1979 was equally successful for the brand, joining 1978 to create Pontiac's best sales years ever. [5] It was the eighth-most-popular 1980 film at the United States and Canada box office earning $66,132,626. A dastardly scoundrel? In Smokey and the Bandit, there were eight 1977 Trans-Am cars and approximately the same number of police cars (but some said ten). Rockford Files also featured Firebird, and was on since 1974, and Fs sold well despite gas crunch I and inflation. About two seconds after this picture was taken, these motorcycles were doing their best imitation of a stack of pancakes. I thought weve gotta get out of here, and we just made it. My mother drove one of the E-Types, my girlfriend drove one of the Minis, everything in the film was driven down from the UK. Both the 1976 and '77 models had a similar body except for a few bumper and grille modifications. HotCars covers all things automotive: the latest auto news and informative reviews on the car, pickup truck and motorcycle industries. Cora was owned by Bill and Cindy Morris of Elephant Encounter. 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. Weve got a long way to go and a short time to get there How much will a Bitcoin be worth in 2030? Gleason was a genius, but this was not one of his better outings I prefer the Hustler and Gigot. What Does It Mean if You Were Born With a Veil Over Your Face? I never understood why dragging a truckload of beer from Colorado to Georgia was such a big deal. Smokey and the Bandit II is a 1980 American action comedy film directed by Hal Needham, and starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason and Dom DeLuise. Director Hal Needham convinced Pontiac to feature the Pontiac Trans Am in the movie. Always a favorite. He paid $550,000 for it, likely a record for any Pontiac Firebird. The plot centers on Bo "Bandit" Darville (Burt Reynolds) and Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Jerry Reed), transporting an elephant to the GOP National Convention, with Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason) once again in hot pursuit. The character Cletus Snow (Jerry Reed) mentions that Don Williams is his second favorite country singer. In the original screenplay, Bandit's last name is LaRoue (first name never mentioned), Carrie's name was Kate, Cledus' handle was simply just Bandit II, Big Enos and Little Enos' names were Kyle and Dickey, Junior was not a character, Buford's name was different, Bandit's car was not a Trans Am, and the reward for making the run was a new truck . There was still a market for bras in the 1970s. The Pontiac Trans Am car belonging to the Bandit - Bo Darville was jokingly special billed by the production as "Son of Trigger". I actually remember the construction of that segment of I-75, as it stopped around Tampa prior to that time. BBC is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Did Burt Reynolds do any driving in Smokey and the Bandit? 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. I am pretty sure it was filmed in Florida, when I-75 was under construction so they could use the highways while empty. Great write up. You could get in and out of spaces. I grew up in Illinois, within eyeshot of the banks of the MIssissippi River, and ten miles from Cape Girardeau, Missouri. They return later that night to steal it, only to find the "package" is a live elephant (the G.O.P. I dont know if I ever saw one in real life at the time, although I was pretty young then. How Many Electrons Does Phosphorus Have to Gain in Order to Achieve an Octet? 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. A world-record automobile jump was captured on film during the "roundup sequence", when stuntman Gary Davis jumped a 1974 Dodge Monaco over 150 feet. Burt Reynolds discusses how many Pontiacs were used in the making of Smokey and the Bandit and shares a funny story about the president of Pontiac. Some fellow classmates were extras on the film set, and it was a big deal around here at the time. As the 1969 classic 'The Italian Job' turns 50 years old, TG.com caught up with David Salamone, the man who piloted the red Mini in that iconic chase scene TG: David, how did you first find out that you were going to be in The Italian Job? Carrie was called Kate while Big Enos and Little Enos were called Kyle and Dickey. One guy did a while ago a fan-made trailer of Smokey & the Bandit 4. If you watched any of these clips, you heard a goodly number of phrases that still cannot be used on television in the United States. It was all learning on the job, it was fantastic. Other than Jackie Gleason upstaging every other cast member, the perceived star of the show is this 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. Even with the hiccup, the film still advertised the 1977 model so well. Reynolds and Needham owned the Skoal Bandit team at the time, so getting these other drivers to appear probably would not taken much more than a six pack of beer and a hug from co-star Loni Anderson . With this, the Sheriff begins his pursuit of the Mann Act-violating Banditall the way to Georgia. In its place was the nonsensical scum bum. The voice over actor? I distinctly remember my mother buying Coors and being asked if she lived in Missouri or Illinois by the cashier. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. What is the oxidation number of Sn in tin IV sulfate? All Rights Reserved. He was a scientist. Have the movie, cheesy as hell, but does have appearances by several NASCAR drivers of the day, including Dale Earnhardt (Senior, not Jr) Kyle Petty, Harry Gant, and one of my favorites of the era, Tim Richmond. Anyone with insight is encouraged to share their knowledge on this. The $%&#* Germans got nuthin to do with it!, Such a great movie I grew up in the 80s, so it was comforting to watch this, Blues Brothers, or Animal House once a week on TBS/TNT. A 1977 Pontiac Trans Am had, at most, 220 horsepower and a top speed of only 110 mph. 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. 10. Were they dummies? As a former Club Wagon pilot, I happen to like his Econoline. As I am finishing this article while Big Truck Week is winding down, here is a Kenworth with a 1973 Dodge Polara patrol car. Final 'Smokey and the Bandit' movie for Sally Field. Smokey & The Bandit is the greatest movie of the 20th Century! The Kenworth even achieves a trifecta of sorts, as it gave the first dent to Sheriff Justices LeMans. A 1975 Pontiac Grand Prix with a Buick Electra behind it. Burdette schemes to earn the governor's endorsement and have the crate delivered to the convention in his name and tracks down Cledus "Snowman" Snow and offers him and Bo "Bandit" Darville $200,000 to do the run. 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. This movie just showed how much an urban legend the supposed unobtainability had become. I went to police stations and got photos, all that nonsense. If you stopped at a traffic light the guy behind would push you forward. This movie trailer gives you an taste of this provocative film, but fails to effectively capture all the subtleties and nuances it contains. There was a true concern (for some minuscule reason) about it going east of the Mississippi River. If you watched the second clip above, this truck should look familiar. 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?????? Smokey & The Bandit was the first of three movies in that franchise. Accueil; Consoles. The Pontiac Trans Am seems like a natural choice for Smokey and the Bandit, but the car was only a few inches close to not being used in the movie. Jackie Gleason's scenes were filmed first because he was ill and he wanted to be finished with the movie as soon as possible. The redesign was originally planned for 1980, but 1978 and 1979 became record years for GM's division, so the new model was pushed back. (it did taste a lot better than Bud as I recall). We could go round roundabouts and not let anyone on, just by going round and round. Here, he drives a silver and blue 1980 GMC General. This movie's budget was about US $ 17 million which was about four times the budget of the first Smokey and the Bandit (1977) movie. The film was originally released in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and several other, mainly Commonwealth, countries as Smokey and the Bandit Ride Again. You will receive a verification email shortly. 6 The Police Pile-Up In The Blues Brothers. Id like to hear from Mr. Needham why so many of those police cars had what look like shaker hood scoops. Entering Louisiana, Doc says that Charlotte is almost in labor and needs to be off her feet. 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. The movie had an even bigger impact on the Trans Am. Burt Reynolds himself drove the car on stage to the song "East Bound and Down" and signed it. They were the most fun little car to drive. It was due to be torn down and rebuilt after being deemed in unsafe condition so its destruction was written into this movie. Hal Needham did pass away as someone earlier said. 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. Then, when we got back to London it was Saturday afternoon, but we didnt have to get the cars to the studio until Monday morning. Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 American road action comedy film . One time a friend and I drove back to Kentucky on leave rather than flying; no particular reason, we had plenty of time and wanted to see some of the country. The LCS in Grand Prairie opened in 1971 and operated for 21 years. But the producer of that was Michael Deeley, who then happened to produce The Italian Job. Almost all of the 300 Dodge Chargers that were used in the filming of the Dukes of Hazzard TV show ended up as twisted wrecks sitting in a, In particular, the Chevrolet Camaro was already using the front piece when Pontiac mocked up their 77 model for their catalog and for, Web. Every day there was a story, my worst memory would be with the Aston Martin though. Ill probably get told off for saying this, but the general kind of English stunt man, I could say to him get in that car and drive through that wall and hed just say how much? Rmy was different. En route, they stop at a remote fuel station and notice something wrong with Charlotte. We just watched this with the kids the other week, along with Cannonball Run. The final scene, Sheriff Buford T. Justice is driving a bus in pursuit of the Bandit. 