Pat’s McKinney’s 1978 Rockford File Firebird Formula

Pat’s McKinney’s 1978 Rockford File Firebird Formula

By Jim Suva, Brett Papworth

  

 

78 Rockord

Pat McKinney’s and his brother had restored one of Richard Petty's race cars, which was featured in several magazines. In the article Pat mentioned that what he really wanted was one of the cars from the Rockford Files.  A man in Palmdale California, read the article and called Patrick letting him know he had a 78 Firebird from the Rockford Files. Brett and Pat went out and looked at the car and confirmed it was an original car from the show.

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This 1978 Firebird was purchased from the daughter of a stunt man that worked on the Rockford Files. I believe the stuntman's name was Create. This car was used in the episode “Rock ‘n Roll will Never Die”. Its right-front fender and passenger door were smashed, and sold as-is to Mr. Create. Mr. Create purchased the car for his daughter who had the car repainted grey. When Pat purchased the car from her, the paint was peeling and worn off in areas. You could see the Rockford paint coming through. It turns out the VIN number was actually only a few numbers away from the one he had owned back in the 1980's.

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This 1978 is in much better shape than Pat’s 1977 Firebird, even though it has more rust underneath the car. This car was not driven for several years so mechanically it is in pretty good shape. The car only has 60,000 miles on it. The first time Brett and Pat tried to start it, they poured some gas down the carburetor, and it started right up and idled like a new car.

Below is a picture of the inventory control tag from Universal Studios.

 

The interior needs replacing due to sitting in the sun, but the body
is straight, so it only needs a good paint job.  Pat is leaning towards just replacing belts and hoses, tuning the motor and servicing the transmission giving it a brake job and then driving it.

 

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5/2013:  Pat replaced the steering wheel.  He purchased it with the black Formula wheel and now installed the correct Deluxe steering wheel. See picture below.

 

Here are some pictures taken of the Rockford color showing throught the gray paint.

   

 

This Firebird will be Pat’s next restoration project.  So please check back and we will keep you up to date on its progress.

  

Some photos furnished by Jason Caudillo.

 

 

    

 

 

Here is a few additional pictures taken at the 1st Annual Rockford Files Fest.

 

 

                    

 

                    

 

                    



Some pictures taken by Chris Turko.
 

Here are some pictures taken of the Rockford color showing throught the gray paint.