@goratgo1970 I was at George from 1980 to 1982
@@catfishjenkem2226 Cool, transition paint for F-4 from white belly SEA to wraparound.
@@goratgo1970 I was a Jet Engine Mechanic . I got maintenance man of the month ,and got a ride in an F4 . Threw up about 7 times lol . I left George and went to Keesler for 50 weeks of electronic training . Then I went to Eglin AFB Florida . I got out and went to school for electrician here in Saint Louis . 21 years ago I started my own company doing electric .
I did a perfect J turn once with my 74 Maverick back in the day! 😅
😉👍
Jim Garner made me like tv .😊
😉👍
one of my favorite shows and from an era when the family could sit down and enjoy the same program. the car was great... and great detective work on your part too! thanks for adding to the memories.
Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍
Great show! I remember when that '78 sold at auction for $115K. I thought it was an absolute steal.
😉👍
His father on the show had an awesome Chevy pickup.
Indeed, I'll probably get to that at some point too 😉👍
Love Rockford, him and my old man were both Korean War vets, loved his trailer in Paradise Cove , Malibu. Great video , thanks.
😉👍
I remember one show he was driving a firebird with round headlights, next scene he comes around the corner driving one with quad rectangular lights LOL
Then next scene round again...
continuity sucked
Indeed, lol.
The silver Vega following Jim's Firebird in the beginning was used as an extra in many episodes.
I noticed that a lot in the early episodes......I think chevy was having trouble selling the vega and hoped the product placement would help sales.
Indeed 😉👍
Can't believe someone else noticed that too, awesome. That Vega is the best looking one I've seen.
A character drove it in one episode.
I think Rockford drives the Vega as a out-of-town rental when he is chased by a semi truck in one episode.
Been waiting for this one. Great job! I'm a diecast retailer and have spoken to Greenlight about getting the Rockford Firebird and Rocky's GMC truck in 1/64 and 1/18 scale. The reply was that they would look into the licensing, but I never heard back and obviously neither car nor truck have been released. Later attempts to follow up with them failed to get a response. So if you fellow collectors would like to see Jim's Firebird and Rocky's truck in diecast, please write to Greenlight (or Round 2) and request these models. Maybe demand by more fans will get a result!
Thanks, yeah those would be excellent to have. Greenlight used to respond often indeed, but I haven't got any response from them in over a year now with multiple attempts as well. Maybe try Auto World or M2 Machines? They both usually put more detail into their models than Greenlight.
That’s my 1975 tribute Firebird you first see with Jim crossing his arms!
Nice 🙂👍
Sweet firebird! Are there any more pics on the Internet I could see?
James Garner also raced Baja in a 1970 Olds 442 W30. It was a very well known 442.
I have a 72 Cutlass that has all the 442 W30 parts and pieces that I love to run in the summer. It's like driving a couch that smells of roasting tires and dual exhaust.
Far as I know, not really,. The Olds Cutlass shaped off road racer was a 3/4 ish scale fiberglass tube frame car with tons of engine set back. The car still exists and is raced. Jay Leno's Garage did a piece on it a while back with pics of the bare frame.
Nice 😉👍
That's a cool fact!
@@bobroberts2371The one I saw was full-size and had steel sheet metal in the trunk, which housed 2 full-sized off-road tires. A flat racing dash with toggles and full roll cage.
It may appear 3/4 scale due to the large tires and modified wheel arches, but it's a steel car.
@@peterdarr383 Maybe that was an early version , have a look at the one on Jay Leno
Finally I find something on UA-cam about Jim's firebird. Thank you so much I enjoyed your video 😊.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Earlier this year i was having lunch at the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe and there were three Rockford Firebirds in the parking lot. It was cool to talk to the owners.
Very cool 😉👍
Another great 11 minutes of fun and trivia! Burt Reynolds also did stunts back in the day, even jumping through glass windows and riding a canoe over a waterfall. So many 9f these actors had many talents. Rockford files was one of my favourites back in the day partially due to the car action! Thanks for the great memories.
Indeed and you're very welcome 😉👍
One of the coolest shows, guys and cars!!
😉👍
Thanks for featuring Rockford's Firebird, I've enjoyed that show since the 70s, and I have more of an appreciation for the show, and the car now, more than I did then. Proud owner of a 1972 Firebird Esprit, and despite it's contrasting shade of anaconda gold with a black vinyl roof, folks still confuse our car with Rockfords...lol.
Something I noticed, whenever his car got wrecked, or when it came to the rough stunts, they'd use 70-72 Firebirds that took all the abuse, whether they were smashed, driven off a cliff or blown up. Always hard to watch, as most enthusiasts know, Firebird production was fairly low compared to later years. Since 1972 was a strike year and many unfinished cars couldn't be sold to the public, I can't help but wonder if any were donated to the film industry.....perhaps someone has an answer......
