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I'm not sure what the cop cars are on "CHiPs," pretty sure Dodge (not Diplomat, bigger). On the last episode I watched, Jon asks Bear, "How're your brakes?" Bear goes, "Just got new linings last week."
edit: Looked up the cop car, it's a 1974 Dodge Monaco. Makes sense as it was shot 1976/1977.
The 1974 Monaco was a generally popular car with police departments, just as the Ford Crown Vic and Chevy Caprice later became when Chrysler later dropped all of its traditional full-size cars. The following year, for 1975, what had been the Monaco became the Royal Monaco, and the Monaco name was transferred down to what was then Dodge's mid-sized sedan. We saw Ford and GM play similar name-games as they downsized their models, too.
My first new car was a 1963 Pontiac LeMans convertible. It had a 326 cu in V8 and a 2 speed Corvair automatic mounted in the rear with VW style swing axles. The drive shaft was a solid rod that ran thru a central tunnel with a bearing in the center to create a "bow". Handling was awful, tire wear out of sight, and I broke the driveshaft at about 20,000 miles. It sure was pretty though.
Yes, Pontiac had a number of problems with that semi-curved driveshaft. Though John DeLorean, who was running Pontiac at that time, gave us some superb ideas (like the GTO itself), that driveshaft was not one of them, particularly when it was hooked to the somewhat rough-running 2.5L "Iron Duke" four that was standard, which amplified its vibrations. That was an early attempt to stabilize more front/rear weight balance in the car by moving both the transmission and final-drive differential to the rear.
Definitely remember these, but never had one. I am a 1970 high school graduate and had friends that had 69 GTO & 69 Olds 442. Had a friend that had a yellow Barracuda, that we called a Bananacuda. Closest I had was a 72 Grand Prix.
Well, classmate, like you, I got my sheepskin in 1970. Took my very first solo long-distance drive, alone, the very next morning after graduation, when I drove from the D.C. area across the Appalachians, to my uncle's house near Cleveland....in a car with a three-on-the-tree for shifting. I was young and carefree (though not irresponsible or dangerous), and driving was a real adventure.
What year was your cousin's Barracuda? I had a (used) white 1Gen model with the huge rear window, which my Dad gave me soon after I graduated....essentially a redone Valiant. The 3Gen '70-74 version looked much better, and had some enormous engine-options.......but, unlike earlier models, was very poorly built, with horrendous quality control.
The cars I learned to drive on were a 1968 GTO Convertible (mom's bother), 1968 Thunderbird (dad's) 1962 Corvette (dad's), and a 1968 Impala SS (mom's). when I was ages 15 1/2 to 17 years old.
The first car I owned (17 years old) was a 1978 Trans Am.
I've also owned a '71 Mustang Mach 1, '74 Firebird, and a '78 Corvette at various times between ages 17 and 24.
I now have a 1939 Ford Tudor, and a 1969 Mustang Fastback that my daughter is helping me build for herself when she gets her license, though I told her she can't drive it until she turns 19 and has a few years experience under her belt. She will start off with a beater car when she turns 16.. likely my nieces 2011 Malibu, when she buys herself a new car in a year or 2.
Thanks for your input. That Smokey-and-the-Bandit T/A is a real classic. An ex-co-worker (and close friend of mine) has a '79 version, black and gold, one of the few with the 403 engine and 4MT. By then, some of them were being built with the Mickey-Mouse 301 and 3-speed auto.
Thanks for your input. That Smokey-and-the-Bandit T/A is a real classic. An ex-co-worker (and close friend of mine) has a '79 version, black and gold, one of the few with the 403 engine and 4MT. By then, some of them were being built with the Mickey-Mouse 301 and 3-speed auto.
I paid $2,800 at a police auction for it, rebuilt it, was the 400ci with 4MT, then a drunk driver ran a red light and t-boned me, totaled the car,, would be worth $40k-$50k today based on what I see them selling for at classics auctions.
Thanks for your input. That Smokey-and-the-Bandit T/A is a real classic. An ex-co-worker (and close friend of mine) has a '79 version, black and gold, one of the few with the 403 engine and 4MT. By then, some of them were being built with the Mickey-Mouse 301 and 3-speed auto.
