The Iconic 1977 Pontiac Firebird Formula from "The Rockford Files!" | Jay Leno's Garage

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ธ.ค. 2024

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  • @thellamaman
    @thellamaman 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +802

    This is my granddad I’m so happy to see this I love him and that car

    • @bluesky9093
      @bluesky9093 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +41

      You should be very proud of him. To stick with this car for 15 years to see it restored says a lot about him. I hope he and you spent some time together during the restoration.

    • @leejohnson3209
      @leejohnson3209 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

      I thought it was Sunny Curtis for a second.

    • @Scripts360
      @Scripts360 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +24

      Your Grandpa is an incredible human being. I’m proud to call him my friend.

    • @jonmassengale
      @jonmassengale 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +17

      Wow so cool. Tell him this was my favorite JLG episode of the year. Such a likable guy your Granddad

    • @kurtvanluven9351
      @kurtvanluven9351 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +9

      This is one of them. Have no idea how many total are left. Most were damaged/scrapped.

  • @wyattoneable
    @wyattoneable 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +243

    Tom Selleck once said of James Garner that he was an inspiration because James would always take the time to learn everyone's name that work the set. Pretty cool.

    • @sstills951
      @sstills951 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +17

      The Rockford Files basically birthed Magnum P.I

    • @drumtum
      @drumtum 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +7

      @@sstills951 Lance White =) My two favourite shows of all time. So entertaining!

    • @bustermot
      @bustermot 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      200 years ago actors were one step up from criminals and prostitutes. Humble is good.

    • @413TomaccoRoad
      @413TomaccoRoad 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      ...that worked on the set?

    • @randynutt5660
      @randynutt5660 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      Tom Selleck basically owes his career to James Garner.
      The role of Lance White got Jim started in Television, and James Garner's mentoring went a long way!

  • @leroyybrown
    @leroyybrown 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +36

    Rockford files had one of the great theme songs of all time.

    • @williamsporing1500
      @williamsporing1500 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

      Mike Post wrote it, who also wrote other themes like A team, law and order, magnum P.I. and others.
      I believe he also produced a Van Halen album?

    • @pminiger9278
      @pminiger9278 35 นาทีที่ผ่านมา +2

      I'm suprised they didn't play that in the intro

    • @smal1393
      @smal1393 24 นาทีที่ผ่านมา +2

      Along with the phone answering machine messages played on the intro.

  • @acemacgruber6593
    @acemacgruber6593 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +127

    This is why I watch Jay Leno's Garage. Great episode guys.

    • @jamesreid5134
      @jamesreid5134 29 นาทีที่ผ่านมา

      He’s a very nice man

  • @threeer02
    @threeer02 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +58

    I love episodes like this! Forget hyper or super cars! This stuff is gold!

    • @danielfarmer1334
      @danielfarmer1334 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      Literally !

    • @jamespn
      @jamespn 55 นาทีที่ผ่านมา

      Like the color, don’t miss the screaming chicken or the scoops and air dams.

    • @HADJEE
      @HADJEE 37 นาทีที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@danielfarmer1334 You beat me to it.

    • @earheadsix4119
      @earheadsix4119 31 นาทีที่ผ่านมา

      Mannix ‘Cuda next?

  • @bluesky9093
    @bluesky9093 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +122

    I truly admire this man for sticking with it for 15 years and doing the work in his garage. A real car guy, now he needs to drive it and enjoy it.

    • @Rarerat
      @Rarerat 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +6

      I couldn't agree more.

    • @kfrerix9777
      @kfrerix9777 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

      No reason not to, it's got tons of miles already! 🤘

  • @Diogenes1360
    @Diogenes1360 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +61

    The License Plate on the car "853 OKG" has significant meaning, "August 1953 Garner landed his 1st acting job. Oklahoma Garner's Home State. OKG, The 1st Letter of Garner's Last Name."

    • @philh3178
      @philh3178 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +5

      You beat me to posting the same comment, can’t believe they didn’t mention that. And they didn’t do a Rockford turn !

    • @MarkR973
      @MarkR973 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      @@philh3178I posted then saw this... pretty cool...

  • @ingmarvanderhoek6314
    @ingmarvanderhoek6314 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +49

    That is what i like about jay: he has no pretensions, is genuinely happy driving and chatting and makes you feel at ease as a guest. Great guy.

  • @Scripts360
    @Scripts360 9 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +109

    Pat spent many years restoring this beauty. Thank you my friend.

    • @donmacquarrie9161
      @donmacquarrie9161 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

      Did a fantastic job - looks brand new!

