10 Wild Facts About Ponch's '71 Pontiac Trans-Am "Ponchmobile" - CHiPs

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Get CHiPs: The Complete Series Collection on DVD: amzn.to/3T3dSLe
Diecast Channel "Show & Tell Diecast": / @showandtelldiecast43
In the 1977 TV show CHiPs, Ponch's 1971 Trans-Am became an iconic symbol of the character's flashy and bold personality. Originally a Pontiac Firebird Formula, the car was modified to include several distinctive features, such as the "screaming chicken" hood decal, which was not part of the original design but added for dramatic effect. The car underwent numerous transformations throughout the series, often being damaged in high-speed chases and stunts, only to be restored in the following episodes, reflecting Ponch's resilient nature. The vehicle was also notable for its deep brown or bronze paint job, which further distinguished it from the standard models. Ponch’s attachment to this car and its frequent appearances in action-packed scenes made it a memorable element of CHiPs and a lasting piece of television history.
-Enjoy
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[@markdanielczyk944]

Maybe it's just me, but I liked the fact Ponch's car was never perfect. It was just a work in progress. Great video!

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks and indeed, lol 😉👍

[@davidhuffer-e8f]

Seeing these old clips brings back memories of the show and the crash's of the Trams Am. Thinking maybe, body shop guys never had enough time to make them correct. crash, crash, fix, fix, drive, film and crash again! LOL

[@CarStarz42]

@@davidhuffer-e8f Lol, probably so.

[@jparker785]

Corvette Summer... My introduction to crazy bodywork, and lowriders! Unfortunately, that turned into me being a caroholic. 😁 Glad to learn the TA from it lived on in another show I watched as a kid! I feel pretty good about seeing Star Wars, Smokey and The Bandit, Dukes of Hazard, and so many more, in my early years. ✌️

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@StupidEarthlings]

Hellz yea. I have Vette Summer on DVD.. (tho I dont have a player..)

[@CarStarz42]

@@StupidEarthlings Cool and you could play it on your computer with the right software or watch it on KZbin 😉

[@Thundarr995]

I have Death Race 2000 on DVD. And, Death Race 2050. I like Corvette Summer. I remember staying up watching it on Up All Night when it was hosted by Gilbert Gottfried and Joan Rivers.

[@Gooberpeanut]

​​@@CarStarz42 I remember that episode on how he aquired it. The original owner hated it , tried to catch it on fire . Ponch put out the fire and bought it from the man who hated it. The good old days. Sorry. Many years ago great video. At 6:00 they showed him buying the car.

[@andrewrock6454]

Putting a shaker into a formula hood should be a crime.

[@CarStarz42]

Lol, it was an unusual choice indeed.

[@serfcityherewecome8069]

Especially today...even ones in horrible shape are fetching over a grand.

[@charleykeenan6171]

In 1984 I bought an Espirit level car with a blown 6cyl and swapped in a 454 chevy - along with a bunch of parts from to totalled Camaro.. Great times to be a gearhead.. Great episode 👏

[@CarStarz42]

Cool and thanks 😉👍

[@guns-gas-diesel]

Too bad it wasn't a Pontiac 455........instead..........

[@Boatanchorperformance]

@@guns-gas-dieselI almost replaced my Pontiac 350 with an olds 455 out of a junkyard cause it was rare to find a 400 or 455. I decided to keep the 350 and just modify it for power. Nowadays people are going the LS route and you can find these motors now.

[@CarStarz42]

@@guns-gas-diesel Well, some had the 455 at least, as I mentioned in the video 😉

[@guns-gas-diesel]

@@CarStarz42 I'm a purist and believe a Pontiac should only be powered by a Pontiac engine. My one exception is the 89 TTA. Only because Pontiac engineers did do some different engineering on that little Buick V6.

[@Litauen-yg9ut]

Yaaaayyyy!!! Never clued in the 'bird was from "Corvette Summer" Have that one in the archives also...

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed and I'd prefer it blacked out like it was in that movie 😉

[@jasonrackawack9369]

When I was a kid in the early 80s THIS is the car that made me want a Trans Am way before I knew what Smokey and the Bandit was.....the Corvette Summer version is still my all time favorite TV/movie car. My first car in highschool ended up being a metallic brown 75 formula firebird with that scooped hood😉👍

[@CarStarz42]

Nice, yeah I particular liked the look of it blacked out in Corvette Summer as well 😉👍

[@Markybug-Keira-Cody]

Great video ! I love seeing 70s/80s California tv shows and movies as car spotting is so enjoyable 😎 Tbh I did not realise the chips guys had cars in the show, can only remember the bikes !

