I prefer Buford T. Justices 1980 Pontiac Bonneville and his 1983 Pontiac Bonneville in Smokey and The Bandit III. But would the black and gold T/As be as desirable today without the movie? That girl from the McCoys video probably looks like Paula Deen now. 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. Here are 20 facts about the Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit. After the movie did well, Pontiac gave Burt a free Trans Am to drive for a few years. A couple of years ago, I was sitting around on a lazy Saturday afternoon and it was on TV. The owner restored it and sold it at the Scottsdale 2016 auction by Barrett-Jackson. It outsold its Chevrolet Camaro counterpart for the first time. This movie was filmed in Georgia as well. I actually remember the construction of that segment of I-75, as it stopped around Tampa prior to that time. Sales jumped even higher in 1979 when Pontiac moved 117,108 Trans Ams. He paid $550,000 for it, likely a record for any Pontiac Firebird. [14] The Trans Ams were actually 1976-model cars with 1977 front ends (from 1970 to 1976, both the Firebird/Trans Am and Chevrolet Camaro have two round headlights and in 1977, the Firebird/Trans Am was changed to four rectangular headlights, and the Camaro remained unchanged). Now then you mentionned Sheriff JW Pepper, I decided to post some Youtube clips of him. Got Greyhound cutout decals on the rear side windows. I'm afraid I was responsible for a good few of those. Smokey & The Bandit is the greatest movie of the 20th Century! Neither Buford nor any other lawmen know of Snowman's illegal manifest, while Bandit is likewise unaware that Buford is chasing him because of Carrie, whose jumpiness inspires Bandit to give her the CB handle "Frog". New York, Its W.W. Henry Corden, the voice of cartoon character Fred Flintstone. Misconception by casual novice car fans is that the Trams Am didnt sell well until S&B. In 2006, a DVD re-release was issued of Smokey and the Bandit featuring a digitally remastered audio track with 5.1 Dolby-compatible surround sound. It was his idea to have Junior alongside him throughout the film. [10], Principal photography of the film began on August 30, 1976. I dont know if Ive ever seen the unedited version though, so I never realized the orignal phrase was sum bitch, I always assumed it was worse. Probably the most interesting thing about this movie and Burt Reynolds is that he is not originally a Southern boy at all he was actually born in the Wolverine State Lansing, Michigan to be precise. The film's editors, Walter Hannemann and Angelo Ross, were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing. In Smokey and the Bandit, there were eight 1977 Trans-Am cars and approximately the same number of police cars (but some said ten). how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 (No Ratings Yet) . Actually, there were 2 future Dukes stars in the movie: Ben Jones (Cooter) was in an early scene helping Big Enos find Bandit. It was destroyed in Smokey and the Bandit II and in a flashback scene in Part 3. Since mentioning the Kenworth, it must be noted it was a redecorator of the highest fashion. thebandit77transam 2009-04-14 14:04. andre1969 wrote Pontiac supplied 5 brand-new cars for "Smokey and the Bandit". For this purpose, they overdubbed dialogue deemed offensive, which was common practice. These Furys, as well as some of the LeMans units, have hood scoops. While it is doubtful Pontiac sold very many LeMans police packages, if one views this show as realistic, it would seem nearly every county and highway patrol in five states purchased one of Pontiacs heavy duty offerings. The pair arrive in Texarkana one hour early and load up the truck, but just as they head back, Carrie, a runaway bride, intercepts Bandit and jumps in his car, unwittingly making him an indirect target of Sheriff Buford T. Justice, a career Texas lawman whose witless son Junior was to have married Carrie. The uncut version is the best. This movie just showed how much an urban legend the supposed unobtainability had become. Nice article Jason I was a fan of this movie when it came out I look back now and think, wow, did I really think this was entertainment?????? Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox would bring several cases after playing on the West Coast, by stashing them in the equipment trunks on the team's plane. When it was over, I cried and cried and cried because I didnt want it to end. We stopped in that same Safeway later on the way back home from southern Cal, and they had a huge display of cases of Coors out on the floor near the checkstands. The soundtrack album was released in 1977 on vinyl, cassette, and 8-track through MCA Records. The films are indeed classic and very funny to this day. Jesus, did you just call Carmine a car novice? 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. The next movie, Smokey and the Bandit II, featured the same cast and an updated version of the Trans Am.The second version of the Smokey and the Bandit car was a 1980 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am that had a similar paint job, the updated front end, and gold "Turbine" style wheels.The 1980 models featured a turbocharged 4.9L Pontiac V8, but that still wasn't enough power for the stunt personnel. The original uncut sumbitch version. If you watched the second clip above, this truck should look familiar. The whereabouts of the remaining Smokey and the Bandit car, the one that was used to promote the movie, remained a mystery for years. As Frog leaves, we are introduced to Sheriff Buford T. Justice, played by Jackie Gleason. 