Mike Rowe And Jay Leno Drive The Actual Car From “The Rockford Files”! (+ BONUS SNEAKS!) | JLG

[@twiki1559]

My friend owns the actual pickup truck used in the show. He has old pics of him, his wife and James Garner together during the sale many years ago. It's slowly rusting away but is still salvageable to the right person.

[@emeyer6963]

Look up Jim Suva.He runs a blog about the Rockford cars and has been on the lookout for one of the pickups.

[@roguedalek900]

Is this the one that went to Jacksonville Fl?

[@twiki1559]

@@roguedalek900 Evidently.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Really he's got Rocky's old pickup that Noah drove

I had a 1980 Pontiac Esprit Gold with the 301 engine. It was in perfect condition and drove beautifully. I got asked if l was Jim Rockford more than once. I even had the them song ready to play in my CD player. The thumbs up and reactions in general were amazing!

[@ds440RB]

One of the greatest shows ever made, with the greatest theme song ever! But there's something wrong with seeing anyone but James Garner driving that Firebird Espirit. There's only one Jim Rockford.

[@strength45]

Mike rowe is a. Saint tho.

[@KenHarrisFiction]

even had the license plate right

[@Gasoline4ever]

Sad that so little time was given to rock fishes car. For those that know, rockfish is one of his names.

[@ds440RB]

@crazyivan2905 I agree. That's from the episodes with Isaac Hayes, I think his characters name was Gandy!

[@Gasoline4ever]

yep. one of jimmys convict friends. always called him rockfish. i was hoping someone would remember that actor other then me. great show. @@ds440RB

[@michaelgraham827]

HUGE fan of Mike Rowe! Great video, Jay!

[@KoryDaoust]

Being a fan of Deadliest Catch and Dirty Jobs, it's almost surreal to hear his voice used in non scripted audio. Lol Cheers Mike and Jay, good stuff!

[@Tsalinger]

Rowe should have done a reverse 180.

[@SerDunk]

Those space documentaries from SCI channel are great. His voice is perfect for narrating hehe

[@RVoogt]

I thought Dirty jobs wasn't that scripted. Sure, the outlines were but many moments felt real. (all other shows, Deadliest Catch, Orange County Choppers, etc. all felt extremely scripted)

[@jerryfrederick6496]

Three of my favorite people in show business. James Garner, Mike Rowe, and the rapscallion Jay Leno. All good guy's.

[@OnePieceatatimeranch]

Man I love that car and James Garner

[@pontiacgrandprix733]

Whenever you drive Jimbos Firebird, you gotta pull a Rockford, and I’m sure you popped the hood, that’s no Esprit, Rockfords cars were Formula 400s, scooped hood removed, the Formula had a 400 motor and better handling, but Rockford couldn’t afford the step up car, due to infrequent work, and taking his lawyer Beth out to dinner

[@rt9tiger]

Back in the 70s I had a business trip - picked up the rent car, it was a bronze Firebird. Did my tech call, exited, found the first twisty gravel road, and proceeded sideways. Good times.

[@pontiacgrandprix733]

rt9tiger Friend of ours sister had a 75, blue w white interior, car handled like it was on rails, regular 350 automatic, we blew the transmission from all the brake revs, and holeshots, great days

[@iFixJunk]

I LOVE that the reverse-one-eighty is known as "the Rockford."

[@yourhandlehere1]

Learned to do a Rockford and drift corners when I was 12 years old because of Jim. '68 Ford station wagon, 390 big block. Later on a cousin bought a 6.6 Smokeybird Bandit Am. Took a while to talk her into letting us "drive it to the store". Probably should have been further than 3 blocks away before the first lighting of the tires.

[@pontiacgrandprix733]

jason9022 if you read about it, they needed the 400 and the front and rear sway bars from the Formula 400, for the stunt driving and J turns, which were called Rockfords, so they bought the Formula and changed the hoods, they never went above the esprit look, cause Jim couldn’t afford the Formula, and they never went above the 1978 model front end cause James Garner didn’t like the restyled front end of the 79, show went off the air in 1980

[@jackflash5659]

Jay, Angel hid $30,000 in the driver side door panel! Jack Flash will be jumpin' high if you throw $10,000 his way.

