Chevy brought back the Z28, and cant say S&B was reason. Due to his financial difficulties in 2014, Reynolds put his vast collection of artwork and memorabilia up for auction, including the Trans Am. In Smokey and the Bandit, there were eight 1977 Trans-Am cars and approximately the same number of police cars (but some said ten). 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]. This small modification was made to remind viewers of Trans Am models from 1969, which had in excess of 300 horsepower. How many cars destroyed Blues Brothers 2000? 1979 was equally successful for the brand, joining 1978 to create Pontiac's best sales years ever. Additionally, he can give you several reasons why theres still no replacement for displacement. 12 A Total Of 3 Trans Ams Were Destroyed During Filming. The film's editors, Walter Hannemann and Angelo Ross, were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing. Funny that T/A isnt on the movie poster, considering it was the obvious star of the show. As Frog leaves, we are introduced to Sheriff Buford T. Justice, played by Jackie Gleason. [9] Though the film Moonrunners (1975) is the precursor to the television series The Dukes of Hazzard (19791985), from the same creator and with many identical settings and concepts, the popularity of Smokey and the Bandit and similar films helped get the Dukes series on the air. At the time, using "fuck" would immediately require an R rating and this self-censorship allowed the film to avoid this rating and reach a much larger audience. The roundup sequence in the desert shows many new Pontiac Le Mans sedans decorated as police cars being destroyed. I did help a friend rebuild a late 60s 400 to replace the anemic 301 in his 79, Trans Am. The theatrical release has a few lines deleted, including an edit in which Sheriff Justice tells a state trooper to "fuck off" after the sheriff called his vehicle "a piece of crap". Even today when I stumble across this cinematic masterpiece being rerun on cable tv, Ill watch the entire thing. Were they dummies? Im east bound, just watch ol Bandit run.. My drivers ed driving range car was an ex-patrol colonnade Pontiac LeMans Enforcer. The production team wrecked three for the four cars it received from Pontiac. 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. In a rare public appearance, Burt Reynolds revealed how many cars they wrecked making Smokey and 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. I am still drawn to the shape of these cars, and others that have that long and low look about them. I am indeed a fan. The man does get around. Gleason was a genius, but this was not one of his better outings I prefer the Hustler and Gigot. Needham stated that by the end of production, there really wasnt much left of any of the three. Wouldnt the accent give you away? IMCDb.org: 1977 Pontiac LeMans in "Smokey and the Bandit, 1977" 1-Smokey and the Bandit-The classic, the original, and the best one by FAR. You might think that seeing their cars routinely destroyed on movie screens across the country would give the manufacturer pause, but that is not the case at all. If it wasnt for Smokey & the Bandit, the Dukes of Hazzard TV series would not exist. I agree, despite people saying you sound cute, it seems like they think Ellie Mae Clapett or Jethro Bodean. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 78% rating based on 32 reviews. I just dont like car novices that assume the Pontiac T/A was soley a movie tie in car and the it started in 1977.. As if GM owes them something. 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. Free shipping for many products! 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!!! The 1977 features rectangular quad headlamps instead of only two round lights, a unique slanted and V-shaped nose, and a center-mounted hood scoop. East bound and down, loaded up and truckin 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. There's one black Trans Am left from 'Smokey and The Bandit.' It's Stroker Ace is after S&B, 1983, and features the then new for 83 aero Fox Body Thunderbird. One guy did a while ago a fan-made trailer of Smokey & the Bandit 4. The Trans Am used in the movie was a 1976 model with the front end of a 1977 car. But would the black and gold T/As be as desirable today without the movie? The directorial debut of stuntman Hal Needham, the film follows Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds) and Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Reed), two bootleggers attempting to illegally transport 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana to Atlanta. Actor Henry Corden, who voiced Fred Flintstone after original performer Alan Reed died the same year the film was released, was used to replace a considerable amount of Sheriff Justice's dialogue. [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. While the initial concern was it having a regional appeal, it would ultimately play as well in New York City and Chicago as it did Atlanta, Georgia, or Biloxi, Mississippi. At the time, Reynolds was the top box office star in the world. While watching the movie (yes, I did have to diligently research this article), one shot seemed to indicate this may be a dummy scoop. That is why there are not any left. The remaining Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am is currently owned by Florida car collector John Staluppi. Smokey & The Bandit is the greatest movie of the 20th Century! It is now sold in all states as Coors ships it in refrigerated train cars and bottled locally and sold in different parts of the country including the eastern US states. The film features the custom clothing and costuming of Niver Western Wear of Fort Worth, Texas. 