So these kind of represented a rebellion attitude to the government mandated diesel econo hatches everyone thought we were going to be forced to drive in the 80sinterestingly 1979 was also the best year for the Corvette too. Copyright 2011 - 2021 Curbside Classics. As a former Club Wagon pilot, I happen to like his Econoline. He and Cora literally grew up together. I have since moved on from them, mainly because in stock form, they were not particularly great cars (though good enough for the times). Then, when we get into the office we realise the man who owns the 130 saloon also owns all of our Fiat 500s and has come to complain about us. https://getjerry.com/insights/fun-facts-smokey-bandit-trans, https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0081529/trivia/?ref_=tt_trv_trv, https://www.leithcars.com/blogs/1421/events/a-classic-pontiac-trans-am-worth-six-figures-classic-car-values-skyrocket/, https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/burt-reynolds-smokey-bandit-firebird-trans-am-sells-nearly-500k/4AG3ZHXMQJHMDO47HIFBEZ4JMU/, https://www.motorious.com/articles/features-3/heres-6-6-facts-about-smokey-bandit/, https://www.fox43.com/article/entertainment/arts/theatre/center-stage/iconic-scene-from-smokey-and-the-bandit-is-re-enacted-by-stunt-driver-in-carlisle/521-f27a443d-baeb-4b15-a944-afb6c9e7debf, https://www.hotcars.com/smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am/, https://horsepowermemories.com/2018/07/17/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-smokey-and-the-bandit/, https://www.hotcars.com/this-truck-from-smokey-and-the-bandit-was-the-perfect-costar/, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086325/trivia/, https://www.guideautoweb.com/en/articles/64294/, https://www.truckersnews.com/trucks/article/15059342/california-truck-driver-climbs-aboard-movie-star-bandit-rig, https://blacktailnyc.com/when-could-you-buy-coors-beer-east-of-the-mississippi/, https://www.boston25news.com/news/trending/burt-reynolds-smokey-bandit-firebird-trans-am-sells-nearly-500k/4AG3ZHXMQJHMDO47HIFBEZ4JMU/. So lets explore this car (and truck) heavy flick, all while giving those who have not seen it a glimpse into a movie whose complexity and intellect remains unparalleled within the history of cinema. Smokey and the Bandit II grossed $10,883,835 in its opening weekend, the second highest ever at the time, behind Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Two of the trucks pull away, resulting in Gaylord and Reggie's cruisers crashing in the ensuing gap before they can cross, but Buford is still in pursuit, though his cruiser is barely functioning. The area around Helen, Georgia , was used for some locations. Both the 1976 and '77 models had a similar body except for a few bumper and grille modifications. Needing a fast set of wheels to distract law enforcement, Reynolds character purchases this 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am. One guy did a while ago a fan-made trailer of Smokey & the Bandit 4. Not everything was Pontiac, as evidenced by this 1973 Plymouth Satellite coupe (CC here). The differences between the two are major. No money from the licence fee was used to create this website. However, the U.S. government introduced new emission controls in 1972, and automakers had to step back. Texans Big Enos and Little Enos (Pat McCormick and Paul Williams respectively) deliver $400 boxes of Coors to a trucker named Bandit (Burt Reynolds) that they have to smuggle back to Atlanta. The film was written and produced before it was announced that the 1980 Republican National Convention would be held in Detroit rather than Dallas. 12/14 A Total Of 3 Trans Ams Were Destroyed During Filming via iconic premier Out of four Trans Ams used for the filming of Smokey And The Bandit, three were completely totaled in the process. This website is made by BBC Studios Distribution. I will confess, however, that it was a fun movie to watch and I have caught it on TV a time or two in recent years with my kids. However, the Trans Am was about more than just . With that in mind, Ill go with what Ive heard from my Georgia friends, to wit Sheriff Justices diablo sandwich is the Macon version, which is made with fried eggs and red hots. Please refresh the page and try again. The film was followed by another sequel three years later, Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983), in which Reynolds only made a brief cameo appearance, and Sally Field did not appear. The little packy there had Coors and even though it was horribly expensive, we thought it was the elixer of the Gods. There the former longtime company driver and his wife Cindi and daughter Brittney met Brad Wike of