Oldsmobile 403 engine only available with automatic transmission from the factory.
Would love to have a '61 Caddy convertible. Big fins up top and big fins down the side along the bottom. Fins for the win baby!
Growing up my Dad always had great cars. I can remember 2 different '63 Impala SS's, a '67 396 Caprice (my Mom's favorite), a '71 454 Caprice Classic, and a '71 Riviera. Not all at once mind you.
My first 2 cars were both '66 Mustang coupes. My current project is a '65 Fastback. Maybe I'll sell it when I get it done and hunt down that '61 Caddy.
My 1st car was a 1971 Firebird Formula with 455 engine & auto trans. Bought in 1978 (above)
1967 Firebird with '71 455HO
1973 TransAm with 455 auto
1973 Formula 400 4-speed
1974 TransAm 455SD 4-speed no air, 1 of 212 manual trans SD's that year
1969 Firebird 350 auto Super Turbine 300
1970 TransAm 4-speed (top pic.)
1967 Catalina 2+2 428 HO auto
1967 Firebird 400 auto
1981 Gran Prix SJ
Last edited by Byprodrive; 09-14-18 at 05:40 PM.
Reason: add pictures
Oldsmobile 403 engine only available with automatic transmission from the factory.
Yep.....sorry about that, that was a typo in my part. That year, for 1979, the Oldsmobile-sourced 403 was automatic-only. His car has the special-order Pontiac 400, which came with the manual transmission...very few of them were built. It was listed as an option in the Hemmings -specs for that year.
Originally Posted by Hemmings
Engine
An 185hp Oldsmobile 403 was standard; however, Pontiac's 220hp 400 and 150hp economy 301 were optional (in 49 states). Don't fear the 403--it's torquey and reliable; it's also more affordable.
Yep.....sorry about that, that was a typo in my part. That year, for 1979, the Oldsmobile-sourced 403 was automatic-only. His car has the special-order Pontiac 400, which came with the manual transmission...very few of them were built. It was listed as an option in the Hemmings -specs for that year.
My 1st car was a 1971 Firebird Formula with 455 engine & auto trans. Bought in 1978 (above)
1967 Firebird with '71 455HO
1973 TransAm with 455 auto
1973 Formula 400 4-speed
1974 TransAm 455SD 4-speed no air, 1 of 212 manual trans SD's that year
1969 Firebird 350 auto Super Turbine 300
1970 TransAm 4-speed (top pic.)
1967 Catalina 2+2 428 HO auto
1967 Firebird 400 auto
1981 Gran Prix SJ
We certainly have performance Pontiacs in common! In addition to more GTOs than I'd like to remember, I was fortunate enough to have owned a 1970 Trans Am 4 speed(white with blue stripes and a standard black interior) and a 1967 Catalina 2+2 HO 4 speed (black/black). Actually, the day of my 1981 marriage, I owned 7 Pontiacs, including those 2. The others were a 1974 Trans Am, a 1973 Grand Am, a 1968 GTO, and 2 1967 GTOs. One of those '67 GTOs had a rare option: an AM non-push button radio (like its column shift, not a coveted rare option!).
While I like to bemoan having sold the '70 Trans Am and marvel at what it would be worth today, the truth is that it supplied the funds for the down payment on our first house which yielded far greater dividends.
We certainly have performance Pontiacs in common! In addition to more GTOs than I'd like to remember, I was fortunate enough to have owned a 1970 Trans Am 4 speed(white with blue stripes and a standard black interior) and a 1967 Catalina 2+2 HO 4 speed (black/black). Actually, the day of my 1981 marriage, I owned 7 Pontiacs, including those 2. The others were a 1974 Trans Am, a 1973 Grand Am, a 1968 GTO, and 2 1967 GTOs. One of those '67 GTOs had a rare option: an AM non-push button radio (like its column shift, not a coveted rare option!).
While I like to bemoan having sold the '70 Trans Am and marvel at what it would be worth today, the truth is that it supplied the funds for the down payment on our first house which yielded far greater dividends.
