The Briefing Room

General Category => Sports/Entertainment/MSM/Social Media => Topic started by: Frank Cannon on January 17, 2019, 05:20:47 am

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

(https://autoweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/gen-932-524/public/rockford.jpg)

Quote
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.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon 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?
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: sneakypete 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.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: skeeter 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.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut 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.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: sneakypete 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.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Millee on January 17, 2019, 02:48:49 pm
James Garner was one hunk of a man.  *girly sigh*  :lubyou:
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon 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....

(https://www.cars-on-line.com/photo/80000/76ford80095-1.jpg)

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

(https://www.cars-on-line.com/photo/80000/76ford80095-1.jpg)

They would have had to change the name of the show if they had used it!   LOL
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: DCPatriot 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

Cuban taxis, today. 
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 17, 2019, 02:59:29 pm
Cuban taxis, today.

They made a "Grabber" model.  Today they would #metoo to it.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon 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.

(https://images.hgmsites.net/med/1978pontiac-firebirdtrans-am-bandit-recreation_100673888_m.jpg)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut 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.

(https://images.hgmsites.net/med/1978pontiac-firebirdtrans-am-bandit-recreation_100673888_m.jpg)

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

Is @RoosGirl going?
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon 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. 
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: mountaineer 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:
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 17, 2019, 03:32:48 pm
Indeed. Who cares about his car?  :laugh:

Depends on the "Seatcover"
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: mountaineer on January 17, 2019, 03:49:29 pm
For the ladies:
(http://d1378t5yqi6qpe.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/12125533/7bfba0039481578e2fce065383002bd0.jpg)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: GtHawk 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........
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: skeeter on January 17, 2019, 03:53:52 pm
For the ladies:
(http://d1378t5yqi6qpe.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/12125533/7bfba0039481578e2fce065383002bd0.jpg)

Lance White. Hilarious episodes
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon 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....

(https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads//2014/09/J-Turn-2.jpg)

Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X7XGmS6Pe4#)

He even did it in a '74 Montego MX 4 door.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Hoodat on January 17, 2019, 03:57:04 pm
For Frank C.

Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg1Cx26-928#)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: sneakypete 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.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: txradioguy on January 17, 2019, 04:32:37 pm
The Rockford Files and Mannix were two of my favorite shows when I was a kid.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: TomSea on January 17, 2019, 04:34:01 pm
There is an entertainment forum.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon 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.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 17, 2019, 04:59:01 pm
There is an entertainment forum.

No one asked you Tommy. Go back to posting irrelevant stories about shit happening in some local election in Bulgaria.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 17, 2019, 06:47:35 pm
@The Ghost @RoosGirl

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

Ugh, Laredo Brown.  Double ugh, rally rims with white walls.  And no rear spoiler?  WTH were they thinking.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 17, 2019, 06:56:24 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.

The article says it was a Formula 400 that was modified to look like an Esprit.  Odd decision to me to make the car look more old man-ish.  I guess that's better than Ponch's Formula with the shaker hood.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Hoodat on January 17, 2019, 06:56:45 pm
Ugh, Laredo Brown.  Double ugh, rally rims with white walls.  And no rear spoiler?  WTH were they thinking.

That was known as 'stealth' back in the day.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: mountaineer on January 17, 2019, 06:56:57 pm
No one asked you Tommy. Go back to posting irrelevant stories about shit happening in some local election in Bulgaria.
Some of us - who also like old cars and handsome manly (*swoon*) actors - are interested in world events. The threads in the World cat are not irrelevant.  Don't crap on our lovefest, Frank!  :laugh:
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 17, 2019, 06:58:54 pm
That was known as 'stealth' back in the day.

Ohhh.... it was a "sleeper". 
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 17, 2019, 08:03:46 pm
I guess that's better than Ponch's Formula with the shaker hood.

That bastardization was so butt Ugly it made the baby Jesus cry.

