Here’s how the Pontiac Firebird became one of the greatest TV and movie icons

In this episode I provide the history of the Pontiac Firebird, along with its most famous trim, the Trans Am. Introduced in 1967 along with the Chevy Camaro in response to the successful Ford Mustang, the Firebird would become well known in pop culture, thanks to roles in the Rockford Files, Smokey and the Bandit, and Knight Rider. These TV and movie roles would help make the Firebird one Pontiac's most profitable cars, especially after the first Smokey and the Bandit movie in 1977. However despite its futuristic turn in Knight Rider, that show only lasted 4 seasons, and interest in sport coupes started to wane by the mid 90s. The final generation became one of the wildest looking Pontiacs by the end of its run in 2002, and unlike the Camaro, which returned in 2010, the Firebird could never return, thanks to Pontiac itself being discontinued that same year.

[@HOWNDOG66]

TV and film history is part of car’s history. How could anybody complain about you showing it?

[@DiamondKingStudios]

Probably corporate shills complaining about “copyright”

[@xutxiamoua3455]

There’s a quote from video by a fellow KZbinr named Thomas Flight that puts it perfectly: “Cinema is the technological sibling of the car. Born of the same era, neither remembers a time without the other.”

[@cheetaih]

Too many trolls on internet.

[@jameswhiteside1506]

Burt Reynolds was the best Trans Am salesman ever.

[@matethiustransport1374]

With The Hoff being a very close second

[@johnnymason2460]

​@@matethiustransport1374Actually, Knight Rider was the best way to promote the Firebird and Trans Am. It was a great selling tool for me.

[@emeyer6963]

Jim Garner sold a few Firebird's himself

[@johnnymason2460]

David Hasselhoff is the guy who made the Trans Am look great to me. Burt Reynolds and James Garner did their part to sell the car but Knight Rider was the show that sold the Firebird and Trans Am the best.

[@Tiffany.1970]

Chuck Norris and David carradine gave the Pontiac firebird trans some kudos as well Clint Eastwood owned a trans am as did John Travolta had George barris customize a Pontiac firebird for John Travolta and Stallone drove one in Rocky 2

[@lukedubnicka7128]

The Firebird/Trans Am is the main reason I love Pontiac so much. They've always been so cool, and it's sad that we never got to see a new one with the new Camaro in 2010.

[@WhittyPics]

I like the Grand Prix a lot too

[@jamesrussell6123]

Firebird and Trans Am I like them OK

[@claudiobizama5603]

Talking about the Firebird without mentioning about the movies and shows is even harder than with the DeLorean. The Firebird intertwined with the pop culture when it was in production, meanwhile DeLorean was already dead as an automaker when the movie came out.

[@S-T-E-V-E]

As a UK kid in the 80's seeing Smoky and the Bandit then Knightrider cemented the Firebird as a Legendary Car! I could never understand why some Americans hated them or looked down on them!

[@SoY_7]

Gold 🪙 observation 😮 😊

[@SoY_7]

Now it's gone †Jesus SAVES today yesterday and tomorrow if you make till 2 morrow 😊😮❤⚡❗

[@koobert]

I think it's one of those associating the car with some of the less than great dudes who sometimes bought them, and I say that as someone who had two

[@garrisonnichols807]

Well there's alot of brand loyalty here in the USA. Some people are Chevrolet Camaro or Ford Mustang fans. Funny thing is I've always seen the Pontiac as a better looking Camaro since Pontiac shared the Camaros frame and engines in later models.

[@sengle928]

Seeing Dodge kicking ass with the Charger and Challenger, Pontiac would’ve been the perfect competitor with the Firebird taking on the Challenger and a revived GTO taking on the Charger. They could’ve easily developed a Hellcat Killer.

[@CJColvin]

I agree 100% brother

[@vincedibona4687]

Corvettes could never be less powerful, even though the cars wouldn’t be in direct competition. FTR, I agree with you, seeing a 2013 Firebird with a twin-turbo LS engine making 1000 hp would have knocked the early Mopar’s socks off.

