Here are two articles from 1977. Rob Morris found these, so a big thank you to him. The first article talks about one of the shows new Firebirds, being stolen from Universal Studios. The second describes the filming of a car chase scene, from the episode: "The Bees, The Trees, and T.T. Flowers".
Here is my latest edition of The Suva Files. It is published in the Pontiac-Oakland International Car Club's magazine, Smoke Signals. May 2019 issue.
Special thanks to Tim Dye and Thom Sherwood my editor, for making The Suva Files look so good!
The Hunter TA in the Pontiac Registry
The Pontiac Registry is a wonderful resource, for all Pontiac models. Here is a link to their website: https://www.pontiacregistry.com/. If you love Pontiac's as much as I do, please consider joining this group.
Rockford Goes to Barrett-Jackson
Written by Jim Suva
Two years ago, I received the opportunity to purchase a 1978 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 that was used on The Rockford Files. This car was one of three used, on the last two seasons of the series. This Firebird was used as the sound car. Meaning this car was used primarily for filming dialog inside the car and was also used for exterior filming as well. The best part of this Firebird is that James Garner purchased this Firebird, after filming stopped on the show and owned it till May of 1981.
Now the owner at the time wanted more money, than I could afford. Plus, this car needed a complete restoration, new interior, leaking fluids and had a couple of rust areas that need attention. So I gave the owners contact information to two friends of mine that deal with vehicles for the movie and TV industries.
They purchased the Firebird and had Michael Flaherty of Custom Design LTD in Wisconsin do the frame on restoration. I met with Mike in February 2018 and went over the Firebird with him in regards to what had to remain from filming Rockford. Since this was a sound car there were holes drilled in areas to run wiring for a allegra sound recorder, that use to be mounted in the trunk. They also had mounted plugs in exterior of the car for power and microphones. The Firebird even has the original Garner mic bay that sits in the console. Of course there is also a skid plate mounted under the engine and transmission, so that it could be used for stunt driving. All of these items were retained.
The object for buying the Rockford Firebird, was to preserve the car as much as possible. The 78 Firebird was finished just two weeks before it was auctioned on January 19, 2019.
My friends asked me to come out and represent them at Barrett-Jackson and help sell the Firebird. This was a once in a life time opportunity for me. Plus to be able to stand by an original screen used Rockford Files/Garner owned Firebird was wonderful.
Barrett-Jackson is more than an auction or car show. It is an event that every car person should experience once in their life. Everyone I met that worked for Barrett-Jackson were so nice and helpful. The fans of The Rockford Files that I met were great. All day Friday and Saturday I was by the car telling people about the history of the Firebird. There were plenty of people from all walks of life that were checking out all the cars and trucks on display.
I got to meet with Kevin from Bitchin Rides and saw celebraties like Gary Sinise, Motor Trend hosts: Christy Lee , Mike Joy, and fellow Chicagoan Chris Jacobs.
Saturday afternoon the owners arrived and told me, they wanted me to ride in the Firebird onto the block for the auction, which was the biggest trill, since I watch the auctions on TV, all the time.
The Firebird was moved into the holding line around 1:40 pm. Author Matt Stone, who has written a number of car books which includes James Garner’s Motoring Life was there to talk about the Firebird on the TV coverage, from the auction block. Matt and I had an enjoyable lunch together and talked about Garner and the Firebird. There was a wide variety of food vendors to choose from and different displays and a Restoration Row of vendors to check out.
After lunch I went to find the Firebird in one of the two holding areas, in line for the auction. I had a wonderful opportunity to talk with a number of people that were interested in the Rockford Firebird. We moved the car through the first staging area to the second, which is located right outside the door of the auction building. Once it was time to drive the Firebird into the building, I sat in the passenger seat and was still answering questions about the Firebird till it actually went up on the ramp to the block.
Below are two videos from the Discovery Channels coverage of the auction.
I can’t thank my friends enough, for such a wonderful opportunity. The Rockford Firebird sold with buyer’s premium for $115,500.00. I had estimated it would sell between $100,ooo and 125,000. So I was pretty close.
The car was purchased online by a Pontiac-Oakland International Club member and hard-core Rockford Phile who wants to remain anonymous. He considers himself a caretaker of a small, but important part of television history and wants to share the car with fellow Pontiac and Rockford enthusiasts at car shows and if they’re interested – museums. He felt it was important for the car to remain in the United States and ideally in southern California where the show was filmed.
Next up he will be installation of the correct “Custom” or deluxe upholstery and door panels original to this car (and all Rockford Firebirds of all years of the series). Other plans for the car include tinting the exterior rub strips (currently white) to match the color of the interior as these cars had back in the day.
The car drives like a new car – just like the owner’s 1978 Esprit did when it was new. I am so happy that the owner plans to share this Firebird with all of us and not just put it a collection in a garage somewhere.
All of us Rockford fans will be anxiously awaiting to see this car hit the Car Show circuit in the near future.
From the pages of the Smoke Signals magazine. February 2019 issue.