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. I think thats another line theyve edited out for the television version. The differences between the two are major. how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. They destroyed all those cars in the films he said. 14 Little-Known Facts About The Smokey And The Bandit Trans-Am - HotCars The little packy there had Coors and even though it was horribly expensive, we thought it was the elixer of the Gods. The Ridiculous Number Of Cars Burt Reynolds Burned - CINEMABLEND Much of the surrounding scene comes from that immediate vicinity. February 27, 2023 . The sound came from a 1955 Chevrolet Custom, the same car that was used in Two-Lane Blacktop and American Graffiti, films launched in 1971 and 1973, respectively. Only one survived, and it's priceless. I'm afraid I was responsible for a good few of those. As a publicity stunt, the Trans Ams used in the movie had different decals on the hood scoop. It was destroyed in Smokey and the Bandit II and in a flashback scene in Part 3. A guy we knew drove his half-ton pickup from western WA to his reserve 2-week stint in his home state in California. With this, the Sheriff begins his pursuit of the Mann Act-violating Banditall the way to Georgia. At one point in the movie, the Bandit wrecks a police car. Some people have ripped this film as being thin on plot; others have called it a documentary about life south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Burt Reynolds is originally a Georgia boy. I ended up buying a 1969 Cadillac ambulance a year later! (first posted 2/28/2014) The fourth highest grossing film in the United States in 1977 was the Academy Award nominatedSmokey & The Bandit. Sales jumped even higher in 1979 when Pontiac moved 117,108 Trans Ams. A Pontiac wagon from earlier in the decade. I distinctly remember my mother buying Coors and being asked if she lived in Missouri or Illinois by the cashier. It opened in other Northern states at the end of July. Coors is still brewed just outside Denver, Colorado. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cODPt3T0cHE, We got a cage strong enough to hold you 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. Heres how it works. [5] Sally Field only accepted the part after her agent advised her that she needed a big movie role on her rsum. Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Jerry Reed) drives the truck while his good buddy Bo "Bandit" Darville (Reynolds) serves as the "blocker," a fast car used to divert police attention away from payload. His expletive is obscured when a passing big rig sounds its horn. . The commercials were produced after Stewart mentioned that the movie was one of his favorites.[39]. A 1975 Pontiac Grand Prix with a Buick Electra behind it. I thought at the time that it was a newer version of White Lightning (also with Burt Reynolds) and that Smokey would be forgotten just as soon. And Burt may be from GA originally, but he calls Florida home, which is another reason I heard the movie was filmed here. The original uncut sumbitch version. 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?????? Did Jerry Reed really drive the truck in Smokey and the Bandit 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. Smokey and the Bandit | East Bound and Down - YouTube Let us dissect this flick to better examine it. These Furys, as well as some of the LeMans units, have hood scoops. Jackie Gleason ad libbed a lot of his lines too. Since mentioning the Kenworth, it must be noted it was a redecorator of the highest fashion. The film was followed by two sequels: Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983). We also learn that every launched satellite will eventually fall back to Earth, such as this 1972 Plymouth Satellite (CC here). In its place was the nonsensical "scum bum." . They find local legend Bo "Bandit" Darville at a roadeo at Lakewood Fairgrounds and offer him US$80,000 (equivalent to $357,738 in 2021) to haul 400 cases of Coors from Texarkana (the closest place it could be legally sold at that time) to Atlanta in 28 hours. That came out in 1981. However, the scene where they drive through the Shell gas station was filmed in Ojai, California, on the corner of Ojai Avenue and El Paseo Road. The films are indeed classic and very funny to this day. There are an abundance of cars in this movie. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1980 ERTL SMOKEY & THE BANDIT PONTIAC FIREBIRD DIECAST CAR police car set at the best online prices at eBay! As deals were made for the actors and producers, the studio wanted to renegotiate my deal. Jana, another oddity was that I could go to Carbondale and be asked where down south I was from. I was in the Air Force during this era, stationed in California. 