[@steviethek1511]

Keep doing these vids the way you have been. The fact that so many of these cars and trucks were in so many movies and TV are part of the reason we love them so. I guess I responded too soon into the vid. You just said what I was thinking.

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

I was lucky enough to see a lot of the filming of Smokey & the Bandit when I lived in Jonesboro Georgia the summer of '76 & I have owned many Trans Ams since then ✌💖☮

[@jinstinky501]

Born in 1976 and i still think its one of coolest cars ever.

[@paulramirez9862]

Greatest episode ever I love the firebird trans am best car ever produced

[@johnnymason2460]

Knight Rider was and still is the reason I am a fan of the Firebird and Trans Am.

[@DjmDjm-hl8pt]

I loved the red backlit instrument cluster

[@ilovetotri23]

I watched the making of "Smokey and the Bandit" narrated by Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham. They were given 2 Trans Am, and 3 Pontiacs for cop cars according to Needham. after the jump on to the ball field the fist Trans Am was finished! Needham said they were stealing parts from one the the five cars to keep anything running by the end. According to Reynolds, Pontiacs sales skyrocketed after the movie so much Pontiac had promised him a new Trans Am for life. Reynolds said they never sent him a single new Trans Am. Thanks for the video! Great fun!

[@RageousMode]

Perfectly chosen Star Trek clips are perfect 👌🖖

[@jwarehouse1]

James Garner did most of the stunt driving in The Rockford Files. He was so good at the "J" turn...it is now called "The Rockford"....Any younger Firebird fan who hasn't seen this TV series should check it out.

[@emeyer6963]

Jim learned the "J" turn from Bob Bondurant when he attended Bob's driving school before starring in the movie Grand Prix

[@ghw7192]

A coworker bought a Firebird when they first came out and I, a dedicated MOPAR fan, thought that was one of the coolest cars I had ever seen! I rode in it a number of times and the 'Bird was awesome! Thanks for the flashback!

[@averyparticularsetofskills]

77 T/A ...Absolutely with zero doubt the car that made me a car guy!!

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

If Pontiac had continued with the Fiero, they might still be around. They just got the Fiero to be a decent sports car and killed it. Imagine going to a Pontiac dealership today and seeing the new Trans Am beside the new Fiero and on the other side of the showroom seeing the new Grand Prix and Grand Am. Then again, with the way new cars are designed and priced. It might be best as a dream

[@joefisk4448]

That wasn't a scale model used for the jump in Hooper. It was a rocket powered funny car with an actual driver in it.

[@Wheelmandb]

Yes, preach it! And the jump was the last thing they shot for the film in case Burt got injured or worse. That way, at least, the film would be complete.

[@scottamery2268]

I had a 74 firebird esprit in high school.wish I kept that car definitely a fan of the firebird

[@RaikkoF1]

Yeah, keep doing the videos how you want to do them. This is great stuff!

[@mattjacomos2795]

one of the reasons I enjoy this channel is due to the popular culture references, keep up the good work!

[@GeorgesMiniatureCars]

Love Camaros and Firebirds! Trans Am was the coolest model of the 2nd gen F body for sure!!

[@vicp8772]

Here in Quebec, where the last gen Firebirds were assembled, the building was gutted and it's all shopping stores now

[@tonymeehan7859]

Trans Am by far was the hottest looking sportscar of it time. The iconic Bandit was everywhere...what a time growing up in the 70's as a kid. With the redesign in the late 90's with the ram air hood was so nostalgic to me, the car had a nice menacing front end.

[@Jordi7174]

I think Knight Rider Historians should see this.

[@CCFBGGarage]

There are actually a few really good KR enthusiasts clubs who have cars that are identical to the original cars and really well done

[@otakubancho6655]

I absolutely loved the look of the last gen Firebird,to me it always looked like a shark looking for its next meal!💘💘💘

[@manthony225]

So Hasselhoff is responsible for people thinking it's Sally "Fields" insted of "Field" 😅 Great video!

[@runoflife87]

Well, last gen Firebird also had one custom model with composite headlamps instead of pop-up ones (SLP Trans Am Hawk).