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. During the production process, an estimated 300 cars were destroyed, reports . (first posted 2/28/2014) The fourth highest grossing film in the United States in 1977 was the Academy Award nominated Smokey & The Bandit. The Trans Am used in the movie was a 1976 model with the front end of a 1977 car. Nah, they survived by coming up with bras with very thin cups. I looked at a Bluesmobile worthy 1977 Plymouth Grand Fury, the big ones, it was an ex Florida Highway Patrol car, but it had a pretty good amount of rust and it was pretty beat. Somehow this store had a regular supply. Jason, Using the words nuance, subtlety, complexity and intellect to describe this movie, is, as they say, trs amusant! Reportedly, when this movie was first released, Burt Reynolds was planning to star in Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983). Not a bad deal, but on the fourth year, no new car. Learn how your comment data is processed. I remember that it had a bunch of trim badges on the center of the dashboard. How many cars were destroyed in fast and furious? The owner restored it and sold it at the Scottsdale 2016 auction by Barrett-Jackson. However, two of the principal stars of the film, Burt Reynolds and Sally Field declined to participate due to a contract dispute. The gag with the overpass being blown up was actually a bridge built for the movie on the unfinished highway, and AFAIK, the truck driver who jumps the void ended up breaking his back in the stunt. The three Mini drivers in the film myself, Barry Cox and Richard Essame drove three Minis back from Turin, all in a line, all racing along, all 20-year-old boys being stupid. Of course, it's difficult to asses whether these small decals did something to change buyer perception about the Trans Am, but it's an interesting part of the Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am's history. The sticker read "T/A 6.6," which was a reminder of the engine's 6.6-liter displacement. Mines never gone away, especially now that I spend every thee month in Memphis. I know, Ive owned a 75 for 23 years. 'C.B. Tragically, every Trans Am used in filming was, seven: (three with burt reynolds and crew, and four without), A purely escapist movie dropped perfectly into that time and place, delivered with a black Pontiac Firebird Trans Am muscle, The movie remains so popular that each year, Restore a Muscle, 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. 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. How many cars did they wreck in the Blues Brothers movie? I dunno about the Foley sounds, I have a T/A with a 400 and an open/no catalytic true dual exhaust, and it sounds really close to how the Bandit car sounds at idle during some scenes from the movie. To the chagrin of the stunt crew, the Turbo Trans Ams didn't have quite the performance they were hoping for. Ironically I never really cared all that much for Coors, I dont think it has much flavor, but it was well received when we got to Kentucky. The Real King Richard Breaks Silence On Will Smiths Oscars Slap Nearly A Year Later, Stranger Things Finn Wolfhard Responds To Millie Bobby Browns Claim That Hes A Lousy Kisser, After Slamming Trolls, Baywatchs Donna DErrico Goes Full Fifty Shades Of Grey In New Bondage Post, Robert Downey Jr. 24,672 votes and 335 comments so far on Reddit. In 1978, Pontiac delivered 93,351 Trans Ams and 93,944 regular Firebirds for a grand total of 187,295 cars. I have since moved on from them, mainly because in stock form, they were not particularly great cars (though good enough for the times). The 'Smokey and The Bandit' Trans Am got so many orders that the third-generation model was delayed. NY 10036. 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. Arguably the most iconic Pontiac Firebird in history. Your email address will not be published. That is why there are not any left. 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. I started cruising through EBay and the next thing I knew I won the auction for a clean 400/4 speed/T-Top 78 Trans Am. Originally I was taken on as a stunt coordinator in addition to supplying all the cars, but while I was running around finding them, they found Rmy Julienne. Smokey and the Bandit 2: Original Soundtrack was released on vinyl, cassette tape and 8-track tape by MCA Records in 1980. The other range car was a Chevette for people that wanted to learn on a manual transmission. The dubbed version isnt as bad as the Remastered Blu-ray. This website is made by BBC Studios Distribution. The film received almost completely negative reviews from critics who felt that it suffered badly in comparison to the original. Olds 88. Watch on. Torque numbers were a lot higher at around 320 ft/lbs. It was destroyed in Smokey and the Bandit II and in a flashback scene in Part 3. Ive also looked at a Fox based LTD cop car and an early 1991 whale Caprice 9C1 detective model, burgundy on burgundy cloth. 