Ponch's Firebird

Ponch’s newly rebuilt Firebird as seen in "Down Time"

Ponch and Jon getting out of his Firebird as seen in "Sick Leave"

Ponch’s Firebird which had earned it’s nicknamed Little Bronze Beauty or My Bomb is actually a 1971 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350 that originally came from the factory in Van Nuys assembly plant with a 350 Pontiac engine, which was painted in a beautiful anaconda gold, along with black custom deluxe interior of the car had suffered an unknown original owner, then followed by a psychotic Vietnam veteran who happen to be Niles who had originally modified the car from it’s factory appearance into a street rod, and was later arrested in the fall of 1977 after injuring Jon during a drag race his buddy Ray in the streets. Since Niles had accidentally loss the registration while turning over the ownership of his car to an uncle who had accidentally lost his temper during a Monday afternoon, he was in a hurry to catch a flight to New York from the Los Angeles International Airport, now deciding to start the car on fire during an argument with a tow truck driver over impounding the vehicle due to a temporary permit that already had expire within sixty days, and eventually sold the car to Ponch for eighty-three dollars in the spring of 1978. While Ponch’s favorite firebird had slowly started showing the signs of aging by the fall of 1981, considering the amount damage that was caused by different types of traffic accidents due to criminal negligent behavior during his occasional undercover work, off duty, and which all of his repairs are actually done by Harlan inside the CHP Automotive Garage at central often using tons of factory parts. Ponch finally had sold it for scrap to a junkyard after a severe traffic accident which had totaled it out completely, and eventually decided to buy a beautiful brand new 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am in Light Blue.

The Complete History Of Ponch's Firebird

Niles street rod Firebird accidentally stalling causing an injury to Jon as seen in "Crack-Up"

Ponch is actually putting out the fire on his feature Firebird as seen in "Neighborhood Watch"

Since the original owner of Ponch’s favorite 1971 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350 in anaconda gold is actually still completely unknown, the complete history will include a second owner which was Niles who happen to be working as a mechanic at Al’s Garage after being released from Hoa Lo Prison Camp in Vietnam now receiving a honorable discharged from the army in 1975, and is now currently living with an uncle in the suburbs of Los Angeles rather than with his parents in the suburbs of Long Island.

Jon and Kim working Ponch's Firebird as seen in "High Flyer"

Ponch is actually escorting passenger Mary Barnes to Jon's Rodeo as seen in "High Explosive"

Ponch and Jon finding a parking spot available at the Los Angeles International Airport as seen in "Rally 'Round the Bank"

Ponch pulling into the dirt racing track as seen "CHP BMX"

Ponch's Firebird is temporary repainted Starlight Black as seen in "Death Watch"

Jon now flipping over Ponch's Firebird as seen in "Destruction Derby"

Ponch now upset at both Jon and Getraer over his Firebird being recently totaled as seen in "Destruction Derby"

Ponch's Firebird going off a ramp by another car as seen in "Thrill Show"