Speaking of crying.  In an early Rockford File the blowed up Rockfishes Esprit.  The 75 or 76 model bird.  But they really wire the explosives to what looked like a 71 model.   
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 17, 2019, 08:22:35 pm
That bastardization was so butt Ugly it made the baby Jesus cry.

Speaking of crying.  In an early Rockford File the blowed up Rockfishes Esprit.  The 75 or 76 model bird.  But they really wire the explosives to what looked like a 71 model.

The 71 is soooooo much nicer than a 75/76.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 17, 2019, 10:21:01 pm
The 71 is soooooo much nicer than a 75/76.

It broke my heart.  After the classic looks of 70 1/2 thu 73 models, the 74,75 and 76  were "transitional" styling years for the 'bird.  77 is when it took off again.  In 79 they finally sold more units than the crapmarro.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 17, 2019, 11:16:18 pm
The 71 is soooooo much nicer than a 75/76.

Like hell. You couldn't get a Screaming Chicken on those except for a small one on the nose of a T/A. Small sucks....

(https://www.pontiacpower.net/pictures/71ta1.jpg)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 17, 2019, 11:21:28 pm
Like hell. You couldn't get a Screaming Chicken on those except for a small one on the nose of a T/A. Small sucks....

(https://www.pontiacpower.net/pictures/71ta1.jpg)

If you keep that talking out your ass stuff up I am gonna have to take a trip up to  the great state of Pennsylvania and have your ass kicked....while I watch from a safe distance....hiding behind a Camaro Z-28 .....  damn philistine.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 17, 2019, 11:49:31 pm
Like hell. You couldn't get a Screaming Chicken on those except for a small one on the nose of a T/A. Small sucks....

(https://www.pontiacpower.net/pictures/71ta1.jpg)

You can go choke your screaming chicken.  The front nose alone was better looking on the 70-73 than anything that came after.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 17, 2019, 11:53:41 pm
You can go choke your screaming chicken.  The front nose alone was better looking on the 70-73 than anything that came after.

Kick his ass.  You go girl.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Bigun on January 18, 2019, 12:02:21 am
Y'all can have ALLof that GM junk!  Give me a 68 Charger RT over that crap any day and every day!
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 18, 2019, 12:05:57 am
Y'all can have ALLof that GM junk!  Give me a 68 Charger RT over that crap any day and every day!

We ate those old 2 plus ton  Mopar pigs for lunch
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Bigun on January 18, 2019, 12:15:36 am
We ate those old 2 plus ton  Mopar pigs for lunch

SURE you did!  ROFLMAO!!!
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: EdJames on January 18, 2019, 12:22:25 am
Y'all can have ALLof that GM junk!  Give me a 68 Charger RT over that crap any day and every day!

Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U8mmT6rS8w#)

The engine is Supercharged Chrysler’s 501 cubic-inch, big-block V8 with Dyers 8-71 blower on top. This engine produces 693 horsepower and 728 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is bolted to a custom built TorqueFlite A727, 4-speed automatic transmission.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 18, 2019, 12:27:33 am
SURE you did!  ROFLMAO!!!

A ram air 400 would kill your land yatchet Charger.   You watched "Bullet" to many times.   
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 18, 2019, 12:52:01 am
You can go choke your screaming chicken.  The front nose alone was better looking on the 70-73 than anything that came after.

First of all only poor people drive around with dual headlamps. Real people have quads. Secondly you suck.

(https://horsepowermemories.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/094.jpg)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 18, 2019, 01:00:11 am
Y'all can have ALLof that GM junk!  Give me a 68 Charger RT over that crap any day and every day!

Sir, this is a discussion of fine American vehicles on this thread. There is a thread for Italian cars on the Alternate Realities thread.

(https://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/02/04/automobiles/04FCA/04FCA-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)

There is also a thread there where people are discussing that the sound of the Highland Park Hummingbird reduction gear starter on a 60's and 70's Chrysler product isn't hysterical.

Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Te3ydmU7bE#)

Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Bigun on January 18, 2019, 01:16:52 am
A ram air 400 would kill your land yatchet Charger.   You watched "Bullet" to many times.

