Two Pontiacs, two icons of cool, and only one can live. Obviously Jim Rockford is the underdog here, but then again, Jim Rockford was the flippin’ underdog in every episode of his show and he managed to get the bad guys by driving the wheels off of his tin Indian each and every week. Does he have another one in him now? We’ll find out. First, let’s look at a good old fashioned ass kicking from yesterday where the 1967 Camaro from Better Off Dead took on the 1979 Z/28 from Fast Times At Ridgemont High.
[box_dark]This truly was a death match!
1967 Camaro DEFEATS 1979 Z/28
This was a complete and utter disgrace of a fight. The Z/28 turned turtle and the ’67 rained blows down upon it.[/box_dark]
They said we wouldn’t do it, they said it was just too much for the public to handle. We said that the public has been battle hardened by weeks of Celebrity Car Death Match so this was nothing but another fight to them. It is the battle of F-Body Pontiacs no one wanted to admit to craving, but here we are. It is as much a personality test as it is a popularity contest. Do you root for the underdog or stick with the front runners? Like a guy who does it without the flash and dash or are you into panache? These are the deep moral questions you have to consider before casting your vote.
The black 1977 Trans Am with the gold wheels, screaming hood chicken, and Sally Fields as option equipment is as iconic as movie cars come. There is nary a person on Earth who cannot identify the movie with which that car is so closely associated. Burt Reynolds was the coolest guy in the known universe as the Bandit, leading the hapless Buford T Justice on a multi-state high speed pursuit. The car forded creeks, jumped bridges, fences, and the Bandit jumped his passenger’s bones. People went bonkers over the cars and spiked Trans Am sales. It was one of the highest grossing movies of its time, even up against some of the biggest hits of the era like freaking Star Wars. There’s not much more we can add to the legacy of the Bandit Trans Am, so you can fill in the rest.
Sitting quietly in this corner is Jim Rockford’s famous Pontiac Firbird Esprit. Ok, all of them are sitting over there as Rockford had a plethora of them over the course of the series. Starting with a 1974 model, he would get a new one to start each season. It was never really talked about on the show but there it would be, a brandy new Esprit for the semi-down and out Rockford to chase, evade, and J-turn away from the baddies during each show. The one kink to this happened after 1978 as James Garner apparently didn’t like the front ends of the 1979 an 1980 ‘Birds so they stuck with the 1978 model year car through the end of the show. The coolest thing about the Rockford cars was that they were Esprits specially equipped with the engines from Formula models, so they were essentially factory sleepers. Yeah, they were largely malaise-era, smog laden car, but they were still more hot roddy than you’d expect.
Rockford and the Bandit shared some of the same attributes but displayed them in different ways. They could both drive their balls off, though.
Chad Note: As Brian has so aptly pointed out, BOTH of these cars kick ass. And quite frankly Rockford’s Esprit kicked WAY more ass than Bandit’s did, since he was on each week. LOL We though long and hard about what car to put up against Bandit, and if you don’t give it some thought this one could be a runaway. Give it some thought. If I had to own a Firebird, I would take Rockford’s over a Bandit car. Like Brian said, the Formula 400 power under the hood is greatness. And lest you think the flashy Trans Am had more power, remember that they drove these cars on dirt in the movie a lot because they couldn’t spin the tires on the streets with the anemic 200 horsepower and 2.78 rear gears that came in them stock.
WHO IS IT GOING TO BE, WHICH FAMOUS PONTIAC FIREBIRD WILL ESCAPE FROM THE CAGE OF DEATH?! VOTE FOR WHICH CAR YOU THINK SHOULD SURVIVE! VOTE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW!
Since I can only vote for one it has to be the Bandit, great movie, great car.
Rockford for the win.
Bandit.
I’m a huge James Garner so the Rockfofd ‘bird gets the nod.
James Garner fan that is!
He’s got a freakin’ driving move named after ’em.
ROCKFORD!
Gotta go with the Bandit. Great driving, lots of sliding, and the reason some of the best comedy lines were created. “Gimme a Diablo sammich and a Dr. Pepper, I’m in a goddamned hurry!”
The Bandit is iconic.
Rockford over the Bandit, but Ponch’s Formula over either one.
Rockford no contest. That Esprit was hi faithful partner throughout the entire series.
“Trans Am, what’s your pleasure!”
When Big Enus Burdett tells Little Enus to hand Bo the money for a new car to block for the truck…that’s enough to buy an Esprit. When Bo insists that he needs a speedier car (“speedier than that”), Big Enus instructs Little Enus to give him more money. The extra money was to buy the Trans Am! “I’d like to kick his ass just once…”
Now, the tipping point is the Bandit could have a 3-peddle or a slushbox depending on the cirucumstances! The sound of the car was manual all the way, but the interior shots are always automatic!
Rockford for the win, one of the first moves I practiced in a car was the “Rockford Turn” come on this is a no brainer. 😉
rockford firebird…..he was first and best…..
The Bandit for sure. I wouldn’t want to be seen in that turd brown esprit thing.
I’m with Dirty Dave, should have been Ponch’s Poncho vs. Rockford’s.
Otherwise, I have to go with the Bandit’s TA.
The Bandit wins, with 1977 Sally Field as a seat cover, how could it lose.
Gotta go with Rockford on this one. Bandit was cool, but he was too much of a show off. Rockford had more class! And I love the idea of the sleeper Poncho, in reality, smokin’ the Bandit!
I was trying to put my words together, then read Don Richardson’s post and he’s on the money. Rockford for the win. At some point in this series you must put Rocky’s pickup in the ring.
seen as i specialize in trans ams and own 3 of em its gotta be the bandit, both cars are cool but the t/a takes it…
come on now …. it’s gal darndest pursuee … the bandit … you sounded much taller on the radio
Rockford all the way. Cool, low keyed, and a real life gear head. Remember the movie Gran Prix?
Bandit
Rockford
Rockford
Write in PONCH!
Two Pontiacs? Y’all are scraping the bottom of the barrow now.
But sense it has to be one or the other.
Bandit all the way.
They only cars I hate worse than Chovies are Poonticas.
the rock
Rockford’s Firebird.
Bandit without a doubt, Where are you ? you sum-bitch !
Garner is real life Racer – Reynolds is a Putz…..any one knows that an Espirit with the same engine as a T.A. is lighter and faster = Rockford all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rockford for Sure!!!!
Rockford
Jim Rockford’s Firebird all the way. No flash, but all gas!
I vote for Rockford’s ride…. not only did I faithfully watch it every Friday night on NBC but it looks like I will inherit my uncle’s mint1970 Esprit…. woot, woot