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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Cool, yep Garner was an awesome dude for sure 😉👍

@keonjenkins1852

Ай бұрын

Thats awesome, do you know which model year she purchased?

@enigma9971

Ай бұрын

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Wow, very cool man!

@iamgriff

2 ай бұрын

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.

@mrwebber35

2 ай бұрын

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.

@residentrump3271

2 ай бұрын

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 👍🏿

@tomakafrankconlon3207

2 ай бұрын

Did he give you a bunch of BS cans to use everytime you post a comment?

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.

@troykelso

2 ай бұрын

Even though he was a Democrat, I doubt Garner would endorse the unhinged lunacy of today's Left.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Indeed and well said 😉👍

Brings back many memories of watching the Rockford Files as a kid with my Dad. I miss them times

@pminiger9278

2 ай бұрын

Likewise. Back when TV was worth watching. A great time to live!

@neckbonz3152

2 ай бұрын

The autumn moon lights my way…

@mikegarippo7815

2 ай бұрын

The word "dad" doesn't get capitalized. It's an ordinary noun.

@ggj666

2 ай бұрын

@@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 :-).

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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...

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Cool and indeed 😉👍

@RealBLAlley

2 ай бұрын

That's what we called it also. It was the Holy Grail of car maneuvers to learn.

@Porsche996driver

2 ай бұрын

That’s right that’s what we called it when we tried to do it in our mom and dad’s car lol

@bobbydavis2299

2 ай бұрын

@@Porsche996driver Lol, yep, in my case a 66 Pontiac Strato Chief 4 dr with a 283/Slush-n-slide.

@ejford5083

2 ай бұрын

Yep. Pull a Rockford.

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.

@michaelmarks5012

2 ай бұрын

Garner was also a Raider fan. I saw him on the sidelines of several games when they were in Los Angeles.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Agreed all around there and yep, plenty of torque for sure as I directly mentioned in the video 😉

@user-oe8gj7fz6v

2 ай бұрын

73 model IMHO 👍

@loganshotrod4x464

2 ай бұрын

1968 & 1973 were beautiful. The later ones… 🤢🤮

@Tonyscasa

2 ай бұрын

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

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Lol 😉👍

You knocked the Rockford Files Firebird out of the park with this video! Outstand tribute to James Garner and his every man’s car.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Thanks much and glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

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.

@jeffryder7371

2 ай бұрын

he & steve mcqueen would sit around & smoke pot.

@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL

2 ай бұрын

He didn't mess around behind his wife. Rare in Hollywood.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Indeed 😉👍

@nowitsabadtime

Ай бұрын

Real-life nextdoor neighbors! James and Steve

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Nice 😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Cool, lol 😉👍

@samuelhowie4543

2 ай бұрын

I had a similar thing. My second grade teacher was my Dads second grade teacher.

@neckbonz3152

2 ай бұрын

Shane- come back Shane!

@noahdunaway

2 ай бұрын

@rb89509 how old are you ? I’m guessing about 33 years younger than JG.

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Well said 😉👍

Rockford was the star & the Firebird was the co-star.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Indeed 😉👍

Best show ever on television IMO

@mikeskidmore6754

Ай бұрын

Great show .. I think Colombo may have been the Best show in that Genre

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

Just "A Rockford" and every car guy knows the reference !

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Many variants out there of it for sure, but certainly 😉👍

@JTA1961

2 ай бұрын

Yup

@nowitsabadtime

Ай бұрын

Can see the tire smoke now!

Rockford Files, James Garner, great show, great actor. Love that Pontiac Firebird.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

😉👍

Was a kid back then. At 62 I still tell my wife I'm doing the "Rockford" turn lol.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Indeed 😉

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

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.

Love seeing Jim’s firebird! Let’s see Rocky’s gmc pickup!

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, I so want to cover that one too at some point 😉👍

@residentrump3271

2 ай бұрын

@@CarStarz42 How about the awsome pick-up from The Fall Guy?

@samuelhowie4543

2 ай бұрын

Or the A-Teams van.

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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..

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

I loved the Rockford Files, wish it would show up again somewhere, great show.

@georgeheaver5687

2 ай бұрын

Hulu. "get" channel.

@airmecher

2 ай бұрын

It's on KZread TV every weekday.

@mikecross4350

2 ай бұрын

On everyday on gettv

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, you can stream it in a number of places at least fortunately 😉👍

@AmericaFirst069

2 ай бұрын

The color is Light Topaz Poly

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Indeed, I'll eventually look more into the truck for a video too 😉👍

Loved that show. I always remember Rockford getting beaten up, but he tuffed it out 😅

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Lol, indeed.

@garybulwinkle82

2 ай бұрын

I think that's where we got the saying, "no good deed goes unpunished."

@MuzixMaker

2 ай бұрын

I think JR got beat up in every episode

James Garner bought me lunch when he was on a break from filming the pilot. They were filming in Victorville Ca.