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. Director Hal Needham convinced Pontiac to feature the Pontiac Trans Am in the movie. It was something regarding distribution limits. A CC for a 1973 Grand Ville convertible can be found here. News . Here's What We Know So Far, Jonathan Majors On Getting Jacked To Play Kang The Conqueror: Hes In The Avenger (Weight) Class, How 90 Day Fianc: The Other Way's Kris And Jeymi Might Have Already Spoiled Their Storyline, Why Creed IIIs Michael B. Jordan Avoided Saying Action Or Cut On The Set, Young Sheldon's Iain Armitage Reacting To Surprise Video From Survivor's Jeff Probst Is Like Sheldon Cooper Meeting Leonard Nimoy. Everything You Should Know About The The Trans Am From Smokey And The Bandit, 10 Most Potentially Unreliable Electric Vehicles According To Consumer Reports, 10 Reasons Why It's Time You Should Buy A Bagger, Here's How Solid-State Batteries Will Change EVs Forever. I was 10 when this movie came out and I loved it then and I still do. Smokey and the Bandit was all realistic and non fictional, and it still was a big hit that brought a lot of money to Hal Needham and the actors, to pay Pontiac back. Remember that Smokey and the Bandit was the 2nd biggest movie of the year, right after Star Wars. The 1978 Trans Am is an exact duplicate of the "Smokey and the Bandit" movie car, finished in black and gold with a screaming chicken on the hood. Put one on and the lady looks like shes not wearing a bra. The DVD set meets NTSC standards. As if GM owes them something. During this time, the Firebird also surpassed sales figures of the Chevrolet Camaro. If you notice there are several different angled skid marks on the road in the scene where the Bandit picks up Frog, you can see that they did a couple of takes of the T/A skidding to a stop and taking off again. For a little visual variety of sorts, and possibly an indicator of what car was about to be wrecked, the producers did branch out to use the 1975-era Plymouth Fury as another police car. Sales of the coupe exploded after the film hit the silver screen and set unprecedented records for both Pontiac and the Firebird nameplate. Dodge pitchman Sheriff Joe Higgins. Burt Reynolds plays truck driver Bo Bandit Darville. In the movie . Both sequels used another Trans Am, not a Cadillac Eldorado, as seen below. No more needs to be said. Well, the Corvettes success is clearly due to Corvette Summer, @Jim I remember that movie! With Reynolds agreement to do the movie, and his insistence upon casting Gleason as Sheriff Justice, the movie became a larger venture. It follows the adventures of a couple of truck drivers bootlegging Coors, which couldnt legally be sold East of the Mississippi River at the time. Soon as I get home, first thing Im gonna do is punch yo mamma in da mouth!. I distinctly remember my mother buying Coors and being asked if she lived in Missouri or Illinois by the cashier. The differences between the two are major. [17], In 1977, Coors was unavailable for sale east of Oklahoma. [22] It premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, where it performed badly. Smokey & The Bandit was the first of three movies in that franchise. One of our favorite movies. Funny that T/A isnt on the movie poster, considering it was the obvious star of the show. 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. He had quite a few orders for Coors beer, and when he stopped in Weed, CA, on the way home, he went into the Safeway and asked for twenty-four cases of Coors. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. That is why there are not any left. [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. East bound and down, loaded up and truckin She is a runaway bride, sitting on the side of the road in her 1973 Chevrolet Impala coupe. . My family did all grocery shopping in Cape. 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. Luckily, both cars survived, and the Trans Am became famous only five years later. A blackguard? $30.00 + $11.45 shipping. The original film had correct sounds that were usually recorded live as the action took place. The man does get around. Cause theyre thirsty in Atlanta [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. If I recall correctly, Firebirds in general (along with Camaros) were selling well prior to 1977, but the Trans Am was not the best-selling one. Smokey and the Bandit star Burt Reynolds passed away in 2018 . Needham stated that by the end of production, there really wasnt much left of any of the three. I still couldnt resist lighting up the Pontiacs tires while executing my T-turns. One guy did a while ago a fan-made trailer of Smokey & the Bandit 4. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, And lets not forget the Trans Am rental car Steve McQueen drove in his very last movie, The Hunter from 1980. In particular, the scene where Sheriff Justice unknowingly encounters the Bandit in the "choke and puke" (a roadside diner) was not in the original story but was rather Gleason's idea. A guy we knew drove his half-ton pickup from western WA to his reserve 2-week stint in his home state in California. These new models were built off the same Camaro platform, came with the Pontiac arrowhead, flaming bird, and Bandit logos, and the instrument panels, center consoles, and hood scoops emulating their 1977 counterparts, and were signed by Reynolds. "Smokey and the Bandit" stars Burt Reynolds, Sally . 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. In addition to the four Trans Ams, Needham also received two Pontiac LeMans models to serve as patrol cars in the movie. January 24, 2019 100 comments. Two cars were reportedly badly damaged in early stunts in the film, while a third car was completely destroyed during the famous bridge jump scene. [6] It would become one of Reed's biggest hits and his signature song.