Special thanks to Tim Dye and Thom Sherwood my editor, for making The Suva Files look so good!
Well Rockford fans, here is your opportunity to bid on an original screen used Rockford Files Firebird. It will be interesting to see what it will sell for.
Rockford Files 1/64th Scale Diorama
Here are two links to Ted Ferfecki's 1/64th diorama videos. These videos show how he made the Rockford Files Firebird, Rocky's pickup and Rockford's trailer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqzHIA0VrBc
Ted did a terrific job. Here is the diagram for Rockford's Trailer, for those who would like to build your own.
Steve McQueen’s, “The Hunter”, Trans Am Found
Written by Jim Suva
It is not very often you find a car that is in the original screen-used condition, taken directly from the set of a movie. The car in this story also has a direct connection to Steve McQueen.
In October 1979, Steve McQueen was in Chicago and the greater Kankakee, Illinois area filming what turned out to be his last movie, “The Hunter”. The movie was based on the life of bounty hunter Ralph “Papa” Thorson. In real life, Papa Thorson captured over 5,000 criminals and bail jumpers.
In the part of the movie filmed in Manteno, Illinois, Steve McQueen’s character drives a rented 1979 Black Pontiac Trans Am, with tan interior. In the pursuit of the Branch brothers, the brothers take Thorson’s TA and a chase through the corn fields begins. Thorson uses their combine and chases them down to a climactic explosion, where the Trans Am is blown up.
Steve McQueen picking up the Trans am at the Kankakee Airport 1979
This is where our story begins. The stunt crew, the cast and the film crew were staying at the Holiday Inn in Bradley, Illinois. The citizens of the greater Kankakee area, including a local farmer, Harold McQueen, were following around the cast and crew to the different filming locations. Harold became friendly with the stunt and film cast and crew and he was invited to join them, for several meals as he really got to know them. Someone on the production crew asked if anyone had a truck and trailer, that could haul the Trans Am down to Kankakee. Harold stepped up and said he could do it.
Harold and his family had always loved Steve McQueen and his movies. In fact, they loved them so much that they jokingly started calling him Uncle Steve, even though they were not directly related. When Harold finally had the opportunity to meet Steve McQueen, Steve made the comment that all the McQueen’s are related because they all originally came from Scotland. Harold said, “I guess down the line we are all related.”
I asked Harold what Steve was like in person. Harold said, “He was an ordinary guy, just like we are. He puts his pants on one leg at time, like all of us.”
According to Harold, the production company had six Pontiacs for this movie. These vehicles were on loan to the production company from the Pontiac Division of General Motors. The vehicle identification number plates on the dashboards were removed from these cars so that the cars would have to be returned to General Motors. Harold stated that the production company blew up two Trans Ams. The #1 Trans Am did not explode as well as they wanted so, according to Harold, the production company went out and purchased a 7th car (referred here as #2 Trans Am) to be used to reshoot the explosion. Both Trans Am cars that were blown up were painted black and the frame rails were modified by the production company with slides, hooks and chains at the firewall. Then, a cable was attached from the frame rails to a tree. This was done so that when the Trans Am was going in reverse, the front end of the car would separate and would set off the explosives on the car.
The top picture shows how the cable was taped to the the front bumper of the TA
before the stunt, and the bottom picture shows the tape still on the front bumper in 2018.
After the first TA (#1) was blown up, Harold was asked if he would haul the TA down to Aroma Park, Illinois so that the crew could remove the roll cage from the 1st car and install it on the 2nd car. At that time, the stunt crew showed him around their shop. They let him watch a few of their stunts including the explosion of a house they built on the Kankakee River for the movie. Harold was present as they filmed both car explosions. The end result of the second shot of the exploding TA (#2) was spectacular. In fact, after the #2 TA exploded, the stuntman’s girlfriend thought that her boyfriend was dead, because the car ended up upside down on the side of the road. Thankfully, the stuntman was fine.
Harold transporting the #1 TA with the roll cage still attached October 1979.
The next scene shot was Harold’s truck towing his trailer with the #1 blown up Trans Am back to the Kankakee airport, with Steve and the two Branch brothers. Once the scene was shot the crew asked Harold to take both blown up TA’s away.
Filming the return of the Trans Am to the Kankakee Airport 1979. Staging the Trans Am and trailer in the same spot 2018.
One of the production crew asked Harold what he was going to charge for hauling around the cars. He said, “You guys figure out what is it worth to you.” They decided to give him the #1 blown up Trans Am, as payment for the use of his truck and trailer. Harold received a letter from Paramount Pictures Corporation stating this, that is signed by William O. Sullivan, Production Manager and Harold. Harold also agreed to deliver the #2 blown up TA to Peter Levin Pontiac in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
Letter from Paramount Pictures to Harold McQueen. Harold in 1979 with both #! and #2 Stunt Trans Am's.