Just to add to Fact #10, a model kit of Rockford's Firebird was never actually released, the box art seen at 10.00 was never issued....though I'd love to add one to my Firebird model kit collection. You could build one from a current issue of MPCs 1977-78 Trans Am but you'd need to fill the hole in the hood, T-tops and the fender air extractors. Not mentioned, another option, though pricey but more authentic, would be finding an annual MPC Firebird Formula kit between 1974-76, all you need is a resin flat hood which can be found on evilbay. As for the Revell 1:24 scale 1970 Trans Am, not sure if there's a 74 front and rear clip available, but perhaps someone makes them.
Glad you enjoyed the video and yeah that fake MPC kit deal totally fooled me for sure, never would expect that kind of thing at all and it's quite odd.
Yep. We called it " The Rockford "180". 😎
😉👍
Nice job on this one.
Thanks!
still a favorite show and actor❤
😉👍
Enjoyed those J turns in just about every Rockford episode. If you've driven a V8 car with a rear sway bar you know that the sway bar is helpful in bringing the rear end around under power. So helpful that Chevy took them off the C1 Corvette after 1 year. The Vette didn't need help hanging the rear end out!
melodigrand: It's been claimed C7 Stingrays without the dry sump engine can have oil starvation during such drastic maneuvers if equipped with a rear sway bar. 😮
😉👍
The Rockford Files was one of my all time favorite TV shows. I have the entire series, including the pilot and the movies, on DVD. The Rockford Files car is my favorite TV series car. There are several others I like, my next favorite would have to be the white 1974 Corvette used in the Bill Bixby series, The Magician. I love Trans Ams, especially second generation ones, but not in black, and not with T Tops. The C3 Corvette (I now own a white 1976 model) is the only car I ever thought looked good with T tops. I searched for a 1974-1978 Firebird for decades to build a Rockford Files replica out of, they must be the most rare cars in existence. The Firebird Esprit was not a muscle car, but it was a great handling car, especially with James Garner driving. He was better than a lot of professional stunt drivers. I also have a strong dislike for the 1979-1981 Firebird front end. However, it is possible to replace it with the 1977-1978 model front end.
Well said friend 😉👍
My favorite show..
😉👍
J Turns we called them Rockford's..
Bat mobile front end were called Eagle Eyes by Poncho guys (poncho is Pontiac)..I had a buddy who was a Firebird/Trans Am fan..he didnt care for the name Poncho though lol..
Good Video..I am in my early 50's so watched this show when new,loved it then and appreciated the re-runs more so...they played them non stop in the 80's and 90's and I watched them when I could!!
😉👍
I remember watching James thrashing the crap out of those gold "Birds" every Friday night. Beautiful cars!
😉👍
James Garner was before my time, but my father loved him, and I ended up adoring him as well... my father always watched reruns of the Rockford files, and I have great memories of watching it with him. Every Christmas I'd get him a season on DVD, so after all the fuss from Christmas died down, we'd pop those in and drink and laugh and just hang out watching Rockford files.. good stuff.
Good times indeed 😉👍
Great video, one of my favorite shows when I was a little kid, and of course it was cause of the Firebird, almost 50 and I'll still watch it, just to see the car!
😉👍
@CarStarz42 #memories Brother
Garner was an accomplished driver, as was his contemporary Steve McQueen. The '70 to '73 Firebirds were absolutely the best looking, with '74 a solid second. '75 through '78 with the big back window and square headlights was the beginning of the end (although the '75 retained the '74 front end) and the '79 was an abomination. I won't even get into the "annual" horsepower losses. Garner was right in going with the clean Esprit "look". The Formula 400 was the enthusiast's choice as the TransAm was garish and sucked up by the open shirt, gold chain set. My first wife had a base model '74 with a six cylinder, 3-speed on the floor. Once I put some decent 15" wheels, Koni shocks, and performance tires, with that light six cylinder motor hanging over the front end, it was a damn decent handling car. Couldn't win a drag race (although it looked the part) but it was fun on a twisty SoCal canyon road.
😉👍
The reverse turn is called a "Rockfish" not "the Jim Rockford blaa blaa turn". Rockfish was the nickname Gandy called him.
There were several variations of the name of that maneuver actually, all depended where you grew up and who you hung out with, so all are valid 😉
Big fan of The Rockford Files, and James Garner! R.I.P. Mr. Garner, we loved ya slick!
Indeed.
The only car I wish I still owned was my '78 Gold Edition Trans Am with the 6.6 and a 4 speed Hurst. I loved that car!