After Ponch had finally gotten his car back from the auto body shop. On Sunday morning Ponch did enjoy watching Bonnie perform in balancing act stunt while trying out for the Joie Chitwood Stunt Show at Ascot Park, and Jon had a talk with Ray Connor while sitting on the left fender of his beautifully restored car. On Sunday afternoon while Ponch and Jon will still enjoying their day off by driving home together, and having a discussion of Bonnie wanting to quit the CHP in order to join Ray at stunt show. While Ponch had turned the corner in his car, and Jon had spotted Malcolm behind the steering wheel of Hollywood tour bus while his punk rock band called The Bus Boys were robbing it. While Ponch is still driving his car, and Jon had shouted out the window by showing his badge yelling at Malcolm to pull it over to the side of the road. Malcolm had refused to listen to Jon's orders about pulling over, and had chose to side swipe the right side of Ponch's car. After Malcolm had broken off Ponch's right side fender flares which includes damaging the two rims, and while Jon had called for backup using the CB Radio in his car. While Turner had responded to Jon's call, and Ponch had entered the freeway using his own car. Ponch had avoided Malcom trying to side swipe the left side of his car, and accidentally had went off a ramp of another car. Turner was surprised to see Ponch's car driving on two wheels of the left side. Ponch and Jon had continued the pursuit of the Hollywood tour bus while driving on two wheels of the left side. Ponch was afraid of wrecking his new paint job, and had refused to damaged his car. After a few miles of pursuit Malcolm had decided to exited the freeway, and Ponch had finally turned in order to continue pursuit in his car. Ponch's car had accidentally came back down damaging the frame which includes the suspension, and the rims. Ponch had gotten out of his car, and Turner had stopped to check on him losing the pursuit of the Hollywood Tour Bus. The CHP had finally agreed to pay for the repairs of Ponch's car since it was used in the line of duty. After the CHP had finished paying for repairs on Ponch's car which included a new paint job, and a set of rims that were actually done by Harlan. Ponch was finally to get it back after it was finished being repaired. On Saturday afternoon Ponch and Jon would drive to the hospital together to go visit their friend, and colleague Andy Stratowski who had recently had a heart attack this morning during first shift. Ponch and Jon had got out of his car only to Andy just released sitting in his own car out in the parking lot.

Ponch staking out the construction site as seen in "Forty Tons of Trouble"

Ponch Firebird entering the construction site as seen in "Forty Tons of Trouble"

The one night Ponch had agree to have dinner with Paula at the S.S. Princess Louise which is actually a floating restaurant. After the valet had brought back Ponch's car, and Paula had so many questions of his beat up looking car while they were driving back to the construction site. Ponch and Paula had a conversation about her stolen construction equipment, and about his car. After dropping Paula off at the construction site he notice the burglars stealing equipment, and change his mind by deciding to turn around in order to complete a stakeout. The next after talking with Getraer of the recently stolen construction equipment. Ponch and Jon had gone undercover using his car as an unmarked patrol car by following the crooks in that same van to the construction site where Paul works. Ponch and Jon had stop to pull the van, and manage to arrest the crooks except for one that was trying to steal the forklift. Ponch had gotten back into his car in order to stop the forklift driver, and drove into the construction site damaging the fender flares by losing them in the dirt. The chase had ended by the forklift driver fianlly trapping Ponch inside his car, and damaging the drivers door including the racing mirror by puncturing a hole all the way through to the passengers door. The forklift driver had lifted Ponch while still inside his car up in the air. Both Jon and Turner had arrested the guy, and manage to used the forklift to let Ponch down while still inside his car. Turner had check on Ponch while Grossie tells them he found their missing parts for their dragster. While celebrating at Paula's house Getraer had arrive to celebrate, and let Ponch know that the CHP is actually going to pay for the repairs of his car since it was used for undercover work this morning during first shift. Bonnie had became upset because of Grossie finally joining their CHP drag racing team, and she had chosen to give the rest of her team a dirty look for catching the construction thieves while using Ponch's car in the line of duty. Bonnie is now angry at Ponch for wrecking the CHP dragster in line of duty by catching the thieves that had ripped off their parts at the Brotherhood Raceway Park.

Ponch's Firebird lifted up in the air after being damaged by a forklift as seen in "Forty Tons of Trouble"

Ponch and Jon trying to Janos from kidnaping Maria as seen in "Suicide Stunt"

