![]() ![]() For 1975, Formulas had a standard 175-hp 350-cid V8 or an optional 185-hp 400-cid V8. The 1974 Formula came standard with a 350-cid V8 that put out 170 horsepower, and offered a 225-hp 400-cid V8 as an option. The Formula would have been better suited to stunt work, with its more powerful V8 and firmer suspension. Most sources say Firebird Formulas, disguised to look like Esprits, were used in the series. Two such vehicles were his lawyer’s Porsche 914 (left) and father’s accessorized GMC pickup. What Would Rockford Drive? Jim was given to borrowing the vehicles of his friends and loved ones. Garner did well in choosing the Firebird. And I thought it handled better than the Trans Am.”Īutomotive performance was in steep decline when The Rockford Files started filming in 1974, but the Pontiac Firebird, with its available big V8s, reasonable size, and relatively nimble handling, was a bright spot in a dark age. The Firebird was more of a blue-collar car, a stripped-down version of the Trans Am, with a sticker price of about $3000 for the 1970 model. Well he would’ve liked one-it’s much sexier-but I didn’t think he could afford it. I’ve been asked why he didn’t have a Trans Am instead. In his autobiography, Garner said, “Rockford’s Firebird was also a character in the show. Rockford was poorly paid (if he was paid at all) by his clients, and Garner wanted to convey that somewhat cash-strapped status in his character’s choice of transportation. That was my fun.” When it came time to decide what Jim Rockford’s ride would be, Garner picked a Sierra Gold Pontiac Firebird Esprit. Garner said, “Car chases and car action were a big part of the series, and I did most of the driving myself. Naturally, there were plenty of car chases in The Rockford Files. Seen here are a 1974 example (left), and a 1977, both in Sierra Gold. Despite brisk early sales and good reviews, sales of the new Thunderbird couldn’t justify continued production, and Ford discontinued it again in mid-2005.More cool TV vehicles The Cars of The Rockford Files Though the model years changed over the course of the show, Jim Rockford’s personal set of wheels was always a Pontiac Firebird. The luxury retailer Neiman Marcus offered an early special edition version in their 2000 Christmas catalog, priced at just under $42,000 their stock of 200 sold out in two hours and 15 minutes. ![]() In 2002, however, in an attempt to capitalize on car buyers’ nostalgia, the company launched production of a retro T-Bird, a two-seater convertible that took some of its styling from the original classic. Thunderbird sales slowed during the 1990s, and Ford discontinued the Thunderbird in 1997. ![]() Kennedy had already included 50 Thunderbirds in his inaugural procession in 1961, and a T-Bird would also feature prominently in the 1973 film “American Graffiti.” The Beach Boys elevated the Thunderbird to pop- culture-icon status in 1964 by including it in the lyrics of their hit single “Fun Fun Fun” (“she’ll have fun, fun, fun ’til her daddy takes the T-Bird away”). In 1958, to satisfy critics who thought the T-Bird was too small, Ford released a four-seater version with a roomier trunk and bucket seats. In addition to the powerful V-8 engine that Ford was known for, the Thunderbird boasted all the conveniences consumers had become accustomed to, including a removable hard convertible top, soundproofing and the accessories standard to most Ford cars. The success of the Thunderbird led Chevrolet to continue production of (and improve upon) the Corvette, which soon became a tough competitor in the sports car market. The 1955 Thunderbird was an immediate hit, selling more than 14,000 that year (compared to just 700 Corvettes). The undeniably sleek Corvette’s initial engine performance was relatively underwhelming, but it was gaining lots of attention from the press and public, and Ford was motivated to respond, rushing the Thunderbird to the market in 1955. General Motors built the first American sports car: the Chevrolet Corvette, released in 1953. The last Thunderbird, Ford Motor Company’s iconic sports car, emerges from a Ford factory in Wixom, Michigan on July 1, 2005.įord began its development of the Thunderbird in the years following World War II, during which American servicemen had the opportunity to observe sleek European sports cars. ![]()
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