In the early summer of 1977, Burt Reynolds burst onto the movie screens as Bo Danville "The Bandit" in the first movie in the Smokey And The Bandit trilogy. Burt Reynolds had previously starred in many movies since his debut in 1961, but many will always remember him as "The Bandit".
Smokey And The Bandit became the first movie for which he famously became linked with cars, one car in particular - 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, sporting the iconic black and gold livery.
It wouldn't be his last car-themed movie, as he would go on to star in Hooper and two The Cannonball Run movies.
Here are little-known facts about Burt Reynolds' Pontiac Trans Am as well some extra tidbits about the other cars he owned throughout his life and career.
15. 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am - Black And Gold At Last
Eletge.cat
Part of the original agreement for the movies was that Burt Reynolds would receive one of the same make and model cars for his personal collection. Unfortunately, it seems that this was forgotten somewhere along the way. However, at a later date, he did acquire a later model - which at his request had some modifications made to make the car more useable everyday.
14. Engine And Performance (Or Lack Of It)
Hitmans Pontiac Site
Ask anyone who is serious about cars and undoubtedly questions about engines will crop up. Burt Reynolds' car being a later model had a more powerful engine fitted, but remember this is still before modern engine technology existed. Code-named "L78" by GM the unit itself was a fairly simple cast iron V8 engine with a capacity of 400 cu in and produced 185bhp and 310 lb-ft. The resulting performance was "Brisk" rather than fast.
13. 1987 Chevrolet R30 Pick-Up "Cannonball Replica"
Motor1
It wasn't always about driving muscle or sports cars for Burt, and another movie tie-in provided him with the Chevrolet R30 pickup as used in the Cannonball Run movies. The actual vehicle owned by the movie star is a replica and featured various comfort upgrades such as power steering and air-con. Weighing nearly 5,000 lbs it is hard to imagine driving daily with no power steering.
12. 1984 Pontiac Trans Am (3rd Generation)
Motor Trend Canda
Sporting a distinct black and gold livery, here we have the 1984 Trans Am owned by Burt Reynolds and used to promote his USFL team, unsurpringly a common theme used in the name "Tampa Bandits". This particular model, powered by 5-liter V8 engine with automatic transmission, made an ideal highway cruiser. The same model went on to TV fame in Knight Rider.
11. Burts' Rolls Royce Silver Shadow - Fit For A Princess
Motor1
Movie star or movie royalty? Burt Reynolds will always be regarded highly like any other movie start past or present - but royalty? Maybe so. Rolls Royce has long been associated with making some of the most luxurious cars for the rich and famous. This particular car once owned by HRH Princess Margaret later found its way to Burts home. Rolls Royce famously never disclose engine power output, but rather claim it to be "adequate".
10. 1974 Chevy Chevelle Laguna 454 - Cannonball Run Replica
Timeless Muscle Magazine
Like many of the movie cars that Burt Reynolds owned over the years, this one too is a replica. Featured in the Cannonball Run, the image fitted the movie's "road racing" theme perfectly. Based on the famous Donnie Allisons' Hawaiian Tropic NASCAR. Burt didn't drive this car in the movie, but maybe if he had then it wouldn't have had a dive into a swimming pool.
9. 1980 Pontiac Trans Am Pace Car - V8 Turbo Power
Symbolic International
In the early 1980s turbocharging, became more and more popular with car manufacturers as an easy way to gain more performance. Pontiac released the Trans Am Pace car with a 5 liter engine and attached a single turbocharger. The result was "just" 210bhp, which when compared to the Trans Am used in Smokey & The Bandit doesn't seem to add up. This didn't stop bidders raising the sale price to well over $100,000 at auction.
8. 1985 Rolls Royce Corniche - Wind In The Hair Cruising
Mecum Auctions
One of the finest luxury cars ever produced, the Rolls Royce Corniche is a graceful 2 door convertible that takes visual styling cues from the company's Silver Shadow range of cars. Powered by the same 6.75 liter Crewe built engine, powered again quoted as "adequate" with a top speed of 118mph made for comfortable roof down cruising and unmatched style.
7. 1970 Mercedes SL 280 - Timeless Classic
Classic Driver
Arguably one of the prettiest Mercedes cars ever produced, the SL 280 is highly sought after by collectors. Originally introduced in 1968 and designed by Paul Bracq as part of Mercedes Benz's design studio. Mercedes are well known for their build quality, and the SL 280 is no exception. Aluminum panels help keep weight down, enabling the best performance possible from the 2.8 liter DOHC engine.
6. 2008 Pontiac G8 From "Down Under"
spectator.org
When is a Pontiac not a Pontiac? In the case of the G8, when it is a rebadged model built in Australia by Holden. Burt Reynolds had the first imported example in the US bearing chassis No. 001. Launched as a four-door sedan, powered by a choice of three engines (3.6 / 6.0 / 6.2 liter), but unfortuntely no manual transmission. Total US sales total just under 50,000 didn't make it a huge success.
5. Ford Thunderbird Convertible 1957
H&HCassics
One of the most sought after cars from US history, the 1957 Ford Thunderbird is a design classic. More a luxury cruiser than a sports car, but still packs quite a punch from the 312cu in engine. Little wonder that one found its way into Burt Reynolds Garage. Classic cars always command higher prices and the Thunderbird is no exception, with a valuation for insurance $130,000+.
4. 1978 Pontiac Trans Am - Hooper/Replica
Street Muscle Magazine
Hooper launched in 1978 as an homage, if you like, to stuntmen and in particular stunt drivers. Hardly surprising that Pontiac again supplied the vehicles, and as is by now customary, Burt Reynolds came to own a replica of the car used in the movie. Sadly the rocket propulsion was not included, but merely a replica "rocket nozzle". It's powered by a 403 cu in V8, driving the rear wheels through a three-speed auto transmission. At the time of auction, the sale figure of $88,000 proves the value of a celebrity owner.
3. 1979 International Scout "Car"
Rolling Stone
While strictly speaking not a car, what else can you call Burt Reynolds & Loni Andersons' wedding "Stagecoach"? Three vehicles in total were built using the aforementioned truck chassis V8 engine and 4WD system - how stable off-roading would be is another matter. No doubt a talking point if you ever see one of these bizarre "cars" on the road, and definitely a change from the normal wedding limo. Got a spare $55,000 laying around? This was the starting price for the eBay listing.
2. Beyond Smokey & The Bandit (More Muscle And Motors)
insidehook
No doubt that movies are great publicity for cars, and Smokey & The Bandit proved so successful that Pontiac reported record sales numbers. Burt Reynolds also benefitted from the success with a free new Trans Am for a number of years after the film launch. Further movie tie-ins followed, even including trucks.
1. The Star Of The Movie (But Not This One)
Admcars
During the time that the story, script, and casting were coming together, the movie's producers had a car in mind for the main character to use. Pontiac had just revealed images of the 1977 Trans Am model, however they had not actually begun production and had essentially produced a "facelift" for publicity purposes. The actual model in production from 1976 does not share the more aggressive four headlight front profile of the newer model. Pontiac obliged and produced a small run of four cars for the movie - none survived filming, not in a working state at least.
Sources Rolling Stone, Street Muscle Magazine, Classic Driver, Hagerty, barrett-jackson