    • @markwilliamson2795
      @markwilliamson2795 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      Looking Great ! So happy to hear his wife also enjoys the show too..lol.....NO !

    • @Scripts360
      @Scripts360 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      @ LOL

  • @npxmnpxm
    @npxmnpxm 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +94

    The show holds up, even today. Great writing plus great acting.

    • @baronarmenian5019
      @baronarmenian5019 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

      Agree. I love it.

    • @SA-bq1us
      @SA-bq1us 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      Today's writers are lazy and have no creativity or originality and rely on the recycle bin

    • @stanley2004
      @stanley2004 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      YES!!!!!

    • @hornetbrown
      @hornetbrown 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      I bought all five seasons in a DVD box set. Excellent entertainment.

    • @NoNameMnk
      @NoNameMnk ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      Some of it is cheesy but considering the time period I think it holds up. I recently watched the 5.5 seasons and had a great time.

  • @ggusta1
    @ggusta1 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +5

    I love the humility of this guy. I can see his affinity for Garner very easily

  • @daveallen8824
    @daveallen8824 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +75

    My wife was a tremendous fan of the show and was IN LOVE with Jim Garner. When she was graduating from college, her parents were going to buy her a car, and she had to have a Firebird. She got a 1975 Esprit ; we went on our honeymoon in it, and as I write, it is sitting here still in the garage. After kids happened, we sold it, but were able to buy it back from the friend we sold it to. At that point, it was pretty sad; ran poorly and needed a lot of help. I couldn't see rebuilding the 350 in it, so I found a 455 and went through that and added a little cam, intake manifold, and true duals. It does a fine job of roasting the tires any old time. A lot of memories in that car, and a real time machine for me. And, yes, the 70's were a terrible time for American cars. I remember on our honeymoon, this thing rained screws from under the dash, nothing fit - they even left off one of the Esprit badges - real build quality!

    • @bustermot
      @bustermot 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +7

      Thanks for the nice story -don’t listen to that troll.

    • @jacktorrance2633
      @jacktorrance2633 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      I enjoyed the story as well.

    • @marcathens2951
      @marcathens2951 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      Awesome love the story !

    • @MrRoadWorrier
      @MrRoadWorrier 39 นาทีที่ผ่านมา +1

      There are some mean-spirited people in this world - if they don't have anything nice to say they should just shut up. I enjoyed your story so thanks for sharing. EDIT: I see the bad comment was deleted - good riddance.

  • @davedave2882
    @davedave2882 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +18

    Come on Jay! I'm 52 I remember the Rockford files like it was yesterday used to watch it as a little kid. Great TV show!

    • @marcathens2951
      @marcathens2951 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      Ditto !

    • @macpdm
      @macpdm 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      Yeah I used to watch it with my dad too ❤

  • @corm7538
    @corm7538 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +23

    Jay, I'm 49, I love The Rockford Files, and I still watch it on MeTV sometimes. You're a little over two years older than my dad and he is who got me into the reruns of the show in the early 1980s when I was 6 or 7 years old so there are people that are around 25 to 30 years younger than you that watch it still today.

  • @ms8596
    @ms8596 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +76

    I always liked James Garner. Growing up as a teenager in the md/late 70s, i loved the Rockford Files. It was a shame when he discontinued doing the show because of the punishment his knees were taking, doing his own stunts. I recently watched the whole series again. It still holds up. I always loved his girlfriend, Beth (Gretchen Corbett), too.

    • @rocketscientist007
      @rocketscientist007 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +10

      Don't forget Noah Beery Jr. as his father.

    • @graeme9679
      @graeme9679 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +7

      Gretchen was a cutie.

    • @dougjustdoug6391
      @dougjustdoug6391 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

      And after 6+ successful years on the air the studio claimed the series never made a profit when Garner sued them over his share of profits from the syndication rights.( The studio 'cooked the books' to minimize any payout)

    • @ms8596
      @ms8596 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@rocketscientist007 he was great.

    • @alsheremeta
      @alsheremeta 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      I can still close my eyes and picture him doing those J turns...

  • @d.g.degennaro2464
    @d.g.degennaro2464 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +32

    Watched and loved the show as kid . Always loved the car and was a huge James Garner fan. I'm glad the car went to a fan of the show who appreciated it.

  • @mtshasta4195
    @mtshasta4195 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +35

    Garner in "Support your Local Sheriff" was an all-time classic and funny as hell!!

    • @andyharman3022
      @andyharman3022 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      Free to watch on TH-cam!

