Rockford files
 

Trivia:

Rockford drove a Pontiac Firebird Esprit, not a Trans-Am as often thought. Although the color of the car was referred to during the series as brown, light brown, or even brown on brown, the actual "official" Pontiac color of the car was "copper mist". The car used was a new 1974 model for the first season, a new 1975 model for the second season, a new 1976 model for the third season, a new 1977 model for the four season, and a new 1978 model for the fifth season, which for the first time, was carried over to the sixth season and not replaced with a new model, because James Garner was not a fan of the new front end styling for the 1979 and 1980 models of the Pontiac Firebird Esprit.

There's a thread here from when James Garner passed, has a link to someone who worked on the cars, very interesting....

What I liked was he drove those things harder in power moves that most here would not dare in their TA........... in an Esprit. I have two Esprit's and I get Rockford comments :)

Garner specifically wanted to use an Esprit, rather than a Formula or Trans Am, since it would be more realistic - a struggling P.I. wouldn't have the money to buy one of the fancier models.

I thought they were Formulas with the hoods swapped out for stock hoods and Espirit badges added when appropriate for the year.(?)

I also remember seeing earlier (70-73) styles once in a while, albeit brief and usually when it was being crashed or wrecked in some way.

I too remember seeing an episode in which they had a 1973 model. However, if my memory serves me correct they had another car scene later in that episode with a 74 model. I thought it was very cheesy to use two fairly distinctly different looking model years in the same episode. Maybe non car people don't notice that stuff?

Yes, one in particular had him being chased in a 74, and when he drove off a concrete platform (@4-6' high) the car was clearly a 70-73 and even after he got out and was screwing around behind the car under the gas tank area it is clearly seen. Car was positioned with back half still up on the platform and front end smashed down on lower level.

But there were other scenes in other episodes here and there where I'd catch a glimpse of a 70-73 briefly and always during a smash up or fender bender...which Jim had many. ;-)

But talk about not liking cars changing years from scene to scene: Rockford was high quality compared to many other 70's shows where police cars would continually change entire makes and years many times during one chase scene! The only common denominator was they were all black and white! Even as a kid this bothered me and ruined the show in my opinion.

Then there was the infamous Starsky and Hutch episode with the 2 Torinos and bad guys posing as S & H. The bad guys Torino had a steel rim spare tire but during the final chase scene with both Torinos, the cars kept switching back and forth! What the Hell were those Directors thinking? Sloppy work and assuming we were all idiot viewers I suppose.

Thankfully that bad practice seems to have been corrected for the most part but today my pet peeve is seeing a lot of cars being "driven" in scenes with the gear shifters clearly in "Park".

Very true, and street race also.
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...6L0IYwqWAjEOvA
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...4ba9NneIW1DZBQ
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-To6lBEczHm.../s1600/gp7.JPG

he did almost all the driving stunts himself and was quite proud of his reverse spin which was nicknamed "the Rockford"

Correct - except for the 1st season they were all formulas made to look like Esprit's - they did this for the better suspension - for handling - stunts etc. and most had Pontiac's 400 engine :)

They weren't Formulas. He used an Esprit with a 400. In close up shots you can see the 400 emblems on the front fenders.

Correct - That is a pic for the 1st season which was a Esprit with a 400 - starting for the 2nd season they were all Formulas made to look like Esprit's - there's even a blog for this which I posted before :)

Movie and TV show "continuity" has never been 100%. Not even for todays movies and TV shows.

This Firebird is a 1978 Pontiac Firebird Formula. It has a 350 cubic inch engine with a 4 barrel carburetor, automatic transmission, AM/FM radio, power steering, power brakes, power windows and air conditioning.

http://jimsuva.typepad.com/blog/2011...-firebird.html

Maybe this link ?
 

Maybe this link @ http://jimsuva.typepad.com/blog/2009...firebirds.html


What a great guy Mr. Garner was ...

I enjoyed watching ' The Rockford Files ' growing up.


Jim

So the last Rockford Firebird was Chevy powered! That's sad. And I didn't think the Formulas came with 350 Chevy engines. I've never seen another one. But on the other hand I never cared to check.

Where did you see that it has a Chevy engine?

It's my understanding that all of the Espirits used for the series had 400 cid engines. The Nelson car is believed to be a Rockford car from what Nelson says, but if you read carefully, the article/information does not confirm it.

New to site.
 

I just joined your site here. Glad to see there are Rockford Fans enjoying my blog.

Thanks,
Jim Suva

Jim - very much so. Thanks for all the detailed content over there, and welcome to PY.

Ditto Here ...
 

Welcome Jim ...

Great blog ... :D




Jim

Welcome to PY Jim. I was a fan of Jim Garner all thru his career and loved the Rockford Files. Never missed the show if was home off the road. Great to hear someone has his cars saved for posterity. I'm sure he'd be proud.

Thank you for the kind words and the nice welcome. That Movie Rockford Firebird is going to be auctioned off in January. Link leads to the story below.

http://jimsuva.typepad.com/blog/2014...d-auction.html

Most likely a stink'n 305. Hard to perform a "Rockford" in that machine...

It's in one of the photographs in that link.

You guys have better X-ray eyes than I do...all I could see in the picture of the engine compartment was the air cleaner and hoses. There's just a hint of what looks like Pontiac blue from the engine itself but I can't be sure.

Great site Jim,thanks.

Jim, thanks--very cool.
in your blog you mention the documentation list was destroyed... Out of curiosity, what happened?

Air cleaner pointing to passenger side and air compressor on driver side, small block Chevy. They were all painted GM Corporate Blue for the engines.

They were cleaning out the offices and getting rid of old files. As for the Movie Firebird I was told it was a Chevy 350. It is in my story on this car on my blog.

And the alternator is on the passenger's side too.

Jim After 76 - California Emissions laws became very strict hurting Pontiacs Strong pulling 400 V8 - most of the rest of the Country could run them though up till 79 :) when they were phased out for the replacement 301 :(

If you're looking to buy the original Rockford Files 1978 Firebird, it is for sale as part of the Wellborn Museum sale. Here is the direct link:

https://www.mecum.com/collection-det...=FL0115-204101


and more of the cars in the collection (including my former 1971, orange, hemi, sunroof charger that I sold about 20 years ago)

https://www.mecum.com/collection.cfm...&groupid=10197

Thanks. I have been following this car since 2002. I found this ad about a week ago.

Jim

I'd be interested in a 74.

Nah, Jim Rockford always referred to it as a "Tan Firebird".

According to Mecum Auction, the Rockford Firebird is estimated to be sold $35,000 - $50,000. Very high price I think! We will see what the actually selling price will be.

Here's probably one of the best chase scene's for the Rockford Files - 76 Formula 400 made to look like a Esprit - Jim were is this Firebird now :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3E2HgnXKAA

I only know of two that still exist. One was just restore by a private owner and the other one is owned by Pat McKinney. It needs to be restored. Here is a link to the story on Pat's 76 Formula. http://jimsuva.typepad.com/blog/2010...rmula-400.html

Cool Jim - Thanks for the link - for that video I posted Rockford could probably have out handled the Vette all day long with 180's etc. :) but ended it when he saw the Police

In case anyone is interested, here is Garner's last on camera interview as he talks about the Firebird. The Firebird featured in this segment is my 77 Esprit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js4ThMD-rC0

Great stuff Jim - actor - stunt driver - James Garner could do it all at a high level - nice Firebird too :)