😉👍
I remember the Rockford files, it was Soo boring as a kid but I still watched it along with Quincy and Chips and Emergency!
Lol, I suppose so from a kid perspective 😉
@@CarStarz42 When we were kids we had to watch what was on. There was no choosing between a thousand different shows "on demand" or a hundred thousand "content creators" . In my opinion, that was better. It made us watch things we wouldn't have necessarily chosen on then first bite. That wide breath of exposure made us well rounded: from sesame street and Speed Racer in the morning to soap operas and Petticoat Junction in the afternoon and MASH, Star Trek, Good Times, Sanford and Son , and Chips at night
I've been enjoying watching Barnaby Jones just lately, It's all new to me , it wasn't on tv where I live when it was new.
@@bawintermage8351 😉👍
Emergency was the best
Loved this show as a kid. Still love it today. One of the best gifts I ever got was the DVD box set.
Indeed 😉👍
Unknown to so many..but featured years back in Muscle Car Review is a Rockford Firebird in the Tim Welborn collection..which is a Trans Am made to look like an Esprit,It's fully documented(has to be to be in the Welborn collection)So not only Formula's were used.
Cool, and yeah they used various trim models as I mentioned in the video, but mostly esprit and formulas 😉
I believe the one shown here at Barrett Jackson IS the Welborn car ! Welborn had some crazy Hemi cars and high dollar cars one the best was a ‘78 Firebird ! I remember seeing in the Orange County Register news paper an ad for one of the Rockford firebirds BUT as always I didn’t have the money
Subbed. I appreciate all the time you take to bring interesting information about TV cars. Thanks! 😎👍
Welcome about and thanks, glad you are enjoying the content 😉👍
If my mom only knew that I actually did the bootlegger one point turn in her 1977 Chevy Impala wagon…🤫! The long wheel base actually made it swing around better!
Lol😉👍
My first Rockford was done in a '73 Monte Carlo.
@@454Burbanswing it around baby!
I absolutely love the look of the 77-78 firebird. Absolutely gorgeous
😉👍
Good coverage! I was at a Pontiac car show and a guy had a Rockford '77 and next to it was a Rocky's square body.
Cool 😉👍
Excellent coverage as always. Through numerous articles I've read over the years, I thought I might be able to provide some details on this one. No sir, you hit them all. Thank you, as with so many of the vehicles you cover - great show, great car. ~ Chuck
Glad you enjoyed it and yep, I tried to touch a bit on everything on these Firebirds collectively indeed. 😉👍
Yes except the '77 and '78 Bird's were called the Cat Eye front end and the '79-'81 were called the Batman front end.
Years back I rented Rockford Files DVDs from Netflix. For me, the best parts were as Jim Rockford drove down city streets and through parking garages. The many images of the cars of those bygone days had me thinking the cars were what made those days special. There seemed to be a lot more variety back then. Thanks for the video!
Cool and you're very welcome 😉👍
If you like to see old cars you will love Adam 12.
I’m 46 and I watch the Rockford Files regularly. I love the show but I really like to see all the old retail and restaurant signs and how things looked in the 70s.
😉👍
It was a very cool show for its time, one that I would watch over and over, especially the first season. There will never be another show like that today.
Indeed friend😉👍
Those reverse 180* turns that Garner did were great!!!
😉👍
We always called it a "Garner reverse".
It is actually an escape maneuver taught to all professional personal protection drivers.
@@AlanRoehrich9651indeed. There is actually an Army instructional video I found on UA-cam that does demonstrate this. Too bad it was a front wheel drive K- Car but with front wheel drive you can use that to “pull” the front end around even better for a truly “no stop” 180 degree turn. More on this in a comment I’ll make above.
One cool ability about muscle cars of this era - check out 5.29 where the car just drives over a median strip at speed. Do that in a modern performance car and you'd tear the suspension off (and sump, front bar, side skirts etc). Nice video.
Thanks and indeed classic muscle cars certainly had more ground clearance and toughness, but of course that makes aerodynamics worse, which is why modern muscle cars ride so low and are much more rounded in design in general as well 😉
Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
Howdy partner from the western US, lol; glad you enjoyed it. 😉👍
When I think of the Firebird in 'Rockford Files' its always the '77 model; such an icon.
😉👍
James Garner made that car look cool.
True indeed 😉👍
🏆What a great show🏆I feel like I'm back in the 🍀 80s again 👀✌️
😉👍
One of my favorite shows and cars! Still watching on Get TV!
😉👍
The round head light was the best to me because it was used in the best written shows the longer the show went on the more same old plots were being used
😉👍
In the UK we had a Matchbox Firebird in metallic brown.
