In 1974, a new NBC TV series aired-The Rockford Files, starring James Garner as Jim Rockford. He drove a Pontiac Firebird Esprit, which I fell in love with immediately. The show featured '74-'78 Firebirds, and I've always wanted to buy one just like Rockford drove.
Fast-forward to November 2002. I was looking for a used car for myself and found a '77 Firebird Esprit on the Internet. It was code-63 Buckskin Metallic with a code-64R1 Buckskin interior, 63,000 miles on the odometer, and was in great survivor shape. I soon became the fifth owner.
A lady around 50 years old, who later gave the car to her minister's wife in the late '80s, purchased the Esprit new in 1977 in Oregon. The minister's wife kept it for a number of years, selling it to another gentleman around 2000. In March 2002, he sold the Firebird to Mike in Rhode Island, and Mike sold it to me. It's nice that all the owners have been over 45 years old, as the Esprit hasn't been abused.
Once I bought it, I contacted Jim Mattison at PHS Automotive Services for a copy of the original paperwork. My Firebird was built in Norwood, Ohio, and shipped to a dealer in Oregon. It originally had a rear spoiler and a stripe, which I believe was removed at the dealership upon the original owner's request. It also had wire wheels, which Mike switched out for a set of Rally II wheels to make the Esprit look like The Rockford Files car.
Since purchasing the Firebird, I have replaced the wheelwell chrome all around, and added a correct AM/FM radio with two rear speakers. Of course, I've also done regular maintenance, like brakes, heater core, water pump, and transmission service. It has a code-LG3 Chevy 305 engine, power steering, and power brakes. It also has air conditioning and a tilt steering column with a Formula steering wheel. In its history, someone swapped it out for a gold-spoke Formula wheel from a Second-Gen Trans Am S/E.
I used the Firebird as a daily driver for about 11 months. It's now semi-retired, registered as an antique vehicle, and driven approximately 200 miles per year. The odometer hasn't moved much since I've had it-it now brags just over 69,000 miles.
Though the state is different, it sports the same license-plate number as Jim Rockford's on the TV show-853 OKG. I've shown the Pontiac at a few local car shows and it's been well received. A lot of people ask if it's an original from the TV show. Also, since there are so many Trans Am and Formula Firebirds, it's cool for people to see the Esprit-one of a few examples still out there.
I plan to have some minor dings and dents removed and have it repainted. As luck has it, I met a gentleman in California who gave me the exterior paint code from an actual surviving Rockford Files Firebird. (Except for the first season, all Rockford Files Firebirds were custom-painted at the request of Universal Studios.)
Once the work is completed, my Esprit will return to the pampered life of a collectible classic, cruising and attending car shows on sunny summer days as I dream of Jim Rockford J-turns and speeding down the Pacific Coast Highway.
My Pontiac and Me spotlights reader experiences with their own Pontiacs in their own words. To be considered for publication, submit several high-quality color photos (each photo must be larger than 1 megabyte in JPG format-no other formats, please), your own Pontiac story (typed, approximately 500 words), your name, address, and telephone number to:
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My Pontiac and Me
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