Let us dissect this flick to better examine it. Luckily, both cars survived, and the Trans Am became famous only five years later. 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. 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. HotCars covers all things automotive: the latest auto news and informative reviews on the car, pickup truck and motorcycle industries. They destroyed all those cars in the films he said. Reynolds is referenced by name in several early episodes of the series. The unrestored car reportedly showed up on eBay back in 2015, but no one wanted to buy it. The T/A is just as quick as my present Challenger is, but the Challenger doesnt have anything close to the throttle response it had, and I miss it. And all of us easterners suddenly discovered it was nothing more than another Budweiser/Miller/etc. He has no less than four movies listed as coming out, and they run the gamut from romantic drama to family comedy to horror mystery to action thriller. A dastardly scoundrel? [32], After the debut of the film, the Pontiac Trans Am became wildly popular, with sales almost doubling within two years of the film's release. In its place was the nonsensical scum bum. The voice over actor? 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. [36] Another proposal, based more closely on images from the film and the shooting location of the scene (at an Old Hickory House restaurant in Georgia), is pulled pork and hot sauce on a hamburger bun. It just seems wrong to see that car in any fashion without hearing that song. An effort to recreate a jump from Smokey and the Bandit doesn't go perfectly when the car takes a rough course off the ramp. 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. I have worked a long time to eradicate the one I had but it still crops up periodically from exposure, like you experienced. In the original script, Carrie was called Kate while Big Enos and Little Enos were called Kyle and Dickey. However, the U.S. government introduced new emission controls in 1972, and automakers had to step back. A CC for a 1973 Grand Ville convertible can be found here. A 1975 Pontiac Grand Prix with a Buick Electra behind it. Your email address will not be published. [5] Reynolds revealed in his autobiography that Needham had written the first draft script on legal pads. One guy did a while ago a fan-made trailer of Smokey & the Bandit 4. That girl from the McCoys video probably looks like Paula Deen now. Field enjoyed making the film, but remembers that virtually the entire project was improvised. During a Q&A session on Saturday, filmed by ComicBook.com, a fan asked how many Trans Ams they burned through during production. I was 10 when this movie came out and I loved it then and I still do. The cars were originally ordered by a car rental agency in Phoenix, who refused to accept the . In a rare public appearance, Burt Reynolds revealed how many cars they wrecked making Smokey and However, the scene and the obscured expletive were played for comedy value and written as such, with the passing truck being the gag of the scene more than a way to avoid the censors. Even when the 2nd gen was already coasting on fumes, and defanged, and after the reasonably shitty Smokey and the Bandit sequel, Pontiac managed to pump out 107,000 Trans Ams in 1980 and 70,000 for the 2nd gen Trans Ams swan song in 1981. I had no idea that it was going to become a 70s classic. That is an excellent question. Unfortunately he passed away a few months ago or that would have been a great question to ask. Some weren't that lucky and were discontinued altogether. Heres how it works. via iconic premier. But while the cars shown in the movie look like 1977-model-year Trans Ams, they were actually 1976 models. The film was followed by two sequels: Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983). And theres this nugget from the director of the coming new Shazam movie; I first watched Smokey on quiet swing shifts from the drivers seat of a 1977 Pontiac Le Mans patrol car, parked by thr back fence of the drive-in theater at the far end of town. The man does get around. In October 2020, a Smokey and the Bandit TV series was revealed to be in development, with a pilot written by David Gordon Green and Brian Sides and also executive produced with his Rough House confederates Jody Hill, Danny McBride and Brandon James, as well as Seth MacFarlane and Erica Huggins of Fuzzy Door.[44]. A guy we knew drove his half-ton pickup from western WA to his reserve 2-week stint in his home state in California. The movie had an even bigger impact on the Trans Am. Now, having only three Trans Ams to wreck for a movie is minimalist, to say the least. Nuts about any form of classic motorsport and muscle cars, Ciprian's currently working on a time machine that would take him back to the 1960s for a long vacation alongside Dan Gurney and Jim Hall. [23] It then opened in just the South of the United States over the Memorial Day weekend and grossed $2,689,851 in 386 theaters. As Fred Flintstone was modeled off Ralph Kramden, the Jackie Gleason character from the 1950s television showThe Honeymooners, the tone and intonation of the dubbing was highly convincing. And then they made the biggest mistake of their lives and went to national distribution. The movie, in fact, caused sales of the . Bill Justis is the first name on the credits for the soundtrack, as he composed and arranged original music throughout the film. Here are 20 facts about the Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit. 1979 was equally successful for the brand, joining 1978 to create Pontiac's best sales years ever. The owner restored it and sold it at the Scottsdale 2016 auction by Barrett-Jackson. The comedy has been remastered to DVD standards. Two of the most high-octane films of 2015, Mad Max: Fury Road and Furious 7, each burned through hundreds (Furious 7 alone destroyed a reported 230 cars), but theyre far from the first to do so. 