Pontiac Firebird – The Car’s The Star

There are, as this series of posts goes to show, a great many cars that have enjoyed many a moment on screen. Few though, do it with such presence, such flamboyance and with such a blatant disregard for physics as the mighty Pontiac Firebird. Other muscle cars can compete, but few have flair and fun in such vast quantities. Plus, there is the fact that the most famous Firebird was driven by Burt Reynolds. You don’t get much cooler than that.

The Firebird enjoyed a long production run, but here we’re looking at the second-generation model, which was built from 1970 through to 1981. It went through a few changes over this period, but it’s this model that, at its core, is the most recognisable and also the one that has enjoyed the most screen time. Think of a Firebird, and the second-gen car is the one that you will think of. Complete, of course, with the iconic ‘screaming chicken’ graphic fitted to the bonnet. Sorry, hood. Now, strap in, we’re going for a joyride…

1) Smokey and the Bandit

1977’s smash hit, Smokey and the Bandit, was the second-highest grossing film of the year. The only film that could stop it from claiming the top spot was Star Wars. This film, which many might seem as a little silly today, was a big deal in 1977. It was the film that cemented Burt Reynolds as a Hollywood legend. It launched the career (quite literally) of Sally Fields and it gave us Jackie Gleeson’s brilliant interpretation of the Buford T. Justice. Oh, and the car content was pretty good, too.

The premise was simple. Burt ‘The Bandit’ Reynolds was challenged to bring a truck load of Coors beer back over state lines for a big party. To do this, the Bandit would get The Snowman and his big rig to haul the beer, while he would run interference in his ‘speedy’ Pontiac Firebird. The race against the law, against time and against the odds makes for celluloid gold. The Firebird screams, the Police are constantly thwarted and there is also a jump that made history. This is great entertainment.

2) Hooper

After Smokey and the Bandit, Burt Reynolds was hot property. And so was the Firebird, and so in 1978 the two paired up again, this time for Hooper. A movie about a movie stunt man, played by Reynolds, who is keen to prove that he still has what it takes to be the top dog in stunt world. The film is rich in comedy, in action and in stars, but it’s the Firebird that stands out. Red this time, instead of black, this has to be the hardest working car in the world of movies.

The climax of the film in which the Firebird is put through its paces. As part of a movie, an entire town is destroyed in a one-take bonanza that has to be timed and filmed to perfection. The scene is, make no mistake, utter chaos. Cars crash, stuntmen fly, an ambulance drives through a hospital – standard stuff. The Firebird is in the middle of it all, avoiding the chaos and carnage. It also has to avoid a falling chimney, driving under its path as it falls. Oh, and then there is a jump over a derelict bridge. This all sounds so… familiar?

3) Police Academy

Police Academy had it all. Comedy, a man who could make silly noises with his voice, Kim Cattrall, a giant man, gunfights and lots of disrespect toward the establishment. The film was a huge hit, and made stars out people like Steve Guttenberg. It was also the film that would spawn many, not quite as good, sequels. But don’t worry, we’re not here to talk about those. We’re here for the Firebird, which made a cameo in the opening scenes of the first film.

Being a movie about the police, you would think that ever scene would feature a black and white Chevrolet Caprice. However, that wasn’t the case. In a scene establishing Mahoney’s (played by Guttenberg) rebelliousness, we see him jump in a Firebird before popping it up onto to wheels. It’s an impressive bit of stunt driving, as the Firebird is a big old beast. However, it never comes back down, as Mahoney slots it into a space too small, and leaves it resting atop another car. Naughty.

4) Hot Rod Garage

If you’re not familiar with the American web-show, Hot Rod Garage, you should be. Created by Motortrend out in California, this wonderful, enthusiast-focused show makes for captivating viewing. In each episode, hosts Tony Angelo and Lucky Costa team up to rescue, build and upgrade old cars. There is no cars off limits, with Mercedes, Cadilliacs and even MGs all getting the HRG treatment. There is one, however, that stands out amongst the others, and that’s Project: Bone Marrow.

This isn’t actually a Firebird, it’s a Camero, but we like it, so we’re bending our own rules. It was a forgotten hulk, left to fry in the hot desert sun. The guys rescued it though, and brought it back to life and then some. Now, the car is a ten second car and features a twin-turbo V8 powerplant. It still looks like a wreck, but it’s one that can blow the doors off most modern so to say supercars. And you get to see the transformation take place in glorious, nerdy, nut and bolt detail. This is the kind of content we love to see.

5) The Rockford Files

Finally, can you even talk about a famous Firebird without mentioning The Rockford Files, in which con-gone-good, Jim Rockford, works as a private investigator? Of course, it’s pretty formulaic TV stuff, but it doesn’t matter, because Jim drives a gold Firebird, and when we say drives, we mean it. The car gets put into many tire-squealing situations, which is what we expect from such a show.

The car was so often seen performing stunts that the J turn, in which the car is driven backwards and then swung aground and driven off, is now known by many as ‘doing a Rockford’. For us, this Firebird in particular is a bit of an unsung hero, and is often forgotten in the world of TV cars. A basic, gold car was never going to grab attention like a black and grey van with a red stripe, for example. Still, you know about it now, so you can hammer YouTube to see it in action. Enjoy!