by Chris Demorro on March 7, 20
American muscle cars and Hollywood royalty have long had a close relationship. While just about every star from A-to-D list celebrities has some sort of muscle car in their garage, back in the day actors like Steve McQueen and Paul Newman did more than collect these cars; they raced them in serious races, from Trans Am to the Baja 1000.
Having film and television star James Garner piloting his Goodyear Grabber 4-4-2 was publicity boon for the tire maker.
Yes, it might be strange to think of American muscle cars racing across the desert of the Baja peninsula, but back in the 60’s what else would you have raced? There were all sorts of shops that specialized in converting American muscle into crazy off-road competitors.
Among the many Hollywood stars who would drive in these off-road desert races was one James Garner, a television actor who became so enamored with car racing that he raced an Oldsmobile 4-4-2 in the 1969 Mexican 1000 (a pre-cursor to the Baja 1000).
The star of the Western-comedy show Maverick, detective show The Rockford Files, and racing-packed Grand Prix, Garner rose to fame as an actor. But he was a more than competent racer as well, and among his many rides was a rather unique 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 modified for the NORRA Meixcan 1000 off-road race.
This car was lost for decades before being found, restored, and brought back to racing condition for the 21st century. Now this unique, star-touched car is up for auction on eBay, of all places.
Getting The Grabber To Go
Garner first got involved with the world of motorsports during filming of the 1966 flick Grand Prix, in which he plays a race car driver who falls for his teammate’s estranged wife. In 1969, Garner grabbed a sponsorship from Goodyear tires.
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Garner suffered a virtual Rube Goldberg-level breakdown that robbed him and the Goodyear Grabber 4-4-2 of their 45-minute lead, landing them a 2nd Place win during the 1969 Baja 1000.
Thanks for reading
Tim
Jim Rockford actually drove a Firebird Esprit. It was a stripper 350 2 barrel auto Firebird that I actually saw for sale years ago when I livedvin San Jose. The show used 1972 cars and updated the fascia with 1976 front ends towrds the end of the show’s run.
I saw plenty of Detroit Iron today in Tokyo. Two C5 Corvettes, a older ‘DUB’ version Chevy Blazer, and tucked away at a parking garage, and I could not believe my eyes, was a 1969 Camaro ‘rat rod’.
Still see my share of PT Cruisers and MOPAR minivans here.
I also saw something very interesting today; it seemed to be a very late model MG, with a sticker on the rear backlite saying ‘Built by Rover Japan’. It looked like a cross between a Miata and a 1970s TR7.
There is a model of Nissan here that looks like a Bentley; I need to find out what it is.
Next trip I will bring a camera and be your blogs Japan correspendant.
Last James Gardner comment; at one time, he held the title of being the most used Indy 500 Pace Car driver. I believe throughout the 1970s and early 1980s he drove almost every Indy 500 Pace car. The year that Buick paced the Indy in a Regal V6 turbo (believe it, or not, but ye ol’3800 V6 was one of the best Indy car motors for years), James Gardner ended up being a pace car driver in most NASCAR races that season in the same Regal. That car was crowned with having the most race Pace miles on a single drivetrain, and one of the sponsers, Quaker State, bragged that it had only 2 oil changes for over 1,000 miles of pace car duty.
Off to Seoul tomorrow!
Well you are correct, Bill. It was a Firebird. Sounds like you getting mini-car show in Japan. See you when you get back.