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. Did I mention how much I enjoy reading all the back stories and niggly details I can only get here ? It was his idea to have Junior alongside him throughout the film. Two units were 1974 models, as evidenced by standard silver Kenworth emblems on the truck grille, and one unit was a 1973 model, as evidenced by the gold-painted Kenworth emblem on the truck's grille, signifying Kenworth's 50 years in business. Smokey and the Bandit - Wikipedia According to Wikipedia, the second movie was able to get away with destroying an INSANE number of brand-new Pontiac LeMans police cars because Pontiac had them sitting around in the southwest region, having been sent to a rental fleet in Phoenix without a/c. The sticker read "T/A 6.6," which was a reminder of the engine's 6.6-liter displacement. 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. As if GM owes them something. This phrase achieved a level of popularity with children and the 2007 Hot Wheels release of the 1970s Firebird Trans Am has "scum bum" emblazoned on its tail. Soon as I get home, first thing Im gonna do is punch yo mamma in da mouth!. I remember that it had a bunch of trim badges on the center of the dashboard. 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. A strike at General Motors in 1972 limited the production of the Trans Am to less than 1,300 units that year, and Pontiac almost canceled the nameplate. Ive always loved this movie. Most of the dialogue was improvised on set. This reminds me of the classic introduction (actually written by Dick Cavett) said by Jack Paar on The Tonight Show: I was 3 years old when the original came out, and do not remember any of these details but, supposedly this was the first movie my parents ever took me to. Reynolds was the top box office draw from 1975 to 1982, then his movies really started to go downhill. Reynolds actively pushed for her casting after Universal initially resisted, claiming Field was not attractive enough. Actually, there were 2 future Dukes stars in the movie: Ben Jones (Cooter) was in an early scene helping Big Enos find Bandit. It airs on cable tv all the time. The hood scoop on these cars says "6.6 LITRE", which, in 1977, would have denoted an Oldsmobile 403-equipped car or a non-W-72, 180 hp version of the 400 Pontiac engine. [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. Of course, nobody else cared if it was in the trunk of the car when heading back home. This same restaurant was used for a scene in the 1983 Stephen King Movie Christine, which was ultimately cut in the final film (it can be viewed as a deleted scene on the DVD release of the film). [6] It would become one of Reed's biggest hits and his signature song.[7]. Banzai! There definitely was a halo cast around the 2nd gen F-body from its appearance in the movie, which I believe even did extend to the Camaro, which was probably the cheapest way to at least get some of the Bandit vibe, where there other factors too, probably, the 70s, disco, cocaine, mustaches and probably a bunch others.many thought that these car would be the last hurrah for anything performance oriented. 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) . Id been driving for years by the time I was 15, so I just wanted to complete the course with as little static as possible. 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. [21], Smokey and the Bandit was a sleeper hit. Director Hal Needham convinced Pontiac to feature the Pontiac Trans Am in the movie. Except for Gleason, the original actors mostly redubbed their lines for the television version. 12 A Total Of 3 Trans Ams Were Destroyed During Filming. [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. There's one black Trans Am left from 'Smokey and The Bandit.' It's I ended up buying a 1969 Cadillac ambulance a year later! [29] Alfred Hitchcock claimed that the film was one of his favorites. Dodge pitchman Sheriff Joe Higgins. Coors was legal in Missouri and illegal in Illinois. The Kenworth even achieves a trifecta of sorts, as it gave the first dent to Sheriff Justices LeMans. "Smokey and the Bandit Pursuit Pack" is formatted as a box set that in presented in full color in widescreen. A diablo sammich from my understanding is a like a Sloppy Joe but with taco seasoning added in for spice. Car movies are notorious for being tough on the very vehicles that give them their allure. 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. 