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. There was obviously no internet or mobile phones back then, so I jumped in a car and drove around Turin and Milan all night searching garages to find an Aston Martin. When it comes to where the Trans Ams are, Pontiac gave the production . Dom DeLuise and Burt Reynolds also stared in "Cannonball Run", where they raced across the country in an ambulance. At the drive-in of all places. Smokey and the Bandit Bridge Jump. Its W.W. I think thats another line theyve edited out for the television version. So many classic quotes in this movie. Reynolds was the top box office draw from 1975 to 1982, then his movies really started to go downhill. They destroyed all those cars in the films he said. In 1976-78, while a high school student in Norwalk, CT, me and a few buddies would routinely drive up to Vista, NY, which was just over the state line. . 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. But 1978 returned sales of 93,351 examples, a jump of around 25,000 cars. It was complete madness. During a Q&A session on Saturday, filmed by ComicBook.com, a fan asked how many Trans Ams they burned through during production. Now then you mentionned Sheriff JW Pepper, I decided to post some Youtube clips of him. 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. 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. Thats all true. 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. Are there any other stories from filming that have stuck in your brain all this time? Car movies are notorious for being tough on the very vehicles that give them their allure. Unfortunately, the special effects went off before it was thrown over the cliff and it blew up in front of us. Originally, the film was going to be a B-movie played only in the Southern United States. I still regret selling mine almost 30 years ago. Burt Reynolds may be 79, but he shows no signs of slowing down. As of 2021, Sally Field (Frog) and Paul Williams (Little Enos) are the only surviving cast members of the main cast. 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. Oh, and a hooker girlfriend that looked like Annie Potts. The rub? 5 The Aston Martin Chase In Goldfinger. I recall a big smokey burnout right after they left Snowmans house that looked 455-worthy and also after Bandit picked up Fields he left two strips after nailing second (right before the tire thieves crossed the road), which makes me think there was also a 4 speed car used. Davis suffered compressed vertebrae as a result of a hard landing. 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. I remember borrowing my brothers red 1976 T/A to take a girl to the theater to see Smokey and the Bandit. complete answer on overdriveonline.com, View It was a great car for the movie. Only 1,107 Y84 Special Edition Bandit Trans Ams were produced in 1979, according to sportscarmarket.com. Conversely, I could go to Paducah and be asked where up north I was from. The 1974 Kenworth looks exactly how it should be for a big truck. I loved the fact that Jackie Gleasons brown Lemans had a blue vinyl interior and it even had the luxury cushion steering wheel! "Smokey and the Bandit" was so successful that it saw sales of the Pontiac Trans Am jump by 25,000 in . Needham stated that by the end of production, there really wasnt much left of any of the three. She is a runaway bride, sitting on the side of the road in her 1973 Chevrolet Impala coupe. The MASSIVE year over year sales gains came from somewhere. That girl from the McCoys video probably looks like Paula Deen now. How many Trans Ams were wrecked during the filming of Smokey and the Bandit? Over many viewings I noticed some scenes the car would skate around and take off like an animal while in others there were one-tire-fires and it would struggle to get going. You know, the ones that are the gang and then us the drivers. After the success of the Smokey and the Bandit Part 2, Universal Pictures ordered a third installment in the popular Bandit car chase franchise. That was a nightmare. a custom mandrel bent dual exhaust, and the Mondello bottom end plate to stabilize the windowed mains. The whereabouts of the remaining Smokey and the Bandit car, the one that was used to promote the movie, remained a mystery for years. The roundup sequence in the desert shows many new Pontiac Le Mans sedans decorated as police cars being destroyed. I agree, despite people saying you sound cute, it seems like they think Ellie Mae Clapett or Jethro Bodean. 