[@beowulf3303]

Jay would be an absolute blast to hang out with!!

[@pauljefferies9087]

Hooray for both of these guys!

[@pland3845]

My first car was a Firebird because I was a huge fan of The Rockford Files

[@harveymushman2219]

A man that worked with James Garner and the rest on the Rockford Files runs a page on Facebook...great page !

[@alsatful]

Rockfords car still has the same Lic plate , nice touch

[@BlueEyedSoul24]

I noticed that too. Great catch!

[@brianwinston8627]

853 OKG August of 1953 (Garner got his first acting job), OK (Oklahoma, grew up there), G (Garner). I am a huge RF fan.

[@emeyer6963]

Ebay sells replica plates for show only of course

[@voiceofreason7856]

@@brianwinston8627 So am I, but I NEVER knew what the numbers and letters on that iconic plate stood for - thanks for that ! :)

[@brianwinston8627]

@@voiceofreason7856 One of my favorite phone recordings at the intro goes something like this- Hey Jim this the grocery store, your check bounced. You want me to put it with the other ones?

[@williampowell2722]

between Rockford files and smokey and the bandit the firebird got big props

[@66RainySuper]

Rockfords Firebird and Magnums Ferrari were always my favorites growing up..good times!

[@emeyer6963]

Magnum played a PI on Rockford named Lance White that ultimately led to him being cast in Magnum.

[@66RainySuper]

E Meyer forgot about that you are correct!

[@curtismann6119]

Great show Jay keep the videos coming

[@atascaderoca8584]

This is the only show I make note to watch. Wed night.

[@robertphillips6296]

Jay your living the dream!

[@katefrank2859]

My dad was the one who broke into mike rowes trailer! I’ve never been so proud!!! ❤️

[@curtismann6119]

Jay ✌️ I love that Firebird Mike drove keep the great videos coming

[@tonyelberg7814]

Best show ever, I've seen every episode. And the movie's

[@markball7028]

A couple of excellent human beings.

[@johnhamelin989]

My first car,I was 15, same color.loved it

[@DCPTCON98]

Jay Leno's Garage is great!

[@danawoodall8106]

It was a great show as always

[@joevald3]

Jay Leno it just plain fun

[@michaelkeil2749]

I love this car!

[@MyLateralThawts]

There’s no way Rockford wouldn’t shake the cops tailing him, as happened with Mike and Jay in his car.

[@willnzsurf]

Skidplate racing looks real fun.😹

[@frevele1656]

3 of my most favorite things Rockford firebird Mike and Jay, notice what is first

[@mikecunningham5755]

Dam I thought I seen it all!!! The burger bike that was awesome 👍

[@davidp2888]

I wish I could watch this on the CNBC site. I'll have to settle for these amazing clips and quips.

[@clarencejones7916]

Lol train coming got to flip the burgers 🍔🤪🤣😆

[@Omegatonboom]

Mike Rowe promoting like a madman! Get ready for good stuff coming. Guy tries as sneakily as possible to show he is conservative but it's always a good time.

[@richieduck67]

Love Mike and Jay awesome

[@johndavey72]

You're the tops Jay.

[@keithdow8327]

There were many Rockford cars. They always have several back-up cars.

[@voiceofreason7856]

A friend was visiting Los Angeles at the time the Rockford Files were being filmed. She saw one of them on a car transport being taken out to the filming site - she got a picture of it for me ! :)

[@thud9797]

Of course there were backups, you're not going to delay a TV production by only having one car.

[@atimko123]

2:41 love the clear safety 👓

[@fredboat]

ALL ways enjoy the videos/humor. Thanks.

[@geraldscott4302]

That is a 1977 or 1978 Firebird Esprit. Last year of the Firebird before they ruined it with that hideous front end. That was the model used in the last few seasons of The Rockford Files. No way to know if it is one of the actual cars used on the show or not, there are quite a few replicas out there. But it looks the same, and has the right license plate 853 OKG. I have heard that they used a Firebird Formula because of the more powerful engine, and made it look like an Esprit. I believe that every single car from the very beginning was repainted, so that they would be the same color every year. There is no color code for a 1974-1978 Firebird that matches that color.