    • @onetwo12onetwo526
      @onetwo12onetwo526 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      They only kill their masters is the one

  • @DKR977
    @DKR977 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +21

    Mc Cloud, Rockford files & Columbo, love those old 70's crime shows.

  • @hoost3056
    @hoost3056 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +8

    Used to be a fan of The Rockford Files as a kid. When I found out James Garner was a serious driver and car enthusiast, it just made his legend go that much higher.

  • @thomaswelcomer8443
    @thomaswelcomer8443 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +45

    With all this James Garner talk, if you havent read his autobiography, you will have a new appreciation of the man behind the image. He was like, if one of us "normal" folks saw such insane success, he was just like we hope we would be.

    • @gaden002
      @gaden002 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      I am about 1/4 of the way through it now.

  • @mercedes-mark
    @mercedes-mark 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +53

    Jay looks happy and healthy in this episode!! He was looking tired in past episodes and I was worried, he looks great here!! Love you Jay!!

    • @tylerjames-yf1ho
      @tylerjames-yf1ho 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      I agree, i was so worried about him! This was a great and fun video 😊

    • @boredom.victim
      @boredom.victim 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      cool cars are good for the soul ❤

    •  2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      I havent seen him for awhile , i thought that he dosnt look well , hes dropped a lot of weight .He looks old .

    • @chrisbrown7362
      @chrisbrown7362 57 นาทีที่ผ่านมา

      He IS old!
      Can't be breaking his Mom's windshield, biting into them Doritos anymore.

    • @TheOrangekrate
      @TheOrangekrate 32 นาทีที่ผ่านมา

      He must have recovered from falling down the hill in Greensburg, PA.

  • @805NAVE
    @805NAVE 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +33

    I’m 23 and Rockford was one of my favorite shows ! Columbo is my favorite of all time. I hope Jay can find his Peugeot Cabriolet !

    • @obesefeline
      @obesefeline 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

      You have great taste my young friend!

    • @edgarbeat2851
      @edgarbeat2851 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

      Universal studios I think owns a few of the 203 Peugoets.
      Also good taste I'm 40 and enjoy both shows 👍 greetings from Scotland.

    • @craigloschky9293
      @craigloschky9293 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      Columbo - "Just one more thing" !

    • @gnatsum-uy4fo
      @gnatsum-uy4fo 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      Hemmings Classic Car magazine did a story last year or so, in the Colombo Peugeot, and the current owner who lives in the Midwest (I forget which state).

    • @edgarbeat2851
      @edgarbeat2851 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      @@gnatsum-uy4fo That is cool

  • @T.Tuxedo
    @T.Tuxedo 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +5

    I wish I could give this video a million likes!
    "The Rockford Files" is my FAVORITE television show.
    It was a big part of my childhood and I own _every_ season on DVD!!

  • @jhhudson47
    @jhhudson47 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +30

    genie
    ​​My cousin was a firefighter in the '70's and he said that Garner stopped by the firehouse (near the studio) frequently, sat down and told stories and had some laughs with the firefighters.

  • @westcoastwoodsman2289
    @westcoastwoodsman2289 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +9

    Thumbs up as soon as he said he has been at this car, in his garage, for 15 years!! This guy is a trooper! The work and love that went into this car is most likely beyond most peoples imagination.

  • @karlnitz1126
    @karlnitz1126 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +74

    This raises the question, where's Rocky's GMC 4X4?

    • @gaden002
      @gaden002 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +19

      Where it is I don't know, but that was actually James Garner's personal truck.

    • @vm722
      @vm722 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +6

      I remember that truck. ❤

    • @althunder4269
      @althunder4269 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +7

      @@gaden002 Wow. Didn't know that.

    • @pR1mal.
      @pR1mal. 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      @@althunder4269 Check out the episode of Leno's Garage with Garner's Oldsmobile 442.

    • @billstevens5049
      @billstevens5049 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

      The last I saw it was under private ownership somewhere in Florida

  • @MichaelVanDyke-c1g
    @MichaelVanDyke-c1g 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +53

    Also he was a war hero / purple heart recirpant.

    • @Oceangirl_505
      @Oceangirl_505 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

      I didn't know that, thanks! Sounds like he was a great guy. My Mom had a huge crush on him. There's a free Christmas movie starring Julie Andrews and JG here on You Tube. I highly recommend it.

  • @davids4754
    @davids4754 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +8

    Wow! Watched the Rockford Files every Friday night with my Dad growing up. It was his favorite show!!

  • @craigmerrow225
    @craigmerrow225 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +12

    Always loved the opening segment of the show with the answering machine! My favorite was a message from the electric company telling Rockford that he was behind on his bill and they were cutting off his power in afe minutes...

