Below is probably another DeKalb County cop car. [4] Just two days before production was to begin, Universal sent a "hatchet man" to Atlanta to inform Needham that the budget was being trimmed by $1 million. The roundup sequence in the desert shows many new Pontiac Le Mans sedans decorated as police cars being destroyed. [35], The "diablo sandwich" ordered by Sheriff Justice in the Arkansas barbecue restaurant scene has entered popular culture as a minor reference to the film. I was to be paid a salary plus own 7% of the profits. Banzai! [18] A 1974 Time magazine article explains that Coors was so coveted for its lack of stabilizers and preservatives, and Coors Banquet Beer had a brief renaissance. How many cars destroyed Blues Brothers 2000? Sheriff Justices son, Junior. This small modification was made to remind viewers of Trans Am models from 1969, which had in excess of 300 horsepower. Many nameplates lost their performance credentials, and some of them, like the Ford Mustang, were redesigned without a V-8 engine. Misconception by casual novice car fans is that the Trams Am didnt sell well until S&B. Pontiac gave Needham a total of four cars, three to use in the movie, and one as a promotional vehicle to drive around and advertise Smokey and the Bandit following its release. In its place was the nonsensical "scum bum." . Let us dissect this flick to better examine it. [40] Major portions of the audio background have been modified with different engine sounds or tire squeals from the original film. The remaining Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am is currently owned by Florida car collector John Staluppi. Many people believed beforehand that the film was not right for . As Frog leaves, we are introduced to Sheriff Buford T. Justice, played by Jackie Gleason. I have to admit, thats a pretty fantastic story, and as a major movie star, Im sure Burt Reynolds was able to figure out another way to acquire a means of transportation. That song often pops into my head at the start of long drives. Burt Reynolds' 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Sold for $240,000. One guy did a while ago a fan-made trailer of Smokey & the Bandit 4. Smokey and the Bandit was the second highest-grossing domestic film of 1977 in the United States. However, the U.S. government introduced new emission controls in 1972, and automakers had to step back. A group of Trans Am owners and fans of the movie take part in an annual road trip from Texarkana to Jonesboro, recreating the route taken by the characters in the film. Several other groups, such as the U.S. rock band Tonic and U.K.-based country cover band We Be Ploughin' have also covered it. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Except for Gleason, the original actors mostly redubbed their lines for the television version. Field enjoyed making the film, but remembers that virtually the entire project was improvised. How many smokey and the bandit movies are there? Lets take a look. Before Gleason was cast in the film, Richard Boone was originally considered for the role of Buford T. http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/john-fedack-my-days-as-a-dekalb-county-police-officer/. We just watched this with the kids the other week, along with Cannonball Run. It had not been used for some time and was repainted for the film. Tragically, every Trans Am used in filming was destroyed. I remember reading somewhere that one of the cars was equipped with a 455 for some of the higher speed scenes. The truck at the shell station is actually a 75 or 76 Toyota Hilux. Im gonna barbecue your ass in molasses., Re: The picture with 4 ladies and the wagon and van. And it was worth it for the brand, as the nameplate sales decided following the redesign. The films are indeed classic and very funny to this day. A 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville, seen toward the end of the movie. No, the T/A was selling fine before the movie, and the black/gold package dates to 1976, a full year before the movie was out in summer 77. Wanting to promote the aesthetically modified 1977 model, but lacking cars owing to delays in production start-up, GM modified four 1976 Trans Ams with '77 spec bodywork and decals for the film. As a kid that T/A, the General Lee, and KITT were largely responsible for defining my taste in cars and that carries through to today. Jesus, did you just call Carmine a car novice? While I have read undocumented accounts of there being more than three Trans Ams, Needham stated three is all that were used. Wouldnt the accent give you away? [9] Though the film Moonrunners (1975) is the precursor to the television series The Dukes of Hazzard (19791985), from the same creator and with many identical settings and concepts, the popularity of Smokey and the Bandit and similar films helped get the Dukes series on the air. For this purpose, they overdubbed dialogue deemed offensive, which was common practice. Im probably in the minority as usual, but I prefer the Black and Gold 50th Anne. In a rare public appearance, Burt Reynolds revealed how many cars they wrecked making Smokey and When it is finally torn off along with the car's roof in the impact with the girder, the missing fender still reappears later on in the film. I have always loved this movie, watched it dozens and dozens of times on TV, video, DVD, laserdisc, almost any form of media. [33] Reynolds was given the 1977 vehicle used during promotion of the film as a gift, though