James Garner's 'Rockford Files' Pontiac Firebird is up for auction
A 1978 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 that was not only used in the James Garner-led TV show, 'The Rockford Files,' but also owned by the actor himself, is up for auction. The Sierra Gold coupe, which will be put up for auction by Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., is one of three identical cars that were acquired by the production company for the making of the detective program.
“This is Jim Rockford, leave your name and a message”…if you’d like to buy my car.
Or you can head to the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Saturday night to bid on a 1978 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 that was not only used in the James Garner-led TV show, “The Rockford Files,” but also owned by the actor himself.
(Barrett-Jackson)
The Sierra Gold coupe is one of three identical cars that were acquired by the production company for the making of the detective program. According to Hagerty, the Formula 400s and their powerful 6.6-liter V8 engines were needed for stunt work, but the cars were stripped of some parts and badges to make them look like one of the cheaper Firebird Esprits that down-on-his-luck Rockford might actually be able to afford.
(Barrett-Jackson)
You can even use it for your own remake of the show, because it was the sound car and is still equipped with microphone inputs in the dashboard, although the rest of the recording equipment has been removed. It also has an automatic transmission and skid plates in case you get caught up in a wild chase.
(Barrett-Jackson)
Garner, a well-known car enthusiast and racer, bought the Pontiac when the show went off the air in 1980 after six seasons and kept it for himself for about a year.
(Getty Images)
It changed owners several times after he let it go, before ending up in the hands of movie car collector Steve Reich, who gave it a full restoration and is the one offering it, along with a co-owner, at Barrett-Jackson.
There’s no estimate on what it will go for, but one of the other three cars was sold at a Mecum Auctions event in 2015 for $40,000.
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