When Harold brought the #2 blown up TA to Peter Levin Pontiac, they told him it was not the right TA and he should take it to a junkyard in Indiana to dispose of it, which he did. Pontiac wanted the #1 TA back because it was never supposed to be put back on the road. Harold told them he had a letter from Paramount giving him the car. Harold said, “Pontiac eventually gave up wanting the car back, figuring the TA was blown up so bad, it would never be put on the road again.”
I asked Harold what his wife and family thought about him bringing home a TA that had been blown up. He said, “It was no big deal, since he was always bringing home stuff.”
Harold’s plans originally were to buy a donor car and restore the #1 TA. He has friends in the area that do auto restorations. Unfortunately, in the last 39 years, he never found the time.
Brothers Stan and Randy Harvell grew up in Manteno, IL and through their friends, knew of Harold owning the Hunter Trans Am. In fact, Stan and Randy rode the school bus with Harold’s sister when they were younger.
Stan moved to Arizona in November, 1979 and became interested in collector cars soon after that. He always remembered this particular Trans Am. About a year ago, Stan called his brother Randy, who still lives in town, and asked him to get Harold’s cell phone number from a friend.
Stan called Harold, who was at his winter home in Florida. Stan asked about the Trans Am and Harold told him he was considering restoring the car, but told Stan to call him again in the spring when he returned to his farm in Manteno. Stan contacted Harold again in the Spring and Harold told him that he would consider selling the car.
Stan then went to see the car and talked with Harold in person. According to Harold, since the car was to be scrapped, the stunt crew and film crew took items off of the Trans Am as momentos, such as the hood, the rear spoiler, the side mirrors, badging etc. Stan took numerous pictures and videos of the Hunter Trans Am, which he shared with his good friend Calvin Riggs. Stan and Calvin had discussed this car for some time and Stan knew that Calvin would be the right partner for this car, because Calvin loves Pontiacs and Trans Ams. He is also the owner of Carlyle Motors in Houston, Texas which sells beautifully restored and original muscle cars. Here is a link to their website: www.carlylemotors.com Carlyle Motors is now the owner of the Hunter Trans Am and Calvin and Stan are partners in regards to this car and its future.
Picture of the #1 Trans Am in Harold's Barn.
I had the opportunity to meet Calvin in Manteno on Friday October 12, 2018, the day they took delivery from Harold. There is no doubt in my mind that this is “The Hunter” Trans Am. Talking with Harold, looking over the 1979 Trans Am, seeing the damage and how the car is rigged up for the explosion, and the fact the car has only 1300 miles on the odometer just reaffirms that this is the car from the movie.
The 1st picture is the Trans Am being removed after 39 year in Harold's Barn. The other 2 pictures show the TA and trailer reunited.
These pictures show the current condition of the #1 Trans Am the day Calvin picked it up October 2018.
Note the two pictures with red circles mark where the roll cage was mounted.
Calvin has an Affidavit of Facts signed by Harold McQueen as to the authenticity of the car, as well as a letter from Jim Mattison of the Pontiac Historic Services. Mattison states their records indicate this TA was part of the Pontiac Motor Division Show Car Fleet. The Pontiac Division and the paperwork which Calvin supplied, confirms this 1979 Trans Am was one of several released by Pontiac to Paramount Pictures for use by Steve McQueen in the movie “The Hunter” and the only one that still remains.
A copy of the Dealers Invoice. Letter from Pontiac Historic Services.
Barbara McQueen wrote a very good book titled: "Steve McQueen, The Last Mile ...revisited". It includes stories while Steve and she were filming "The Hunter." It is a very good read and she has included some great pictures for Steve's career as well as photos she took of her husband. Below is a picture of this Trans Am being prepared for the stunt where the Trans Am explodes. Steve is standing next to the stuntman on the left wearing the baseball cap.
This car has been untouched in the corner of Harold McQueen’s barn, just a couple of farms away from where it was blown up. This Trans Am is a great piece of Movie/Steve McQueen history.
Autographed picture of Steve McQueen as The Hunter. A very rare movie poster featuring the 1979 Trans Am.
We are interested in receiving any information from Cast, Crew, Stunt crew and people that were around the set during the filming of "The Hunter". We would love to include pictures and stories from the set, as this will be a continuing story. Calvin and Stan will decide to either restore or show their Trans Am as is in the near future. If you have any information, please email me at jimsuva34@aol.com or Calvin Riggs at criggs@carlylemotors.com.
Here is a link to a youtube video of the Trans Am in the movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISgI7TKX7xA
Jim Rockford's Printing Press
Written by Jim Suva
The printing press used on the Rockford Files was a Sigwalt #11 letterpress. These press are still available from time to time on eBay which is where I purchased mine. Below are pictures of my press which I added a wood base similar to the one used on the show.
This letterpress was kept in the back seat of the Firebird. It was used a number of times, to print up fake business cards to gain information from different people. At several car shows I was asked if I had a printing press in the back seat like Rockford's. That is just one reason I decided to get one for my display.
Below is my finished Sigwalt #11 letterpress.
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