BPW Transport who owns the Bandit Rig and also hosts the annual Southern Classic Truck Show at his location in Lincolnton, North Carolina. So many classic quotes in this movie. It was also shown in the background during the first Smokey and the Bandit (1977) movie. COAL Update: 1963 Buick Riviera A Journey Of A Thousand Miles, Etc. Depends upon what he converted it from. In addition to the four Trans Ams, Needham also received two Pontiac LeMans models to serve as patrol cars in the movie. I think more of Smokey and the Bandit II and the awful part 3 were filmed largely in Florida, I dont know if I-75 construction was started by 1976-77, at least the section down to Miami part, when they filmed. When he sees Charlotte in tears, Bandit finally comes to his senses and apologizes. The dubbed version is awful. Misconception by casual novice car fans is that the Trams Am didnt sell well until S&B. Everything was calculated to one mile an hour. In my area, nearly every one listed is an ex cop car. So let's explore this car (and truck) heavy flick, all while giving those who have not seen it a glimpse into a movie . Watch on. To make this 2154-mile drive, round-trip, the, Il bandito e la madama (Italy) Mistrz kierownicy ucieka (Poland) 1971 AMC Ambassador Avco 1972 Buick Electra 225 1968 Buick Riviera 1973 Cadillac Coupe DeVille 1972 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 1971 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado 1975 Cadillac Funeral Coach Chevrolet Advance - Design 1977 Chevrolet Bison 1971 Chevrolet Blazer. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 14% based on reviews from seven critics. . Why isnt Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit 3? I was in the Air Force during this era, stationed in California. 2-Smokey and the Bandit II-Pretty bad, still has some funny campy crap, the Dom DeLuise Italian Dr. bit is ok, Gleason is still pretty funny, the Turbo T/A is pretty weak, but still cool to see. And Coors itself limited its distribution to west of the Mississippi. The movie is responsible for something, by 1979 Pontiac was selling 100,000 plus Trans Ams, not the whole Firebird line, JUST Trans Ams, Pontiac sold more T/As in 1979 than any of the cheaper Firebirds combined, Smokey and the Bandit had to have a hand in that. Unfortunately, three of the four cars were completely destroyed, with the bridge-jump car being totaled immediately when it hit the ground. 1500 gallons each of both day-glo orange paint and cow manure was dropped by five vintage World War II planes during the aerial battle sequence. The 1977 Firebird Trans Am, once owned by Burt Reynolds, fetched $495,000 at a Barrett-Jackson auction on Saturday. According to director Hal Needham in the DVD documentary, Pontiac gave them three Trans-Ams and two LeMans (Sheriff Justices squad cars) for the film. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Unfortunately, three of the four, The Pontiac Trans Am owned by Burt Reynolds and based on the one in his movie. Car movies are notorious for being tough on the very vehicles that give them their allure. Cledus accepts on Bandit's behalf, but adds that Big Enos should give them half in advance, to which they agree. In Smokey and the Bandit, there were eight 1977 Trans-Am cars and approximately the same number of police cars (but some said ten). I imagine that they borrowed some of the character from Sheriff JW Pepper from the 1973 and 1974 James Bond movies, Live and Let Die and The Man with the Golden Gun. The whereabouts of the remaining Smokey and the Bandit car, the one that was used to promote the movie, remained a mystery for years. With a big hood and a ton of power under the hood, the truck is inspired by a twin turbocharged Cummins< /b> hauled, with the occasional truck hauling a 3408 Cat instead. Around the 23 minute mark Burt Reynolds breaks the fourth wall when he looks into the camera and says "She still loves me" referring to Sally Field's character Carrie (Frog). Jason, Using the words nuance, subtlety, complexity and intellect to describe this movie, is, as they say, trs amusant! Additionally, he can give you several reasons why theres still no replacement for displacement. There's an odd bit, it doesn't seem like much, but when we go up on top of the Aircraft Museum we had to drive right to the very edge and it was a good hundred feet off the ground. And how were the Minis adapted for the stunts? I actually remember the construction of that segment of I-75, as it stopped around Tampa prior to that time. Many nameplates lost their performance credentials, and some of them, like the Ford Mustang, were redesigned without a V-8 engine. Later, as Bandit and Cledus enter Texas, Buford lures the Bandit into a trap: a mass of 40 Texas Patrol and Mountie cruisers pursuing him across a desert basin. A 1975 Pontiac Grand Prix with a Buick Electra behind it. We pick the brains of stunt driver-turned-actor David Salamone. I ended up buying a 1969 Cadillac ambulance a year later! Web. On 'Watch What Happens Live!' The 1977 model wasn't out yet when filming began, so General Motors provided 1976 cars with front clips from the soon-to-be-released 1977 update. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). I certainly hope the guy hired to drive that 74 Ford Torino wagon was paid well for his work. The group arrive at the pier in Miami only to find out the manifest is quarantined for three weeks. The problem was that when they opened the boot it was full of gold bars. For the 1980 film's main chase, 60 police cars were bought for $400 a piece, and outfitted. This was the lull between Gas Crisis I and II, 1976-78, and Boomers were wanting stylish cars. Stroker Ace is after S&B, 1983, and features the then new for 83 aero Fox Body Thunderbird. Mines never gone away, especially now that I spend every thee month in Memphis. Hes fodder enough for his own article at some point. [7], Burt Reynolds later said that he did not enjoy working on the film at all, feeling that it was an unnecessary sequel put together by Universal purely for money-making reasons rather than to try making a good picture.[8]. Is It Better to Do a Face Mask at Night or in the Morning? Who owns the Firebird from Smokey and the Bandit? I recall reading somewhere that the Trans Am that did the bridge jump had a tweaked Chevy 350 in it with a stick, and of course that it was WO after the jump. Despite the hiccups, the movie still promoted the 1977 model so well. The Smokey and The Bandit Trans Am well described Pontiac's racing spirit. One of those things that will make my kids think Im crazy some day. A diablo sammich from my understanding is a like a Sloppy Joe but with taco seasoning added in for spice. Doc later finds that Charlotte is pregnant and due to give birth any time, but Bandit is determined to stay on schedule. It had amazing throttle response, with a hit that either scared people, or made them giggle. I will confess that by the time this movie was out, I was a Mopar guy. Chevy almost did the same with its counterpart, the Camaro. Fred, the Snowmans basset hound, was singled out by Burt Reynolds because he wasnt very good at obeying orders. By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. There was, however, one "promotion" car that traveled hither and thither to plug the movie, which had an initial budget of $1,000,000 and ended up . That came out in 1981. In 1978, Pontiac delivered 93,351 Trans Ams and 93,944 regular Firebirds for a grand total of 187,295 cars. The Trans Am was a high-performance package for the Firebird, Pontiac's take on the Chevrolet Camaro. Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Jerry Reed) drives the truck while his good buddy Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds) serves as the "blocker," a fast car used to divert police attention away from payload. The Trans Am used in the movie was a 1976 model with the front end of a 1977 car. And it was worth it for the brand, as the nameplate sales decided following the redesign. This small modification was made to remind viewers of Trans Am models from 1969, which had in excess of 300 horsepower. The 'Smokey and the Bandit' Trans Am was a 1976 model, and three were destroyed. S/E T/A with the round headlights. He's a proud member of the TopSpeed team since early 2014. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. 5 The Aston Martin Chase In Goldfinger. It was the second-highest-grossing movie of 1977 after Star Wars. Gleason was a genius, but this was not one of his better outings I prefer the Hustler and Gigot. Web. This "new rig" suggests that the pair were successful in the "double or nothing" wager offered by the Burdettes at the end of the first film, where they were persuaded to drive from Atlanta to Boston and back in 18 hours to buy clam chowder and bring it to the Burdettes. That girl from the McCoys video probably looks like Paula Deen now. Big Enos Burdette is in a literal mudslinging campaign against John Conn for Governor of Texas. 