My 70 T/A had blue standard interior which I really liked. (the color not the seats). I got married in 1983 & had 3 Pontiac's, half my friends didn't come to my wedding because they went to a Pontiac show instead. Just quit my 30 year automotive career to sell my house & retire on the gains made with it.
The 1974 Monaco was a generally popular car with police departments, just as the Ford Crown Vic and Chevy Caprice later became when Chrysler later dropped all of its traditional full-size cars. The following year, for 1975, what had been the Monaco became the Royal Monaco, and the Monaco name was transferred down to what was then Dodge's mid-sized sedan. We saw Ford and GM play similar name-games as they downsized their models, too.
The Sunday after I got out of U.S.M.C. bootcamp I was in my 1st car, 1971 Firebird Formula driving down the freeway 8am at 80MPH. I passed a brown Monaco with an unusual official seal on the drivers door. As I passed by I saw it was a fish & game warden seal. I eased off the gas pedal as I passed. The game warden was speeding up so I took off since I was only going about 7 miles to my exit. Monaco kept gaining speed so I floored it & put some space between us. Soon I was doing 115mph & putting alot of space between us,but my exit was near, the exit was a cloverleaf so I exited as fast as I could but got caught by the red light at the bottom. Monaco pulled in behind me with his blue light on the dash. He called the police since he didn't have any traffic citations to give me. The cop came & wrote me a ticket for 115 in a 55 zone, fine was $35 dollars which I guess was the minimum since he didn't witness my violation. I gladly paid the cheapest ticket I have ever gotten.
The Sunday after I got out of U.S.M.C. bootcamp I was in my 1st car, 1971 Firebird Formula driving down the freeway 8am at 80MPH. I passed a brown Monaco with an unusual official seal on the drivers door. As I passed by I saw it was a fish & game warden seal. I eased off the gas pedal as I passed. The game warden was speeding up so I took off since I was only going about 7 miles to my exit. Monaco kept gaining speed so I floored it & put some space between us. Soon I was doing 115mph & putting alot of space between us,but my exit was near, the exit was a cloverleaf so I exited as fast as I could but got caught by the red light at the bottom. Monaco pulled in behind me with his blue light on the dash. He called the police since he didn't have any traffic citations to give me. The cop came & wrote me a ticket for 115 in a 55 zone, fine was $35 dollars which I guess was the minimum since he didn't witness my violation. I gladly paid the cheapest ticket I have ever gotten.
115 in a 55 zone? Be glad you aren't in Virginia. That would be good for a possible jail term.
115 in a 55 zone? Be glad you aren't in Virginia. That would be good for a possible jail term.
155 in a 55 was good enough in NYS, when I was 19 y.o. and invincible. I remember being very argumentative with the trooper and telling him I'm not paying the toll since this is not my exit. He proceeded to give me a choice, ride with him in handcuffs in the back, and let my friend drive, or pay the toll, and follow him to jail. I don't think that car actually had any speed limiter and I remember the magazines saying 157 was the top speed. I vaguely remember the speedo was beyond 160, but German cars usually have their speedos over.
Back to Ponchos, I was a little kid away at summer camp. This richey rich counselor from Sands Point had this brand spanking new 10th Anniversary T/A. Silver with a screaming bird on the hood. Hopefully this will make you laugh. I was so what other word can I use, enamoured riding in that bad boy, he took me and his g/f to a Gordon Lightfoot concert! I remember there was this strange smell everywhere and I was feeling dizzy.
I emailed the guy on linkedin a few years ago--the guy lives in Asia today, Taipei. He was floored, saying holy cow I really have a good memory and he barely even remembers that T/A (he was a student at PENN when his parents got it for him).
p.s. I'm trying to recall where this camp would have even been, and the concert. I think it was in Western MASS....Berkshires
09-14-18, 02:00 PM
Took my very first solo long-distance drive, alone, the very next morning after graduation, when I drove from the D.C. area across the Appalachians, to my uncle's house near Cleveland....in a car with a three-on-the-tree for shifting. I was young and carefree (though not irresponsible or dangerous), and driving was a real adventure.