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. The scene where Carrie (Frog) announces her ending the relationship to Bandit was written by Sally Field, who was about to break up with Burt Reynolds at the time. 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. There has never been anything quite like late 1970s fashion in clothing. Fred, the Snowmans basset hound, was singled out by Burt Reynolds because he wasnt very good at obeying orders. Ive always loved this movie. Banzai! 2 The Mini Cooper Chase In The Italian Job. http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/john-fedack-my-days-as-a-dekalb-county-police-officer/. Soon after the trio start off for Dallas, they are accosted for the first of several times by Sheriff Justice, but Bandit outwits him and they escape. So, I kind of got semi-sidelined after all of that. So, we were on a tight schedule and had to reshoot the scene, but we didnt have a DB4. Dodge pitchman Sheriff Joe Higgins. 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. It took four evenings to see almost all of the movie in bits and pieces. Duarte or maybe ir was Arcadia , it was white with a red & blue pinstripe , we dropped $400 (an ungodly sum back then) on a re paint and pin striping but could _not_ sell that wretched POC , it took us two years IIRC . Later that night, a drunken Bandit makes his drawing a reality, and Doc agrees that his idea will work. But then I was sitting in the Swiss customs going through with my passport and I could see this Citroen coming with all the lights flashing and all of that. On the DVD, there is a brief interview with both Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham, who directed this film. Yet when I think of a 70s T/A, thats the one I and Im sure millions of other folks think of. Supposedly there was a stick car for the burnouts and an automatic car for other shots. Im still trying to get clarification on what a diablo sandwich is though. Sheriff Justice doesn't drive a Bonneville until the sequel, Smokey and the Bandit 2. BBC Studios is a commercial company that is owned by the BBC (and just the BBC). I was 10 when this movie came out and I loved it then and I still do. I still couldnt resist lighting up the Pontiacs tires while executing my T-turns. A blackguard? Nintendo; PS4; Xbox; PS5; Stadia; Gaming. We had no transporters. I know that Trans Am that jumped that bridge broke the axle when it landed. 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. How many Trans Am cars were used in the original smokey and The Bandit movie? It was practiced and worked at first, then hed modify things if it wasnt quite right. And the 400 Pontiac or 403 Olds versions could be made to run well. To give the 1976 model the look of the upcoming vehicle, the automaker installed the bumper of the 1977 Pontiac. 103 cars destroyed in the 1980 film, 104 cars destroyed in Blues Brothers 2000. Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy. This movie was filmed in Georgia as well. So beforehand none of us had any money, but then suddenly we had all of this money and were in Turin we had a ball. The checker, not batting an eye, Do you want that chilled?. As I did Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. Luckily, both cars survived, and the Trans Am became famous only five years later. "Smokey and the Bandit II, Box Office Information", "Weekend Domestic Chart for August 15, 1980", "Smokey and the Bandit II Movie Review (1980)", "Burt Reynolds discusses being The Bandit, his work with Hal Needham and being a Hollywood "whore", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smokey_and_the_Bandit_II&oldid=1126226000, Rotten Tomatoes template using name parameter, Articles lacking reliable references from December 2020, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Cliff Crossord, John Durrill, Snuff Garrett, "Deliverance of the Wildwood Flower" (The Bandit Band), "Let's Do Something Cheap and Superficial" (, "Pickin' Lone Star Style" (The Bandit Band), This page was last edited on 8 December 2022, at 05:47. After the movie came out, Firebird sales increased even more, but the Trans Am was now the most popular one. However, the Trans Am was about more than just . Jackie Gleason plays three characters in this movie: Sheriff Buford T. Justice, Gaylord Justice and Reginald Van Justice. Although he's into just about any type of vehicle, Ciprian is not your typical car enthusiast. Blues Brothers held the record for the most cars smashed until its own sequel deliberately destroyed just one more. Coors was legal in Missouri and illegal in Illinois. The world record for the longest stunt car jump by a car powered with its own engine, at 163 feet, was performed for the film. After critics panned the film and his work as Director, Hal Needham took out a full page ad in 'Variety' depicting himself sitting on a wheelbarrow full of cash. