Except for Gleason, the original actors mostly redubbed their lines for the television version. In Smokey and the Bandit, there were eight 1977 Trans-Am cars and approximately the same number of police cars (but some said ten). The 79-year-old 70s and 80s heartthrob made a rare public appearance over the weekend at Wizard World Chicago. We just watched this with the kids the other week, along with Cannonball Run. (it did taste a lot better than Bud as I recall). The movie is responsible for something, by 1979 Pontiac was selling 100,000 plus Trans Ams, not the whole Firebird line, JUST Trans Ams, Pontiac sold more T/As in 1979 than any of the cheaper Firebirds combined, Smokey and the Bandit had to have a hand in that. As if GM owes them something. Now, having only three Trans Ams to wreck for a movie is minimalist, to say the least. I still think its more entertaining than Star Wars. I think thats another line theyve edited out for the television version. 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. "Smokey and the Bandit Pursuit Pack" is formatted as a box set that in presented in full color in widescreen. The remaining Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am is currently owned by Florida car collector John Staluppi. Dodge pitchman Sheriff Joe Higgins. Of the many cars saved from the fire was the only surviving Knight Rider KITT Super Pursuit Mode car created by Jay Orberg. On top of Burt Reynold's top-notch acting, Smokey and the Bandit is also famous for the Pontiac Trans Am that the actor drove throughout the film. The 403 Olds T/A was a dog, stock, but with some easily obtained parts, could be turned into a very nice low 13 second tire melter. Needham originally planned the film as a low-budget B movie with a production cost of $1 million,[4] with Reed as the Bandit. Because of the popularity of the film and the sales success of the Trans Am, the president of Pontiac Alex Mair promised to supply Reynolds with a Trans Am each year. Its lack of additives and preservatives meant that Coors could spoil in one week without refrigeration, explaining the film's 28-hour deadline. AWESOME! Sonny Shroyer (Enos) was the motorcycle cop who was given the 1-finger salute by Sally Field. I was a junior high school age kid when this film came out. 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. His automotive adventure started reporting on various motorsport events as a sports writer before moving onto a full-time auto career with various sites, including This Week In Motors and Autoevolution. I was just tweaking Jason. The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit is one of the most famous movie cars of all time. I still couldnt resist lighting up the Pontiacs tires while executing my T-turns. [17], In 1977, Coors was unavailable for sale east of Oklahoma. Reynolds replied: We went through 12. The remaining Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am is currently owned by Florida car collector John Staluppi. and used hard. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. Wealthy Texan Big Enos Burdette and his son Little Enos have sponsored a racer in Atlanta's Southern Classic and want to celebrate in style when he wins, so they are seeking a trucker willing to bootleg Coors Beer to Atlanta for their refreshment. 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. From living there for my first two decades, I noticed the accent didnt get going good until around Sikeston (not Saxton as it would seem) and it progressed as you went deeper into the Bootheel. The cashier never batted an eye as she sold us the mass quantities of suds. It took four evenings to see almost all of the movie in bits and pieces. In the 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit, a high-speed chase ensues between the police and the Bandit (Burt Reynolds). My favorite would have been an ex-WSP 1970 Plymouth they were all Fury IIIs, white on blue with factory air and 440s under the hood; but none ever turned up when I was buying. Every idiot with more money than brains wanted a Trans Am. Smokey & The Bandit Police Cars. I never understood why dragging a truckload of beer from Colorado to Georgia was such a big deal. The dubbed version isnt as bad as the Remastered Blu-ray. Musicians such as Beegie Adair and George Tidwell[20] played on the soundtrack. Comments His father was also the inspiration for the word "sumbitch" used in the film, a variation of the phrase "son-of-a-bitch" that, according to Reynolds, he uttered quite often. Because sales were so high, Pontiac decided to delay the third-generation model. And Burt may be from GA originally, but he calls Florida home, which is another reason I heard the movie was filmed here. Haul my wife and four shelter adoptee mutts in it. The Bandit takes the bet on the risky and unprecedented task, and recruits his partner Cledus "Snowman" Snow to drive the truck, while Bandit drives a black Pontiac Trans Am bought in advance from the Burdettes as a "blocker" to divert attention away from the truck and its illegal cargo. I was in the Air Force during this era, stationed in California. That parking lot was full of Trans Ams! Olds 88. When Smokey and the Bandit first aired on American network television in the early 1980s, censors were faced with the challenge of toning down the raw language of the original film. That is why there are not any left. Gotta love that guy! I have at least 4 really good car buddies that will from time to time love popping this movie in to watch. If you watched the second clip above, this truck should look familiar. 