3-Smokey and the Bandit 3-A crime against humanity, not even LSD can make it watchable since you spend the whole night fighting imaginary flying cobras with Jackie Gleasons head on them. Well, the interior shots were filmed in Twickenham Studios in a coach that wasnt moving. Some fellow classmates were extras on the film set, and it was a big deal around here at the time. The "Turbo Trans-Am" model featured a early example of turbocharging to its 4.9litre (301ci) engine. We drove everywhere in a train of these 10 cars. Some weren't that lucky and were discontinued altogether. There are an abundance of cars in this movie. Dont let his grumpiness fool you though; hes more than excited to provide the latest news and reviews on the most interesting cars in the industry. The value of their stock rose a startling 70 percent after the films release, and to show their appreciation to Reynolds, the president said they would give the actor a new car each and every year. We were allowed to rent Fiat 500s at a very good price, I think they were 1,000 Lira per day, so instead of being sensible and renting a couple of them for the gang, we got 10 of them one each. Final 'Smokey and the Bandit' movie for Sally Field. Despite growing up next to Cape, most of relatives are from the Mid-South. How many protons and electrons are in a nitrogen atom? As I am finishing this article while Big Truck Week is winding down, here is a Kenworth with a 1973 Dodge Polara patrol car. Anyone with insight is encouraged to share their knowledge on this. During this time, the Firebird also surpassed sales figures of the Chevrolet Camaro. Back then if Ida wanted an ex Police Car its be a CHP salvage Dodge or Plymouth ~ BIG roomy and _comfy_ , handled well and went like stink . What Conditions Require You to Report a Boating Accident to the Alabama Marine Police? What motor was in the Kenworth in Smokey and the Bandit? Another one is, Theres no way youre from my loins.. While the initial concern was it having a regional appeal, it would ultimately play as well in New York City and Chicago as it did Atlanta, Georgia, or Biloxi, Mississippi. Producer Hal Needham intended Smokey and the Bandit to be one of the best product placement films of all time. At the drive-in of all places. The movie featured a number of American country and western music stars who acted in the movie as well as sung. Great write up. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, The film was a sleeper hit, and following a poor initial performance, it went on to gross $126.7 million in North America, versus a budget of only $4.3 million. After failing to get the outgoing governor's endorsement, Big Enos overhears him on the phone ordering a crate in Miami to be delivered in nine days to the Republican National Convention in Dallas. That was the end of that. In the scene where "Frog" Sally Field meets back up with "The Bandit" Burt Reynolds, they meet at "Gator Motel". S&TB was filmed primarily off Route 400 in Georgia. Well they didnt, they were standard cars. To give the 1976 model the look of the upcoming vehicle, the automaker installed the bumper of the 1977 Pontiac. Her groom? Who was driving the car in Smokey and the Bandit? Thats all true. Other than Jackie Gleason upstaging every other cast member, the perceived star of the show is this 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. Hal Needham did pass away as someone earlier said. A large part of the filming was done at Burt Reynolds' ranch in Jupiter, Florida as well as in the north of Palm Beach County, Florida. I bought that car for under 1,000, but 45 years later I drove it at the Villa dEste concours and it was valued at 700,000. Amazing how a combination of desire and unobtainability can make an ordinary product special. According to Motorious, there are four Trans Ams in the film, but three were destroyed. Smokey and the Bandit 2: Original Soundtrack was released on vinyl, cassette tape and 8-track tape by MCA Records in 1980. Sales almost doubled in two years, which is a very big deal given that the Trans Ams 1978 facelift was rather minor save for the front fascia. The popularity of the 'Smokey and the Bandit' movies, Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), created a mini-cycle of similarly titled ''Smokey'' pictures such as Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983), Smokey Bites the Dust (1981), Smokey and the Judge (1980), Smokey and the Hotwire Gang (1979), Smokey and the Good Time Outlaws (1978) and 'The Great Smokey Roadblock' [See: The Great Smokey Roadblock (1977)]. Please to note I didnt say _I_ didnt like them as I was in my 20s then (early 1970s) so I hustled my self and my Russian girlfriend right on down to the cinema every time Burt Reynolds had a new flick , I personally loved his movies even the chick flicks like The Man Who Loved Women , I just had to hear earfuls from everyone else about how awful he / those movies were.. We even bought one of those Pontiac Police Specials on auction from.

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