[@thud9797]

I'd bet a steak dinner Jay would not be messing around with a replica.

[@paulsilva3346]

HEY, LENO, bait and switch??? I entertained a good 20 MINUTES of MIKE ROWE. But nooo, you had to go all mailbuuuu on me.! .!

[@20alphabet]

Bait and switch

[@mitchyoung8791]

Looks like Mike has had a little cutting done.

[@lightspeedhensley3534]

what electric car companies will do is create and or outsource for a after market software program that ill create tunes sport scar sounds accordingly with the push of the electronic pedal in sinc to give electric sports cars authentic engine sounds , all being adjustable with the sound levels .

[@7728abbott]

Hey Jay! Have you ever noticed there are two Firebirds from the Rockford Files? Both the same color, but one features the shallow rear window and the one you're featuring this week has the deeper window that wraps around the side of the roof. Loving cars, I thought you would enjoy that.

[@PhenomProductions23]

I think they changed something on the car, it doesn't feel right. I think maybe the auction guys got their facts mixed up... Because all the original cars and trucks were sold at the conclusion of the series to private buyers. And Garner gave his away, and when the 1990s Rockford TV Movies came around, they didn't have any of the original cars. So they had to Build/Make another '78. Which I think is this car that was auctioned off for 2 key reasons. 1. The original cars all had Demuxe Vinyl Interior, the Deluxe Seats on the 78s are much thicker because of extra foam padding and have visible horizontal lines across the front of and bottom of the seat. This one has the standard vinyl seats which are visibly skinnier, and the TV Movie car had those skinny seats. I guess Jim didn't care or didn't remember to make them correct that mistake when they rebuilt the car for the 90s movies. And 2. The original cars were repainted the same color to keep every new year consistent. So they came up with their own shade of Gold paint called Lt Topaz, which is just a darker shade of the 78 Gold Special Edition Trans Am's Solar Gold Factory paint. Because the sun at the beach in Malibu would reflect too much off the light shade of the car and blind people. This car from Barrett-Jackson was painted in a different shade that is much darker almost brown looking in some angles than the Original Firebirds that were Light Topaz, which means they probably didn't remember or couldn't find the original records of the Light Topaz Paint codes they had used in the 70s, when they were rebuilding the car in the 90s for the TV movies. Jim Suva interviewed somebody who owns 3 of the Original Rockford cars from the Series. A 76, a '77 and one of the '78s. All 3 have the Deluxe Interior with thick seats. And the correct Light topaz paint. If you look at pictures from the TV movies and the original series you can spot the difference in the shade of the paint and the seats from the 90s car and the originals. If you have an eye for detail like me of course. The 90s car is still counted as a Rockford Car because James drove it and used it. But it's not one of the Originals from the Series. 20 years earlier. It was another Formula/Esprit that was built for the Tv Movies in the 90s for him.

[@voiceofreason7856]

What is funny is one they used stock footage. Jim would leave in one Firebird , 'drive the route' in another, then arrive at the destination in the original car in the scene ! The cars would often be from different model years, too.

[@thud9797]

The 74, the first year of the show, had the fastback style rear window. All the cars after and believe they got new ones every year through 1978 had the wrap around back window. Jim didn't like the 79-up look so they stuck with the 78's until the show ended in 81.

[@jacobmoses3712]

Maybe Jay is more cautious since he rolled over in the Hemi Under Glass. I notice he got out of the 4 wheeler before the stuntwoman went around the motocross track

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

I came here to find out about the Rockford car.. yet.. YOU DID NOT TALK ABOUT THE ROCKFORD CAR!!!!!

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

You have to watch the entire episode with Jay and Mike to correlate the two

[@thud9797]

Bleieve it's just your everyday Formula 400 with a hood swap, spoiler removal and whitewall tires to look like the Esprit.

[@vernondecker9532]

Constantly breaking into my modest trailer, they didn't do this to trapper john.