 :rolling: :rolling:
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 18, 2019, 01:25:22 am
:rolling: :rolling:

This is not air you want....

(https://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/dodge-charger-and-ford-mustang-recreate-iconic-bullitt-chase-video-81121_1.jpg)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 18, 2019, 01:30:52 am
This is not air you want....

(https://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/news/dodge-charger-and-ford-mustang-recreate-iconic-bullitt-chase-video-81121_1.jpg)

I don't care what type of smoke they blow up your ass people are lying when they say torsion bar suspensions handle better than springs or leaves.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 18, 2019, 01:30:57 am
Y'all can have ALLof that GM junk!  Give me a 68 Charger RT over that crap any day and every day!

Any company that allows a horn like this cannot be trusted to not bleep up the more important things.

Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP-9GsM_P2M#)

Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Bigun on January 18, 2019, 01:34:30 am
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U8mmT6rS8w#)

The engine is Supercharged Chrysler’s 501 cubic-inch, big-block V8 with Dyers 8-71 blower on top. This engine produces 693 horsepower and 728 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is bolted to a custom built TorqueFlite A727, 4-speed automatic transmission.

VERY nice!  Only one thing wrong with it.  It isn't mine!
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 18, 2019, 01:35:36 am
Any company that allows a horn like this cannot be trusted to not bleep up the more important things.

Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP-9GsM_P2M#)

All right you stepped over the line on that one....  The RR was a balls out runner.   That Charger Bigun talks about was a dog.  So take it back.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 18, 2019, 01:37:06 am
All right you stepped over the line on that one....  The RR was a balls out runner.   That Charger Bigun talks about was a dog.  So take it back.

I will not!  Meep meep, indeed.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 18, 2019, 01:38:34 am
I will not!  Meep meep, indeed.

Oh it is on now.   
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 18, 2019, 01:40:18 am
Oh it is on now.

Bring it, old man.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 18, 2019, 01:45:36 am
Bring it, old man.

You better git your mothers garters on. 
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 18, 2019, 01:49:17 am
You better git your mothers garters on.

Bitch please.

(https://i.pinimg.com/236x/aa/df/b3/aadfb34e53fc23f05eab1b9009dd2a08--pinup-rockabilly-dita-von.jpg)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 18, 2019, 01:53:37 am
Bitch please.

(https://i.pinimg.com/236x/aa/df/b3/aadfb34e53fc23f05eab1b9009dd2a08--pinup-rockabilly-dita-von.jpg)

Frank...you need to take over for a while.   I am going to be otherwise occupied..
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 18, 2019, 01:55:15 am
Frank...you need to take over for a while.   I am going to be otherwise occupied..

LOL   888high58888
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Hoodat on January 18, 2019, 02:37:23 am
Oh my.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 18, 2019, 03:31:03 am
Frank...you need to take over for a while.   I am going to be otherwise occupied..

No problem. What the hell type of serious speed freak would drive around in a car with child's cartoon character stickers all over it?

(https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/1970-plymouth-road-runner--vitamin-c-orange-gordon-dean.jpg)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 18, 2019, 03:32:13 am
Bitch please.

(https://i.pinimg.com/236x/aa/df/b3/aadfb34e53fc23f05eab1b9009dd2a08--pinup-rockabilly-dita-von.jpg)

Dita Von Tease is a quality quality woman.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: GtHawk on January 18, 2019, 05:30:41 am
No problem. What the hell type of serious speed freak would drive around in a car with child's cartoon character stickers all over it?

(https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/1970-plymouth-road-runner--vitamin-c-orange-gordon-dean.jpg)
I don't know Frank, my brothers '70 Road Runner was a screamin machine, up until the right rear brake locked up on him on PCH back in '72, never good at 140 mph. You know what I actually think my brother may have been doing the screaming as the spun into a culvert :pondering:
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 18, 2019, 05:32:00 am
No problem. What the hell type of serious speed freak would drive around in a car with child's cartoon character stickers all over it?