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 . He gave Needham a preview of the song and, getting no reaction, offered to rewrite it. Will Walker: Independence Return For Season 2 Amid CW Shakeups? Along the way they tussle with tough as nails Texas Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason), pick up a runaway bride nicknamed Frog (Sally Field), and have all kinds of awesome times on the highway. When Im driving the Bandit Trans Am while playing one of my many Forza Motorsport games I always put that song on. Hal Needham did pass away as someone earlier said. Burt Reynolds himself drove the car on stage to the song "East Bound and Down" and signed it. After the movie came out, Firebird sales increased even more, but the Trans Am was now the most popular one. 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. Everything You Should Know About The The Trans Am From Smokey And The 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. After passing Buford's badly damaged cruiser on the roadside, Bandit gets on the CB and initially directs him to the Burdettes, but then respectfully gives his real locationright behind Buford, who continues his chase leaving Junior behind, and with more parts falling off his cruiser as he limps off after Bandit. A segment of the CMT program Reel Eats used a sloppy joe-style recipe consisting of seasoned ground beef, corn, and sour cream. I have only seen pieces of the second and none of the third; I plan to keep it that way. (Still). How many police cars were wrecked in Smokey and the Bandit? 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. The uncut version is the best. During their run, they are pursued by Texas county sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason). 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. It was the second-highest-grossing movie of 1977 after Star Wars. and the Dixie Dance Kings, and Burts car was a 57 [56?] Jesus, did you just call Carmine a car novice? And Coors itself limited its distribution to west of the Mississippi. Well, they simply considered that the Trans Am didn't sound intimidating enough. 1975 PLYMOUTH FURY HIGHWAY PATROL "SMOKEY & THE BANDIT" 1/18 BY . How many cars did they wreck in Smokey and the Bandit? 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. 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. 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. 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. But while the cars shown in the movie look like 1977-model-year Trans Ams, they were actually 1976 models. 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 at least 4 really good car buddies that will from time to time love popping this movie in to watch. How much did the Smokey and the Bandit car sell for? This is obvious, because there is no fuel tank on the underside of the trailer to power the refrigeration unit, and the unit is never heard running. And it was worth it for the brand, as the nameplate sales decided following the redesign. J.J. & The Dixie Dance Kings was a milder one that had (I think) a 56 Buick Century . UNIVERSAL CUT THE BUDGET JUST AS PRODUCTION WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN. 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. [30] Upon meeting Reynolds, Billy Bob Thornton told him that the South considers the film to be less cinema and more documentary. The Bandit's car was a second-generation Trans Am and the prize for completing the run was a new truck rather than $80,000. Frog not included. I was 10 when this movie came out and I loved it then and I still do. [24] With an original budget of $5.3 million (cut to $4.3 million two days before initial production),[4] the film eventually grossed $126,737,428 in North America,[25] making it the second-highest-grossing movie of 1977 (only Star Wars earned more, with $221.3 million). A blackguard? Great article! There has never been anything quite like late 1970s fashion in clothing. The scoops were added by the department because the engines ran so hot. 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. Smokey & The Bandit Police Cars. 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. A diablo sammich from my understanding is a like a Sloppy Joe but with taco seasoning added in for spice. I remember borrowing my brothers red 1976 T/A to take a girl to the theater to see Smokey and the Bandit. I still couldnt resist lighting up the Pontiacs tires while executing my T-turns. Originally, the film was going to be a B-movie played only in the Southern United States. Gas was a buck a gallon at the time so fuel economy wasnt a major issue. 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. 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. He's a proud member of the TopSpeed team since early 2014. Reed also penned and performed the song for the opening credits, entitled "The Legend", which tells of some of the Bandit's escapades before the events of the film, and the ballad "The Bandit", which is in several versions in the movie and on the soundtrack. Not that Id kick either front end style out of the garage for dripping oil, as long as they dont have the 403 in them anyway. 