A National Firebird and Trans Am Club featured car is the ‘91 Trans Am of Daniel Hartford from Albertville, Alabama.
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’91 Trans Am of Daniel Hartford from Albertville, Alabama
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‘70 Trans Am of Bob Himes from Spring City, Pennsylvania
PONTIAC GUY
I’ve been a Pontiac guy nearly my whole life. I grew up street racing a 1969 GTO, and along the way I’ve owned a 1976 Trans Am and a 1983 Trans Am. I currently own a 1965 Tri power GTO.
Last August, I was sitting out back on a Friday night with my wife enjoying a beverage when my friend Mike called. He asked if I was interested in going in on a car with him to work on over the winter and flip in the spring. He said he thought of me because the car he found was a Pontiac. After asking him several questions about his find, I realized that he may have found one of my dream cars – a 1970 Trans Am. I told Mike if it’s what I think it is, I want the car for myself! He thought I was crazy, but he was excited for me.
The following Monday, I met up with Mike to check out the car. As the garage door was opened, my eyes feast upon a Polar White 1970 TA RAIII 4-speed. The car had been sitting in that garage since 1998! The car showed 56k miles on the matching numbers engine. It had some light surface rust on the body, but otherwise it was solid. After extensively inspecting the car and finding no issues, I did some quick negotiating and loaded the car on to our trailer.
I decided to do a complete frame off restoration since it is, after all, one of my dream cars. We dropped the frame, disassembled the suspension and sent it out for media blasting. The engine was broken down, and completely rebuilt to stock. Everything on the engine was rebuilt instead of replaced to try and keep it as original as possible. While that was being worked on, the car was sent to the body shop for a strip down, body work and paint. This is a good time to mention I also sent out all the chrome to Speed Sport Chrome who advertises in the back of the Eagle. Craig did an amazing job on it.
During the restoration, we had an amazing thing happen. I purchased the car in August, but sadly my Mom passed away in September. After her passing, I told my family that I was dedicating the car to her and so I named the car “Carol”. Everyone loved the idea! Then, when the interior was starting to be disassembled, the glove box door was removed and there written in white marker from the factory was the name “Carol”. Talk about being speechless! At that point, my wife declared it was meant to be.
Carol’s restoration is now complete. My wife and I enjoy taking her out for weekend drives. She looks, runs, and handles incredibly. Ride on Carol!
Bob Himes
Spring City, PA
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Pontiacs at Pigeon Forge
The Pontiacs in Pigeon Forge Car Show has been happening now for almost two decades! This year’s show has some of the most gorgeous Pontiacs around. The 19th Annual show was held on May 30 – June 2, 2019.
The show was held in a new location at MainStay Suites in beautiful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. There was fun for the whole family as there was something here for everyone! You could go to the indoor and outdoor pools at the host hotel, visit Dollywood Amusement Park for some serious thrills, or shop till you drop at the many outlet malls. We assure you that no one was bored. All proceeds from the show went to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in loving memory of Ciera Blackburn. Editor’s Note: Thanks to David Caudill for the photos.
Firebird and Trans Am Gallery
Pontiac Transportation Museum
Pontiac Transportation Museum
350 W. Pike St.
Pontiac, Michigan 48341
One of America’s most robust centers of transportation history, innovation, and accomplishment is Pontiac, Michigan. While nearby Detroit proudly claims the mantle of “The Motor City,” it was here in Pontiac during the late 19th and early 20th centuries where some of the nation’s most successful manufacturers of horse-drawn buggies and carriages evolved into the earliest automobile companies. Among the dozens of such companies with local roots, two of the largest ultimately became General Motors’ famous Pontiac Motor Division and GMC Truck and Coach.
To celebrate the heritage and remarkable achievements of these many enterprises, the Pontiac Transportation Museum is being created to showcase examples of the cars, trucks, and other vehicles designed or built here – vehicles that truly changed the nation and the world. The Museum will also honor many of the personalities whose legacies are associated with these efforts. Through the museum’s existing and growing collections we will endeavor—through displays and various programs—to help educate and inspire young people to chart their own destiny with greatness.
The Pontiac Transportation Museum has acquired and will develop a 55,000 square foot building that will include vehicle display galleries, a theater, research, library, and restoration spaces. The museum store will offer appropriate merchandise and the facility and its grounds will be able to host special events, vehicle shows, and other meetings. The Museum is expected to open to the public late 2019.
’99 Trans Am 30th Anniversary Edition of Tom Joseph
A National Firebird and Trans Am Club featured car is the ‘99 Trans Am 30th Anniversary Edition of Tom Joseph from Clarkston, Michigan.
Here is my 30th Anniversary Trans Am. It’s one of 292 coupes with a Hurst 6 speed. I drive it as much as possible in Michigan. Thanks to the National Firebird and Trans Am Club for all the technical advice and putting on a great shows every year!
Firebird and Trans Am Gallery
James Garner’s “Rockford Files” Pontiac Firebird is Crossing the Auction Block
from Fox News
“This is Jim Rockford, leave your name and a message”…if you’d like to buy my car.
Or you can head to the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Saturday night to bid on a 1978 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 that was not only used in the James Garner-led TV show, “The Rockford Files,” but also owned by the actor himself.
The Sierra Gold coupe is one of three identical cars that were acquired by the production company for the making of the detective program. According to Hagerty, the Formula 400s and their powerful 6.6-liter V8 engines were needed for stunt work, but the cars were stripped of some parts and badges to make them look like one of the cheaper Firebird Esprits that down-on-his-luck Rockford might actually be able to afford.
You can even use it for your own remake of the show, because it was the sound car and is still equipped with microphone inputs in the dashboard, although the rest of the recording equipment has been removed. It also has an automatic transmission and skid plates in case you get caught up in a wild chase.
Garner, a well-known car enthusiast and racer, bought the Pontiac when the show went off the air in 1980 after six seasons and kept it for himself for about a year.
It changed owners several times after he let it go, before ending up in the hands of movie car collector Steve Reich, who gave it a full restoration and is the one offering it, along with a co-owner, at Barrett-Jackson.
There’s no estimate on what it will go for, but one of the other three cars was sold at a Mecum Auctions event in 2015 for $40,000.
YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THIS CLASSIC TRUCK
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MusclePalooza
Here are some of the Firebirds from the Hemmings MusclePalooza event last Labor Day weekend in upstate New York. This event is also held every Memorial Day weekend at West Lebanon Dragway. I was with the Long Island GTO/POCI contingent. For this we don’t necessarily restrict ourselves to our Pontiacs. some of these Firebirds are ours and others are not. This is a great muscle car show and classic drag racing event! I’ve enjoyed this event for years and recommend it highly.
Michael Weiss