[@digitalmagicAR]

True the 1998 Firehawk was planned to have those but due to all the massive cost required by all the DOT federal regs, SLP decided to drop the idea and retain the factory pop ups for the rest of the run through 2002

[@tomrepici9608]

Maybe I didn’t hear it but did you mention the WS6 package for the late TA’s? That was a nice tire-roasting package. Great vid-nice to see one of Poncho’s greats highlighted.

[@cbman4767]

I owned a 1982 firebird with a 350 and was able to get it to run 11.8 quarter mile. I miss that car. I should of never sold it.

[@baronvonjo1929]

I wonder if there is a alternative relaity where Pontiac became like Mazda. Mazdas are known for their handling and all. They are moving more up market. But GM seems to have gotten the brand ideal right and less poorly done rebadges. Pontiac today would be interesting. Should have gotten rid of GMC.

[@BigWheel.]

I'm fine with the episodes, if people want a history lesson they can go to their library and grab a book.

[@daveykristjanson3052]

I had a 1989 ford probe GT. It was very fun to drive. Never see them around.

[@edwardautrey3671]

Excellent job

[@srob1770]

Awesome episode! Thank you. A long time Trans Am guy. I'm ever proud of my 02 owned since new. Always a head turner and a blast to drive.

[@CassidyListon]

Still holding out hope for the VW Corrado.

[@michaelknight2721]

I remember this car as KITT from Knight Rider. I always wanted one but could never afford it.I love KITT's sleek design

[@Kahnklingon84]

Favorite episode to date

[@padroooo]

I was sad for the Pontiac division of GM to hang a bunch of plastic on all their cars including the Firebird. I like the adds about the cars you do Pat, it is a part of their history.

[@philiphatfield5666]

Pontiac was in love with all that plastic 'cladding' and it looked cheap. Finally, they made an entire car that was all plastic cladding, the woeful Fiero, with the terrible Iron Duke 4 cylinder engine----which if it didn't buzz and rattle you to death, you then had to worry about burning up when it frequently overheated!

[@JEEPDadXJ]

I've got a 1977 Formula project, still tinkering on it in 2023.

[@pfwww12]

We had a 1990 Ponitac Trans Am with the t-top removal sunroof. Our next door neighbors had a Blue Camero IRoc. Everyone would stop and look at the 2 cars. Twins if you will.

[@that_jamesguy]

Keep doing these movies the same way - the movie references are great!

[@Where_is_Waldo]

The "reimaginings" of the reintroduced Camaro as a Firebird are all cooler than the Camaro could ever be. I especially like the Lingenfelter T/A version.

[@Pillowbiter84]

Thanks for another great Saturday night video to watch .....keep em coming!!

[@rickybobby5950]

I was about 5 when Smokey and the Bandit came out and the moment Bandit pulled that black and gold 6.6 Trans Am out of that trailer I was imprinted to love T/A’s. I’ll never forget it because my dad and uncle took me and my cousin to see it without our moms knowing about it but we ALL got in trouble a few days later because one of us got in trouble at school for calling someone a ‘sombitch’ and had to fess up where we had heard such crude language. I got to sit with a bar of soap in my mouth for 15 minutes and dad was in the doghouse for while but that didn’t stop him from taking me 2 more times, that was when I learned what ‘selective profanity’ was! 😂

[@landonnice2272]

An episode about the Z31 300zx would be awesome. I have a soft spot for 80s sports cars

[@pizza2437]

New editing guy did a good job

[@MyOldCar]

Still me on this one

[@pdennis93]

Buford's car in Smokey 2 was a bonneville. The Parisienne didn't start in the US until 1983

[@danmorley8116]

Enjoyed the video. I remember "Knight Rider" well-William Daniels was great as the voice of KITT.

[@johnnymason2460]

William Daniels did a great job as the voice of KITT. The best of all time.

[@davidclough3951]

I once owned an engine from an 81 Firebird. It came inside a 77 Grand Prix I bought.

