how many cars destroyed in smokey and the bandit

How much did the Smokey and the Bandit car sell for? you can find it on amazon.com . how many cars were destroyed in smokey and the bandit 2 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. 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. I dont know if I ever saw one in real life at the time, although I was pretty young then. Gleason was a genius, but this was not one of his better outings I prefer the Hustler and Gigot. 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. I loved the fact that Jackie Gleasons brown Lemans had a blue vinyl interior and it even had the luxury cushion steering wheel! Thats all true. As if GM owes them something. The LeMans police car did nothing for me because there was a colonnade LeMans sedan in the garage at home. That is why there are not any left. 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. Its W.W. A couple of years ago, I was sitting around on a lazy Saturday afternoon and it was on TV. It just seems wrong to see that car in any fashion without hearing that song. Director Hal Needham convinced Pontiac to feature the Pontiac Trans Am in the movie. During this time, the Firebird also surpassed sales figures of the Chevrolet Camaro. . Free shipping for many products! 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. Of course, it wasnt hard to wake them up. The films are indeed classic and very funny to this day. The film was followed by two sequels: Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983). Not all the police cars had hood scoops. Other than Jackie Gleason upstaging every other cast member, the perceived star of the show is this 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. Everything You Should Know About The The Trans Am From Smokey And The For this purpose, they overdubbed dialogue deemed offensive, which was common practice. The new Hot Pants scene had to quickly be refilmed as a part of a second unit in the San Fernando Valley and was shot at a drive-in restaurant near Hansen Dam named Baby Beef Burgers, which has since been demolished. The 79-year-old 70s and 80s heartthrob made a rare public appearance over the weekend at Wizard World Chicago. 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. The muscle car market reached a peak in the late 1960s, as the car was becoming larger, more powerful, and more aggressive by looks. The theme music "East Bound and Down" was sung and co-written by Reed (credited under his birth name, Jerry Hubbard) and Dick Feller. Because sales were so high, Pontiac decided to delay the third-generation model. 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. Olds 88. . However, as our heroes were successful in delivering their truckload of Coors, the writers effectively poised themselves for a sequel. 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. The whereabouts of the remaining Smokey and the Bandit car, the one that was used to promote the movie, remained a mystery for years. Likely this isnt any rare engine venting package, but I could be wrong. Well, the Corvettes success is clearly due to Corvette Summer, @Jim I remember that movie! A diablo sammich from my understanding is a like a Sloppy Joe but with taco seasoning added in for spice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cODPt3T0cHE, We got a cage strong enough to hold you Gas was a buck a gallon at the time so fuel economy wasnt a major issue. WildI watched this for the first time in years after watching the latest Archer.the whole thing is an homage to S&B. I beg to differ Mr -Nate. 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. But the true standout of Smokey and the Bandit is the car driven by The Bandit, the iconic black and gold 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. I always think scumbum because when I watched it as a kid in the early 90s, it was usually on TBS. In a rare public appearance, Burt Reynolds revealed how many cars they wrecked making Smokey and Burt Reynolds plays truck driver Bo Bandit Darville. Smokey and the Bandit was all realistic and non fictional, and it still was a big hit that brought a lot of money to Hal Needham and the actors, to pay Pontiac back. I prefer Buford T. Justices 1980 Pontiac Bonneville and his 1983 Pontiac Bonneville in Smokey and The Bandit III. Needham and assistant director David Hamburger spent 30 hours revising the shooting schedule.[4]. Chevy brought back the Z28, and cant say S&B was reason. I was in West Plains the other day and there is yet another variation of it there. 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. Most reports of his death still didnt have that right! Smokey and the Bandit was one of the most iconic movies of the 1970s. 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. 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. It was the second-highest-grossing movie of 1977 after Star Wars. The story replaced the Coors beer with Mobil 1 products. Thanks for this, Jason. 