As the story goes, Burt Reynolds came across an ad for a Pontiac Trans Am while browsing through a magazine and immediately knew that it was the right vehicle for his upcoming movie “Smokey and the Bandit.” His hunch was spot-on because the movie went on to be the second-highest grossing of 1977 after “Star Wars” and the Firebird became one of the silver screen’s most memorable muscle cars.
The cars used in the movie are modified 1976 models. Unfortunately, all four Trans Ams, including the prop car, were totaled during filming, although this will come as no surprise to anyone who has seen the movie. However, according to Bandit Movie Cars, a promotional car used for the movie was discovered, refurbished, and sold at the Barrett Jackson Scottsdale Auction for a world record $530,000. The car was refurbished by Burt Reynolds’ personal friend, Gene Kennedy, and Reynolds was in attendance at the sale.
The sale led to the founding of Bandit Movie Cars, and the company went on to recreate other vehicles from Burt Reynolds’ movies, including those from “Cannonball Run” and “Hooper.” BMC also did a ground-up restoration on the only remaining Trans Am titled to Reynolds, and it has since been seen at events, such as the Houston Autorama show. Hollywood Star Cars Museum in Vegas claims to have a genuine 1977 Pontiac Trans Am from the movie, although the museum doesn’t highlight any connection to “Smokey and the Bandit” on its website.
