A period-modified 1970 GTO appears on the ‘Rockford Files’

Posted on Sep 3, 2020 in Featured | 2 comments

As a regular viewer of The Rockford Files when the show originally aired in the 1970s and I was just a little kid, I’ve remained a fan since then. Every few years or so, I end up watching episodes again via reruns on TV or the DVD collection.

While there’s plenty to be written on Jim Rockford’s (James Garner) string of gold second-gen Firebirds, this blog will instead discuss the third episode of season three entitled “The Family Hour.” For Pontiac fans, this one is unique among the others because it’s a departure from the norm-Jim chasing crooks or being chased by them while driving his ’76 (for this season) gold Firebird. In fact, the Firebird is parked for this episode. Instead, you get a jacked up 1970 GTO, courtesy of the bad guys.

This Pontiac permeates period-appearing modifications. It’s bright red with a Judge rear spoiler and it has a pair of white stripes that begin at the hood scoops and run over the hood, roof and deck lid. It also has a white wedge-stripe on either side—a little like the Starsky and Hutch Gran Torino but this one goes to the rear of the GTO instead of wrapping up over the roof like the Ford. The Goat has Keystone Klassic wheels, but the tires are way too skinny for how much the car is jacked up in the rear.

Whether you like or dislike the decidedly 1970s mods, the fact remains that this GTO gets quite a bit of screen time in this episode. First appearing just after two minutes in, it has a few scenes of tire screeching action throughout and Rockford even ends up riding around in the back seat of it at some point.

It’s even cool just to hear the characters refer to the GTO by name—yes, it has been that long since GTOs were a common sight on the street.

The plot line is that a young girl shows up at Jim’s trailer after being abandoned by her father who is on the run from two guys in the red GTO. Jim gets involved in trying to help the girl find her father and learning what he is running from. The two guys in the GTO turn out to be undercover DEA agents—crooked ones. I’ll repeat “undercover”—in a bright red GTO with a rear spoiler, mags and too many stripes! The whole thing is a drug trafficking scam—getting drugs flown into the country without the luggage they’re stashed in going through customs. The girl’s father was a baggage handler at the airport and got involved by accident.

You’ll have to watch the episode to learn the rest. Or you can just fast-forward to the GTO scenes. I’ve provided the times here. Consider them approximate, as they correlate with the DVD collection. The GTO shows up on screen at 2:15; 9:35; 21:31; 23:40; 34:20; 37:46; 39:29; 39:46; 42:02; 40:30; and 44:23.

You can watch this episode on the season three DVD set of The Rockford Files. It’s also currently on Netflix or you can check out the full episode on You Tube below. Be forewarned, I found two You Tube videos for this full episode and both run faster than they should. At least you still get to see the GTO.