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. I've heard . It had amazing throttle response, with a hit that either scared people, or made them giggle. Her groom? Whaddya expect outta a guy what drives a conversion van? There has never been anything quite like late 1970s fashion in clothing. For Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), Needham asked for and received 10 Trans Ams and 55 Bonnevilles with no trouble. 14 Little-Known Facts About The Smokey And The Bandit Trans-Am - HotCars Henry Corden, the voice of cartoon character Fred Flintstone. Producers of Smokey and the Bandit wrecked 26 cars while filming the movie in 1977. The Kenworth even achieves a trifecta of sorts, as it gave the first dent to Sheriff Justices LeMans. While it's sad that the other two cars were destroyed . January 24, 2019 100 comments. In the movie . The secrets behind the cars and stunts in 'The Italian Job' - Top Gear Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. AWESOME! Watching TV and Movies you would think that sales dropped to nil. Chevy almost did the same with its counterpart, the Camaro. [17], In 1977, Coors was unavailable for sale east of Oklahoma. 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 . Coors was legal in Missouri and illegal in Illinois. CC Cinema: The Cars of "Smokey & The Bandit - Curbside Classic J.J. & The Dixie Dance Kings was a milder one that had (I think) a 56 Buick Century . Lets take a look. It was the second highest-grossing film of the year, trailing only Star Wars: A New Hope, and it made Burt Reynolds into a certifiable superstar. UNIVERSAL CUT THE BUDGET JUST AS PRODUCTION WAS ABOUT TO BEGIN. 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 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. 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. Did Jerry Reed really drive the truck in Smokey and the Bandit (Still). While watching the movie (yes, I did have to diligently research this article), one shot seemed to indicate this may be a dummy scoop. Well, at least that's what you saw in the movie. That is an excellent question. 1980 ERTL SMOKEY & THE BANDIT PONTIAC FIREBIRD DIECAST CAR police car Sales almost doubled in two years, which is a very big deal given that the Trans Ams 1978 facelift was rather minor save for the front fascia. And Burt may be from GA originally, but he calls Florida home, which is another reason I heard the movie was filmed here. [38], In 2014, petroleum company Mobil 1 produced television commercials, featuring then-NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, closely based on the film. 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 also own a Etrl replica of the Pontiac Bonneville Buford T. Justice drove in Smokey and The Bandit II. Filmmakers destroyed 230 cars in the filming of 'Furious 7.' Smokey And The Bandit: A Car-chase Classic. I will confess that by the time this movie was out, I was a Mopar guy. Gotta love that guy! [10], Principal photography of the film began on August 30, 1976. In the U.K., the heavily dubbed version was shown for several years, particularly by the BBC. Five-string banjo player Bobby Thompson is prominent toward the end of "East Bound and Down". Conversely, I could go to Paducah and be asked where up north I was from. 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. 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". 5. Trio of Burt Reynolds movie cars fetch $330,000 at auction, including 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. Here are 20 facts about the Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit. One guy did a while ago a fan-made trailer of Smokey & the Bandit 4. Burt Reynolds as the Bandit can always count on the truckers on the other end of his C.B. I had no idea that it was going to become a 70s classic. 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. Jason, Using the words nuance, subtlety, complexity and intellect to describe this movie, is, as they say, trs amusant! 12 A Total Of 3 Trans Ams Were Destroyed During Filming. Here in Canada they didnt censor it, so we always got the sumbitch version. 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. You can see in some shots in the movie that the Bandit Trans Am has 1976 style gold honeycomb wheels instead of the gold snowflake wheels from the 1977, I think at least one of the cars used in filming was a 1976 converted with a 1977 front clip. 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. Seven: (Three with Burt Reynolds and Crew, and Four without) Smokey and the Bandit - 1977 Smokey and the Bandit II - 1980 Smokey and the Bandit III . That said, an uncomplimentary accent does exist. [8] Niver provided much of the western attire worn in the film, as well as the custom-made sheriff's uniforms (waist size 64") that Gleason wore throughout the film. It opened in other Northern states at the end of July. 