[@WatchRichRebuildsChannel]

I love mike. He’s handsome and has a great voice.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

He was an opera singer before he made it big in television, that's why he has a great voice.

[@Allen-eq5uf]

These 2guys👍🏼

[@se7encureton]

Rowe for President

[@plumbandsquare1]

Jay has some cool friends!

[@makrsk09]

They are all my mothers'!!! LOL

[@clarencejones7916]

He was right no engine sound no adrenaline rush for me

[@rickmassey1272]

I have a booster pack that starts a car with a completely discharged battery,the pack has the dimensions of a size 12 shoe. It's a dry pack battery that takes less than a hour to charge using a android power cord. If the wall wart can convert 220v to 12v and charge the pack without overheating or exploding it,why can't car makers use the technology to convert 12v to the requirements to keep a battery charged....OH WAIT THEY ALREADY DO with the battery already used,just expand it. Tesla and companies offering hybrids are only bilking the public for all the money they can make before offering a product that would be "purchase and forget"...there should be no need to plug in a car that creates a electrical supply during operation.

[@ronald8673]

Nikola Tesla had a electric motor car design that was powered by amplified static electricity.

[@Steve-ec6ed]

IDK about you but if someone takes me off roading I want them to say "no I've never broken a bone, ever". If they say "I've broken almost every bone in my body" I'd probably get out... but that's just me I guess.

[@cyrilhudak4568]

Wasn't Skid Plate Racing started at David's Farm up in Ontario, Canada?

[@jennjelly]

Jay you are driving a car on my bucket list Tesla Roadster !!!!! all you need now is a 67 camaro convertible

[@craigmonteforte1478]

i ll admit it looks like fun years ago i got a brand new AllWheelDrive Chevy Savannah WorkVan you could only order that configuration with a SmallBlock 350 motor and the owner of the company insisted i get AllWheelDrive so i didn’t have any excuses of not going to work in bad weather as luck would have it the night i picked it up from the Dealership it Snowed about 5 inches so i had to leave my home at 3 in the morning to get to my office i ran to my closest 7 Eleven for Coffee and it was located in a shopping center that was mostly abandoned so the parking lot was totally empty i decided to get the feel of AllWheel Drive on a slippery surface so i knew how to compensate i was doing Doughnuts and Power slides plus Braking checks and i heard the Bleep of a Police siren and saw t a Cop flashing his lights i immediately stopped and rolled down my window as he pulled up and asked me what the F i was doing well i told him the truth and he said okay i just wanted to make sure it wasn’t some Drunk going home i assured him I was on my way to work and there was another Officer in the Conveinence Store i spoke with getting Coffees he could probably verify i’m telling the truth and i’m pretty sure the Clerk or Owner of the Store knows his name i even offered the guy one of the new Doghnuts i bought to bring to my Office to share with my CoWorkers the guy laughed and told me that’s okay drive carefully i had all the Paperwork in the Van from picking it up and there was a Dealership temporary tag on it i also let him know that i was definitely not drinking anything but Coffee i’ve owned many 4 WheelDrives and AllWheel is nothing like it but it does have some advantages of climbing hills and moving through some Snows providing you did it correctly and Wisely like keeping your Momentum steady and not Oversteering too much because the computer can think you need or should have conventional style rear WheelDrive i think it would be better if Chevy displayed where it was sending Power as it changes or chooses to do so BTW i had that Van get plowed in a Parking Spot and only one tire would spin in a effort to go over a small burm of snow my 4 wheelDrive truck just Plowed through that without any hesitations even with AutoHubs but a manual Transaxle also Cherotlet

[@BlohmandBlohmer]

Would have been great if they actually did a Rockford files reverse move.

[@SirVic42]

"He looks like a member of the Parcheesi Family."

[@blindtoby8967]

A cross between short haired Michael Bolton & Clint Eastwood

[@charlesgreer7641]

Now maybe they changed the car during the show and I'm not a poncho freak so dont know exact years but I coulda swore Rockfords car was the last round headlight style not the smokie and the bandit headlight. But I would have to watch a episode to be sure. Maybe it started out the round light first couple and then went dual square .