[@Jeffgordonfan24hesthegoat]

If you watch during Smokey and the bandit at the Texarkana sign the trans am has 76 wheels

[@Jim_Curtis]

Love the gem with Worf on the CHIPS show!

[@JamesOKeefe-US]

These videos are amazing and what you are doing is fantastic. Appreciate you taking the time to share these cool cars and all of the research info and movie and TV tie ins. Just awesome!!

[@naranthiranshanmugas]

A green 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was driven by Lon McQ (John "The Duke" Wayne) in the 1974 movie McQ & a 1983 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am was the car in that year's movie Smokey & The Bandit Part 3, driven by Jerry Reed . Erik Estrada's Ponch character on CHiPs had a 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am in the 6th & final season of CHiPs.

[@raymondcanessa7208]

If the movie 'McQ' was made 10 years later, it could have had "The Duke" driving a firebird with an iron duke engine.

[@naranthiranshanmugas]

​@raymondcanessa7208 John Wayne died in 1979. The Pontiac Firebird used the Iron Duke 4, which was known as the Tech 4 engine in the base model from 1982-1986.

[@raymondcanessa7208]

@@naranthiranshanmugas True, Jerry Reed or Erik Estrada should have had the Pontiac Firebird which used the Iron Duke 4, which was known as the Tech 4 engine in the base model from 1982-1986.

[@sergioleone3583]

I always enjoy the pop culture references!

[@carexpertandy]

This was very well put together! I guess you will also plan on doing a Camaro episode once it is discontinued?

[@CCFBGGarage]

Yes please!

[@donaldwrissler9059]

A couple of additional missed movies with TA/Firebirds in main roles are: 1. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot(1974) with Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges. Bamkrobbery Flick starts with a cool chase about in a 70 1/2 Trans Am. 2. Cannonball(1976) David Carradine in a Gumball Rally ripoff by way of Roger Corman. Lots of fun including blowing up a Pantera and 2 Mock T/A's.

[@michaelcrofton6548]

You forgot to mention the train crash outta Van Nuys that provided the cars that GM couldn’t sell and offered up a pile of cars for Knight Rider, Fall Guy etc the producers got them for mere dollars on consent that the cars could never be titled.. great vid bud

[@rnt45t1]

I love these videos.

[@05gtdriver]

You mentioned the 1974 Firebird as have a 105hp V6... the Firebird didn't receive a V6 engine(as the standard engine) until 1977. Inline 6 cylinder engines were the base engines on Firebirds from 1967 to 1976. I also remember the Trans Am model having prominent roles in 1974's McQ with John Wayne and 1976's Cannonball with David Carradine.

[@KerrijaGryphon]

A neat fact that in the made for TV movie Knight Rider 2000 the production couldn't get the actual Pontiac Banshee concept to use in the filming so they made a body kit for a '91 Dodge Stealth and made it to look like the Banshee.

[@raymondcanessa7208]

sad

[@Project_Low_Expectations]

Loved the trans am

[@garymiller9869]

The jump was real in Hooper! It was an x funny car !

[@landrecce]

Perfect video man! Well done!

[@Ktlxs611]

Loved the video as always 🖤

[@pdennis93]

They still offered the convertible in 98. Only the Formula convertible was dropped.

[@SD-ol9os]

Great video!

[@bradleyphillips204]

Great video. Liked all the TV references. Always liked the pony cars from all four of the manufacturers. I've had a 1968 AMC javelin and a 88 fox mustang LX with 5.0 five speed. Between those size of car and the more compact cars like Nova and duster those were always fun cars.

[@baronvonjo1929]

I know people always say Buick should have died for Pontiac. But honestly, I am staring at a GMC Terrain and think GMC should have died. Buick at least as a brand ideal. GMC has always been rebadged Chevys. Anything GMC offers should have just gone to Chevy. Heck if you want a third bug SUV like the Yukon offers it could have gone to Buick. The Sierra is a good seller but again Chevy could have covered it.

[@firebird5288]

Firebird or nothing for me. With all their flaws, like most cars have, I love em. The Firebird has always been the the better looking sister when compared to the Camaro. I had a 96 Trans Am and now own a 98 Y87 Firebird.

