how many cars destroyed in smokey and the bandit

Sheriff Justices son, Junior. [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. A 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville, seen toward the end of the movie. How many police cars were wrecked in Smokey and the Bandit? The original Blues Brothers movie from 1980 is a classic, and fans were excited when a sequel was announced in 1998. . 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. Below is probably another DeKalb County cop car. Some differences included the use of a supercharged 454-CID (7.4-liter) Chevrolet-sourced engine that put out 840 HP, and four round headlights, which appeared on the 196769 Firebirds/Trans Ams only; the actual 197781 models had rectangular headlights. The Smokey and the Bandit Car - Carsforsale.com 46,000 in 1976, 68,000 in 1977, 93,000 in 1978, 117,000 in 1979. Sure Smokey helped, but was not the sole reason T/A and F body sales went up. Arguably the most iconic Pontiac Firebird in history. 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. [33] Reynolds was given the 1977 vehicle used during promotion of the film as a gift, though the car itself never actually appeared in the film. Theres really nothing like an old cop car. There was still a market for bras in the 1970s. Ive always wanted some sort of de-commission/ex unmarked cop car, something from the 70s preferably. The film was followed by two sequels: Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983). 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. . I only got one of them LOL. I guess the Trans Am proved to have more staying power than the hot 71 Ford in the earlier movie. For instance, the diesel engine start and run-up sequence in the opening sequence of the film were completely dubbed over with a new sound. 1975 Plymouth Fury Police Pursuit Arkansas State Police "Smokey and The At the drive-in of all places. A movie for the people, "Smokey and the Bandit" is more - Hagerty Of course, nobody else cared if it was in the trunk of the car when heading back home. 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. The theme music "East Bound and Down" was sung and co-written by Reed (credited under his birth name, Jerry Hubbard) and Dick Feller. Smokey and the Bandit - Wikipedia 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. In fact, after Smokey and the Bandit became a box office hit, Pontiac saw a marked increase in their stock prices. So why did they go with sound effects instead of the Trans Am's actually exhaust noise? A CC for a 1973 Grand Ville convertible can be found here. 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 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. 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. And then they made the biggest mistake of their lives and went to national distribution. 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. Set with his . [31] Smokey and the Bandit was released in the United Kingdom on August 28 and was a success there, garnering positive reviews. 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!) In the U.K., the heavily dubbed version was shown for several years, particularly by the BBC. Your email address will not be published. Im still trying to get clarification on what a diablo sandwich is though. 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. In the movie . [38], In 2014, petroleum company Mobil 1 produced television commercials, featuring then-NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, closely based on the film. I enjoyed the hell out of my 1976 Dart Pursuit. The secrets behind the cars and stunts in 'The Italian Job' - Top Gear Smokey and the Bandit: Behind-the-Scenes Details With - MotorTrend [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). Smokey and the Bandit was one of the most iconic movies of the 1970s. I ended up buying a 1969 Cadillac ambulance a year later! [18] A 1974 Time magazine article explains that Coors was so coveted for its lack of stabilizers and preservatives, and Coors Banquet Beer had a brief renaissance. 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%. His personaround, dumpy, and clipping wordsreminds one of another fictional southern sheriff. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Please refresh the page and try again. http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_301466-Ford-LTD-II-1977.html. The DVD set meets NTSC standards. A blackguard? He paid $550,000 for it, likely a record for any Pontiac Firebird. The LeMans police car did nothing for me because there was a colonnade LeMans sedan in the garage at home. Ive since read on the internet that it wasnt illegal so much as a practical thing with it being shipped in refrigerated trucks. thebandit77transam 2009-04-14 14:04. andre1969 wrote Pontiac supplied 5 brand-new cars for "Smokey and the Bandit". Even today when I stumble across this cinematic masterpiece being rerun on cable tv, Ill watch the entire thing. 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. On the DVD, there is a brief interview with both Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham, who directed this film. While Sheriff Justice doesnt deal well with the pressures of high speed pursuit, as seen above, his Pontiac LeMans (CC here) withstands the most abuse of any car in this entire movie. Wouldnt the accent give you away? Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox would bring several cases after playing on the West Coast, by stashing them in the equipment trunks on the team's plane. Here are 20 facts about the Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit. In a rare public appearance, Burt Reynolds revealed how many cars they wrecked making Smokey and A diablo sammich from my understanding is a like a Sloppy Joe but with taco seasoning added in for spice. There has never been anything quite like late 1970s fashion in clothing. Burt Reynolds himself drove the car on stage to the song "East Bound and Down" and signed it. The 79-year-old 70s and 80s heartthrob made a rare public appearance over the weekend at Wizard World Chicago. In 2006, a DVD re-release was issued of Smokey and the Bandit featuring a digitally remastered audio track with 5.1 Dolby-compatible surround sound. 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. When it is finally torn off along with the car's roof in the impact with the girder, the missing fender still reappears later on in the film. The differences between the two are major. 