  • @325xitgrocgetter
    @325xitgrocgetter 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +13

    Great episode...always enjoyed the Rockford Firebirds and seeing this high quality restoration. I recall reading James Garner didn't much care for the 1979 restyle of the front end and that was why they stayed with 1977/78 versions.

    • @tezzrterry7485
      @tezzrterry7485 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      Yeah, he told Pontiac the 79 was ugly, plus he tried to make Formulas look like Esprits.

  • @bobschenkel7921
    @bobschenkel7921 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +28

    "It's a replica?" "No it's THE car." I like the way Pat is calm and assured, just like Jim Rockford. Thanks for saving a piece of 70's TV history, and thanks to Jay for putting him in front of a camera. And that color, one of a kind.

  • @jamesrobinson3663
    @jamesrobinson3663 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +26

    Good ‘ol Rockfish…what a man. We miss him.

    • @12345682900
      @12345682900 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +8

      Yep! Thank you, Isaac Hayes!

    • @sstills951
      @sstills951 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +8

      Gandy please don't call me that.

    • @gman1003
      @gman1003 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      rockFORD!!!

  • @CauliflowerMcPugg
    @CauliflowerMcPugg 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +9

    The 70s was the best era for TV . What a beautiful restoration, always loved that colour and the Rockford Files. I can hear the theme in my head as I write this. 😂

  • @PintoPopProductions
    @PintoPopProductions 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +11

    Love the 77 Firebird, love the Rockford Files. Mike Post's theme song goes hard. I'm 36, so yes, some people younger than you appreciate the show!

  • @epbrown01
    @epbrown01 19 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +83

    Have any of you *watched* Rockford files recently? It’s painful for a car guy. They flip a 60s E-type, crash a Mercedes SL… it’s like the Dukes of Hazzard set in a car museum.

    • @jfredknobloch
      @jfredknobloch 9 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +6

      Not for you to worry… Those were all Hollywood cars. Not the real thing!

    • @DanEBoyd
      @DanEBoyd 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +8

      I'm still mad at CHiPs for pushing that beautiful '67-'68 manual transmission Cougar off of that cliff!!! CHiPs was probably the worst offender.

    • @Charlesb88
      @Charlesb88 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +9

      When they film these car crash/destruction scenes they aren’t using nice collector worthy specimens of these cars but old junkers fixed up to look nice enough on camera for use in a crash/destruction scene. In fact, the car you see be driven and the one seen crashing/being destroyed won’t be the same car. The crash car will be a same model car repainted to look like one being driven but which can be a old non-running rust bucket underneath that was slated to be crushed at a junk yard. Even if one of these crash cars was good enough to be restored (before being crashed), they aren’t crashing any rare models anyways, and with many of them were slated to be crushed at the junk yard your not likely to see a car crashed in these shows that would have gone to a collector/restoring otherwise.

    • @salzar4431
      @salzar4431 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      You will need to avoid the Taylor Swift video for “blank space,” there’s a Shelby Cobra in it.

    • @joeday4293
      @joeday4293 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +7

      Heh. Right about now, someone 20 or 30 years younger than me is watching "Pulp Fiction" and getting pissed off at how Bruce Willis wrecked that cute little Honda. In 1994, literally no one cared.

  • @TheDejael
    @TheDejael 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +35

    I'm a Pontiac guy, and owned a 1979 Firebird Formula coupe with T-Tops, second owner from 1990 to 2005. I really enjoyed driving it. It had the 403 Olds V8 with the Turbo-Hydramatic transmission. It had a lot of options like the Trans Am so it was special. I have a 2002 Firebird now as my daily driver since 2010. 22 years and counting, with over 200,000 miles on it, but I keep it well maintained. It's a base model with the Buick 3800 Series II V6 with fuel injection and five-speed stick shift.

    • @hendo337
      @hendo337 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      You should swap an LS4 into it, same bolt pattern as the V6. Wouldnget the same fuel economy and have 100-200 more hp.

    • @andyharman3022
      @andyharman3022 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

      I have a '99 Camaro with the 3800/5-speed. Nice to drive, but needs more power.