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed 😉

[@deeferguson9272]

Wow, I remember watching the episode when Ponch bought the burning Firebird as a kid. This is great stuff !!!!

[@CarStarz42]

Lol 😉

[@dre4011]

I love this show! Was one of my favorites growing up...next to Dukes of Hazzard & Knight Rider Even though my generation (I'm 43) grew up watching them in syndication...we watched them sometimes with our older GenX'rs which is something I'm grateful to have shared with that generation.......

[@CarStarz42]

Cool 😉👍

[@SmedlyButler-cq5iq]

I'm 46 and I was very much an avid viewer of chips and dukes of hazard at the age of about 7 lol...there were too many good shows to mention at the time...I liked knight rider a lot too, and let's not forget... probably less popular with little kids but I always appreciated the Ferrari in Magnum PI

[@1320fastback]

That hood fitment at 0:45 😮

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed, the hood was a bad idea from the start indeed and definitely didn't look like it it belonged there most of the time, lol

[@mikes-wv3em]

ITS AT TESLA LEVELS OF QUALITY🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Leee367]

Hi again The 71 Pontiac tranzam is such a beautiful car

[@CarStarz42]

Howdy and indeed 😉👍

[@PhyrraFaefiel]

This video reminded me for several weeks last month a fella who owned a Firebird Trans Am was frequenting the local pub & grill not far from my house; always took long looks at the car while taking the dog for a walk around the block. It was a black and orange beauty I hope makes the round again sometime.

[@CarStarz42]

Cool 😉👍

[@jeffsr8300]

The screaming chicken is actually a Phoenix, the bird of flames.

[@CarStarz42]

True, but I'd rarely hear anyone actually call it that, lol 😉

[@kareemrichards8635]

The Rising Phoenix is what it's called. Cool video.

[@CarStarz42]

True, but no one calls it that, lol. Glad you enjoyed the video 😉👍

[@johnelliott7375]

I don't know what universe you lived in, but the 400 Pontiac Motor was one of the best running motors of the era.

[@CarStarz42]

Didn't say it wasn't...

[@HPSFRoadrunner]

As a kid I woulda never noticed that at times the car had a shaker on a Formula hood. Watching this now it was the first thing I noticed. Ahhh, the late-70's!

[@CarStarz42]

Lol, indeed 😉

[@hondofourfivetwo9347]

Now I can’t unsee those PCE plates 😂 Also it’s John’s truck I wanted watching the reruns in the 80’s as a kid also the theme song from this show plays in my head every time I see two motorcycle cops riding side by side especially CHP 🤣

[@CarStarz42]

Lol, indeed and yes; I'd take Jon's truck over the firebird as well 😉👍

[@graemew7001]

Fact number 11, I watched CHiPs over here in the UK as a kid and I don't remember Ponch having a car, all I remember is the bikes and how badly people drove the highways of California as they were always bloody crashing 🤣

[@CarStarz42]

Lol, indeed 😉

[@paulshea2560]

Glad to see your channel again 👍 Enjoyed watching this memory lane 👍

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks and glad you enjoy the channel 😉👍

[@kerrypierre9494]

Hell Yeah, love the second gen firebird. Cool vid, love the channel bro, please keep the vids coming 👌👍🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@CarStarz42]

@@kerrypierre9494 Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

[@mr.intensity2685]

I hope you're getting the money again.

[@CarStarz42]

@@mr.intensity2685 Yeah, I did get my monetization back indeed, thanks.

[@454Burban]

Outstanding review! 🏆 I've been tracking fictitious cinematic license plates and phone numbers for years - I don't know how I missed so much repetition of the "PCE" series. 😮

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks and indeed, it took me quite awhile too even notice it myself, lol 😉

[@jeffrobodine8579]

Just like the phone # prefix 555.

[@timkeller3907]

Man I loved that car when I was a teenager... hated to see it get toasted.

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed, was really tough going back through these and seeing some of the cars they trashed that would be worth a lot today, even like GTOs and I think I even saw a Road Runner get wrecked too if I remember right. Painful!

[@Freesavh1776]

I had a dark green Trans Am with the ram air hood. Honestly it always being portrayed to getting restored all the time is something i can understand. The 2nd gen Firebird\Camero is 1 of my most favorite body styles.

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@WillyNilly500]

I hate seeing these cars get destroyed. It actually hurts. When I realized the destruction that happens in TV shows and movies, I am no longer a fan. Christine, Dukes of Hazzard movie and TV, certainly both Gone in 60 Seconds, now Chips. Vanishing point, I know the Challenger destruction in the end was actually a Camaro, but still. And they destroyed a Charger. Death Proof, dear lord! The whole concept of that movie. I guess I'm just weird or other people are get off on seeing it. I don't understand.