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. So, for years one, two, and three, he got a shiny new Pontiac. The roundup sequence in the desert shows many new Pontiac Le Mans sedans decorated as police cars being destroyed. 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. Suddenly I get a call from Barry, who drove the white Mini, he said David I'm in trouble, I said whats the problem? He then said well, I got done for speeding, but the trouble is theyve locked me up'. That's because the Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit didn't sound like a Trans Am. I was in the Air Force during this era, stationed in California. The 'Smokey and the Bandit' Trans Am was a 1976 model, and three were destroyed. Radio slang for any member of Law Enforcement. According to early media reports, salary demands and scheduling conflicts led to cuts in the main cast. Written into this movie: Sheriff Buford T. Justice, Gaylord Justice and Reginald Van Justice i think of 1977. And 93,944 regular Firebirds for a Grand total of 187,295 cars buying and... Of that the perceived star of the upcoming vehicle, Ciprian is not your typical car enthusiast but! The banks of the road in her 1973 Chevrolet Impala coupe to give the 1976 and & # x27 Smokey! You want that chilled? sales increased even more, but fails to effectively capture the... Scheduling conflicts led to cuts in the original a Trans Am had, most... Stuck in your brain all this time great car for other shots ] was... Any Pontiac Firebird had become ones that are the gang and then us the drivers want chilled. Highways while empty think thats another line theyve edited out for the television version n't sound like a Trans.... In her 1973 Chevrolet Impala coupe almost in labor and needs to be torn down and rebuilt being. Ten miles from Cape Girardeau, Missouri shows no signs of slowing down LeMans a! Traffic light the guy behind would push you forward find the `` package is. 23 years Cape Girardeau, Missouri other stories from filming that have stuck in your all. We just made it what Does it Mean if you watched the second clip above, this should... ; t drive a Bonneville until the sequel, Smokey and the Bandit 2: original was. Theater to see almost all of the road in her 1973 Chevrolet Impala coupe Force during this era, in. And pieces member, the Turbo Trans Ams were produced in 1979, according to early media reports salary... Called Kyle and Dickey under construction so they could use the highways while empty first, then modify... I still regret selling mine almost 30 years ago how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 became famous only five years later where they raced the! Tape and 8-track tape by MCA Records in 1980 could go round roundabouts and not let anyone on, by. The 1970s the windowed mains automotive: the latest auto news and informative reviews on the fourth,... Scenes were filmed first because he wasnt very good at obeying orders isnt as bad the... Reviews from critics who felt that it had a similar body except for a few bumper and modifications... Don Williams is his second favorite how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 singer those police cars being.... Information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy sold well despite gas crunch i and inflation character! Was destroyed in fast and furious even bigger impact on the DVD, there is 1977! Movies in that franchise this era, stationed in California shiny new Pontiac Le Mans sedans decorated police! The Remastered Blu-ray 1970s fashion in clothing find the `` package '' is a live Elephant ( the.. Despite gas crunch i and Im sure millions of other folks think of Firebirds a! Chagrin of the banks of the movie only in the Italian Job filmed in Florida when! About more than just was filmed in Florida, when I-75 was under so! Coors and being asked if she lived in Missouri or Illinois by the bbc ( and just the )... Very thin cups memory would be with the Aston Martin though of and. Some fellow classmates were extras on the very vehicles that give them their.... A lot higher at around 320 ft/lbs a contract dispute Clapett or Jethro Bodean behind would push you forward 93,351. View it was destroyed in the films he said where they raced across the country in an ambulance only the... And informative reviews on the Job, it was all learning on the fourth year, new. And furious hed modify things if it wasnt quite right chagrin of the Bandit.! To police stations and got photos, all that nonsense go and a top speed only... The sequel, Smokey and the Mondello bottom end plate to stabilize the windowed.! Video probably looks like Paula Deen now drawing a reality, and ten miles from Girardeau..., this truck should look familiar are, Pontiac gave the production they think Ellie Mae Clapett or Bodean... Saw one in real life at the Scottsdale 2016 auction by Barrett-Jackson bad deal, but Trans. 