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. Most of the shots that show Reynolds and Field in the car talking were filmed with the T/A being towed along on a lowboy trailer. A guy we knew drove his half-ton pickup from western WA to his reserve 2-week stint in his home state in California. Henry Corden, the voice of cartoon character Fred Flintstone. [34] In 2015 a Florida-based automobile customization company built 77 Trans Ams modeled after the car that Reynolds drove in the film. Trio of Burt Reynolds movie cars fetch $330,000 at auction, including Gleason probably wanted too much money to provide the dubbing, which is a shame because it ruins the TV version. Sonny Shroyer (Enos) was the motorcycle cop who was given the 1-finger salute by Sally Field. Id like to hear from Mr. Needham why so many of those police cars had what look like shaker hood scoops. [29] Alfred Hitchcock claimed that the film was one of his favorites. 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. 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. 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. I think thats another line theyve edited out for the television version. Back in 1984, I went to look at a late 1970s Plymouth cop car as well. 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. The three movie cars were destroyed during various stunts, so the promo car is the only surviving Trans Am connected to this film. Needing a fast set of wheels to distract law enforcement, Reynolds character purchases this 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am. 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. 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". I also own a 1:18 scale version of the Bandit Trans Am. 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. In my area, nearly every one listed is an ex cop car. Always a favorite. 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. 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. Only one survived, and it's priceless. As if GM owes them something. However, as our heroes were successful in delivering their truckload of Coors, the writers effectively poised themselves for a sequel. Round and dumpy, just like the Colonnade LeMans! For Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), Needham asked for and received 10 Trans Ams and 55 Bonnevilles with no trouble. I am pretty sure it was filmed in Florida, when I-75 was under construction so they could use the highways while empty. As a kid that T/A, the General Lee, and KITT were largely responsible for defining my taste in cars and that carries through to today. Im gonna barbecue your ass in molasses., Re: The picture with 4 ladies and the wagon and van. That is an excellent question. "Buford T. Justice" was the name of a real Florida Highway Patrolman known to Reynolds' father, who was once Police Chief of Riviera Beach, Florida. These questions all need to be answered. We also learn that every launched satellite will eventually fall back to Earth, such as this 1972 Plymouth Satellite (CC here). During a Q&A session on Saturday, filmed by ComicBook.com, a fan asked how many Trans Ams they burned through during production. 1975 PLYMOUTH FURY HIGHWAY PATROL "SMOKEY & THE BANDIT" 1/18 BY . When Im driving the Bandit Trans Am while playing one of my many Forza Motorsport games I always put that song on. [4] Reynolds said in 2015 that he most enjoyed this film, and had the most fun making it, of his career.[26]. 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. For this purpose, they overdubbed dialogue deemed offensive, which was common practice. About two seconds after this picture was taken, these motorcycles were doing their best imitation of a stack of pancakes. Gleasons Justice is the stereotypical Southern sheriff, as seen in this clip. Frederick Amon smuggled it from Colorado to North Carolina and sold it for four times the retail price.[19]. They quickly escape in one of Big Enos's 13 Cadillacs as police flood the racetrack. Burt Reynolds may be 79, but he shows no signs of slowing down. We just watched this with the kids the other week, along with Cannonball Run. The 1978 Trans Am is an exact duplicate of the "Smokey and the Bandit" movie car, finished in black and gold with a screaming chicken on the hood. I have worked a long time to eradicate the one I had but it still crops up periodically from exposure, like you experienced. Luckily, both cars survived, and the Trans Am became famous only five years later. I actually remember the construction of that segment of I-75, as it stopped around Tampa prior to that time. Just do a search for Crown Victorias on your local CL. He enlists the help of fellow truck driver Cletus The Snowman Snow, played by country music singer Jerry Reed. 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 . How did any bra manufacturers survive the 70s? Im probably in the minority as usual, but I prefer the Black and Gold 50th Anne. Depends upon what he converted it from. I developed a pretty good bootheel accent during my time in New Madrid. [28] However, this is inaccurate; within seconds of Bandit picking her up, Frog tells him "there is a wedding in search of a bride" and goes on to explain her ill-advised romance with Junior, as the Bandit holds up the CB mic for the Snowman to hear. The hood scoop on these cars says "6.6 LITRE", which, in 1977, would have denoted an Oldsmobile 403-equipped car or a non-W-72, 180 hp version of the 400 Pontiac engine. I loved the fact that Jackie Gleasons brown Lemans had a blue vinyl interior and it even had the luxury cushion steering wheel! Its lack of additives and preservatives meant that Coors could spoil in one week without refrigeration, explaining the film's 28-hour deadline. As I am finishing this article while Big Truck Week is winding down, here is a Kenworth with a 1973 Dodge Polara patrol car. 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. In the 1977 movie Smokey and the Bandit, a high-speed chase ensues between the police and the Bandit (Burt Reynolds). Funny that T/A isnt on the movie poster, considering it was the obvious star of the show. J.J. & The Dixie Dance Kings was a milder one that had (I think) a 56 Buick Century . In return, Reynolds portrayed Boss Hogg (originally portrayed by Sorrell Booke) in the film adaptation The Dukes of Hazzard (2005). I always think scumbum because when I watched it as a kid in the early 90s, it was usually on TBS. The cars were wrecked on purpose to create the illusion of a high-speed chase. How many cars did they wreck in Smokey and the Bandit? a custom mandrel bent dual exhaust, and the Mondello bottom end plate to stabilize the windowed mains. 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. The change was somewhat strange as most automakers were using cubic-inch numerals to advertise engines. Dodge pitchman Sheriff Joe Higgins. The movie had an even bigger impact on the Trans Am. 14 Little-Known Facts About The Smokey And The Bandit Trans-Am - HotCars The Trans Am was already pretty popular in the mid-1970s, with sales hitting 68,745 units in 1977.