(https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/1970-plymouth-road-runner--vitamin-c-orange-gordon-dean.jpg)

Me. :seeya:

BTW.  That must be a restro.  The fit and finish on those sucked out of the factory.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 18, 2019, 05:44:21 am
I don't know Frank, my brothers '70 Road Runner was a screamin machine, up until the right rear brake locked up on him on PCH back in '72, never good at 140 mph. You know what I actually think my brother may have been doing the screaming as the spun into a culvert :pondering:

Thanks for proving my point. Chrysler = Death Trap
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 18, 2019, 06:16:24 am
Fun story about how Jack Smith a Chrysler Plymouth came up with the Road Runner.

(https://assets.hemmings.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2017/09/JackSmith_400.jpg)

Jack Smith, father of the Plymouth Road Runner, dies at age 94

Quote
“Nobody but nobody will ever put a cartoon bird on one of my cars.” The threat from Dick Macadam was real enough that he poked an executive vice president of Chrysler in the chest to hammer his point home. And in that moment, in that hallway in Highland Park, the Plymouth Road Runner nearly died before it was born. It took the persistence and vision of John L. “Jack” Smith — who died last week at the age of 94 — to make sure that the cartoon bird would become the most beloved Looney Tunes member among the muscle car crowd.

Smith, at the time a manager for product planning for the Belvedere, never took credit for actually coming up with the idea. Rather, he always attributed that to his “ace assistant,” Gordon Cherry. Still, the Road Runner wouldn’t have happened without Smith.

As he related in an interview with Hemmings Muscle Machines for its January 2009 issue, Bob Anderson, then the new executive vice president of sales and marketing for Chrysler and Plymouth (and the guy who stylist Macadam poked in the chest), wanted to do something to capture the burgeoning youth market that Lee Iaccoca and his cohorts so accurately targeted with the Mustang.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 18, 2019, 06:21:34 am
Fun story about how Jack Smith a Chrysler Plymouth came up with the Road Runner.

(https://assets.hemmings.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2017/09/JackSmith_400.jpg)

Jack Smith, father of the Plymouth Road Runner, dies at age 94

In those days Chrysler was "Plum Crazy"
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: GtHawk on January 18, 2019, 06:26:14 am
Thanks for proving my point. Chrysler = Death Trap
Now, now Frank, my brother didn't die, wasn't even hospitalized even though he did fracture two cervical vertebrae. There is something to be said for big steel cars even if they were Chryslers.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Wingnut on January 18, 2019, 06:31:05 am
Now, now Frank, my brother didn't die, wasn't even hospitalized even though he did fracture two cervical vertebrae. There is something to be said for big steel cars even if they were Chryslers.

One day at band camp we took my G/F's fathers 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A.   At 140 the car was unmanageable.  The sex was good.  The car scared me more than her father.

(https://assets.hemmings.com/story_image/344581-870-0.jpg?rev=2)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 18, 2019, 06:32:28 am
Now, now Frank, my brother didn't die, wasn't even hospitalized even though he did fracture two cervical vertebrae. There is something to be said for big steel cars even if they were Chryslers.

Up until the Baby Boomer started retiring a decade ago and going senile dropping $100K plus for Super Birds no one wanted those Mopar muscle cars. People laughed at folks tooling around in a Dodge E Body because they couldn't afford a Camaro.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: sneakypete on January 18, 2019, 11:43:49 am
Up until the Baby Boomer started retiring a decade ago and going senile dropping $100K plus for Super Birds no one wanted those Mopar muscle cars. People laughed at folks tooling around in a Dodge E Body because they couldn't afford a Camaro.

@Amb. Frank Cannon

Frank,you need to switch drugs because the ones you are using now are making you simple. GM had nothing that would run with my 1971 340 Duster. They even whined to the NHRA about it having too much horsepower for it's class when the 350 GM cars kept blowing motors trying to keep them in sight.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Bigun on January 18, 2019, 02:45:45 pm
@Amb. Frank Cannon

Frank,you need to switch drugs because the ones you are using now are making you simple. GM had nothing that would run with my 1971 340 Duster. They even whined to the NHRA about it having too much horsepower for it's class when the 350 GM cars kept blowing motors trying to keep them in sight.