    • @manher4335
      @manher4335 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      @@hendo337 That's been a popular thing to do to these cars for years. But at this point in time I think it'd be best to keep these things all Pontiac (a traditional, metallic light-blue colored 350 or 400, 455)

    • @SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman
      @SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      Watching Smokey & the Bandit getting filmed the summer of '76 when I lived 2 miles from Snowmans house in Jonesboro Georgia & seeing the Trans Am come out the back of the trailer is what made me a huge fan! I had a black '76 with the Hurst Ttops in 1983, a new '85 Bandit II Edition & a new black Ttop '98 Ram Air LS1 6sp...wish I still had them all

    • @SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman
      @SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      @@andyharman3022 put a supercharger or turbo on it & I think you can up the tune on the ECM to get more power

  • @donaldduncan7095
    @donaldduncan7095 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

    🎵"More harmonica !!" 🎵 My favorite TV show of all time, I fell in love with L.A. watching this show and moved here in 1981. Rockford & Angel, great chemistry and humor. Love that car, thanks.

  • @Denvermorgan2000
    @Denvermorgan2000 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +9

    James Garner has always been one of my favourites. I’m glad to hear he was really a nice guy.😊

  • @andyharman3022
    @andyharman3022 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +12

    When I was growing up, me and my car buddies thought that James Garner and Steve McQueen were maximum cool.
    Rockford is my favorite tv series of the 70's, and the more I watch it, the more I realize that Garner stamped his personality on it. It was also ahead of its time in some of the subjects it brought up, such as the dangers of computerized surveillance and how the legal system can be manipulated to persecute people who challenge the establishment.

  • @PatrickHostler
    @PatrickHostler 9 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +23

    Stunning car, and one of my personal favorite TV vehicles. I also read a while back that the engine was from a trans am… but clearly not. This owner knows his stuff

    • @sstills951
      @sstills951 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      I heard the same. Or I had also heard that the car was shown as an Espirit on the show but was really a formula. Something like that. It's been years since I've watched the show.

    • @stevenhall9009
      @stevenhall9009 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      ​​@@sstills951I came to say Rockford never drove a firebird formula, with the formula option there were twin hood scoops, where the trans am option had the shaker hood. He drove a firebird esprit, I would assume it was built to the specs of a trans am or formula for performance & television stunt driving, but the cars badging/emblems on the television series showed it was a firebird esprit. I do remember an episode where the fender badging on this particular Rockford car showed it was equipped with the 400 engine.

    • @TheBandit7613
      @TheBandit7613 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      The old 403 was the trans Am base engine.

  • @simonlange6726
    @simonlange6726 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +12

    I absolutely loved the Rockford Files ! I watched it from when it premiered, till its finally. I was 13 years old when it first aired. James Garner was the best actor. Played the "reluctant hero" roll to perfection. Thanks Jay for doing this episode.

  • @elosogonzalez8739
    @elosogonzalez8739 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +11

    After all these years, it's hard to believe nobody's seen "ROCKFORD FILES". It's still on tv everyday. Loved James Garner. Great piece of history! Great actor. His work will be there forever!😊

    • @bradleylovej
      @bradleylovej 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      The problem is, no one under the age of 40 watches tv anymore

    • @elosogonzalez8739
      @elosogonzalez8739 นาทีที่ผ่านมา

      @bradleylovej They're not watching because the networks aren't making quality programing.

  • @MarkR973
    @MarkR973 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

    The license plate was symbolic as well... "853OKG"... the "853"stands for August 1953 when James Garner got his first acting job and the "OKG" stands for Oklahoma Garner where he came from... I still watch Rockford files nearly every night on tv here in NJ... god bless ...

  • @68orangecrate26
    @68orangecrate26 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +7

    Two REAL car guys… Outstanding restoration! A real piece of automotive history…😎

  • @troystriegel2257
    @troystriegel2257 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +30

    James Gardner is still one of my all-time favorite actors. I'd love to have that car!

    • @voxer99
      @voxer99 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      Garner. No d.

    • @elimgarak7330
      @elimgarak7330 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      ​@@voxer99They could be talking about somebody else; you don't know.

  • @bluesky9093
    @bluesky9093 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +10

    Had to laugh when Jay sat in the car (24:38) and asked “it’s always the square key right”, and then said “this stupid interlocking deal here”. It made me laugh because it sounded like my cranky old self.

  • @kendigjl
    @kendigjl 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +8

    Jay's looking great. Good to see him recovered from that fall.

    • @ToyKingWonder
      @ToyKingWonder 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      And he has his energy back. I was really worried about him!!!!

  • @brettkoeshall2325
    @brettkoeshall2325 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +24

    🙏 R.I.P. James Garner.🎉🎉😢😊😅

  • @REDD_NECKERSON
    @REDD_NECKERSON 20 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +51

    Will Jay attempt to do the "Rockford J-turn?" Anyone remember the con artist character Angel Martin? My favorite on Rockford Files. $200 Per Day Plus Expenses.

