Fun Facts About the 'Smokey and the Bandit' Trans Am
Carlos Kirby
· 4 min read
The Smokey and The Bandit Trans Am well described Pontiac's racing spirit. It found its place as the embodiment of American automotive culture. This movie used a 1976
Pontiac Firebird Trans AM
, which became one of the most popular car makes
of the time. High-speed chases and comedy characterized the movie and put car enthusiasts on edge. Let's look at some fun facts about Smokey and The Bandit Pontiac Trans Am.
The ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ Trans Am was a 1976 model, and three were destroyed
The movie made everyone believe that the Trans Am was a 1977 model. Yet, the set used a 1976 model, as the 1977 vehicle was not ready. Both the 1976 and '77 models had a similar body except for a few bumper and grille modifications.
To give the 1976 model the look of the upcoming vehicle, the carmaker installed the bumper of the 1977 Pontiac. Even with the hiccup, the film still advertised the 1977 model so well.
According to
Motorious
, four Trans Ams exist in the film, but three were destroyed. The model that survived was priceless, but its current location is unknown. This movie was lax with destroying vehicles compared to many popular movies.Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
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The ‘Smokey and The Bandit’ Trans Am got so many orders that the third-generation model was delayed
The Smokey and The Bandit Trans Am sales volumes went up for two years following the movie's success. This carmaker had been selling an average of about 68,745 a year, but after the release of the movie, sales volumes doubled to over 117,108 units.
Burt had created a cult movement where many people bought the Pontiac and moved around with shaved heads and cowboy hats, showing off inflated arms that popped out of drivers' windows, as they saw in the movie.
Just before the movie's release, the government introduced new emission regulations. The brand planned to end the second-generation Pontiac for a better model. There were only 1276 Trans Ams produced in 1972.
However,
Top Speed
claims that after the release of the movie, sales numbers went so high that the production of a third-generation was put on hold. A new model was to debut in 1980, but the high demand caused the carmaker to retain the earlier model until 1982.Interestingly, the final years were the most successful for the brand – thanks to the movie.
Burt Reynolds was promised a car if the movie was successful
At the start, Pontiac was hesitant to have its brand in the movie because there was nothing more to back the film up, such as celebrity roles or a big story.
After constant communication with the studio executives, Pontiac finally gave in and agreed to feature in the movie with a promise of a free Trans Am to Burt if the movie was successful.
Fortunately, the movie was a hit, but Pontiac did not deliver the vehicle on time. He finally got the promised vehicle several years later, a 1978 model that produced 220 horsepower. He then boosted the vehicle by adding an 8.2-liter engine that produced a whopping 600 horsepower.
The tuned Trans Am was finally sold at an auction for $275,000. Its lucky buyer got one of the most sensational cars and a memory of the legendary actor who passed on.
Whether you’re looking to collect the Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am or not, you’ll need insurance.
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