@sneakypete

It's really something how these guys keep trying to blow smoke up the tailpipes of those of us who were actually there and have first hand knowledge that their BS is just BS!

There might have been some guy somewhere with a 68 Charger RT that got waxed buy some GM junk but I never saw it and, at the time, I was pretty involved.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: sneakypete on January 18, 2019, 03:31:21 pm
@sneakypete

It's really something how these guys keep trying to blow smoke up the tailpipes of those of us who were actually there and have first hand knowledge that their BS is just BS!

There might have been some guy somewhere with a 68 Charger RT that got waxed buy some GM junk but I never saw it and, at the time, I was pretty involved.


@Bigun

If it happened,it happened because the Charger had a 318 and the yahoo owner put R/T badges on it.

Never mind this,though. Remember how GM got all the other manufacturers to sign an agreement to quit building and selling race cars around 1957 because they had nothing that could run with either the Y-Block Fords or the hemi Mopars,and then started selling race car parts and stripped cars through their dealerships? GM pulled off a slick one with that little act. I remember seeing GM stationwagons showing up at the drag strip with 283's or 327's with multiple carbs or FI,and 4 speed transmissions,and running as stock cars. The NHRA has ALWAYS kissed GM ass.

Remember the GM tears when Mother Mopar started pumping out taxicab bodies with Max-Wedge 413's and 727's in them in 61-62,and beating them like rented mules? I have often wondered how many 409's were turned into bombs as a way of trying to keep up?
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Bigun on January 18, 2019, 03:38:23 pm


@Bigun

If it happened,it happened because the Charger had a 318 and the yahoo owner put R/T badges on it.

Never mind this,though. Remember how GM got all the other manufacturers to sign an agreement to quit building and selling race cars around 1957 because they had nothing that could run with either the Y-Block Fords or the hemi Mopars,and then started selling race car parts and stripped cars through their dealerships? GM pulled off a slick one with that little act. I remember seeing GM stationwagons showing up at the drag strip with 283's or 327's with multiple carbs or FI,and 4 speed transmissions,and running as stock cars. The NHRA has ALWAYS kissed GM ass.

Remember the GM tears when Mother Mopar started pumping out taxicab bodies with Max-Wedge 413's and 727's in them in 61-62,and beating them like rented mules? I have often wondered how many 409's were turned into bombs as a way of trying to keep up?

Yeah and IIRC that's about the time restricter plates and all that garbage began to appear on the scene.

I always laugh out loud when I hear someone expounding on the virtues of 396's and 409s as race engines!  Those thing began life as TRUCK engines.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: sneakypete on January 18, 2019, 04:25:19 pm
Yeah and IIRC that's about the time restricter plates and all that garbage began to appear on the scene.

I always laugh out loud when I hear someone expounding on the virtues of 396's and 409s as race engines!  Those thing began life as TRUCK engines.

@Bigun

Ironically enough,I own a 409 Chevy engine. Was driving my old (62) Ford wrecker back home one day and had plenty of time,so I decided to stop by a garage owned by a guy I knew to see what he was doing. He was a big GM guy,and asked me if I knew anybody interested in buying a 409 Chevrolet engine that ran good. He bought it to put in his rollback,but then found a 454 and wanted to sell it.

I told him "I'm no fan of GM engines,but tell me how much you want for it,and I will spread the word around for you and try to help you find a buyer.

He says "$100".

I say "Wait a minute while I back my wrecker up to it. Here's 100 bucks."  Damn thing was complete right down to the breather and fan belt,and when I pulled the heads I discovered  a stock bore with no ridges..

I have a old late-40's-early 50's "East Coast Style" 32 Ford 5 window coupe that is channeled and has a wheelbase extended to 122 inches with a suicide front end with a genuine Dago dropped axle up front. I bought it to get it running,drive it around one summer,and then sell it. I was going to drop a 350/350 in it,but now I am thinking about adding a dual quad intake to the 409,and bolting up a Powerglide to it. I'm betting that 409 with the finned aluminum "Weiand" scroll valve covers I found for it will raise the selling price by 3 grand.