[7]. I dont know whose idea was to replace the wicked Two Lane Blacktop Chevy sourced engine sound effects with an authentic 200 horsepower muffled smogger 400, but that sumbitch is a scumbum!!! 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. how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2. In my area, nearly every one listed is an ex cop car. As a former Club Wagon pilot, I happen to like his Econoline. (Still). Not everything was Pontiac, as evidenced by this 1973 Plymouth Satellite coupe (CC here). Lets take a look at some more cars found in the movie. 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. It was the second-highest-grossing movie of 1977 after Star Wars. Unfortunately he passed away a few months ago or that would have been a great question to ask. Thats all true. I still think its more entertaining than Star Wars. The 1977 Firebird Trans Am once owned by Burt Reynolds was sold at auction Saturday for $495,000 at a sale held by Barrett-Jackson. I know that Trans Am that jumped that bridge broke the axle when it landed. And Burt may be from GA originally, but he calls Florida home, which is another reason I heard the movie was filmed here. Though no authoritative source identifies the composition of the sandwich, there are several possibilities. Nice job, I know its cheesy as heck but I love this movie and still tend to watch it when I see its on TV. While Sheriff Justice doesnt deal well with the pressures of high speed pursuit, as seen above, his Pontiac LeMans (CC here) withstands the most abuse of any car in this entire movie. I have only seen pieces of the second and none of the third; I plan to keep it that way. It was destroyed in Smokey and the Bandit II and in a flashback scene in Part 3. They destroyed all those cars in the films he said. Many people believed beforehand that the film was not right for . I loved the fact that Jackie Gleasons brown Lemans had a blue vinyl interior and it even had the luxury cushion steering wheel! They quickly escape in one of Big Enos's 13 Cadillacs as police flood the racetrack. So why did they go with sound effects instead of the Trans Am's actually exhaust noise? Of course, nobody else cared if it was in the trunk of the car when heading back home. The third-generation Firebird was introduced in 1982, a full two years later than planned. And back then what I wanted most of all was a highly customized Vette with exposed headlights. I did help a friend rebuild a late 60s 400 to replace the anemic 301 in his 79, Trans Am. Mrs Jason wont let me sell the sumbitch. Alan Reed was the original voice of Fred Flintstone; Henry Corden only took over after Reeds death in 1977. Its amazing, you should watch it. Coors is still brewed just outside Denver, Colorado. I remember borrowing my brothers red 1976 T/A to take a girl to the theater to see Smokey and the Bandit. The paint code for each truck was coffee brown with gold trims and the 48-foot (15m) mural trailer used was manufactured by Hobbs Trailers in Texas with a non-operational Thermo King Refrigeration unit. Want proof? A dastardly scoundrel? A 1975 Pontiac Grand Prix with a Buick Electra behind it. [4] Reynolds said in 2015 that he most enjoyed this film, and had the most fun making it, of his career.[26]. It cornered amazingly well for such a large car, but the posi rear end emitted ominous sounds so I passed on it (I was in college and didnt have any place to do major repairs). Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). I have worked a long time to eradicate the one I had but it still crops up periodically from exposure, like you experienced. At the time, Reynolds was the top box office star in the world. Burt Reynolds is originally a Georgia boy. I think even the 2nd gen Camaro enjoyed some of the blast wave from Smokey and the Bandit, 1979 was the best year ever for Camaros as well, with over 280,000 Camaros being sold. Somewhere along the line, the company acquired a new president who told Reynolds: Im the new president, and I dont like your movies. It was a powerful car, and I was glad to be issued it as my range car instead of one of the new but already disintegrating 1985 Oldsmobiles supplied by a local dealer that most people had. Future President Gerald Ford, after a trip to Colorado, hid it in his luggage to take it back to Washington, D.C. President Dwight D. Eisenhower had a steady supply airlifted by the Air Force to Washington. All I know is, at the time, if you lived in the east, Coors was some really special beer not unlike microbrews are now. Producers of Smokey and the Bandit wrecked 26 cars while filming the movie in 1977. [21], Smokey and the Bandit was a sleeper hit. radio to help him out. We gonna do what they say cant be done But while the cars shown in the movie look like 1977-model-year Trans Ams, they were actually 1976 models. And it was worth it for the brand, as the nameplate sales decided following the redesign. Gleason was a genius, but this was not one of his better outings I prefer the Hustler and Gigot. I had a 78 Trigger lookalike for a while in the mid 90s, until a wrist pin went out, ended up selling it to one of my brothers buddys uncles. It made no sense to me as it was fifty miles north and fifty miles south. I will confess that by the time this movie was out, I was a Mopar guy. A few other examples of sound effect replacement occur when the Bandit takes off after getting the reluctant Cledus involved in the bet, the Bandit comes to a screeching halt on a roadway moments before picking up Carrie, and when Buford's car top comes off. During their run, they are pursued by Texas county sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason). Heres how it works. The checker, not batting an eye, Do you want that chilled?.
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