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. Producer Hal Needham intended Smokey and the Bandit to be one of the best product placement films of all time. This phrase achieved a level of popularity with children and the 2007 Hot Wheels release of the 1970s Firebird Trans Am has "scum bum" emblazoned on its tail. Trigger had a big impact on my taste in cars with the Trans Ams of the late 70s being my favorite. Here's everything you should know about one of the most iconic movie cars ever. The production team wrecked three for the four cars it received from Pontiac. A Pontiac wagon from earlier in the decade. Alan Reed was the original voice of Fred Flintstone; Henry Corden only took over after Reeds death in 1977. That parking lot was full of Trans Ams! The paint code for each truck was coffee brown with gold trims and the 48-foot (15m) mural trailer used was manufactured by Hobbs Trailers in Texas with a non-operational Thermo King Refrigeration unit. I drive a conversion van. In 1978, Pontiac delivered 93,351 Trans Ams and 93,944 regular Firebirds for a grand total of 187,295 cars. Im pretty sure that the car that barks second when he takes off with Frog had to be a stick. And he succeeded as far as the Pontiac Trans Am is concerned. In particular, the scene where Sheriff Justice unknowingly encounters the Bandit in the "choke and puke" (a roadside diner) was not in the original story but was rather Gleason's idea. You will receive a verification email shortly. . However, the U.S. government introduced new emission controls in 1972, and automakers had to step back. The film's theme song, "East Bound and Down", was written virtually overnight by Reed. Sally Field and Burt Reynolds began a relationship after meeting on set. No more needs to be said. I am still drawn to the shape of these cars, and others that have that long and low look about them. The advertisements lampoon the film and feature a Pontiac Trans Am and a cover version of the song East Bound and Down. 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. They retained the white steering wheels until 72 or so , just the thing to preveny burned fingers in the Desert sun . Want proof? Wouldnt the accent give you away? Now, having only three Trans Ams to wreck for a movie is minimalist, to say the least. Bill Justis is the first name on the credits for the soundtrack, as he composed and arranged original music throughout the film. Mines never gone away, especially now that I spend every thee month in Memphis. 1979 was equally successful for the brand, joining 1978 to create Pontiac's best sales years ever. At the time, Reynolds was the top box office star in the world. 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. I think Stroker Ace is after Smokey and the Bandit, though there was Hooper, which was about a stuntman, it also had Sally Field, it was from 1978 or so. Great fun! [40] Major portions of the audio background have been modified with different engine sounds or tire squeals from the original film. "Smokey and the Bandit" stars Burt Reynolds, Sally . IMCDb.org: 1977 Pontiac LeMans in "Smokey and the Bandit, 1977" Always a favorite. 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. Luckily, both cars survived, and the Trans Am became famous only five years later. In Smokey and the Bandit, there were eight 1977 Trans-Am cars and approximately the same number of police cars (but some said ten). It was a powerful car, and I was glad to be issued it as my range car instead of one of the new but already disintegrating 1985 Oldsmobiles supplied by a local dealer that most people had. This movie just showed how much an urban legend the supposed unobtainability had become. This same restaurant was used for a scene in the 1983 Stephen King Movie Christine, which was ultimately cut in the final film (it can be viewed as a deleted scene on the DVD release of the film). 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. 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. 20 Surprising Facts About The Trans Am From Smokey And The Bandit - HotCars Florida Trans Am Shop Burns - Motorious There was a true concern (for some minuscule reason) about it going east of the Mississippi River. 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 . 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). 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. How did any bra manufacturers survive the 70s? Free shipping for many products! I will confess, however, that it was a fun movie to watch and I have caught it on TV a time or two in recent years with my kids. Set with his . 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. As deals were made for the actors and producers, the studio wanted to renegotiate my deal. 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. Somebody locally is selling a Regis Plymouth Fury ex Florida Police with gasping 318 V8, he will for the right money toss in a 440 with it. I remember reading somewhere that one of the cars was equipped with a 455 for some of the higher speed scenes. He paid $550,000 for it, likely a record for any Pontiac Firebird. And theres beer in Texarkana.. By the film's ending, the final surviving Trans Am and LeMans were both barely running and the other cars had become parts donors to keep them running. 