[@CarStarz42]

Yeah, looking back; I think most would agree with you actually, so definitely not weird at all😉

[@sntstafford]

We cringe now, I agree, because we see them as classics; however, in the day, they were just used cars, too expensive to insure and too thirsty to drive.

[@CarStarz42]

@@sntstafford Indeed, much as how we look at late 90s and early 2000s cars now.

[@batvette]

They build half a million f bodies in 1979 alone. Theres plenty left. You just cant get one cheap anymore because of all the flippers and restorers making their living off them.

[@ABQSentinel]

Being a Gen Xer and growing up with so many of these shows, I always thought these big V8s put out a lot more horsepower. I am stunned when I hear that the big 455 V8 engine in this early 70's Trans-Am is only putting out a maximum of 330 HP (305 HP according to the spec sheet) with a 0-60 of 5.8 sec. By comparison, I drive a 2023 Acura TLX Type S with a twin-scroll turbo V6 that puts out 355 HP and has a 0-60 of 4.5 seconds. My childhood impression of these old cars is that they were powerful and fast. Yet, my Acura would absolutely smoke most of these old muscle cars. I find that absolutely astonishing.

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed, fooled most of us for sure.

[@chriscraft4236]

Comparison separated by over 50 years a half century 🧐, indeed the modern cars would smoke the original muscle cars but the thrill in the old rides is much greater to many an Acura won’t have my attention the way a multi carbed big block Detroit piece of America will 😊. The young guns with turbocharged, tuners ,computer chips, big ole fart pipe are similar but also very different , 60’s and early 70’s was a great time to be a gear head 😊

[@ABQSentinel]

@@chriscraft4236 Touche! I would love to get an old classic muscle car and rebuild it to it's former glory. I have the means, but not the time (which is why I bought the Acura--performance and reliability). But in my retirement, that is definitely a hobby I will pursue. I have always wanted a classic Corvette or Mustang (or, maybe both!).

[@CarStarz42]

@@chriscraft4236 Well said 😉👍

[@chriscraft4236]

Time and money the enemy OT gear heads…..Retirement 2 years away for me 😊, I have a project 70 Challenger R/T in the garage 👍🏼

[@milfordh.mercado2787]

'You know ponch, he hasn't stop working on that trans am after last time we were undercover in the demo derby 😅' i can understand his love for firebird must be deep in spending big buck to rebuild it again and again like kitt form kinght rider as usual thanks carstarz for tonight's video is a little late but still fun one buddy so see you later bye now. P.S Hey CarStarz you know that time again is coming were evil machines are roaming at night so be prepared buddy and stay safe i got to go bye now.

[@CarStarz42]

Lol, indeed 😉

[@donnybarley-y3t]

Thank you for finally getting to this car ! Great Job . I look forward to more

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks much and glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

[@jaydawg7]

Sweet! I have three of the 1:18 scale Autoworld Firebird cars. The one in Lemans colors is shown in this video, one in Cardinal red and one on Starlight Black.

[@CarStarz42]

Nice 😉👍

[@eddiebowens1919]

My older brother had a 1970 white TA with a blue strip. I used to love him to give me a ride to school in it. :-)

[@CarStarz42]

Cool, that's a great color combo for them, sporty 😉👍

[@josefeibl8230]

​@@CarStarz421970 Trans Am came either White or blue. I remember using a 77 TA 400 4speed for a winter driver in Wisconsin for 2 years.

[@CarStarz42]

@@josefeibl8230 Indeed and yikes, I bet that was one scary winter then! 😬

[@kellysrestorations.7397]

I notice on one of the cars, the fender side scoops/vents are upside down. The demo derby scene shows it well and also an additional vent below that.

[@paulcochran1721]

Those lower vents were on the early Esprit Firebirds - I think the Corvette Summer cars had them. The upside down heat extractors are just weird! They look terrible that way.

[@CarStarz42]

Yeah, I noticed that too, gotta love those Hollywood prop guys, lol

[@scottpeterson4873]

I think during Chips there was Baja race episode that destroyed one of John's short bed trucks and one in an eco terrorist episode with Dwight Schultz the destroyed another of the spare John's blue short bed trucks and rumor has it, one remaining one was repainted as a stunt crasher double truck used in Hardcastle and Mc Cormick. Be interested to see if anyone did a deep dive on this. I remember the corvette summer crashed the original Darth Vader 1971 black formula set bought from class of 1971 character, Wayne Lowry and burned it in a stunt scene finale. Many cried at the loss of that car. Great Video!!

