Here are 20 facts about the Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit. But the end product was spectacular and made the film, the actors, and the car household names. Reynolds had a limited-edition Indy Pace Car variant of the 1980 Trans Am, one of only 5,700 built, it came with the rooftop caution lights and the 301-cu-in turbocharged V-8 that was available only on 1980 and ’81 Trans Am models.
#HOW MANY CARS DID THWY USE IN SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT MOVIES MOVIE#
Not Quite 1977 Smokey and the Bandit turned the 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am into a very popular car, but unbeknownst to many, the cars actually used in the movie were 1976-model cars with the 1977 front ends attached. When reprising his role in Smokey and the Bandit II, the Trans Am was actually recast with a 1980 model. By the end of the film, practically all of the Trans Ams used in filming were out of commission. He felt so strongly about the car that he often referred to it as one of the movie’s star characters. The iconic bridge jumping scene? Impossible, but we’ll tell you how they did it, below. For instance, almost all of the cars were destroyed during filming because of the numerous dings and crashes from stunts. Do NOT try the stunts in Smokey and the Bandit at home. It was park on the side of the road, near the trees. Many of the things the infamous Trans Am accomplished in the film, unfortunately, would be impossible to recreate in real life. They was an white AMC Matador sedan (1974-1977), in the background, right after the Lemans roof came off. Pontiac issued Needham with four Trans Ams, three to use in the movie, and one as a promotional car to drive around and advertise his film, Smokey and the Bandit. The car immediately bolstered sales for Pontiac, giving them their best sales years ever. 8 4 Trans Ams Were Involved In The Film Via Hal Needham had set out to get six cars for production, but he came up two short. Its been 40 years since that iconic conversation took place between Bandit Bo Darville and Cledus Snowman Snow in the classic movie Smokey and the. The “Screaming Chicken” muscle car-as it would be called following the movie, because of the hood decal-became an immediate must-have car for men and adolescent boys around the world. The most iconic and famous aspect of the movie, besides maybe Burt Reynolds himself, is undoubtedly Bandit’s car, the 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. (After filming, she and Reynolds had a relationship together.) It also turned Sally Field into a symbol, when before the film she was considered a rather bland, unattractive actress. Hal Needham said in the Smokey and the Bandit DVD Documentary that Pontiac gave them four Pontiac Firebird Trans Ams (three for use, one for promotion), and two Pontiac LeMans (Sheriff Justice’s patrol car) for the film. It was famously one of Alfred Hitchcock’s favorite movies (one of the best he’d seen in years), despite the Master of Suspense not even making movies in that genre. Many people believed beforehand that the film was not right for him. It was the second highest-grossing film of the year, trailing only Star Wars: A New Hope, and it made Burt Reynolds into a certifiable superstar. Smokey and the Bandit was one of the most iconic movies of the 1970s.