[@emeyer6963]

Jim started with a 74' and got a new one every year ending with the 78 model year.74-76 were roundies and 77-78 were square lights

[@ARTPAINTING101]

Mr Meyer is correct

[@thud9797]

My friend bought a brand new 74 base straight 6 automatic that looked exactly like the 74 Jim Rockford car with the beautiful Gold paint except his had the standard interior but same saddle color. Even though it was just a six we had fun cruising in that car back in the day and yes, it even had whitewalls! 😀

[@houseofno]

I'm surprised Mike was into this. I always thought he was a Ford guy. Nice show!

[@dertythegrower]

He was just paid by Ford to act like he liked Ford.. he likes Ford craftsmanship and all, but everyone with common sense knows it never was the best, just like Apple

[@WilliamHollinger2019]

He was.

[@JustChillin227]

@@dertythegrower The gospel by which we're saved. We're under Paul's ministry today. Therefore we're not under the law of the old testament. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (KJV)1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. And that takes us back to John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. So it's only by GRACE that we are saved not by works. Jesus did all the work and gave us GRACE (unmerited favor) as long as we have FAITH (believe) in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for SALVATION (trust in his blood). That's the gospel. Jesus said, Ye must be born again to enter into the kingdom.(accept Jesus as your SAVIOR)

[@stillnotwoke]

@@JustChillin227 Okey-dokey...

[@jackasswhiskyandpintobeans9344]

6:33 A fallacy. Electricity is not free. It is produced from oil and coal.

[@thud9797]

Or the sun. 😀

[@jackasswhiskyandpintobeans9344]

@@thud9797 That is true, yet over 50% of electricity production is not renewable. Active solar power is still not a viable alternative. Passive solar power especially for individuals is a better option.

[@treeguyable]

Broken everything..???? .. I made it to 63, only broke a thumb once. Been crazy , biker at 15, Us Marines, still riding motorcycles, , lumberjacking at 63 yrs. old. How careless do you have to be?This girl will have major pain by 45 yrs old, not much to be proud of.

[@DaveBuildsIt]

Hmmm.. Mike Rowe as Jim Rockford. I'm down.

[@pland3845]

That would be incredible!!

[@thud9797]

😎 🇱🇷 🤠

[@rappers5719]

Burgled. It might not be a word you are familar with........................It's English! 😂

[@ampdistributing2080]

I didn't realize it was a Pontiac in that show. I thought it was a Camaro for some reason.

[@emeyer6963]

Mannix used a 74 Camaro in last season which are posted here on YT

[@jimclarke1108]

Turn left at Hollywood ))

[@yourhandlehere1]

The big question is...did they do a "Rockford" while in Rockford's car?

[@PhenomProductions23]

No they didn't. The Owner probably wouldn't allow it.

[@Sir.VicsMasher]

Mike Rowe 2024

[@alanwallace4413]

For the record, this is pure sacrilege.

[@cazgerald9471]

6:31 Electricity is free?

[@thud9797]

After you buy all your solar stuff, yes it actually is. 😀

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

I was still waiting for a j turn

[@WatchRichRebuildsChannel]

Why is there police car following you through the whole skit? Is it for Mikes or Jays protection?

[@douglaspurcell2737]

You gotta do the reverse move

[@ericscott3040]

Are you saying work the same muscle group multiple days in a row?

[@bradlafferty6076]

Malibu’s finest

[@hinglemccringleberry8805]

Rowe is starting to look like Tim Allen.

[@james5460]

The cop car trailing him - I don't remember that from earlier seasons. Something happen?

[@PhenomProductions23]

An Escort for Leno and Rowe in case they get accosted by Starstruck fans.

[@46GarageUSA]

Wasn't it a 1976 Firebird Esprit ??? Not a 1978

[@thud9797]

I think the show got Formula 400's for the engine and suspension and then made them look like Esprits by changing the hood and removing the spoiler or maybe the spoiler was still optional on the Formula so they just didn't order it. You can see dual exhaust pipes on some of the cars and don't think you could get duals on the Esprit and also you can even see a rear sway bar sometimes which was definitely not available on Esprit but was standard on Formula and Trans Am. And they got new cars every year from 74 thru 78. They stopped at 78 even though the show went to 81 because Jim did not like the look of the 79-up front end.