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. A series of four made-for-TV spin-off films (Bandit Goes Country, Bandit Bandit, Beauty and the Bandit, and Bandit's Silver Angel) were produced in 1994 for Universal Television's Action Pack with actor Brian Bloom playing a younger version of the Bandit. [4] Reynolds said in 2015 that he most enjoyed this film, and had the most fun making it, of his career.[26]. 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. Many nameplates lost their performance credentials, and some of them, like the Ford Mustang, were redesigned without a V-8 engine. The side vents give it away. 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!) The Trans Am used in the movie was a 1976 model with the front end of a 1977 car. Ive always loved this movie. Comments 1975 PLYMOUTH FURY HIGHWAY PATROL "SMOKEY & THE BANDIT" 1/18 BY . 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. 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. After the movie came out, Firebird sales increased even more, but the Trans Am was now the most popular one. I have always loved this movie, watched it dozens and dozens of times on TV, video, DVD, laserdisc, almost any form of media. 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 . Were they dummies? Many of the film's original sounds were replaced. I'm afraid I was responsible for a good few of those. Most of the dialogue was improvised on set. Yet when I think of a 70s T/A, thats the one I and Im sure millions of other folks think of. Smokey and the Bandit star Burt Reynolds passed away in 2018 . [14] The Trans Ams were actually 1976-model cars with 1977 front ends (from 1970 to 1976, both the Firebird/Trans Am and Chevrolet Camaro have two round headlights and in 1977, the Firebird/Trans Am was changed to four rectangular headlights, and the Camaro remained unchanged). 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. 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. Some of the original sound effects (such as Cledus's dog Fred barking) and music (such as the final chase to the Southern Classic) were removed and not replaced. I was in the Air Force during this era, stationed in California. 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. Now then you mentionned Sheriff JW Pepper, I decided to post some Youtube clips of him. Not everything was Pontiac, as evidenced by this 1973 Plymouth Satellite coupe (CC here). Notify me of follow-up comments by email. How Many Police Cars Were Destroyed In Blues Brothers Bandit attracts more police attention across Dixie as Snowman barrels on toward Atlanta with the contraband beer, but they are helped en route by many colorful characters via CB radio. Coors wasnt pasteurized. Buford, with Junior along, ignores his jurisdiction and doggedly chases Bandit all the way to Georgia to retrieve Carrie while various mishaps cause his cruiser to disintegrate on the way. 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. We gonna do what they say cant be done . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The three original films introduced two generations of the Pontiac Trans Am and the Dodge Stealth in the television movies. I am pretty sure it was filmed in Florida, when I-75 was under construction so they could use the highways while empty. As Frog leaves, we are introduced to Sheriff Buford T. Justice, played by Jackie Gleason. Im probably in the minority as usual, but I prefer the Black and Gold 50th Anne. 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) . This movie came out during my early formative years pre grade school. East bound and down, loaded up and truckin A black Trans Am is parked in my garage because of this movie. Frederick Amon smuggled it from Colorado to North Carolina and sold it for four times the retail price.[19]. 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. 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. Hal Needham did pass away as someone earlier said. About two seconds after this picture was taken, these motorcycles were doing their best imitation of a stack of pancakes. A dastardly scoundrel? 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! 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. Needham stated that by the end of production, there really wasnt much left of any of the three. 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). 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. Only one survived, and it's priceless. 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. [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. How many police cars were wrecked in Smokey and the Bandit? And it was worth it for the brand, as the nameplate sales decided following the redesign. Id been driving for years by the time I was 15, so I just wanted to complete the course with as little static as possible. http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_301466-Ford-LTD-II-1977.html. The Burdettes' car is a 1974 Cadillac Eldorado convertible painted in a "Candy Red" color scheme and is seen briefly at the beginning of the movie and in the final scene as the Bandit, the Snowman, Fred the dog, and Frog use it to make their escape.