[@car_ventures]

Phoenix is the hood graphic - mythical creature that rises from the ashes. Represents rebirth and regeneration. Chickens are the ones found at KFC. Good video and nice history of the Firebird, a truly iconic vehicle.

[@vassa1972]

Great video

[@Pierre578]

first gent ,2nd gen and early 3rd for me are the best .

[@user-jf1fy3mb5x]

A Trans-Am was used in a little-known film called 0-60,with Joan Collins driving it.

[@JasonTrew2018]

I know that Alaska, Washington State and Sheriff J. D. Stewart of Catoosa County, Georgia, had Pontiac Trans Am's as cop cars (one is currently getting restored as a CCSD car right now)

[@slightlyevolved]

I never realized how small and efficient the WS was. Picutres always mDe it look more Lynx-like in size, and a single AA for 20+ hrs.... dang.

[@ChristopherOvrebo]

I guess since the charger is canceled you can do that next. That's probably going to be a pretty long episode with all the crazy iterations, generations and media appearances

[@markrushtongallery]

Did you miss the 1974 Firebird from Dazed & Confused driven by "Clint"? If you ever do a video on the Chevelle, definitely include the scene with Wooderson (Matthew McConaughey) talking about what "melba toast is packin".

[@tonybrown6775]

I remember all those plus I worked at 2 different Pontiac dealerships.

[@franklinmills1756]

I've owned a number of 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation firebirds and Trans Ams over the many yrs. The main problem with the 3rd and 4th gen birds were that the headlight actuators would quickly and frequently fail.

[@FirebirdDude]

FIREBIRD!!!!!

[@averyparticularsetofskills]

4:22 😂 her leg lmao....ahhhhhh the 70s

[@sengle928]

Forgot to mention Johnny Lawrence’s Firebird in Cobra Kai

[@gregkelly2145]

Popup headlights were cool period.

[@optimus3305]

The G6 and G8 along with the vibe should’ve saved Pontiac, I still think some shenanigans were afoot there.

[@stevenjoy3537]

Bandit.....nuff said

[@MarkBustos2]

You forgot that The Office Dwight Schrute drive a Pontiac Firebird.

[@AndrzejJakubczyk]

Please, do "Convoy" and trucks in that movie!

[@grunkohlaktionar7474]

Please do an episode on the Mitsubishi Diamante

[@jimthompson8947]

Title/response: Pontiac never honored the agreement with Burt Reynolds; they never gave him a Firebird of his own. This is how Pontiac became boycotted by numerous families.

[@awizzle727]

Ws6 is still one of the best GM builds. The style and performance is amazing, how didn't you even mention it?????

[@nathancook1404]

There's nothing wrong with talking about TV & Movie Cars, without them people would never had gotten more interested them, and yeah some of the cars use in TV & films weren't perfect but they did help car manufacturers sell more cars, Burt Reynolds had his Trans-Ams, Jackie Chan had his Mitsubishis, Paul Walker had his Nissan Skyline GT-Rs, Vin Diesel had his Dodge Chargers and you can make a list on Celebrities & their favorite cars that they use in their TV Shows & Movies.

[@dejen3303]

Thanks for the ode to Burt Reynolds.

[@austinb.7744]

The history is interesting an all but let’s be real, the pop culture relevance is what matters the most between notoriety and sales.

[@austinb.7744]

Great video btw

[@jlang8213]

4:35 the 4th generation was offered as a convertible and I'm pretty sure you could get later 3rd generations with the drop top as well.

[@regislucas9918]

The Secrets of Isis TV show was Science Teacher Andrea Thomas/Isis 1975 Pontiac Firebird & 1976 Firebird Esprit ... Joanne Cameron R.I.P.

[@hardankles3382]

I always thought it was called a “Jimmy Rockford” for years till I saw it’s official name was J-hook

[@Xristoforos41493]

“Aren’t you going a little fast?” “I wish! This is a ‘77 trans am!”

[@RyanGallager]

First. More Pontiacs Please!