    • @tonydziedziak3686
      @tonydziedziak3686 9 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +8

      Stuart Margolin played Angel, always called Rockford Jimmy.

    • @mechanwhal6590
      @mechanwhal6590 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +7

      Good show. Angel was a hoot!

    • @lilorbielilorbie2496
      @lilorbielilorbie2496 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      @@mechanwhal6590 While I like all of the Rockford Files episodes. The ones with Angel are just a little bit better IMO.

    • @martinliehs2513
      @martinliehs2513 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

      As a kid I thought that $200 per day was a fortune and would surely pay for better living accommodations than that beat-up trailer. It took a while for me to mature (and watch several dozen episodes) before I realized that Rockford's daily fee was purely aspirational and that most of his clients were deadbeats.

    • @althunder4269
      @althunder4269 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

      @@martinliehs2513 and he wasn't always working on a case either.

  • @xpswebstar420
    @xpswebstar420 21 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +19

    Fan of James Garner and The Rockford Files….didn’t have a ‘77 Firebird but had a ‘77 Camaro LT when I was in college. I loved that car.

    • @MarcusSandoval-kx2th
      @MarcusSandoval-kx2th 18 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +5

      Dad had a 78 gold edition trans am I had a 75 Rally Sport LT with a 4 speed....fun car ...i still have dreams about that car 😢

  • @ato137528
    @ato137528 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +20

    I watch Rockford files on GET TV almost every night. Magnum PI comes on after.

    • @sstills951
      @sstills951 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +5

      No kidding. I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

    • @SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman
      @SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      yup, me too

  • @tulsatoolfool
    @tulsatoolfool 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

    Some of the best times of my life watching "The Rockford Files" with my Dad.
    So proud for Mr. McEntee and this iconic piece of rolling history...

  • @MWestern-m4g
    @MWestern-m4g 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +6

    Jay really appreciates this man's passion for restoring this iconic car. A True American. Both of them. "Hey Rocky!" Remember what Isaac Hayes called Rockford? Rockfish!

  • @michaelp_42
    @michaelp_42 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

    That Firebird is beautiful. I took them for granted when they were all over the street back in the late 70’s. My neighbor had a Yellow ‘78 Formula with black stripes. I think it had a Chevy 305 in it. Sweet Car.

  • @johncowie3092
    @johncowie3092 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

    I learned my driving style from the Rockford files.
    Handbrake turns, j turns donuts etc
    Loved the show and the persona of the man

  • @davidyork2775
    @davidyork2775 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +5

    Car looks great, love the mic plugs! Never saw that before installed in a car for film production. Had a 1977 Buick Estate wagon with the Olds 403. Could whip a lot of other smog equipped "muscle cars" of that pitiful performance era (well, not off the line, but shortly after with 320 foot pounds of torque). Love the show Jay, always worth the watch.

  • @shaun2072
    @shaun2072 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

    Don't forget Gretchen Corbett aka Beth Davenport drove a nice little Porsche 914 on the show.
    I remember an episode where Garner borrows her car and she yells "Don't redline it!" as he takes off and immediately redlines it 😄

  • @DougBow96
    @DougBow96 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +7

    Old guys like me with useless knowledge 😂😂
    Jay is a national treasure ❤

  • @janinsweden8559
    @janinsweden8559 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +5

    The Rockford Files was very popular here in Sweden and I used to watch it together with my dad.

  • @hjalmarson70
    @hjalmarson70 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +11

    Even has the correct license tag "853 OKG". It was said that the "OKG" stood for "Oklahoma Garner", which is where Garner grew up.

  • @marks4471
    @marks4471 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

    That paint job is fabulous!

  • @beachdawgz
    @beachdawgz 53 นาทีที่ผ่านมา +1

    I loved Rockford Files. I say it was one of the best TV series made. James Garner was very cool and a good looking man

  • @TheDejael
    @TheDejael 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +8

    I loved watching THE ROCKFORD FILES in the 1970s. My friend actor Rex Reason was a friend of James Garner. They met at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank in 1960 when they were working as stars of their TV shows MAVERICK and THE ROARING 20's. Rex said he got a call from Jim Garner in 1976 and they got together for lunch on a set of ROCKFORD in San Fernando Valley. Rex was a real estate broker at that time, living in Diamond Bar, Calif. after leaving show biz in 1961.

  • @Petertrottierrealtor
    @Petertrottierrealtor 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

    My first car was a 1976 red Firebird with a 350. Was just a kid and really couldn’t afford to take care of it. My manager at the time had a brand new 1978 Trans Am 6.6 and was gold in colour. Loved that car !
    Great post 😀

  • @DustVirginOffRoad-pj9kt
    @DustVirginOffRoad-pj9kt ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

    I probably did the driver side window install if made at the Van Nuys Plant. Worked there from 74-79 Fisher body side.