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. And lets not forget the Trans Am rental car Steve McQueen drove in his very last movie, The Hunter from 1980. Lets take a look. 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. Gleasons Justice is the stereotypical Southern sheriff, as seen in this clip. Not all the police cars had hood scoops. The second film was a modest box office success, earning $66.1 million against a $17 million budget. Of course, we could argue that Needham could have used the engine note of a Pontiac GTO from the golden muscle car, but the 1955 Custom recordings were probably readily available, and he just didn't need the hassle. [6] It would become one of Reed's biggest hits and his signature song.[7]. Will Walker: Independence Return For Season 2 Amid CW Shakeups? Id like to hear from Mr. Needham why so many of those police cars had what look like shaker hood scoops. 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. 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. Please refresh the page and try again. Great article! 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. Except that shes not sagging. 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. These Furys, as well as some of the LeMans units, have hood scoops. Field enjoyed making the film, but remembers that virtually the entire project was improvised. Reynolds actively pushed for her casting after Universal initially resisted, claiming Field was not attractive enough. 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. Probably the most famous TV edit of all time is I have had it with these monkey-fightin snakes on this Monday-to-Friday plane!. There has never been anything quite like late 1970s fashion in clothing. The scene where Sheriff Justice's car has the door knocked off by a passing semi-truck was shot on Georgia State Route 75, 3 miles (4.8km) north of Helen. At the drive-in of all places. Originally, the film was going to be a B-movie played only in the Southern United States. Many of the film's original sounds were replaced. Reynolds is referenced by name in several early episodes of the series. Ive since read on the internet that it wasnt illegal so much as a practical thing with it being shipped in refrigerated trucks. Depends upon what he converted it from. In addition to the four Trans Ams, Needham also received two Pontiac LeMans models to serve as patrol cars in the movie. 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. That girl from the McCoys video probably looks like Paula Deen now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cODPt3T0cHE, We got a cage strong enough to hold you [37], The first run in 2007 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the movie, The Bandit Run was the brainchild of Dave Hall, owner of Restore A Muscle Car. Id be surprised. Film critic Leonard Maltin gave the film a good rating (3 stars out of a possible 4) and characterized it as "about as subtle as The Three Stooges, but a classic compared to the sequels and countless rip-offs which followed". 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). Gleason has a treasure trove of hilarious lines and it was this movie that started my love affair of cars back in the early 1980s. I ended up buying a 1969 Cadillac ambulance a year later! 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.. 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. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. Cause theyre thirsty in Atlanta Mr. Reynolds elevated the dreck that he appeared in to a higher level, that is, enjoyable. 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 Bandit's car was a second-generation Trans Am and the prize for completing the run was a new truck rather than $80,000. Mr. Reynolds made a bunch of low budget films before this , all had wild chase scenes with cop cars crashing & going into swamps . [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. At the time, Reynolds was the top box office star in the world. 