When it comes to the cars of “Smokey and the Bandit,” one races to memory faster than any other, Bandit's legendary black 1977 Trans Am. The now iconic Pontiac Firebird Trans Am exuded power, style, and an undeniable sense of freedom, making it an instant hit among car enthusiasts.
'Smokey and the Bandit' became 1977's second best grossing film, only losing out to Star Wars. It also made the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am an American icon. Drivers dressed up like Bandit and wanted to drive the same car.
What engine did the Smokey and the Bandit car have?
Under the hood of the incredible Trans Ams used for the film sat a 400 ci V8 engine, which pushed out somewhere in the realm of 200 horsepower. Torque numbers were a lot higher at around 320 ft/lbs. Unlike many iconic muscle cars that we've all come to know and love, the Trans Am was not that fast.
Smokey and the Bandit II reprised Burt Reynolds in the titular role, again costarring with a black-and-gold Pontiac Trans Am, this time a Turbo model. This 1980 Turbo Trans Am wears that same livery and is signed by Reynolds himself.
Under the hood of the incredible Trans Ams used for the film sat a 400 ci V8 engine, which pushed out somewhere in the realm of 200 horsepower. Torque numbers were a lot higher at around 320 ft/lbs. Unlike many iconic muscle cars that we've all come to know and love, the Trans Am was not that fast.
How many cars were crashed in Smokey and the Bandit?
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. The three movie cars were destroyed during various stunts, so the promo car is the only surviving Trans Am connected to this film.
When Carrie first gets into the Trans Am, she exclaims "Are we really going a hundred and ten?" In reality, they were going 110 kilometers per hour which is only 68 miles per hour and no cause for alarm.
Gene Kennedy owns the original Smokey and the Bandit car. He owns Bandit Movie Cars and is a longtime friend of Burt Reynolds, who starred in the iconic movie.
The Coors Brewing Company, based in Golden, Colorado, had limited its distribution to the western states, primarily due to logistical and quality control reasons [1]. As a result, Coors beer was not officially licensed to be sold east of the Mississippi River [1].
Why was it illegal to sell Coors east of Mississippi?
Its exclusivity added to the pleasure of buying and drinking it. The lack of Coors beer in the East back in the 70's had nothing to do with “not being allowed”. It was simply a matter of distribution and capacity. There was a time when Coors didn't produce enough beer to provide availability east of Kansas City.
Why did Burt Reynolds not do Smokey and the Bandit 3?
Original "Smokey and the Bandit" director Hal Needham and its big star Burt Reynolds were not interested in making this movie as they were developing another project, Stroker Ace (1983). Reynolds ended up making a very brief cameo appearance though, in the final scene.
The movie features two iconic vehicles: 1977 Pontiac Trans Am and a 1974 Kenworth W900A tractor. "Bandit," (Reynolds), drove the Trans Am to serve as a distraction to police while his teammate drove the Kenworth tractor-trailer with the illegal beer.
But it's what's underneath the exaggerated and iconic appearance that gives the car substance. The chassis is thoroughly updated with tubular A-arms on the front suspension, oversize Baer Racing brakes all around and a 550-horsepower, 7.0-liter GM LS-7 crate motor under the hood.
Following the “Gunsmoke” star's death, Field did not attend his funeral, but did release a statement. “There are times in your life that are so indelible, they never fade away. They stay alive, even 40 years later,” the “Amazing Spider-Man” actress told Page Six at the time.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino recalled Reynolds' last moments. He told Esquire “that the last thing he did just before he died was run lines with his assistant. Then he went to the bathroom, and that's when he had his heart attack.”
Actor Burt Reynolds, who played good ol' boys and rugged action heroes in an acting career that spanned seven decades, has died. Reynolds died Thursday morning at a Florida hospital following a heart attack. He was 82.
Reynolds had the biggest hit of his career with a car-chase film, Smokey and the Bandit (1977), directed by Hal Needham, and co-starring Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, and Sally Field.
Reynolds' niece, Nancy Lee Brown Hess, is the personal representative of Reynolds' estate. Why would Burt Reynolds intentionally leave his son out of his will, and instead, provide for him with a trust?
How much of his own stunt driving did Burt Reynolds do in Smokey & The Bandit? Some. Some of it was done by Hal Needham-Burt's longtime stunt double, who also directed “Bandit”.