[@CarStarz42]

@@scottpeterson4873 Indeed, his normal truck was a nicely detailed 4X4, but I noticed the ones that they jump or otherwise destroy were less detailed and 2WD, a bit cheaper that way I guess 😉 Yeah, I'll eventually look into both that to find out, but highly likely.

[@TrailBlazerSS502]

1. In my opinion, not one single Firebird was actually a Trans Am, using a real one would be heartbreaking. 2. With just four Firebirds used in the iconic series, one of these, a ‘73, had a waffle-pattern grille on it. 3. That T/A in the video game you showed us was specifically Buccaneer Red. 4. I have two Hot Wheels versions of this screamer; one is a ‘70, the other a ‘73.

[@CarStarz42]

Ok, Mr. particular, and that's cool 😉👍

[@jeffreyjohnson3103]

For me, destroying any of these cars is heartbreaking, Trans Am or not. I'll never get how people are entertained by destroying cars, particularly classic cars. Anybody who has an appreciation of classics will be pissed that they are destroying it, and people that aren't into classics wouldn't care what car they were using. It's incredibly lazy writing.

[@jeffrobodine8579]

​@@jeffreyjohnson3103Think of it like this, they are immortalized in film forever unlike most cars that are just driven to be ultimately crushed.

[@TLS6723]

I have owned many 2nd gen Firebird and Trans Ams. Nothing drives like them. You get behind the wheel of a WS6 W72 400 optioned Trans Am and old on. Even better any SD 455 just awesome cars.

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@claytonthomas1980]

Great video, just disappointing that none of the Pontiac Firebird Trans Ams could have been saved so that they could be put in auto museums for sure but still enjoyed the video a lot.

[@MrRudyhj]

Sadly, at the time they were just used cars and not really worth much in those days.

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks, indeed, but glad you enjoyed it anyhow 😉👍

[@altforce44]

Looks like you're back! If so, I'm so glad!

[@CarStarz42]

Yep, have been for s few months now and thanks 😉👍

[@MikeDancy]

I had a Formula 400. That show taught me how to drive. That's why I went through 50 cars before I was 30

[@CarStarz42]

Lol 😉

[@ravipeiris4388]

Back in 1976, this model car was my favorite matchbox car❤.

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@careful...Icarus]

Finally.Digging the video big time. Pontiac should've made the scoops AND shaker hood an option. Maybe Vette sidepipes too. Did it ever fly thru a tractor trailer carrying plate glass that rather unfortunately stalled in the middle of the road...sideways? With gas dripping from its tank,and a carelessly tossed Marlboro from an old pickup rolling towards it?

[@CarStarz42]

Glad you enjoyed it, yeah; the hood looks a bit busy style wise with both IMO, but that was certainly a theme in that era for sure 😉👍 I think the scene you're thinking of was with some random traffic vehicles once, but yeah it was some wacky scenario like that I beleive, lol.

[@barrycuda3769]

Mark Hamill has another obsession these days.

[@CarStarz42]

Ok, I won't ask, lol.

[@garycorbin2789]

It's rumoured that he hates talking about the film ...

[@CarStarz42]

@@garycorbin2789 Yeah, I have heard that before indeed, lol

[@careful...Icarus]

For an actor with such a thin resume his attitude is thick.

[@CarStarz42]

@@careful...Icarus Lol

[@mypl510]

Revell did some Chips model kits, but, they used a 1979 Firebird Snap Together for Ponch's car, and John got a Snap Together Chevy Truck. There was also a CHP Firebird, Chopper and their Bike, that being a large scale kit. I guess close enough was good enough for Revell! And as a suggestion, how about a video of show related model kits or diecasts?

[@CarStarz42]

Yeah, I knew about that kit, but didn't count it for that very reason as it was so way off, lol. Yeah, I just touch on related models as I go through them, but I do have several movie/show models on the diecast channel though 😉👍

[@MrRudyhj]

I was going to mention that incorrect Revell model.....I was so disappointed way back in the day as I wanted to build an early 2nd gen Firebird, and there were very few choices in the late 70s and early 80s......all I remember at the time were a 1:32 scale Monogram 1971 Trans Am, and the wonderful Doyushu 1:12 scale Trans Am.....wasn't until 1990 or so we finally got the Monogram 1:24 scale 1970 Trans Am. I bought a few to build back then and I still have them today...and one of them recently has been modified and rebuilt to look like the car from Corvette Summer.....lol. If I had the correct paint on hand it would've been the Ponchmobile!