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. Starring Bob Hope, that comedic star of the screen, and the lovely Jane Russell boy what a pair! I never forgot that one. Gleason was a genius, but this was not one of his better outings I prefer the Hustler and Gigot. Anyway, on the trip east, we stopped at a grocery in Topeka, Kansas and bought 16-18 cases of Coors, all that we had room for in the car. I dont know if I ever saw one in real life at the time, although I was pretty young then. I agree, despite people saying you sound cute, it seems like they think Ellie Mae Clapett or Jethro Bodean. 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. "Smokey and the Bandit" stars Burt Reynolds, Sally . Supposedly there was a stick car for the burnouts and an automatic car for other shots. Jason, Using the words nuance, subtlety, complexity and intellect to describe this movie, is, as they say, trs amusant! Amazing how a combination of desire and unobtainability can make an ordinary product special. Weve got a long way to go and a short time to get there Arguably the most iconic Pontiac Firebird in history. Unfortunately he passed away a few months ago or that would have been a great question to ask. The other range car was a Chevette for people that wanted to learn on a manual transmission. Movies like Mad Max: Fury Road and Furious 7 may ruin a lot of cars, but they were far from the first. 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. I guess the Trans Am proved to have more staying power than the hot 71 Ford in the earlier movie. So why did they go with sound effects instead of the Trans Am's actually exhaust noise? Im pretty sure that the car that barks second when he takes off with Frog had to be a stick. I know that Trans Am that jumped that bridge broke the axle when it landed. I did help a friend rebuild a late 60s 400 to replace the anemic 301 in his 79, Trans Am. Im east bound, just watch ol Bandit run.. 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. 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! [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. I am pretty sure it was filmed in Florida, when I-75 was under construction so they could use the highways while empty. The Trans Am used in the movie was a 1976 model with the front end of a 1977 car. Here's everything you should know about one of the most iconic movie cars ever. On the DVD, there is a brief interview with both Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham, who directed this film. It was destroyed in Smokey and the Bandit II and in a flashback scene in Part 3. Of course, nobody else cared if it was in the trunk of the car when heading back home. In the original script, Carrie was called Kate while Big Enos and Little Enos were called Kyle and Dickey. ", "The Bandit Run Brought to you by Restore A Muscle Car", "Stewart plays off 'Smokey and the Bandit in Mobil 1 ad", "Smokey and the Bandit: 40th Anniversary Edition", "Smokey and the Bandit II, Box Office Information", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smokey_and_the_Bandit&oldid=1142751918, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from April 2022, Articles needing additional references from September 2018, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "Incidental CB Dialogue" (Voice ["Bandit"] , "Incidental CB Dialogue" (Voice ["Bandit"] Burt Reynolds, Voice ["Smokey"] , "Incidental CB Dialogue" (Voice ["Bandit"] Burt Reynolds, Voice ["Smokey"] Jackie Gleason), George Reynolds as Sheriff George Branford, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 04:45. Both sequels used another Trans Am, not a Cadillac Eldorado, as seen below. Coors is still brewed just outside Denver, Colorado. 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. The differences between the two are major. The MASSIVE year over year sales gains came from somewhere. Actually, there were 2 future Dukes stars in the movie: Ben Jones (Cooter) was in an early scene helping Big Enos find Bandit. MN12 Thunderbirds had the same appeal to me, for similar reasons. It had the Modello cam kit, ported 69(I think) heads with upsized valves, headers, aftermarket intake, 3.21 gears (Up from 2.41 stock!) One of those things that will make my kids think Im crazy some day. After the movie came out, Firebird sales increased even more, but the Trans Am was now the most popular one. Anyone who enjoys Colonnade sedans will love Smokey & the Bandit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. [27] In his review in the Chicago Tribune, Gene Siskel gave the film two stars and complained that the film failed to tell the audience when the clock started on the beer run, thus reducing suspense. The scoops were added by the department because the engines ran so hot. 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 original film had correct sounds that were usually recorded live as the action took place. In 1978, Pontiac delivered 93,351 Trans Ams and 93,944 regular Firebirds for a grand total of 187,295 cars. 