Author Topic: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction  (Read 11287 times)

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Offline Frank Cannon

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James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« on: January 17, 2019, 05:20:47 am »
https://www.autoclassics.com/posts/news/rockford-files-james-garner-pontiac-firebird-auction



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The 1978 Pontiac Firebird Formula personally owned by James Garner and used when filming The Rockford Files is heading to auction with Barret-Jackson at no reserve

To a generation of loved-up millennials, James Garner remains known for his portrayal as Old Noah Calhoun in 2004 weep-fest The Notebook. However, to those who grew up during the era of flared trousers and disco, Garner was the king of cool; Jim Rockford.

Whoever said they didn’t want to be Rockford when surviving the 1970s as an adolescent is an out-and-out liar, with his uber-American lifestyle one of envy for those stuck on the school run in their father’s humdrum saloon. Quite frankly, The Rockford Files was more of a religion than a TV series to those of a certain age. Well, courtesy of Barrett-Jackson, you can finally be Jim Rockford, as his 1978 Pontiac Firebird is headed for sale this week at no reserve.
More Pontiac greatness!

Perhaps rivalling Burt Reynold’s Bandit for the title of coolest on-screen Pontiac, Rockford would showcase his Firebird Esprit and its 6.6-litre V8 abilities every Friday at 9pm. Reruns over the succeeding decades helped cement an unwavering fan base that currently outstrips most modern TV shows.

In fact, Rockford remains the only TV detective to have coined a driving manoeuvre – the famous ‘Jim Rockford turn-around’. Although he didn’t invent the reverse 180-degree ‘J-turn’, Garner’s character employed the action so often that the manoeuvre is forever associated with the show and its titular character.

Offline Frank Cannon

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2019, 05:23:10 am »
@The Ghost @RoosGirl

Who the hell would want a used Second Gen F-Body, especially in a baby shit color?

Offline sneakypete

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2019, 02:01:25 pm »
I liked Garner as Maverick when growing up,but I don't think I ever watched a single episode of The Rockford Files. I was too busy chasing wimmins,riding homebuilt Harley's, and getting loaded in the 70's to watch tv. I knew at some level that other people watched tv,but didn't understand why.
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Offline skeeter

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2019, 02:06:35 pm »
@The Ghost @RoosGirl

Who the hell would want a used Second Gen F-Body, especially in a baby shit color?

Not when you can snap up Starsky & Hutch's Grand Torino with vector stripe for a measly 40k.

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2019, 02:10:21 pm »
1st off that isn't a Formula in the pictures. Secondly the cars used in the entire series up till 1979 were Firebird Esprits.  Pontiac had 4 trim levels.  Base Firebird for your cheep bastards. The Esprit for your secretaries. Formula for the tuners.  And the Screaming Chicken for the gold chain crowd.
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Offline sneakypete

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2019, 02:30:39 pm »

 And the Screaming Chicken for the gold chain crowd.


@The Ghost

The gold chains and Thunder Chicken decals were such a perfect fit with the Disco Dust.
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Online Millee

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2019, 02:48:49 pm »
James Garner was one hunk of a man.  *girly sigh*  :lubyou:

Offline Frank Cannon

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2019, 02:49:36 pm »
I liked Garner as Maverick.....

That's silly. No one would have watched the show if he drove a Maverick....




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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2019, 02:52:57 pm »
That's silly. No one would have watched the show if he drove a Maverick....



They would have had to change the name of the show if they had used it!   LOL
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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2019, 02:57:13 pm »
They would have had to change the name of the show if they had used it!   LOL

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2019, 02:59:29 pm »
Cuban taxis, today.

They made a "Grabber" model.  Today they would #metoo to it.
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Offline Frank Cannon

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #11 on: January 17, 2019, 02:59:58 pm »
Any bets on what this car will go for? Burt Reynolds 78 T/A went for $192K 3 months ago and that was not a real Bandit car used in the movies. Garners car was actually used in the filming of half the series and beyond that it was the "Hero" car. I am thinking $200K.


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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #12 on: January 17, 2019, 03:01:54 pm »
Any bets on what this car will go for? Burt Reynolds 78 T/A went for $192K 3 months ago and that was not a real Bandit car used in the movies. Garners car was actually used in the filming of half the series and beyond that it was the "Hero" car. I am thinking $200K.



Sounds about right.  If you get the right fools and and their money bidding on it....it could go higher.

Is @RoosGirl going?
« Last Edit: January 17, 2019, 03:02:37 pm by The Ghost »
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Offline Frank Cannon

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2019, 03:03:49 pm »
They made a "Grabber" model.  Today they would #metoo to it.

Grabbers are interesting when I see them today, but back in the 70's, 80's and 90's when I saw one I thought they were disgusting garbage for losers who couldn't afford even a Torino. 

Offline mountaineer

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #14 on: January 17, 2019, 03:28:42 pm »
James Garner was one hunk of a man.  *girly sigh*  :lubyou:
Indeed. Who cares about his car?  :laugh:
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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #15 on: January 17, 2019, 03:32:48 pm »
Indeed. Who cares about his car?  :laugh:

Depends on the "Seatcover"
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Offline mountaineer

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #16 on: January 17, 2019, 03:49:29 pm »
For the ladies:
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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2019, 03:52:40 pm »
@The Ghost @RoosGirl

Who the hell would want a used Second Gen F-Body, especially in a baby shit color?
I don't know, remember the insane money they paid for Don Johnson's base model Cuda convertible? Yeah I know, it was Cuda and a convertible but they were paying so much money I thought Johnson and Marin were going to shit their britches trying to keep the laughter in as the bids just kept going up and up and up........

Offline skeeter

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #18 on: January 17, 2019, 03:53:52 pm »
For the ladies:


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Offline Frank Cannon

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #19 on: January 17, 2019, 03:55:54 pm »
Indeed. Who cares about his car?  :laugh:

Heretic. The car was the whole damn show. The reason I can do a fluid J-Turn today is because of Jim and his Firebird....




Sorry...

He even did it in a '74 Montego MX 4 door.

Offline Hoodat

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #20 on: January 17, 2019, 03:57:04 pm »
For Frank C.


Sorry...
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Offline sneakypete

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #21 on: January 17, 2019, 04:19:11 pm »
Sounds about right.  If you get the right fools and and their money bidding on it....it could go higher.



Who else do you think Barret-Jackson invites to their auctions and reserves seats up front for? People pay stupid money for crap they don't even want so they can be seen on teebee proving they have "stoopid money" to just throw away. Most of the vehicles bought get taken home and locked away in a garage without ever being seen again until they go back up for auction a couple of years later.
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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #22 on: January 17, 2019, 04:32:37 pm »
The Rockford Files and Mannix were two of my favorite shows when I was a kid.
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Offline TomSea

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #23 on: January 17, 2019, 04:34:01 pm »
There is an entertainment forum.

Offline Frank Cannon

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Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
« Reply #24 on: January 17, 2019, 04:42:22 pm »
Most of the vehicles bought get taken home and locked away in a garage without ever being seen again until they go back up for auction a couple of years later.

From what I've seen roll across the block this week, I wouldn't drive them either. Total snoozefest boring Mustangs and old C10 Chevys.