[@CarStarz42]

@@MrRudyhj Indeed and a nice summary there, at least there are quite a few option out there today though 😉

[@captlazer5509]

Back when they were fun, cheap cars. Bought a 74 Trans Am for $1500 in the mid 80's. So a movie / TV studio wrecking one or two each week wasn't a big deal cost wise. Speaking of 80's shows, can you do an episode of the Black Moon Rising movie car? It's wedge design I thought was interesting. I believe it's a Wingho Concordia II.

[@CarStarz42]

True, and I do already have that one on my master list to look into, thanks 😉👍

[@charlesdalton985]

Outstanding as always. I remember being frustrated by the inconsistencies of the Firebird’s appearance during the show. And the seemingly continual damage. Thank you as always, appreciate the in-depth look. ~ Chuck

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks Chuck, indeed and glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

[@ccg1171]

PCE was also used on David Banners Toyota Celica GT in the pilot episode of The Incredible Hulk in 77

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@jeffrobodine8579]

Good eye and I like your thumbnail bigly.

[@motov8-garage832]

Man i love 70-73 TA's. One of the best looking muscle cars of all time imo. Im a Pontiac guy and one thing that erks me is when people say screaming chicken..fire chicken, fire turkey, its disrepect dude😄 stop saying it.

[@CarStarz42]

Great looking cars indeed and don't get hung up on the labels as they all are referring to the same thing😉

[@motov8-garage832]

@@CarStarz42 I know, I dont feel that strongly about my opinion there😄 it's not that serious. Its just a pet peeve of mine I guess, every body has some about something lol.

[@MrRudyhj]

Thank you for featuring one of my most favorite TV cars! That Firebird from CHiPs sure whetted my enthusiasm for early 2nd generation Firebirds back in the late 70s.....even then it was easy to tell that multiple cars were used throughout the series as there were plenty of inconsistencies , but it certainly was heartbreaking to see them, as well as so many other cool cars wrecked. When you live on the east coast where cars fall victim to the tin worm within a decade of their life, it's hard to understand why they wrecked such nice cars. Also, I never found out till much later, that they used leftover Firebirds from Corvette Summer, but it's easy to tell in the earlier seasons. I was into building model kits as a kid (still am, in fact) and really wanted a kit of Ponch's Firebird.....you can imagine my disappointment when I found the incorrect Revell T/A that used a 79 instead.....I never bought it! And now those kits are worth a small fortune....go figure. I do remember a 1:32 scale 1971 T/A from Monogram, as well as that fantastic 1:12 scale T/A from Doyusha. Great to see so many variations of 1970-73 Firebirds and T/As in die casts, I've collected many over the years, and it was Ertl who first released the 1:18 scale die Cast in the mid to late 90s......can't remember if it was the 73 or 70 they did first.....but there actually is a copper 73 T/A so I guess that's as close as we'll get to the Ponchmobile.

[@CarStarz42]

You're very welcome and indeed it is rough looking back seeing so much carnage of cars now considered classics. Yeah, I knew about that crappy totally wrong Revell CHiPs Trans-am release, so I didn't mention it on purpose 😉

[@dre4011]

I also like how you explained the different cars revamped under MGM from "Corvette Summer " another example...much like the '55 Chevy(s) used in "2 Lane Blacktop" and "American Graffiti" And the PCE plate history was interesting as well.

[@CarStarz42]

Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

[@1Bandit455]

Nice video > Cool race for the 71 455 HO T/A vs a Camaro before it became Ponch's T/A - T/A was always ahead of the Camaro in that episode 🏁🏆😎

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks and indeed 😉👍

[@JonnyHolms]

Another great video 📹... one thing that I really like is at the end of your videos you talk about and show plastic and die cast models. Keep up the great work 👍...😊

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks and glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

[@alvarocorral1576]

I got the chance to drive my friends slightly banged up 2nd gen red firebird and enjoyed every second of it!! I really wanted a Corvette like the one from the Corvette summer movie and the black Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit.. Today I drive a Camaro SS convertible that mostly stays in the garage lol..

[@CarStarz42]

Nice 😉👍

[@stephen3164]

Loved this car, and Jon’s pickup.

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@mr.intensity2685]

As Baker would say, "That's JON."

[@mr.intensity2685]

That should be next on your content menu. You're doing this video of Ponch's Pontiac. Now you have to do the video of Jon's GMC Stepside. I'm guessing it's a '77, but your research will prove me right or wrong.

[@stephen3164]

@@mr.intensity2685 - OOPS! You’re absolutely correct. Seven Mary 3 would NOT be happy, so I fixed the spelling. Thank you! 😊 (don’t tell Larry!)

[@mr.intensity2685]

​@stephen3164 7 Mary 3. Just like the ''90's band.