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 contacted Pontiac and an agreement was made that four 1977 Trans Ams and two Pontiac LeMans four-door sedans would be provided for the movie. The advertisements lampoon the film and feature a Pontiac Trans Am and a cover version of the song East Bound and Down. The original uncut sumbitch version. And he succeeded as far as the Pontiac Trans Am is concerned. S/E T/A with the round headlights. [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. I dont know if Ive ever seen the unedited version though, so I never realized the orignal phrase was sum bitch, I always assumed it was worse. February 27, 2023 . I was 10 when this movie came out and I loved it then and I still do. (first posted 2/28/2014) The fourth highest grossing film in the United States in 1977 was the Academy Award nominatedSmokey & The Bandit. This movie came out during my early formative years pre grade school. He claimed that the Bandit is never made aware of Frog's leaving Junior at the altar, which is why the Bandit continually asks why a Texas sheriff is chasing him. No, the T/A was selling fine before the movie, and the black/gold package dates to 1976, a full year before the movie was out in summer 77. That is why there are not any left. I also own a 1:18 scale version of the Bandit Trans Am. And then they made the biggest mistake of their lives and went to national distribution. I actually remember the construction of that segment of I-75, as it stopped around Tampa prior to that time. 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. He's a proud member of the TopSpeed team since early 2014. Burt Reynolds himself drove the car on stage to the song "East Bound and Down" and signed it. Nah, they survived by coming up with bras with very thin cups. They quickly escape in one of Big Enos's 13 Cadillacs as police flood the racetrack. The movie, in fact, caused sales of the . The most noted change made for network broadcast was the replacing of Buford's often-spoken phrase "sumbitch" (a contraction of "son of a bitch"; usually in reference to the Bandit) with the phrase "scum bum". 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. 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. Somehow this store had a regular supply. Burt Reynolds may be 79, but he shows no signs of slowing down. It made no sense to me as it was fifty miles north and fifty miles south. With the Smokey and the Bandit actor gone, and the impact the actor had on the Trans Am community, having one of the few connections to him destroyed is too much. If you notice there are several different angled skid marks on the road in the scene where the Bandit picks up Frog, you can see that they did a couple of takes of the T/A skidding to a stop and taking off again. I was to be paid a salary plus own 7% of the profits. 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%. 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. Burt Reynolds once claimed in an interview that there were actually 12 Trans Ams featured in Smokey and the Banditand he wrecked every one. 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. Further, as Pontiac has deliciously obvious product placement, anyone who delights in 70s era Pontiac iron will experience visual ecstasy. 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. 5. [12] The area around Helen, Georgia, was used for some locations. The sticker read "T/A 6.6," which was a reminder of the engine's 6.6-liter displacement. Coors was legal in Missouri and illegal in Illinois. 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. Check out the entire video below. You want to questions bra sales, check out the youtube video of Hang on Sloopy by the Mccoys, the color version.wowza! Get ready to tear up the highway with the Bandit (Burt Reynolds), a fun-loving, fast-talking trucker who takes on his craziest haul yet - delivering 400 case. They return one minute after their time limit, but instead of taking the payoff, Carrie and Bandit accept a double-or-nothing offer from Little Enos: a challenge to run up to Boston and bring back clam chowder in 18 hours. . The side vents give it away. 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) . 1-Smokey and the Bandit-The classic, the original, and the best one by FAR. He enlists the help of fellow truck driver Cletus The Snowman Snow, played by country music singer Jerry Reed. For Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), Needham asked for and received 10 Trans Ams and 55 Bonnevilles with no trouble. I enjoyed the hell out of my 1976 Dart Pursuit. I remember reading somewhere that one of the cars was equipped with a 455 for some of the higher speed scenes. I only got one of them LOL. Anyone with insight is encouraged to share their knowledge on this. Just do a search for Crown Victorias on your local CL. Filmmakers destroyed 230 cars in the filming of 'Furious 7.' Smokey And The Bandit: A Car-chase Classic. S&B is one of my