@goratgo1970

2 ай бұрын

Ah Victorsticks! Lived there four years stationed at George. '87-91

@fretworkband3204

2 ай бұрын

Tacos of course?

@catfishjenkem2226

2 ай бұрын

@@goratgo1970 I was at George from 1980 to 1982

@goratgo1970

2 ай бұрын

@@catfishjenkem2226 Cool, transition paint for F-4 from white belly SEA to wraparound.

@catfishjenkem2226

2 ай бұрын

@@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 grew up watching the show. Cool dude!

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Indeed 😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

One of my favorite TV theme songs ever!

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

"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.

@socialdistancejusticewarri8533

2 ай бұрын

Ahh, the good old days. When "trans" was often associated with a cool sports car.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

Jim Garner made me like tv .😊

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

😉👍

I did a perfect J turn once with my 74 Maverick back in the day! 😅

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

😉👍

Great show! I remember when that '78 sold at auction for $115K. I thought it was an absolute steal.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

😉👍

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

@goratgo1970

2 ай бұрын

Then next scene round again...

@mikes-wv3em

2 ай бұрын

continuity sucked

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Indeed, lol.

The silver Vega following Jim's Firebird in the beginning was used as an extra in many episodes.

@jasonrackawack9369

2 ай бұрын

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Indeed 😉👍

@Icarealot88

2 ай бұрын

Can't believe someone else noticed that too, awesome. That Vega is the best looking one I've seen.

@mikeholland1031

2 ай бұрын

A character drove it in one episode.

@christopherg9806

2 ай бұрын

I think Rockford drives the Vega as a out-of-town rental when he is chased by a semi truck in one episode.

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

His father on the show had an awesome Chevy pickup.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Indeed, I'll probably get to that at some point too 😉👍

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.

@bobroberts2371

2 ай бұрын

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Nice 😉👍

@DrCashPawn

2 ай бұрын

That's a cool fact!

@peterdarr383

2 ай бұрын

@@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.

@bobroberts2371

2 ай бұрын

@@peterdarr383 Maybe that was an early version , have a look at the one on Jay Leno

Love Rockford, him and my old man were both Korean War vets, loved his trailer in Paradise Cove , Malibu. Great video , thanks.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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!

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

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!

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Nice 🙂👍

@UZForLife

2 ай бұрын

Sweet firebird! Are there any more pics on the Internet I could see?

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Indeed and you're very welcome 😉👍

Finally I find something on KZread about Jim's firebird. Thank you so much I enjoyed your video 😊.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Yep. We called it " The Rockford "180". 😎

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

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.

One of the coolest shows, guys and cars!!

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Well said friend 😉👍

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!

@johnmcmullen456

2 ай бұрын

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. 😮

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

😉👍

Nice job on this one.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Thanks!

I remember watching James thrashing the crap out of those gold "Birds" every Friday night. Beautiful cars!

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

still a favorite show and actor❤

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

😉👍

I remember the Rockford files, it was Soo boring as a kid but I still watched it along with Quincy and Chips and Emergency!

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Lol, I suppose so from a kid perspective 😉

@bawintermage8351

2 ай бұрын

@@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

@barrycuda3769

2 ай бұрын

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

@@bawintermage8351 😉👍

@marklane61

2 ай бұрын

Emergency was the best

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!!

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Good times indeed 😉👍

My favorite show..

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Cool, and yeah they used various trim models as I mentioned in the video, but mostly esprit and formulas 😉

@DaveSoCal

2 ай бұрын

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

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

2 ай бұрын

😉👍

@frankfilippone9679

2 ай бұрын

@CarStarz42 #memories Brother

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!

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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!

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Lol😉👍

@454Burban

2 ай бұрын

My first Rockford was done in a '73 Monte Carlo.

@phillipsprague3275

2 ай бұрын

@@454Burbanswing it around baby!

The reverse turn is called a "Rockfish" not "the Jim Rockford blaa blaa turn". Rockfish was the nickname Gandy called him.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

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 😉

Loved this show as a kid. Still love it today. One of the best gifts I ever got was the DVD box set.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Indeed 😉👍

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!

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Cool and you're very welcome 😉👍

@sblsbl7600

2 ай бұрын

If you like to see old cars you will love Adam 12.

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Cool 😉👍

Subbed. I appreciate all the time you take to bring interesting information about TV cars. Thanks! 😎👍

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Welcome about and thanks, glad you are enjoying the content 😉👍

Big fan of The Rockford Files, and James Garner! R.I.P. Mr. Garner, we loved ya slick!

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Indeed.

Those reverse 180* turns that Garner did were great!!!

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

😉👍

@AlanRoehrich9651

2 ай бұрын

We always called it a "Garner reverse". It is actually an escape maneuver taught to all professional personal protection drivers.

@andrewhigdon8346

2 ай бұрын

@@AlanRoehrich9651indeed. There is actually an Army instructional video I found on KZread 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.