[@albertramirez797]

Hell yeah I just finished all of the seasons brought back good memories I didn't notice on most of the seasons a little yellow car with a black stripe on the side they use that one a lot

[@CarStarz42]

Yeah, that was Jon's sad excuse of a car just in the first season, so glad they switched him to an awesome GMC stepside pickup truck after that instead 😉👍

[@CarlDraper]

a cool car that matched a cool guy, i grew up watching shows like Chips, The A-Team, MacGyver etc :)

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed 😉👍

[@joeblood1050]

I'd be willing to bet that the 82 in the last season was sitting around the NBC lot, waiting to be transformed into K. I. T. Or one of the many K. I. T. cars used in that one show....

[@CarStarz42]

Actually, the cars used for KITT have their own unique accusation story, I did a video on it some time ago... kzbin.info/www/bejne/qanLoIp7iMZokKM

[@caspar0777]

Thanks for sharing, really appreciate. I'm an owner of a 1971 455HO. It's a beast😎

[@CarStarz42]

You're very welcome and nice 😉👍

[@caspar0777]

@@CarStarz42 cheers from france👍

[@greggc8088]

Wow! Cool to know about the Corvette Summer Firebird. And I never noticed that 3 hood scoop atrocity. I suppose my mind repressed such horid things from childhood viewing. LOL We call those flamboyent personality mods the "AMU" package on the car lot. Thanks for making my day.

[@CarStarz42]

Lol, indeed. Glad you enjoyed the video 😉👍

[@LongIslandMopars]

Totally forgot about this car in the series. All I liked were the CHP Dodges and Plymouths.

[@CarStarz42]

😉

[@dougfargo7282]

I remember Brianne Leary and Randi Oakes more then this car.

[@CarStarz42]

@@dougfargo7282 😉

[@JoeR203]

The '70-'73 Firebird/Trans Am has the best looking front end of any muscle car. I love the headlights and grille design. Not a fan of the hood scoops though. I have an ERTL 1/18 scale die cast of the 1973 Trans Am in silver.

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed and the scoops were quite atrocious indeed, lol.

[@GeekBoyMN]

The only scene I remembered of Ponch's Firebird was the forklift incident. To this day I've never seen Corvette Summer. Maybe soon I'll look for it.

[@CarStarz42]

It's a pretty entertaining movie 😉👍

[@Rom3_29]

I seem to remember seeing in one episode Pocho buying his Pontiac from a guy. Who got tired fixing it when it broke down on a Highway. He paid something crazy $1.65 for the car. While other fellow who was there, offered more, but didn’t have cash with him?

[@CarStarz42]

No, it was as I described in the video actually, he bought it for $83 after extinguishing it from the owner setting it on fire. It's all in the video friend.

[@pugs1377]

Great tid bits!🎉

[@CarStarz42]

Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

[@patrickdecambra2219]

The formula hood with the shaker is awesome

[@CarStarz42]

Opinions vary on that point 😉

[@patrickdecambra2219]

@@CarStarz42 Well that's my opinion

[@CarStarz42]

@@patrickdecambra2219 Noted 😉👍

[@NDoghouse]

What a great video. Thanks for sharing

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks and glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

[@Brianscoronet]

Excellent episode, never really noticed the double scooped hood back then, very informative.

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

[@jdpoison1986]

Wow, I didn’t know about this car. Thank you.

[@CarStarz42]

You're very welcome 😉👍

[@jdpoison1986]

@@CarStarz42 I can’t wait for the episode about the Dodge Viper from the show Viper. Also, I hope you will produce an episode on the 1987 Jeep YJ from the MacGyver.

[@CarStarz42]

@@jdpoison1986 Yep, both are already on my to do list, thanks.

[@jdpoison1986]

@@CarStarz42 no, thank you.

[@johnsheetz6639]

That gold paint. I don't know if it's the same one but my parents had the same color on an 77 Grand Prix SJ. I always liked it

[@CarStarz42]

Nice, yeah Ponch's car wasn't a factory gold color, but yeah a nice color indeed 😉👍

[@braddietzmusic2429]

I wondered if any of the Trans Ams from Corvette Summer might have lived on to that show. Also, I recall seeing a 2nd gen Trans Am/Formula (not Knight Industries 2000) in Knight Rider as a bad guy car. It may have still been black. Or dark blue.

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@tomcherry7029]

That was a 3 gen car, K.A.R.R. no 2nd gen cars in Knight Rider.

[@CarStarz42]

@@tomcherry7029 I think he was talking about a "bad guy" car in that series, not KITT 😉

[@moseshancock3336]

Yes love to have one of Trans am and one of John's pickup also.

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@billwelter4101]

I love @ 1:53 seatbelt hanging out the window! Looked terrible with the Formula hood scoops, especially not opened up.