1980 ERTL SMOKEY & THE BANDIT PONTIAC FIREBIRD DIECAST CAR police car The third film which had no involvement from either Hal Needham or Sally Field and contained only a short cameo appearance by Burt Reynolds revolved entirely around Jackie Gleason's character, was panned by critics, and was a box office bomb, earning only $7 million against a $9 million budget.[41][42][43]. Just after re-entering Georgia, Snowman is rescued by Bandit after being stopped by a Georgia State Patrol motorcycle trooper, and state and local police intensely pursue Bandit with roadblocks and a helicopter to track his movement. The cashier never batted an eye as she sold us the mass quantities of suds. According to an interview with Susie McIver Ewing on The RetroZest Podcast, she was picked to play the role of Hot Pants Hilliard after the dailies footage (shot in the Atlanta area) of the original actress playing the role was inadvertently destroyed on its way from Atlanta to Los Angeles. That girl from the McCoys video probably looks like Paula Deen now. This movie came out during my early formative years pre grade school. The Trans Am used for said jump was equipped with a booster rocket, the same type that was used by Evel Knievel during his failed Snake River Canyon jump. In 1978, Pontiac delivered 93,351 Trans Ams and 93,944 regular Firebirds for a grand total of 187,295 cars. It just seems wrong to see that car in any fashion without hearing that song. The three original films introduced two generations of the Pontiac Trans Am and the Dodge Stealth in the television movies. The site's consensus states: "Not much in the head but plenty beneath the hood, Smokey and the Bandit is infectious fun with plenty of car wrecks to keep your eyes glued". This movie was filmed in Georgia as well. Set with his . Back then if Ida wanted an ex Police Car its be a CHP salvage Dodge or Plymouth ~ BIG roomy and _comfy_ , handled well and went like stink . The DVD set meets NTSC standards. Free shipping for many products! In the Reynolds portion of the interview, he stated the movie prompted Trans Am sales to jump around 700%. While they did jump, from 46,700 in 1976 to 69,000 for 1977 with another 93,300 for 1978, it wasnt exactly 700%. 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. 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). Many nameplates lost their performance credentials, and some of them, like the Ford Mustang, were redesigned without a V-8 engine. I have worked a long time to eradicate the one I had but it still crops up periodically from exposure, like you experienced. 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! The whereabouts of the remaining Smokey and the Bandit car, the one that was used to promote the movie, remained a mystery for years. He obtained the attention of studios and aimed the film at a more mainstream release after his friend Reynolds read the script and agreed to portray the Bandit, with Reed now portraying the Bandit's friend the Snowman. Tragically, every Trans Am used in filming was destroyed. Required fields are marked *. Field enjoyed making the film, but remembers that virtually the entire project was improvised. When Smokey & The Banditfirst aired on television in the early 1980s, the Gleason phrase sum bitcha regional butchering of son of a bitchhad to be dubbed out. 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. 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. Some of the more recent DVD releases of it redid all of the engine sounds and it sounds much more mellow than the original(not happy about that). So, for years one, two, and three, he got a shiny new Pontiac. Depends upon what he converted it from. a custom mandrel bent dual exhaust, and the Mondello bottom end plate to stabilize the windowed mains. [29] Alfred Hitchcock claimed that the film was one of his favorites. This movie trailer gives you an taste of this provocative film, but fails to effectively capture all the subtleties and nuances it contains. In the original script, Carrie was called Kate while Big Enos and Little Enos were called Kyle and Dickey. 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. A CC for a 1973 Grand Ville convertible can be found here. This gives rise to various continuity errors with Justice's patrol car, which during some chase sequences is shown with a black rear fender, which then reverts to the car's bronze color again in later scenes. Needham saw an advertisement for the soon-to-be-released 1977 Pontiac Trans Am and knew right away that would be the Bandit's car, or, as Needham referred to it, a character in the movie. Not all the police cars had hood scoops. Smokey and the Bandit star Burt Reynolds passed away in 2018 . Henry Corden, the voice of cartoon character Fred Flintstone. All I know is, at the time, if you lived in the east, Coors was some really special beer not unlike microbrews are now. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Always a favorite. Im gonna barbecue your ass in molasses., Re: The picture with 4 ladies and the wagon and van. 46,000 in 1976, 68,000 in 1977, 93,000 in 1978, 117,000 in 1979. http://www.leelofland.com/wordpress/john-fedack-my-days-as-a-dekalb-county-police-officer/.
how many cars destroyed in smokey and the bandit