Cool 😉👍
Great info as usual, how about a double feature on the "Two Lane Black Top" GTO and 55 Chevy
Glad you enjoyed it, yeah I did the the 55 Chevy in that one already here, but the GTO is still on the to do list with hundreds of others...
ua-cam.com/video/l_V7hOggTCc/v-deo.html
@@CarStarz42 Thanks, must of missed that one, will check it out
That was excellent!
Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍
Very cool, thank you!
I love the model kit hookup.
Subscribed
Welcome 😉👍
Ooooo! Been waiting for this one for a while now... maybe do Rocky's truck too!
Yeah, I'll eventually look into that truck too 😉👍
@@CarStarz42 The last time I heard anything about Rocky's truck. Was some guy in Florida had it and let it go down hill in a major way.
I heard somewhere recently, that James Garner drove a street registered Lola T 70 coupe around LA .
Nice 😉👍
According to the net, drag racer Eddie Hill had owned / still owns the car. I remember seeing this in a TV interview years ago pre internet and a quick search shows Eddie owning the car in 2006.
There were a few of them. Garner's group eventually owned 6 of those cars between 1969 and 1970.
The Sannett brothers also owned a yellow street driven T70.
The Lola T70 MvIIIb was a "Group 7" race car. They had all street equipment for legal use except mufflers and treaded tires. Headlights (high and low beam) tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, windshield wipers, dual rear view mirrors, and ventilation.
Lola actually built several more of those cars around 2010. And there is a company called RCR that builds the car in kit form, using the original Lola blueprints, and the exact same construction, with modern improvements. They even offer the correct magnesium knock off wheels and transaxle.
@@AlanRoehrich9651 Very interesting, I suppose Garner used one of his competition T 70's ,when they were finished racing them? Can you actually get away with non treaded tires in California?
He did his own driving in the movie Grand Prix too. Back when leading men drive cool fast cars. Now they drive a Prius.
Rockford files was a great show
Indeed 😉👍
Awesome video as always mate.
Thanks again from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍
Jim sure survived alot of concussions
Wait. I was born in the late 80s n just seen reruns of this show here n there. But I've always liked it. Did he do his own car stunts n many takes on set hence the concussions? Just guessing.
@@manher4335no, as part of the show he seemed to get conked on the head by the bad guys quite often. He actually was a very good stunt and race car driver.
Not as many as Mannix did lol
Probably so, lol.
Yeah, that ‘79 front end was not a good look. Overall, the previous year models were really nice looking cars. ✌🏻✌🏻
Agreed 😉👍
Wow, you did a super job telling the story of the Rockford car, and it's a damn fine story, I loved this show! Excellent film clips!
Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍
Me and my Dad would watch this most days when i got home from school. .J.G and my dad could of been brothers. We use to always check the license plate to make sure it was always the same. And it was 👍 one of the great shows ever. Nice vid. Thanks
Cool and glad you enjoyed it 😉👍
This is an icon, you did it proud. As teens we would joke about "pulling a Rockford" as a joke knowing full well we had neither the skill or proper car to do so.
Very sorry for what UA-cam is doing to you, hope they somehow see the light so I will stay subbed. Take care and thank you for the videos.
Thanks much friend. I'm in the process of moving to a different platform that actually respects the creators' work instead of stealing it and taking all the ad revenue. I will let everyone here know once I'm finished making the move, thanks again😉👍
Nice video. Thanks for sharing your hard work and research👍🏻
Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍
Really nice video, I always liked the show and the car, thank you for sharing and bringing back memories!
Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍
Big Fan of James Garner and the Rockford Files, thank you for this video.
I own a Gold Matchbox Firebird Formula (MB610) made in 2010 not seen another like it. (:
😉👍
I watched a lot of Rockford files. Decent show and I loved how Jim drove the Firebird.
😉👍
I was watching reruns of the show just a few years ago. I love looking at the background of other cars back in the day.
😉👍
There was an article in TV Guide, interviewing the helicopter pilot that was in many episodes. The end scene in, I think it was, every show had the helicopter chasing Rockford across the desert. Well that was pretty accurate. According to the pilot, as he pulled along side the Firebird Jim looked up at him, floored the throttle and just flat outran the helo. He said Jim left him behind at about 160 mph, laughing like crazy because the helicopter couldn't keep up. That's the scene that showed Rockford laughing into the distance as each episode closed.
These cars couldn't reach that speed if you dropped them from the helicopter, lol!
Lovely little film thanks
Most welcome 😉👍
oldie but a goldie. ok sorry i'll show myself out. another excellent video my friend and one that i knew would pop up eventually. keep 'um comin'.
😉👍