[@CarStarz42]

Lol, indeed.

[@herbertbryant5203]

Great video ! Im just bummed none of the cars were left . I always wondered about that . Chips was always one of my very favorite shows and ponches trans am is one of the cars i looked for .

[@CarStarz42]

Glad you enjoyed it and indeed they trashed a ton of great cars for that show unfortunately.

[@brettkoeshall2325]

Back in the 1950's through today's world especially with cars and trucks, crazy paint jobs, and body modifications really call out street freak. You really need to do the 10 wild facts about Jon's 1977 GMC K1500 Step side from seasons two through five, and 1966 Austin Mini Cooper from season one of Chips for your next video.

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed and those are on my to do list too, but not next, since I already touched on the series recently and have many others to do first touches on first 😉👍

[@happycat0411]

Those were the days where being a teen or a young adult meant customizing their car! I had a 1973 Formula Firebird 455 that was 100% stock and had the functional Ram Air air intake setup and hood + a midnight blue Sikkens paint job. Nice car but had to sell to finish my university. The 455 was only rated at 250 bhp but that was still plenty for light to light street racing since the 455 also put out 450 foot pounds of torque....

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed and those HP numbers are going to very a lot depending on which year you're looking at due to both the emissions changes and the bigger factor, which is the change of the measurement system in general from gross to net in '72 😉

[@happycat0411]

@@CarStarz42 Up here in Alberta, Canada there are no emissions regulations as of yet. I would be say that even 30% of the cars have had their catalytic converters stolen so many car owners run their cars straight piped with no catalytic converter. The Formula 455 was fun back in the early 1990s but everyone has to grow up sometime I suppose.....

[@CarStarz42]

@@happycat0411 Interesting, yeah people tend to think all of the US is strict on emissions control, but actually most of the country here in the US don't even have emissions checks at all, California is just at a whole other level of many silly laws and extra restrictions and kind of ruins the image of the whole country in that aspect, since a lot of international onlookers see the country through that troubled US state unfortunately.

[@DW-tq9bp]

I watched that show all the time and don't ever remember any cars just them on motorcycles huh

[@CarStarz42]

Lol😉

[@punderwood86]

This is a good one.. I grew up watching this show

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@FallGuy467]

The episode guest starring Randi Oakes before she later became Off. Bonnie Clark in series, I believe she and her pretty accomplice stole Ponch's 'Bird was one of my favorite episodes. I had a CHiPs trike during that era as a youngin'. I wanted Jon's Stepside also. I knew about the Corvette Summer connection but those F-bodys are so rare it would be hard to see someone make tribute cars. My two cents ✌🏿

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed 😉👍

[@stephensanchez9590]

I loved that car

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@89firebird]

Love it keep up the good work

[@CarStarz42]

Glad too hear that and will do 😉👍

[@Z06RFan]

One little edit, Pontiac in the late 70's made a 301 not a 305 that was a chevy engine. You did confirm that the car used in corvette summer was used in Chips.

[@CarStarz42]

They actually had the 305 as an option too friend, just wasn't as common of a choice 😉

[@Z06RFan]

@@CarStarz42 Pontiac never made a 305. the 301 was L37 I had a Trans Am with it and swapped it out. GM brands did use the Chevy 305 in their car. I know a guy that has a 79 Olds Cutlass Supreme with a 305 4 speed. Another friend had a 81 T/A with the same powertrain.

[@CarStarz42]

@@Z06RFan I never said Pontiac made the 305, I just said it was an option in the Firebirds, which it was. Thanks

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

Another car that CHiPs used repeatedly was a 1969/1970 Ford Mustang Fastback. They used it as a police car that Officer Bonnie Clark drove. And it was also used as a "bad guy" car that was driven by actor Don Stroud.

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed 😉👍

[@adrianmarriner5742]

Fun show thanks.

[@CarStarz42]

Glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

[@j1clarke]

Thanks for the video. The 3 hood scoop thing always confused me as a kid. The CHP vehicles and motorcycles could be an interesting video.

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed and I'll probably do more vehicles from this show, but not, but not motorcycles as that's just not my think at all 😉

[@JamesMcNamara-j1g]

There is a pretty wild custom corvette I see often in Santa Paula Ca.

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@CorgiConnect]

I wonder if painting this one gold was a nod to James Garner's ride in The Rockford Files.