the car itself never actually appeared in the film. Behind Sheriff Justices Pontiac, there is a nice looking 1965 or 1966 Ford Mustang fastback and a Toyota pickup. News . I think thats another line theyve edited out for the television version. How much did the Smokey and the Bandit car sell for? Somebody locally is selling a Regis Plymouth Fury ex Florida Police with gasping 318 V8, he will for the right money toss in a 440 with it. Want proof? [11] The movie was primarily filmed in Georgia, in the cities of McDonough, Jonesboro, and Lithonia. Put one on and the lady looks like shes not wearing a bra. Although 1977 models also featured 6.6-liter engines, they were rated at only 200 horses. Chevy almost did the same with its counterpart, the Camaro. The Trans Am was a high-performance package for the Firebird, Pontiac's take on the Chevrolet Camaro. Im east bound, just watch ol Bandit run.. It airs on cable tv all the time. Frog not included. Five-string banjo player Bobby Thompson is prominent toward the end of "East Bound and Down". I had no idea that it was going to become a 70s classic. The unrestored car reportedly showed up on eBay back in 2015, but no one wanted to buy it. Regular film-goers might not pay much attention to the car's engine sound, but gearheads will quickly notice that something is off. Today, Smokey and the Bandit remains one of the most popular car action films ever made, and the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am will forever be wed to the movie. In 1991, it was arranged for orchestra by Crafton Beck and recorded by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for their album Down on the Farm. Anyone with insight is encouraged to share their knowledge on this. A Pontiac wagon from earlier in the decade. Needing a fast set of wheels to distract law enforcement, Reynolds character purchases this 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am. Its lack of additives and preservatives meant that Coors could spoil in one week without refrigeration, explaining the film's 28-hour deadline. Most of the shots that show Reynolds and Field in the car talking were filmed with the T/A being towed along on a lowboy trailer. Chevy brought back the Z28, and cant say S&B was reason. Wealthy Texan Big Enos Burdette and his son Little Enos have sponsored a racer in Atlanta's Southern Classic and want to celebrate in style when he wins, so they are seeking a trucker willing to bootleg Coors Beer to Atlanta for their refreshment. And he succeeded as far as the Pontiac Trans Am is concerned. Sally Field and Burt Reynolds began a relationship after meeting on set. I developed a pretty good bootheel accent during my time in New Madrid. These were the cans with the two circular push buttons on top instead of pull tabs. ARRGH! It just seems wrong to see that car in any fashion without hearing that song. The scene where Sheriff Justice's car has the door knocked off by a passing . Im still trying to get clarification on what a diablo sandwich is though. The trip to Texarkana is uneventful; soon after leaving for the return trip to Georgia, The Bandit encounters Frog, played by Sally Field. Trigger had a big impact on my taste in cars with the Trans Ams of the late 70s being my favorite. I still couldnt resist lighting up the Pontiacs tires while executing my T-turns. That girl from the McCoys video probably looks like Paula Deen now. Burt Reynolds as the Bandit can always count on the truckers on the other end of his C.B. But that doesnt make for an interesting movie premise. This was the lull between Gas Crisis I and II, 1976-78, and Boomers were wanting stylish cars. The 403 Olds T/A was a dog, stock, but with some easily obtained parts, could be turned into a very nice low 13 second tire melter. 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. Here's everything you should know about one of the most iconic movie cars ever. I will confess that by the time this movie was out, I was a Mopar guy. Back in 1984, I went to look at a late 1970s Plymouth cop car as well. Needham had great difficulty getting any studios or producers to take his project seriously, being better known in the film industry as a stuntman. But the true standout of Smokey and the Bandit is the car driven by The Bandit, the iconic black and gold 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. When Smokey and the Bandit first aired on American network television in the early 1980s, censors were faced with the challenge of toning down the raw language of the original film. They called out equipment like Radial Tuned Suspension, Calibrated Speedometer, and Power Disc Brakes. Maybe even the dual exhausts and the 400-4 merited badges. [37], The first run in 2007 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the movie, The Bandit Run was the brainchild of Dave Hall, owner of Restore A Muscle Car. and used hard. During their run, they are pursued by Texas county sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason). On top of Burt Reynold's top-notch acting, Smokey and the Bandit is also famous for the Pontiac Trans Am that the actor drove throughout the film. The Bandit takes the bet on the risky and unprecedented task, and recruits his partner Cledus "Snowman" Snow to drive the truck, while Bandit drives a black Pontiac Trans Am bought in advance from the Burdettes as a "blocker" to divert attention away from the truck and its illegal cargo.

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