[67EC]

I got season one on DVD for Christmas, as I am sitting here watching it, I am realizing it is like a GM commercial for the mid 70s. Every car is a GM car. Vegas are popular in that show, I guess they were cheap to smash up.

I also just saw the fender of his Firebird and noticed for the first time it said 400 on it. I never noticed that before.

 

[dyno jonn]

Just watch Rockford for the driving lessons.

All those reverse 180's are better than drivers training ......... :hurray:

 

[Jim Mac]

back in the day I think the tv shows had the big three supply shows with thier cars, if you look at like streets of san fransisco I think they were fords

 

[Junkyard Dawg]

I seem to recall he had that gold Firebird that seemed to change with every season. Guess he must've gotten a new car every year? Or was there supposidly only one car he drove?

 

['clees]

Watch the closing credits on some of the old shows. They usually say who the vehicle were compliments of. I do remember seeing that Ford Motor Co supplied the cars for Streets of SF.

 

[67EC]

I seem to recall he had that gold Firebird that seemed to change with every season. Guess he must've gotten a new car every year? Or was there supposidly only one car he drove?

When the newer 4 headlight Firebird came out, he instantly had one of those. I remember in one of those newer episodes, they used some footage during a chase with the old two headlight car. Ooops.

 

[Mr69]

I have a original 1974 Firebird Formula 400.

Do you see one of these in the shows ?

Nate

 

[Junkyard Dawg]

When the newer 4 headlight Firebird came out, he instantly had one of those. I remember in one of those newer episodes, they used some footage during a chase with the old two headlight car. Ooops.

The 4 headlamp bird debuted in 1977.

That reminds me....how many here have ever watched any type of car chase and noticed that it'll be one certain make/model that's in the chase but as soon as it crashes/flips/explodes/catches fire it's not the same make/model anymore???

Case in point...any of you die hard Dukes of Hazzard fans....notice in the first episode "One Armed Bandits" where the Dukes are chasing Cooter in the stolen Police car, the car changes between a '74 Dodge Monaco and a '70-'71 Dodge Polara.

I have a original 1974 Firebird Formula 400.

Do you see one of these in the shows ?

I think that's what he started out driving in the beginning but it seems like he had a new car per season....guess the producers didn't think anyone would notice. :clonk:

 

[BillsCamino]

Remember all the cool Chevys on Bewitched?

 

[frankf72malibu]

Just watch Rockford for the driving lessons.

All those reverse 180's are better than drivers training ......... :hurray:

Those are great. My son got a remote controlled 67 Camaro SS from the grandparents and I was running it around doin slides and all. My wife is the one who said "you can do Rockford's with it, that is cool." Loved the show.
Frank

 

[OrrieG]

Most shows have deals with one manufacturer for the autos, same with movies, same deal as other product placement. Rockford's car was the source of a lot of controversy and lawsuits during and after the show ended. It was leased to the company for something like $3K an episode. There were other questionable "expenses" that James Garner said were used to put money into the producers pockets and keep them out of his (he was paid a salary plus percentage of profits).

 

[7t]

watching GREEN ACRES awhile ago i noticed in credits cars supplied by FORD MOTOR COMPANAY. Mr Douglas was driving a chrysler. Hank Kimble was in a Jeep.not sure what Mr Hanny's truck was or the farm tractor.
also seen the episode of the Munsters,where lilian had the roadster made for Hermans birthday out of a hearse and a street rod bought at Diamond Jims used car lot.

 

[malibu400]

I think Oliver Douglas drove a 4 door Lincoln convertable..God I hated that show..everbody but Oliver was doing some kind of dope

 

[7t]

maybe it was a lincoln.
you are right about them all being on dope. guess they called the town Hooterville for that reason.
i useally don't watch it but would have had to pry myself off the couch to change channel

 

[1BLACKHARLEY]

james gardner, was actually quite a driver in the day, i think he actually won the baja 1000, in an olds cutlass once. i do know, he used to hang with dan gurney and the likes. i think he did quite a few of his own stunts. i also liked that he tried to be a little more realistic. he very seldom fought, and always showed pain, even if he won the fight. the stunts wern't over produced (not as much as say hawaii 5-0, dukes, or streets. he would make a jump, and then be upset, his car was tore up. i liked the rockford files. the weasly little guy who always gave him bad info, was funny as heck....

 

[Chris R]

I can only imagine what that piece of property that his trailer sits on is worth now days.

 

[John D]

BlackHarley is right. Garner (along with several other actors) spent a LOT of time with Bob Bondurant before/during/after the filming of "Grand Prix". It's a great late '60s Formula 1 film, with (for the era) incredible in/on/around the racecar camera shots.

Bondurant drove the the camera sled for the high-speed stuff, Garner and the actors did the dry-weather mid-speed stuff!
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/date/20000915/news025722.html

 

[Late BrakeU2]

i liked the rockford files. the weasly little guy who always gave him bad info, was funny as heck....

Stuart Margolin played Angel Martin,a former cellmate best darn show on TV in the 70's.He ran more than Baja,his American International Racing team campaigned everything from Lola T70's to Formula 5000 cars.

L88's anyone?
http://www.airl88.com/

 

[plain 69]

I Dream of Jeanie

Remember all the G.T.O.'s in that show. Two-Lane Blacktop has a lot neat cars in that movie. The drive in at the burger joint is classic along with the pits at the drag strip.

 

[Alwhite00]

I rolled my car doing a "Rockford" when I was 17 - Good times, Good times...LOL

LK