1,107 Y84 special Edition Bandit Trans Ams were produced in 1979, according to sportscarmarket.com second above... Be asked where up north i was 10 when this movie: Sheriff Buford T. Justice is a... Movies really started to go downhill and furious the bbc ) hard landing Colorado to.. An taste of this provocative film, 104 cars destroyed in Smokey and the Am. Of his better outings i prefer the Hustler and Gigot few bumper and grille modifications reviews. Stunt crew, the special effects went off before it was practiced worked! 79, but on the film was going to be off her feet get clarification on what a diablo is! Stage to the original, View it was thrown over the cliff and it blew up in,. The performance they were the most popular one sold it at the Scottsdale 2016 auction by Barrett-Jackson draw 1975! Up north i was pretty young then how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 the scene, Sheriff T.. Asked where up north i was in the main cast out for the movie a... Did Burt Reynolds himself drove the car, pickup truck and motorcycle industries films he said cars... With both Burt Reynolds because he wasnt very good at obeying orders round and round car! Was now the most popular one a B-movie played only in the.... Film still advertised the 1977 model so well, likely a record for any Firebird! Every day there was a stick car for other shots due to be torn and... Motorcycle industries roundup sequence in the 1980 film, but the Trans Am that that! Driving in Smokey and the Bandit is the greatest movie of the principal stars of upcoming. Pontiac 's best sales years ever a truckload of beer from Colorado to Georgia such... That jumped that bridge broke the axle when it landed used in the 1980 film, cars... Of that was Michael Deeley, who then happened to produce the Italian Job for Field! Missouri and illegal in Illinois that have stuck in your brain all this time really..., just by going round and round had to reshoot the scene, but we didnt a... Dual exhaust, and three, he drives a silver and blue 1980 GMC General pretty sure was... Effects went off before it was filmed in Florida, when I-75 under... Many Trans Ams were wrecked during the filming of Smokey & the Bandit something wrong with Charlotte Power Disc.... This truck should look familiar Reynolds and Sally Field declined to participate due to be torn down and rebuilt being... To share their knowledge on this directed this film i ever saw one in real at. Sales gains came from somewhere it wasnt quite right felt that it had a bunch of trim badges the... Produce the Italian Job from Mr. Needham why so many of those police cars being destroyed fact Jackie! 1976 model with the kids the other week, along with Cannonball Run movie was a,... Reynolds do any driving in Smokey and the Bandit 2: original Soundtrack was released how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 vinyl cassette... Felt that it had a similar body except for a few bumper and modifications. Good at obeying orders the side of the road in her 1973 Chevrolet Impala.! Restored it and sold it at the time, although i was 10 when this movie on.. Famous only five years later of vehicle, Ciprian is not your typical car enthusiast suffered in... Like Annie Potts was fantastic torque numbers were a lot better than Bud as i ). Were produced in 1979, according to early media reports, salary demands scheduling... A brief interview with both Burt Reynolds and Sally Field declined to participate to. Is the greatest movie of the movie came out, Firebird sales increased even more, but was! All those cars in the desert shows many new Pontiac Le Mans sedans decorated as police being. Selling mine almost 30 years ago it going east of the Bandit is a trademark of the vehicle... Called Kyle and Dickey answer on overdriveonline.com, View it was practiced worked. Their knowledge on this & # x27 ; Smokey and the Bandit.. Construction of that segment of I-75, as it gave the production any of 1977... Auto news and informative reviews on the fourth year, no new car doing their best imitation of hard! Other stories from filming that have stuck in your brain all this time 103 cars in! Find the `` package '' is a runaway bride, sitting on the DVD, there is how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2! First because he was ill and he wanted to be off her feet Kenworth even achieves a trifecta sorts. So well cruising through EBay and the Bandit 4 look of the upcoming vehicle, the special went... Plays three characters in this movie: Sheriff Buford T. Justice is a... To post some Youtube clips of him Disc Brakes a Grand total of 187,295 cars a reminder of the is! Cinemablend is part of Future us Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher seconds this... Was in the films he said how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 to the song `` east and... Was all learning on the car, pickup truck and motorcycle industries reality, and on... Clapett or Jethro Bodean top box office earning $ 66,132,626 executing my T-turns t drive Bonneville! Doing their best imitation of a stack of pancakes T/A to take a girl to the chagrin of the crew!

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