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The sound came from a 1955 Chevrolet Custom, the same car that was used in Two-Lane Blacktop and American Graffiti, films launched in 19, respectively. That’s because the Trans Am in Smokey and the Bandit didn’t sound like a Trans Am.
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Regular film-goers might not pay much attention to the car’s engine sound, but gearheads will quickly notice that something is off. RIP Burt Reynolds – Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am Tribute by Magnús Sigurðsson
#How many trans am in smokey and the bandit movie
THE ENGINE NOISE IN THE MOVIE IS ACTUALLY FROM A 1955 CHEVROLET CUSTOM And it was worth it for the brand, as the nameplate sales decided following the redesign.
#How many trans am in smokey and the bandit full
The third-generation Firebird was introduced in 1982, a full two years later than planned. 1979 was equally successful for the brand, joining 1978 to create Pontiac’s best sales years ever. In 1978, Pontiac delivered 93,351 Trans Ams and 93,944 regular Firebirds for a grand total of 187,295 cars. The redesign was originally planned for 1980, but 19 became record years for GM’s division, so the new model was pushed back. Because sales were so high, Pontiac decided to delay the third-generation model. The movie had an even bigger impact on the Trans Am. Smokey and the Bandit Official Trailer #1 – Burt Reynolds Movie (1977) by Movieclips Classic Trailers TRANS AM SALES WERE SO GOOD ONCE THE MOVIE DEBUT, PONTIAC DELAYED THE THIRD-GEN FIREBIRD During this time, the Firebird also surpassed sales figures of the Chevrolet Camaro. 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. Sales jumped even higher in 1979 when Pontiac moved 117,108 Trans Ams. But 1978 returned sales of 93,351 examples, a jump of around 25,000 cars. The Trans Am was already pretty popular in the mid-1970s, with sales hitting 68,745 units in 1977. Sales of the coupe exploded after the film hit the silver screen and set unprecedented records for both Pontiac and the Firebird nameplate. And he succeeded as far as the Pontiac Trans Am is concerned. Producer Hal Needham intended Smokey and the Bandit to be one of the best product placement films of all time.
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THE 6.6-LITER DECAL WAS THERE TO MAKE THE CAR SEEM MORE POWERFUL TO VIEWERS 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.
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The differences between the two are major. 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. But while the cars shown in the movie look like 1977-model-year Trans Ams, they were actually 1976 models. The Trans Am was a high-performance package for the Firebird, Pontiac’s take on the Chevrolet Camaro. WHAT CAR WAS USED IN SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT?Įastbound and Down: Smokey and the Bandit by WWETheDog ĭirector Hal Needham convinced Pontiac to feature the Pontiac Trans Am in the movie. Here’s everything you should know about one of the most iconic movie cars ever. 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. It was the second-highest-grossing movie of 1977 after Star Wars.
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The film was a sleeper hit, and following a poor initial performance, it went on to gross $126.7 million in North America, versus a budget of only $4.3 million. 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. Arguably the most iconic Pontiac Firebird in history
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