After the CHP had finished paying for the repairs on Ponch's car which included a new paint job, and a set of rims that were actually done once again by Harlan. After Ponch had finally got his car back, and he had drove Jon home from their double date with two dispatchers named Pam and Kathie. While Ponch was driving Jon home they had ran into Chad Sullivan riding his bicycle that exact same night. After Melanie Mitchell had accidentally ripped her pants by falling off her motorcycle, and Ponch had taken her to his place by parking right next to his car. Ponch had drove Jon to the Youth Center on Oak Street which is actually around the corner from Central. Ponch almost had his new set of rims stolen along with a CB Radio by some punks that were hired by Andy Macedon, and managed to stop them just in time. After the punks take off in van now causing Ponch and Jon to give a little police pursuit, and they would radio for help only to get pulled over by a stupid Local LAPD Motor Officer in his old neighborhood. After Ponch and Jon had finished having a talk with the stupid local LAPD Motor Officer, and manage to drive away in peace. Ponch would later park in front of the restaurant while Jon had gotten out of his car, and they had decided to pay a visit to Andy about his gang of punky teenagers including Billy Rogers. After Andy had loss his temper at Ponch and Jon by flipping a plate upside-down and smashes it with his fist, and they had out of the restaurant by getting back into his car. Ponch and Jon had drove away in his car. Ponch would later received a bomb that was planted inside the engine compartment of his car by a Vietnam Veteran who happens to be an explosives expert named Martin Beck while attending Bonnie's party at her apartment on Saturday night with his date Karen. After Bonnie's party was over Ponch had gotten back into his car with Karen, and wanted to start it up not known there was bomb planted inside his engine compartment until his temporary partner by the named of T.C. Hunsacker had figured it out by the two wires that were left on the ground by telling him not to start his car. After T.C. had ordered Ponch and Karen out of his car, and had safely opened up his hood in ordered to remove the bomb from his engine compartment. A couple of days later Ponch had drove Jon to the bowling alley, and had received another bomb that was planted inside his engine compartmet. While Ponch and Jon were getting ready to leave the bowling alley, and were now in the parking lot. Ponch and Jon were suprised to see a bomb had exploded by starting his car on fire. The CHP had agree to pay for the fire damage repairs.

Wayne Cato pulling up in Scot with Ponch's Firebird in the background as seen in "Bright Flashes"

Ponch's Firebird has it's left fender flare broken off after a little police chase last night as seen "A Threat of War"

After the CHP finished paying for the fire damage repairs on Ponch's car. While Bonnie had ran back inside wearing a lavender dress along with a pair of baby pink high heel pumps, and Ponch had climb over the hood of his car in order to get inside while Jon would get inside his truck. Ponch would use his car in the rear in order to set up a roadblock at the Queen Mary while Jon using truck in the front to block a hungarian motorcycle star named Janos who tried to steal a limousine, and kidnapping their colleague named Maria. Ponch couldn't take a job about reposing his car. Ponch had drove Jon to Steve's new mansion while he looking for a place to stay. The next morning Patti had borrowed the car by agreeing to give Ponch a ride to work. The one night Jon had given Ponch a surprise by placing a brand new motorcycle right next to his own car. The next morning Ponch was actually washing along with waxing his own car. After checking out the modified hot rods going down the Sunset Strip that when Ponch had decide to give Jon a ride down the main drag in his old neighborhood in order to meet Rudy at the former Smith Brothers garage. Ponch had decided to give a Jon a ride to a rented house in order to meet with their only witness which is actually former cowboy actor Wayne Cato, and they would have dinner with him that same night. Ponch had actually brought his car to work early in the morning hoping to have a brand new burglar alarm install by Sweeney and his daughter Carol before going on duty. After suffering from first degree burns in the crotch that were cause by his former colleague named Toni Max earlier that day, and later on that afternoon he had finally gotten his new burglar alarm installed on his car hoping to finally catch her in the act. Later on that night Carol had popped the latch, and open the hood of the car unaware that Ponch was actually pretending to be asleep in the backseat hoping to catch Toni but instead caught her in the act of attempted auto theft. Ponch actually ask out Earl Hogan's adopted daughter which is actually Kim Hogan, and drove his car over to her house.

