[6t7gto]

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.

[77 TRASHCAN]

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

[bird72]

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

[Scarebird]

Mr. Garner was ram-rodding* way before The Rockford Files...



*Oldsmobile marketing term

[Stuart]

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.

[Overkillphil]

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.

[Dar]

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?

[Overkillphil]

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".

[U47]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

Mr. Garner was ram-rodding* way before The Rockford Files...



*Oldsmobile marketing term

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

[hada76]

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

[Wareagle]

Originally Posted by Overkillphil

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.

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

[71GP76TA]

Originally Posted by Wareagle

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.

[Wareagle]

Originally Posted by 71GP76TA

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

[GT182]

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

[hada76]

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

[Trulyvintage]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

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

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

[Overkillphil]

Originally Posted by hada76

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

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.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Overkillphil

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?

[geeteeohguy]

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.

[Jim Suva]

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

Thanks,
Jim Suva