[@CarStarz42]

Not sure, but both look good 😉👍

[@scottlowe5824]

Awesome video can you do a video on his partner John’s blue Chevy pick up

[@CarStarz42]

Yeah, it's on my to do list as well as I LOVE the look of that Sierra! 😉👍

[@1928ModelA1931]

Continuity was not a priority in '70s TV shows when it came to many things especially the cars. I counted 4 different sets of wheels on those cars and two years of grilles. Funny that they painted the grilles gold. It made the different year's patterns stand out. The fourth set of wheels? Check out the slotted ET type wheels in the construction site shots or the steel rims with hub caps in the driving on two wheels scene.

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed and I noticed that too after I made the video, lol 😉

[@ljmorris6496]

Odd request, the blue LTD II on Highway to Heaven 😁

[@CarStarz42]

Not odd as it is already on my to do list and has been for some time 😉

[@BigfootsnMopars]

I started my Channel with a black ‘71 firebird Formula 400, 4spd. My plan was to duplicate the black villain car in Corvette Summer. Second choice would have been Paunch’s TA with the 3 scoops AND the Screaming Chicken hood decal.

[@CarStarz42]

Cool 😉👍

[@cheapsk8boardmuseum259]

Great video ❤

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks much, glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

[@trainglen22]

Interesting hood

[@CarStarz42]

That's on way to put it, lol 😉

[@bandagefreak]

AWESOME!! Any chance of producing a video on the cars/ trucks featured in the 1978 movie, "The Driver"?!

[@CarStarz42]

I do indeed already have those on my to do list, thanks 😉👍

[@bandagefreak]

@@CarStarz42 Absolutely can't wait, thanks!😀

[@leegoldeneagle9003]

Way cool thanks for your time 👍👍👍👍👍😊

[@CarStarz42]

You're welcome and glad you enjoyed it 😉👍

[@violentshemp7776]

0:38 nothing like closing the hood while a screwdriver was on the fender

[@CarStarz42]

Lol, yeah the hood was just a disaster area in general.

[@BobGeogeo]

1:25 Gross hp was dropped in 1971-72 in favor of net hp, according to wiki.

[@CarStarz42]

72 actually, yep.

[@tomcherry7029]

Both net and gross hp were used in 1971

[@CarStarz42]

@@tomcherry7029 Transitional times of any big change are a bit messy for sure, but officially anyway,72; regardless, I went with the gross numbers on this one, so let's just leave it at that...

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Nice 😀

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@Britcarjunkie]

I always dismissed the varying Firebirds/Trans Am's, as Ponch just doing a "rolling restoration". Now, we need to know what happened to Baker's Cooper S!

[@CarStarz42]

Pretty much and who knows, maybe the Cooper fell down a rabbit hole, lol, that thing definitely didn't belong in that show. Glad they switched Jon to an awesome GMC stepside pickup instead after the first season though 😉👍

[@williampodjursky868]

Need to see the greasers 55 chevy from "sometimes they come back"!!!!

[@CarStarz42]

I do indeed already have that one on my large to do list, thanks 😉👍

[@avgjoegeek71]

Miss my Firechicken 😞

[@CarStarz42]

Yeah, those cars sure had a might popular run there for awhile.

[@ossysprog2]

welcome back

[@CarStarz42]

Thanks, been back for most of the year so far; but it still feels great to be back too 😉👍

[@buckfiden2988]

Corvette Summer. Awesome film and from before Mark Hamill went full Moonbat.

[@CarStarz42]

😉👍

[@jondickson75]

Please do Daisy Dukes Roadrunner! Love your channel. Thank you!

[@CarStarz42]

Yep, that one has been on my to do list since the beginning, thanks and glad you enjoy the channel 😉👍

[@john.brown.]

Imagine what the carfax report would look like on that car.

[@CarStarz42]

Lol 😉

[@StupidEarthlings]

Also, regarding different wheels, It had the Black "Cragars" (w chrome trim), AND traditional All Chrome Cragars at some point. Not only the "Turbine Type" later on, but during that 2-wheel stunt, it has HUBCAPS! I'll assume it's because they had particular Tires for the stunt (I see they're narrower than his usual tires), with plain rims, so maybe added the "moon type" hubcaps for a chrome/custom look, over steel wheels.🤔

[@StupidEarthlings]

ALSO 5 SLOT "magnesium wheels" in the construction video where its impaled by the forklift. 😲

[@CarStarz42]

Indeed and yeah they swapped up the wheels several times for sure.

[@failranch9542]

They were powered by whatever they could get. It doesn't take a lot of horsepower (or torque) to do the stunts showcased on 'CHiPs'. The #1 attribute of any TV or movie car is that it be ready to go when the director says "Action!". A lot of sacrifices will be made in order to get that reliability -- multiple cars -- simple and mundane 350 Chevy's swapped in --- anything so they don't hold up production.

[@CarStarz42]

😉