all-time favorite movies and Im not apologizing. Sheriff Justices son, Junior. Smokey and the Bandit II is a 1980 American action comedy film directed by Hal Needham, and starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, . How many police cars were wrecked in Smokey and the Bandit? It was something regarding distribution limits. [5], Universal Studios bankrolled Smokey and the Bandit for $5.3 million, figuring it was a good risk. How many cars destroyed Blues Brothers 2000? Rockford Files also featured Firebird, and was on since 1974, and Fs sold well despite gas crunch I and inflation. Smokey & The Bandit is the greatest movie of the 20th Century! Director Hal Needham convinced Pontiac to feature the Pontiac Trans Am in the movie. While it's sad that the other two cars were destroyed . This movie trailer gives you an taste of this provocative film, but fails to effectively capture all the subtleties and nuances it contains. [38], In 2014, petroleum company Mobil 1 produced television commercials, featuring then-NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, closely based on the film. UNIVERSAL CUT THE BUDGET JUST AS PRODUCTION WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN. A Pontiac wagon from earlier in the decade. Reed would eventually play the Bandit in Smokey and the Bandit Part 3, in which Reynolds only appeared in a cameo near the end. 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. Some weren't that lucky and were discontinued altogether. While the Snowman drives the truck carrying the beer, the Bandit drives a Pontiac Trans Am to distract law enforcement (called blocking) and keep the attention off the Snowman. 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. Additionally, he can give you several reasons why theres still no replacement for displacement. [10], Principal photography of the film began on August 30, 1976. Gleason was given free rein to ad-lib dialogue and make suggestions. During their run, they are pursued by Texas county sheriff Buford T. Justice (Gleason). In 1991, it was arranged for orchestra by Crafton Beck and recorded by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra for their album Down on the Farm. Needham served as the driver for the stunt (in place of Reynolds), while Lada St. Edmund was in the same car (in place of Field). 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. The scenes set in Texarkana were filmed in Jonesboro and the surrounding area and many of the chase scenes were filmed in the surrounding areas on Highway 54 between Fayetteville and Jonesboro for a majority of the driving scenes, Mundy's Mill Road, Main Street in Jonesboro, Georgia State Route 400, I-85 (Pleasant Hill exit) and in McDonough. It outsold its Chevrolet Camaro counterpart for the first time. Well, they simply considered that the Trans Am didn't sound intimidating enough. 46,000 in 1976, 68,000 in 1977, 93,000 in 1978, 117,000 in 1979. 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. The film's editors, Walter Hannemann and Angelo Ross, were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing. 1975 PLYMOUTH FURY HIGHWAY PATROL "SMOKEY & THE BANDIT" 1/18 BY . It became Reed's signature song and is on multiple albums, including Country Legends and his live album Jerry Reed "Live!" The cop cars with the hood scoops were ex-DeKalb County (Georgia) cruisers. In a rare public appearance, Burt Reynolds revealed how many cars they wrecked making Smokey and The LeMans police car did nothing for me because there was a colonnade LeMans sedan in the garage at home. 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. It had amazing throttle response, with a hit that either scared people, or made them giggle. Put one on and the lady looks like shes not wearing a bra. 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. I certainly hope the guy hired to drive that 74 Ford Torino wagon was paid well for his work. Im gonna barbecue your ass in molasses., Re: The picture with 4 ladies and the wagon and van. Neither Buford nor any other lawmen know of Snowman's illegal manifest, while Bandit is likewise unaware that Buford is chasing him because of Carrie, whose jumpiness inspires Bandit to give her the CB handle "Frog". How many smokey and the bandit movies are there? I had no idea that it was going to become a 70s classic. Smokey and the Bandit was one of the most iconic movies of the 1970s. I fondly remember lots and lots of terrible B grade movies @ the drive in in the early to mid 1970s all featuring cars racing , smashing and so on . The owner restored it and sold it at the Scottsdale 2016 auction by Barrett-Jackson. And theres beer in Texarkana.. With four miles left, Bandit, discouraged by the unexpected mounting attention, is ready to give up, but Snowman, who initially thought they would fail, takes the lead and smashes through the roadblock at the fairgrounds' main entrance.