[@bubsiesiegel]

Plot twist: The thumbnail is of Doug Demuro

[@emeyer6963]

Lol

[@David-xi7jj]

The Cobra-Mustang has a single red light on the right side of the grill. Does it have some kind of legal reason to exist in California?

[@CycolacFan]

Promo advertised that Jay drives one of the cars from Rockford Files, yet doesn’t say a single thing about it in the clip.

[@BlueEyedSoul24]

The whole Rockford thing is discussed in the full show. Mike wanted a car like the Rockford one from when he was a young man. The full show is great!

[@CycolacFan]

Is it an on screen used Firebird?

[@Jimmy2time]

What is the Rockford files

[@toddclark332]

Mike cool but the Firebirds cooler sorry Mike what happen Jay

[@mycatumz640]

I have to say that a tesla is not practically free. The maintenance of the car is is very expensive at this time and your waiting for a long time to get it done. Not so free and easy!

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

Any grey poupon? Look at that S car go!

[@curtjunky]

How valuable IS that car? Police car gently tailing the Firebird.

[@garypaisley]

Rockford never used the seatbelts in that car, why?

[@pland3845]

Because it was the 70's and safety really wasn't a thing

[@thud9797]

Seat belts were definitely uncool in the 70's. I was trying out the two piece belts on my 71 back in 78 and was stopped at a red light and two guys pulled up next to me and saw me sitting there with my shoulder belt on they busted out laughing! Forty five years later and I still remember that ownage. 😀

[@bsmith1164]

This segment was so lame! They could have at least shown James Garner from back then and compared the scenes now. Angel Martin popping up would have been a better idea than whoever that was trying to be a bad guy at the "motorhome". I want to like Jays show, but he makes it hard when he does such a poor job on the legendary Rockford files.

[@evvignes]

6:33 Breaking news! Electricity is free in California!

[@chrisgabbert658]

So why do I get a electric bill every month

[@dugfriendly]

Hey! Alonzo, the TYT panelist...

[@ernieneverscardinals461]

To bad the car was 75 Pontiac firebird. This isnt even close.

[@skybluemarshall]

Each season, the show used three new cars: the beauty, the action, and the damaged car. After the first 1974 season, the show had to use Formula model Firebirds and strip them down to look like the earlier Espirit model, which was no longer available with the same trim after 1974. They used new cars each year between 1974 and 1978. After 78, they continued to use the 1978 model because James Garner didn't like the look of the newer versions. Being the star of the show, a racing driver, and one of the shows stunt drivers, James Garner was free to choose whatever car he wanted. Garner originally chose the Firebird over a much more expensive sports car or even a slightly more expensive Trans AM because Garner felt that his money strapped character wouldn't have paid the extra money for a more flashy vehicle. Rockford's style is what I would call "Budget Chic," meaning that his car and clothes are cheap, but they still look cool and stylish. Rockford strikes me as the type of guy who shops the discount racks in the stores to find the nicest looking, stylish, but not too stylish clothes at the most affordable prices.

[@theboyx323]

ummmm.... I thought the Rockford Firebird was older than a '78.

[@davidp2888]

I think Rockford drove a '74 or '75 and then the '78. I seem to remember the older style grille.

[@voiceofreason7856]

@@davidp2888 He had a '76 in there, too.

[@thud9797]

New cars every year, 74 thru 78.

[@Straight0uttaCrofton]

my mom had this car but sold it to the neighbor kid when she got pregnant with my little sister - she bought a station wagon / =

[@JamesLaumand]

I thought car crashed

[@carlosoliveira-rc2xt]

Jay doesn't know burgled is a word? He did make fun of people on Jay Walking, right?

[@caulkins69]

"Burgled" is chiefly British. In the U.S. it is more common to use "burglarized."

[@carlosoliveira-rc2xt]

@@caulkins69 I'm neither British or American and still know burgled is a word. Jay has disappointed me. 😊

[@WillieDuitt1]

James Garner smoked Pot.

[@joevarga5982]

They used several cars.