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. By the end of June, it had played in major Southern markets, including Charlotte, Atlanta, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas, and Oklahoma City, grossing $11.9 million. Earlier DVD releases and the 40th Anniversary Blu-ray of the film have the original soundtrack intact. He is hired by Big Enos Burdette and his son Little Enos to transport a truck load of Coors beer from Texarkana, Texas, back to Georgia in 28 hours. Upon showing it to his friend, Reynolds told Needham that it was the worst script he had ever read, but that he would still make the movie. The commercials were produced after Stewart mentioned that the movie was one of his favorites.[39]. During their run, they are pursued by Texas county sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason). In the movie . The remaining Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am is currently owned by Florida car collector John Staluppi. So, for years one, two, and three, he got a shiny new Pontiac. (it did taste a lot better than Bud as I recall). That is why there are not any left. His personaround, dumpy, and clipping wordsreminds one of another fictional southern sheriff. In the U.K., the heavily dubbed version was shown for several years, particularly by the BBC. The theme music "East Bound and Down" was sung and co-written by Reed (credited under his birth name, Jerry Hubbard) and Dick Feller. S/E T/A with the round headlights. Called Smoke is the Bandit and playing on Stewart's nickname, the commercials featured him as the Bandit opposite commentators Darrell Waltrip as the Snowman and Jeff Hammond as Buford T. Justice. The soundtrack album was released in 1977 on vinyl, cassette, and 8-track through MCA Records. Well, the Corvettes success is clearly due to Corvette Summer, @Jim I remember that movie! The side vents give it away. Chevy brought back the Z28, and cant say S&B was reason. Launched on the big screen in 1977, Smokey and the Bandit revolves around two bootleggers as they attempt to illegally transport 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana to Atlanta. Anyone with insight is encouraged to share their knowledge on this. 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. 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. As such, it took a lot of sweet talking by former stuntman Needham for Pontiac to cough up three Trans Ams and three LeManses. In return, Reynolds portrayed Boss Hogg (originally portrayed by Sorrell Booke) in the film adaptation The Dukes of Hazzard (2005). how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 The cop cars with the hood scoops were ex-DeKalb County (Georgia) cruisers. This movie came out during my early formative years pre grade school. Im east bound, just watch ol Bandit run.. Only one survived, and it's priceless. Im gonna barbecue your ass in molasses., Re: The picture with 4 ladies and the wagon and van. At the time, it was illegal to transport Coors east of the Mississippi River and a series of other truckers had been apprehended for trying to accomplish this feat for the Burdettes. Free shipping for many products! The MASSIVE year over year sales gains came from somewhere. Conversely, I could go to Paducah and be asked where up north I was from. The remaining Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am is currently owned by Florida car collector John Staluppi. Theres really nothing like an old cop car. [8] Niver provided much of the western attire worn in the film, as well as the custom-made sheriff's uniforms (waist size 64") that Gleason wore throughout the film. Whaddya expect outta a guy what drives a conversion van? How much did the Smokey and the Bandit car sell for? S&TB was filmed primarily off Route 400 in Georgia. 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. Smokey and the Bandit was one of the most iconic movies of the 1970s. 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. I dont know if I ever saw one in real life at the time, although I was pretty young then. 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. Television censorship and alternative versions, second highest-grossing domestic film of 1977, AFI's 100 Years100 Heroes and Villains, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Smokey and the Bandit at 35: A Case for the Genius of Hal Needham", "Greyhound Lakewood Park (Atlanta, Georgia, USA)", "Burt Reynolds' old Pontiac Trans Am replica sold for $317,500", "An Interview With Jim Wangers: Pontiac and the 1970's", "How the Bandit, Coors and a bunch of Makers changed the course of booze history", "Various Smokey And The Bandit (Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)", "Smokey and the Bandit, Box Office Information", "Burt Reynolds at the 2015 Macon Film Festival", "Seven Quirky Lowbrow Favorite Films of Highbrow Directors", "Remembering Hal Needham and the Birth of Redneck Cinema", "Smokey and the Bandit Film from RadioTimes", "Burt Reynolds' Bandit Trans Am sells for $450,000", "See a "New" Vintage Bandit Trans Am Approved by Burt Reynolds Himself", "Diablo Sandwich Recipe from CMT's Reel Eats", "Diablo Sandwich / "Diablo & Doc" From Smokey & the Bandit, Identified!