Here is a photo of the 32 I took the day I bought it. The chassis was bent,twisted,and "boxed" using sheet metal and body plastic. One side was 3/8th of an inch higher than the other,and the shocks were bolted to the radius rods,so they didn't work at all.  I ended up cutting it off and sliding a new chassis stub made from boxed plate over the stub


The other two photos are of it as it sits in my shop today. The engine in it is a junker 283 I pulled out of the weeds to use to make motor mounts,trans mount,headers,and radiator mounts. I had the 6x2 intake laying around the shop,so I just sit in on top of the engine to freak out people who have never seen one

I think if I paint this one baby blue with red flames and put some slot mags or 5 spoke Cragers on it,I can get some pretty good money for it at one of the big swap meets.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Bigun on January 18, 2019, 05:19:22 pm
@sneakypete

Very nice project you have going there and I'll bet you do well financially with it when you get done as well!
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 18, 2019, 09:10:18 pm
@Amb. Frank Cannon

Frank,you need to switch drugs because the ones you are using now are making you simple. GM had nothing that would run with my 1971 340 Duster. They even whined to the NHRA about it having too much horsepower for it's class when the 350 GM cars kept blowing motors trying to keep them in sight.

@sneakypete give me a break. Chrysler didn't even have a real muscle car through most of the 60's. Secondly an 70' LT1 could stomp anything Mopar had on their menu. They put out almost 400HP as did the LS5. You could dial that up with a bigger carb.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: sneakypete on January 18, 2019, 10:20:20 pm
@sneakypete give me a break. Chrysler didn't even have a real muscle car through most of the 60's. Secondly an 70' LT1 could stomp anything Mopar had on their menu. They put out almost 400HP as did the LS5. You could dial that up with a bigger carb.

@Amb. Frank Cannon

ROFLMAO! One of my childhood friends had a 4 speed 71 LT-1 Camaro,and my Duster would just walk off and leave him.

And are you SERIOUSLY trying to claim the Chevy BB would run with the Mopar BB's?
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Bigun on January 18, 2019, 10:34:01 pm
@sneakypete give me a break. Chrysler didn't even have a real muscle car through most of the 60's. Secondly an 70' LT1 could stomp anything Mopar had on their menu. They put out almost 400HP as did the LS5. You could dial that up with a bigger carb.

BS! My RT said 425HP from the factory which was a lie they had to tell the government to get around their 10 to one deal. The fact was that thing put out well over 500HP factory fresh!
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 18, 2019, 10:36:01 pm
BS! My RT said 425HP from the factory which was a lie they had to tell the government to get around their 10 to one deal. The fact was that thing put out well over 500HP factory fresh!

Yeah?  What's it putting out these days?
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 18, 2019, 10:40:35 pm
Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U8mmT6rS8w#)

The engine is Supercharged Chrysler’s 501 cubic-inch, big-block V8 with Dyers 8-71 blower on top. This engine produces 693 horsepower and 728 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is bolted to a custom built TorqueFlite A727, 4-speed automatic transmission.

This Is the 1,000-HP 2017 Trans Am 455 Super Duty

(http://imagesvc.timeincapp.com/v3/foundry/image/?q=70&w=1920&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftimedotcom.files.wordpress.com%2F2017%2F04%2Ftrans-am-455-super-duty-hero-image.jpg%3Fquality%3D85)

http://www.thedrive.com/new-york-auto-show/9284/this-is-the-1000-horsepower-2017-trans-am-455-super-duty (http://www.thedrive.com/new-york-auto-show/9284/this-is-the-1000-horsepower-2017-trans-am-455-super-duty)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Bigun on January 18, 2019, 10:45:03 pm
Yeah?  What's it putting out these days?

I have no idea!  Haven't seen it since 73 I think it was.  I got married in 68 and my life began to go in another direction.
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: RoosGirl on January 18, 2019, 10:48:09 pm
I have no idea!  Haven't seen it since 73 I think it was.  I got married in 68 and my life began to go in another direction.