James Garner made that car look cool.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

True indeed 😉👍

I absolutely love the look of the 77-78 firebird. Absolutely gorgeous

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

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 😉

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

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it and yep, I tried to touch a bit on everything on these Firebirds collectively indeed. 😉👍

@shannonfrench6893

2 ай бұрын

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.

Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

Great info as usual, how about a double feature on the "Two Lane Black Top" GTO and 55 Chevy

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

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... kzread.info/dash/bejne/npOKmcqIl8q6c8Y.html

@AL-ud2is

2 ай бұрын

@@CarStarz42 Thanks, must of missed that one, will check it out

🏆What a great show🏆I feel like I'm back in the 🍀 80s again 👀✌️

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Indeed friend😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

In the UK we had a Matchbox Firebird in metallic brown.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Cool 😉👍

I heard somewhere recently, that James Garner drove a street registered Lola T 70 coupe around LA .

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Nice 😉👍

@bobroberts2371

2 ай бұрын

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.

@AlanRoehrich9651

2 ай бұрын

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.

@barrycuda3769

2 ай бұрын

@@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?

@dmacarthur5356

2 ай бұрын

He did his own driving in the movie Grand Prix too. Back when leading men drive cool fast cars. Now they drive a Prius.

One of my favorite shows and cars! Still watching on Get TV!

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

Ooooo! Been waiting for this one for a while now... maybe do Rocky's truck too!

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, I'll eventually look into that truck too 😉👍

@lilorbielilorbie2496

2 ай бұрын

@@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.

Jim sure survived alot of concussions

@manher4335

2 ай бұрын

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.

@davidleonard8369

2 ай бұрын

@@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.

@phillipmarlowe0525

2 ай бұрын

Not as many as Mannix did lol

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Probably so, lol.

There was no MPC Rockford Files Firebird kit. The box shown in the video is one made by the late Everett Westphal who created boxes for model kits he thought should have existed but never did. These phantom kit boxes are very rare and collectible in themselves. Cherokee Productions, Garners own production company, acquired the Firebirds at the beginning of each season. Cinema Vehicle Services was involved in recreating the Firebird for the 1990s TV movie revivals of Rockford, but had nothing to do with the cars used in production of the series. The cars and Rocky's GMC pickup came through Vista Group, which did product placement for Pontiac, GMC, Oldsmobile and Mercedes-Benz during production of the series. That's one reason why Mercedes models of the era were also regularly featured on the show in, well, guest starring roles. Vista Group also helped place the Trans Am and other Pontiacs in Smokey and the Bandit, the GMC trucks in the Fall Guy and the Trans Ams used in Knight Rider among many, many, many others.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, someone else mentioned the fake model kit box deal, totally fooled me! lol

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.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

These cars couldn't reach that speed if you dropped them from the helicopter, lol!

Yeah, that ‘79 front end was not a good look. Overall, the previous year models were really nice looking cars. ✌🏻✌🏻

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Agreed 😉👍

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. (:

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Cool and glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

Rockford files was a great show

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Indeed 😉👍

I watched a lot of Rockford files. Decent show and I loved how Jim drove the Firebird.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

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!

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

That was excellent! Thanks

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

Lovely little film thanks

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Most welcome 😉👍

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 KZread is doing to you, hope they somehow see the light so I will stay subbed. Take care and thank you for the videos.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

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😉👍

A Rockford turn leaves a distinct mark on the pavement, kind of a curly cue. Before the firebirds in the 60's I'd see these burn out tracks and couldn't figure out how they were done. In the 60's the Olds 442 had the torque to do them. It also takes a heavy duty power train to do them, at least more than once and still drive home. James Garner was a pretty cool guy. He was one of the greats in the Great Escape too. I liked Jim Garner because he always came off real. Watching Rockford Files was sure to be a good show. You just waited for Jim to get away from the bad guys using his J(for Jim) turn. I used to say if there was only two guys in a fight scene with Rockford he could usually hold his own, but if there were three, he got his ass whopped.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Lol, indeed 😉

My first friend I met when I returned to the US in '79 had '79 red Firebird with the 301 V8. He still has that car. He also had a ragged out '68 Camaro that he, my brother and I practiced the Rockford turn, but we called it the James Bond turn back then. The time flies! Loved that show.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

😉👍

Awesome video as always mate. Thanks again from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

@CarStarz42

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

I worked for a high volume Pontiac dealer in Detroit during the 1970's while attending high school. A 455V-4V V8 was available in the Trans Am and was phased out. After that, we sold mostly 350 and 400 CID 4-V V8's Trans Ams variants during this period. In 1977 after the movie "Smokey and The Bandit" - Trans Am sales went through the roof. A 305 CID V8 introduced in 1977 was a Chevrolet engine used by Pontiac. The 231 CID 6 cylinder was sold mostly in Le Mans models and it was rare to receive a Firebird variant with one. Engineers from Pontiac Motor Division were very sharp and it's unlikely the car modification company in California did any development work other than to install the parts as specified by Pontiac Vehicle Engineering.

@CarStarz42

Ай бұрын

Cool 😉👍