  • @muchasgracias6976
    @muchasgracias6976 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

    As a very young kid in the late 70's I hated the Rockford Files. As a young(er) man at the start of the 2000's I watched the re-runs and it quickly became one of my most cherished tv series of all time. Theme tune, cast, California weather and characters (especially Jim and Angel) is the perfect mix. They truly don't make tv like it today.

  • @sstills951
    @sstills951 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +6

    Oh cool. For years I was wondering when Jay was going to have a Rockford Files Pontiac episode. Great Show!

  • @nukedathlonman
    @nukedathlonman 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +6

    Beautiful restoration of a very beautiful car.

  • @MichaelVanDyke-c1g
    @MichaelVanDyke-c1g 9 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +11

    Steve Kinser the GOAT of sprint car racing was a friend of James and watches re runs on cold Bloomington Indiana days. Cool story.

  • @RobertBird333
    @RobertBird333 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

    I was lucky enough to be an eyewitness to James Garner and Stuart Margolin shooting a "Rockford" scene outside a small restaurant on a remote section of Malibu Canyon Road in 1977. My friend and I were both just teens out for a drive when we noticed a film production setup on the side of the road. Out of curiosity, we parked and walked to the location to see what they were shooting. We immediately recognized Rockford's iconic Pontiac (which could have been THIS car), then we spotted Garner and Margolin setting up to shoot a scene. No one asked us to leave, so we stayed for about an hour or so and watched them do about four or five takes of the intense scene (Rockford was angry with Angel, so there was heightened dialog). The scene we witnessed was from "Drought at Indianhead River", which turned out to be a great episode. I agree with Jay's guest -- "The Rockford Files" is the greatest tv show of all time.

  • @keninhb2196
    @keninhb2196 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +8

    At the tone leave your name and message, I'll get back to you. Love it!!

    • @panamafloyd1469
      @panamafloyd1469 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      "Wait a minute. Is this a machine? I don't talk to machines.." 😄

  • @rustybearden1800
    @rustybearden1800 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

    I'm a Pontiac guy - grew up in the 70s and endured all of the Mustang guys and Camaro guys bs (late 70s Z28 - oof) I alway liked the Pontiac style and ethos - a little sportier, a little more luxurious, just nicer. I've always thought that this body style, with no spoilers or stripes or body kits, is just beautiful. Very Italian-esque. Now, I like a Trans Am, don't get me wrong but...... Gorgeous car with a fantastic pedigree - and he can always say that Jay "broke it in". Love it!

  • @eurodecibel
    @eurodecibel 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

    James Garner's family and my great grand parents ran a grocery in Washington, Oklahoma. I have always felt some kind of connection.

  • @quick65filly
    @quick65filly ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

    Great clip. Garner was such an iconic guy. I feel better now about my 10 yr mustang restoration.

  • @King-SAY10
    @King-SAY10 9 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +19

    One of the rare shows where the main character didn’t drive something ridiculously ostentatious (Magnum, Miami Vice, Starsky and Hutch, etc).

    • @MarinCipollina
      @MarinCipollina 13 นาทีที่ผ่านมา

      Starsky & Hutch ?? 😳 They drove a fat Ford..

  • @kevincosta9228
    @kevincosta9228 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +12

    I liked Rocky, lecturing his son on how impractical it was to make his living as a P.I. "you're always getting shot at, your car's always getting banged up..."

    • @melbea03
      @melbea03 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

      Always trying to get Jimmy to take up truck driving

  • @MrSheymie
    @MrSheymie 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

    Great! Watched the show with our dad in the 70's in Ireland on a B&W tv. We got it a season late I think. Loved Garner, Rocky and all the regular characters. Always a nice looking woman or two also to add to the interest, plus the car chases.

  • @wilhelmignis1314
    @wilhelmignis1314 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

    Great car guy! Thank you! I started watching the show in 1977 when I was 14. The show aired every Thursday on German television ARD and was called "Detektiv Rockford -Anruf genügt". I admired the car. It looked very fast even it wasn't.

  • @jamesn.economou9922
    @jamesn.economou9922 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +7

    The 403 olds engine was a good engine, really. I had one, in a 79 Buick LaSabre, and it had enough get up and go, for that big car.