I think I may have found it.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yMunZizQ_g0/T0FoQy7OcdI/AAAAAAAACEE/H34aTGkX7Pc/s1600/1968_Dodge_Charger_junkyard.jpg)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Bigun on January 18, 2019, 10:59:40 pm
I think I may have found it.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yMunZizQ_g0/T0FoQy7OcdI/AAAAAAAACEE/H34aTGkX7Pc/s1600/1968_Dodge_Charger_junkyard.jpg)

Nope!  Wrong color!   :beer:
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: EdJames on January 18, 2019, 11:01:38 pm
This Is the 1,000-HP 2017 Trans Am 455 Super Duty

(http://imagesvc.timeincapp.com/v3/foundry/image/?q=70&w=1920&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftimedotcom.files.wordpress.com%2F2017%2F04%2Ftrans-am-455-super-duty-hero-image.jpg%3Fquality%3D85)

http://www.thedrive.com/new-york-auto-show/9284/this-is-the-1000-horsepower-2017-trans-am-455-super-duty (http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/new-york-auto-show/9284/this-is-the-1000-horsepower-2017-trans-am-455-super-duty)

Ja? Lyssna på detta!

Sorry... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF6JGgwWAxc#)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: sneakypete on January 18, 2019, 11:12:53 pm
BS! My RT said 425HP from the factory which was a lie they had to tell the government to get around their 10 to one deal. The fact was that thing put out well over 500HP factory fresh!

@Bigun

Hell,the Max-Wedge 413's put out more power than that.  The true street cars that weren't race-prepped probably put out 500 HP,though.

Ever been in the pits and seen one of those 2 ton monsters with all the aerodynamics of a brick come idling through after a low 12 second run on 7 inch nylon tires? They made the cement vibrate when idling past. The 61 and 62's put "the ugh in ugly",but they would FLY.

BTW,probably THE funniest classified add for a car for sale is related to this discussion. A friend (the guy with the LT-1) and I were away from home and shaking the woods for cars and parts maybe 100 miles from home,and we stopped at burger joint in a small town after hitting a 7-11 for the "for sale" car magazines.

I am eating and looking through mine,and he is looking through his (different mags) when he starts to giggle a little bit. I asked him what was funny,and he pushed the mag over to me and pointed to a T-Bucket for sale add. Short wheelbase with a T touring front and a round gas tank mounted behind it. Suicide beam front axle. The most noticeable thing about it was the Carter AFB carbs hanging out past the body on both sides of the cowl. The add said it was a 413 Max Wedge with a 3500 rpm stall converter,prepped 727,and a 4:56 Detroit Locker rear.

It was the final sentence that had us laughing,though. It read "car is fast." No kidding. That car would scare the hell out of anybody that didn't have the nickname of "Wild Willie". Willie Borsch normally drove/held on for dear life the AA/FA known as the Winged Express. I had a poster of Willie and his T going through the traps at a Winter Nationals at the old Lions Drag Strip on Ca,and the only wheel on the ground is one of the front tires,and Willie is still steering with one hand. That boy had some STONES!

Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 19, 2019, 08:43:18 pm
I have no idea!  Haven't seen it since 73 I think it was.  I got married in 68 and my life began to go in another direction.

Yeah. I'll bet you stuck with Mopar though.....

(https://assets.hemmings.com/story_image/622995-1000-0@2x.jpg?rev=2)
Title: Re: James Garner's personal 1978 Pontiac Firebird heads to auction
Post by: Frank Cannon on January 19, 2019, 08:47:23 pm
@Amb. Frank Cannon

ROFLMAO! One of my childhood friends had a 4 speed 71 LT-1 Camaro,and my Duster would just walk off and leave him.

And are you SERIOUSLY trying to claim the Chevy BB would run with the Mopar BB's?

I took a Grand Spalding Dart with my 455 Catalina wagon when I had it. They ain't no thang.