Ponch's Firebird avoids having it's right fender flare broken off as seen in "Overload"

Chris racing Ponch's old Firebird as seen in "Return to Death's Door"

Ponch would later drive Jon to his old girlfriend Rosa Aguila house in his old neighborhood, and wanted to talk about her brother Carlos. Ponch had asked Rosa for a date on Saturday night. On Saturday night Ponch and Jon were double dating with Rosa and Sherron, and talking to Andy at The House Restaurant they unaware that Billy Rogers was sitting a blue Ford Econoline behind his car waiting for them. Billy had seen Andy outside with Ponch and Jon, and their dates Rosa and Sherron with his car. Billy had drove straight forward by running over Andy causing him to break his ankle, and Ponch had gotten into his car in order pursue a small police chase while leaving Jon with their dates Rosa and Sherron. While Ponch was in pursuit of Billy driving a van, and had used the CB Radio in his car in order to call for backup. While still in pursuit of Billy in a van Ponch had accidentally scrape the front of his car, and accidentally had broken the left fender flare off. After losing pursuit of Billy in a van later on that night Ponch would later drive Rosa home, and had a conversation about Carlos. After Ponch had arrived back Rosa in his car, and went back inside of her house only to see that Billy had trashed the place including Carlos painting equipment plus his artwork. After Ponch and Jon had finished checking on Andy in hospital on Sunday afternoon, and later on that day after getting off first shift they would drive to Rosa's house together. After Ponch and Jon had gotten a tip from Rosa about Carlos fighting with Billy's gang, and they would drive away in his car in order to meet Andy. Ponch and Jon would arrive in his car in order to save both Andy and Carlos by trying arrest Billy in which had into a small karate fight. Billy had start beating the roof of Ponch's car. The fight had officially ended with Ponch kicking Billy in the penis. On Saturday afternoon Ponch and Jon had just finished jet-skiing in the harbor, and while driving home together in his car they had spotted their elderly senior citizen friend Nettie using a motorized wheelchair. Ponch and Jon had stop to rescue Nettie from the two computer hackers, and had accidentally started a small police chase using his car into the hills of Los Angeles. The police chase had ended with several car crashes including Ponch and Jon were lucky enough avoid getting his cars right fender flare broken off, and the two criminals getting away in Chevelle. After the small police chase had ended with the Chevelle, and later on that day Ponch and Jon would drive his car into the garage of the computer company that handles all their data.

Bruce Nelson standing outside the hospital with Ponch's old Firebird parked in front of the hospital as seen in "Fallout"

Ponch's Firebird going over the camper during a little police chase as seen in "Fallout"

Ponch had actually took a recently blinded police canine named Jericho for a ride in his car back to the canine training center at the sheriffs department. Sargent Honeyton had shown up in order to Ponch's car parked on the grass, and Jericho trying to smell the heroin. Ponch would respond with Jericho using his own car. While Ponch was in pursuit with Jericho using his own car, and would later parked in the warehouse district. Ponch would pretend that his car is actually stalled, and managed to use Jericho track down the heroin while a criminal named Jesse James, Jr. would escape knocking him down.Ponch's old car would be repainted yellow with different shades of bright colors for stripes, and was drag raced on the streets by his friend Chris who had held a grudge on him since the death of his older brother Zack. Chris was drag racing his car, and was later arrested after accidentally starting fire to another man's car. Chris had changed the gearing in his car along with the help of Harlan's friend Jim Telford. Chris was later working on the engine of his car. Chris would later drive his to the crash site where his older brother was accidentally killed. Ponch would later show up driving his old 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air in order to drag race Chris against his car. Both Ponch and Chris were drag racing until accidentally side swiping each other going around the corners of the road. Chris had accidentally side swiped the right side of his car, and realized that he doesn't need to hold a grudge against Ponch anymore. Ponch's old car was eventually repainted candy apple red, and given a new set of rims. Hal would drive to hospital to visit his stepson. Hal had gotten suspicious of Ponch and Bobby by deciding to hit a nurse, and ran out of the hospital by getting into his car. Hal had drove off starting a police chase that would continue with Hal turning corners around the city streets until driving on abandon freeway, and driving through the dirt. Hal would drive off the dirt ramp by jumping the car, and crashing into a bunch of parked cars. Ponch and Bobby would arrest Hal on child abuse charges by opening the trunk of his car, and managing to find a cane in duffle bag.

The Different Firebirds Used On The Show

• 1971 Pontiac Firebird Esprit
• 1971 Pontiac Firebird
• 1971 Pontiac Firebird Formula
• 1973 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
• 1970 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
• 1970 Pontiac Firebird Esprit