  • @mateowilliams2162
    @mateowilliams2162 9 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +15

    The best of the best James Garner

  • @12345682900
    @12345682900 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +6

    By all accounts, James Garner often stood up for folks when he believed an injustice had occurred.

  • @josephconsoli4128
    @josephconsoli4128 4 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

    Beautiful resto! I used to watch the show with my father. I never missed an episode. Angel always cracked me up. As far as the car, I dreamed of owning one when I got to drive. I ended up with a '71 Pontiac LeMans :)

  • @BoDean52
    @BoDean52 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +5

    Oh my, we watched that short every Friday night with me Dad. Thanks for sharing

  • @Troy_nov1965
    @Troy_nov1965 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

    I still watch a few episodes of Rockford Files every week , even though I have been watching them from the 70s. One of the best TV shows of all time.

  • @MasterDebator-l7u
    @MasterDebator-l7u 7 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +6

    Really cool to say you own a car that James Garner drove

  • @markdanielczyk944
    @markdanielczyk944 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

    What an amazing restoration! My hat is off to you, Sir! I always loved the show. My favorite episode is "Gear Jammers"(I'm a truck guy).

  • @randerson4124
    @randerson4124 19 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +19

    this is one of those cars, you can just hear the music when you look at it.

    • @naysayer1238
      @naysayer1238 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

      I'm sitting here whistling it. I can't even help it!

    • @ms8596
      @ms8596 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

      Mike Post. I'm sure i still have the 45.

    • @jeffb6786
      @jeffb6786 41 นาทีที่ผ่านมา +1

      @@ms8596 Oh man, seeing you write that, it reminds me I probably still have the 45 too!

  • @jamesn.economou9922
    @jamesn.economou9922 3 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

    I loved that show. A lot of scenes involved the car, and it was always a real drive along, with Garner, doing the driving and acting. That separated it from other shows immediately, and the cast and characters, were fabulous.

  • @R6Dave11
    @R6Dave11 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

    I grew up loving Firebirds and Camaros. My Dad had a 68 Bird and my favorite old shows had Firebirds. Rockford, Night Rider, Smokey ETC. I've had a few F-Bodies over the years and still have a 2000 Firehawk today. Such cool old cars.

  • @kenstevens7375
    @kenstevens7375 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

    I'm 55 and I love Rockford, I still watch it. That show got me interested in cars because the way Jimbo drove.

  • @hyacinthlynch843
    @hyacinthlynch843 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

    Shout out to Mike Post for composing The Rockford Files theme, one of the greatest tv themes ever written.

  • @mowermedic
    @mowermedic 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

    Thank you for doing this episode! Also a huge Firebird and Rockford fan!

  • @reaper1874
    @reaper1874 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

    Jay's looking good these days. For the past year or more, he looked so tired and low energy. Glad he's going well!!

  • @Docinaplane
    @Docinaplane 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

    My first car was a 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 convertible. Fabulous car!

  • @JohnDarwin7
    @JohnDarwin7 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

    Iconic Nostalgia from my past thank you Jay.🖖

  • @zquark1
    @zquark1 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

    Garner was a Merchant Marine WW2 veteran and an Army Infantry Korean War veteran. Wounded twice, once by the bad guys and once by friendly fire. I liked the Rockford episodes that featured Rita Moreno. Garner & she played off well against each other.

  • @recoveringnewyorker2243
    @recoveringnewyorker2243 5 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +3

    My Dad and I never missed an episode of Rockford files. Unfortunately, he passed away in July of 1975. Oddly enough, I liked Rocky’s (Jim Rockford’s father) four-wheel-drive GMC pick up.

  • @richardc751
    @richardc751 2 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +1

    I still love James Garner to this day. My uncle did a Rockford episode in the late 70s my mother and my sister got to see the filming and got to meet James Garner and Purnell Roberts. The shooting was at 5 AM so they didn’t wanna wake me up I’m still not over missing it. I was only about 12 at the time but I would’ve loved to have met James Garner. They said he was absolutely wonderful. Kudos to this man who restored such a wonderful car well done Jay.

  • @dskwared2u610
    @dskwared2u610 8 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +4

    Back in the day, my buddy had a 76 Bandit Special with a 455 and Hurst 4 speed. It was a rattle trap so he made us drive with the windows down in the winter. He let me drive it in the rain and I couldn't keep it on the road cause it was a positrack and the clutch was pretty heavy for my 145 lb teenage body. He blew the engine once when we were on a double date. Those were the good ole days. 😁

  • @ronlynch7744
    @ronlynch7744 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา +2

    Yeah cool, the Pontiac and the song to Rockford Files are embedded in my brain. Thanks Jay. 😎👍😎