When Smokey and the Bandit roared into theaters in 1977, it didn’t just make Burt Reynolds a star—it turned the sleek, black Pontiac Trans Am into a muscle-car legend. This wasn’t just any car; it became an American icon, capturing imaginations with its raw power and unforgettable stunts.
But the Trans Am’s story is even wilder than what you saw on screen. Here are 12 surprising facts about the car that burned rubber and outran the law in one of cinema’s most iconic chases.
1. The Trans Ams Were Actually from the Previous Model Year
Although the cars resemble 1977 models, the Trans Ams used in filming were 1976 Pontiac Firebirds. When production began, the ’77 model hadn’t been released yet. So, Pontiac provided the movie crew with ’76 models fitted with front clips from the upcoming ’77 refresh.
The visual differences between the two model years are significant. The 1977 Trans Am featured a slanted front end with rectangular headlights, while the ’76 had a more traditional grille with round lights.
Keen-eyed viewers can spot the ’76 dashboard and interior in some shots.
2. Pontiac Gave the Filmmakers Four Cars Total
Director Hal Needham didn’t have to scour used car lots to find the perfect Pontiac for the film. The automaker provided him with four brand new Trans Ams: three for filming and one for promotional duties.
One of the three movie cars was equipped with a powerful 700-horsepower racing engine for the bridge jump scene. The others kept their stock 400 cubic inch V8s, which put out a more modest 200 horsepower.
That was still enough oomph to lay down rubber and outrun Sheriff Buford T. Justice.
3. The 6.6-Liter Decal was Just for Show
The Trans Am’s iconic hood scoop is embellished with a “T/A 6.6” decal reading, a nod to the car’s 6.6-liter engine displacement. However, the decal was purely cosmetic.
In the early ’70s, Pontiac used similar displacement callouts on Trans Am models equipped with the monstrous 455 cubic inch V8. But by 1977, that engine was long gone.
The decal on the Smokey and the Bandit car was likely a nostalgic design touch, even if the engine underneath was less potent.
4. That wasn’t the Real Engine Sound
The Trans Am’s 400 cubic inch V8 made a respectable rumble, but the filmmakers wanted something with a little more grit, so they dubbed in the throaty growl of a 1955 Chevrolet custom hot rod instead.
This was a common practice in ’70s car movies. The engine sounds in films like Two-Lane Blacktop and American Graffiti were also sourced from vintage V8s rather than the cars being filmed.
When it comes to Hollywood, never let the truth get in the way of an iconic sound effect.
5. All Three Movie Cars were Destroyed
With all the jumps, crashes, and high-speed chases, it’s no surprise the movie cars took a serious beating. By the time filming wrapped, all three Trans Ams provided by Pontiac were totaled.
The most spectacular destruction came during the climactic bridge jump. The 700-horsepower Trans Am built for that scene was fitted with a booster rocket to help clear the gap.
Needham himself was behind the wheel for the 100-foot leap. The car survived the jump, but just barely. On impact, its body crumpled like an accordion.
6. The Promo Car is the Only Survivor
Of the four Trans Ams Pontiac gave to the production, only one escaped unscathed: the promotional car. Since it was never used for any actual stunts, the promo Trans Am survived to bask in the glow of the film’s success.
After the movie premiered, this car drove Burt Reynolds to red-carpet events and press junkets. Today, it’s the only original Smokey and the Bandit Trans Am known to exist still.
In 2016, this piece of cinematic history sold at auction for $550,000. (ref)
7. Smokey and the Bandit Sent Trans Am Sales Soaring
It’s impossible to overstate Smokey and the Bandit’s impact on Pontiac Trans Am sales. In 1977, the year the movie came out, Pontiac sold 68,745 Trans Ams. Two years later, in 1979, that number skyrocketed to 117,108.
Pontiac quickly capitalized on the film’s popularity, releasing a special edition of Trans Ams with the same black and gold color scheme as the movie car.
The 1977 Trans Am cemented its place in pop culture history and remains one of the most iconic movie cars ever made.
8. The Stunt Team Sacrificed Safety for Speed
The bridge jump was the film’s most memorable stunt but was far from the only white-knuckle moment during production.
Needham, a veteran Hollywood stuntman, was committed to performing the movie’s action sequences as realistically as possible. That meant operating the cars at dangerously high speeds, often with little margin for error. In one shot, the Trans Am jumps over a wrecked police car with only a few feet of clearance.
The precision driving paid off in spectacle, but it pushed the stunt team to the ragged edge.
9. Reynolds Did Some of His Stunt Driving
Although Needham and his team of daredevils handled the riskiest gags, Reynolds insisted on getting behind the wheel for some of the less hazardous stunts. The star had a blast tearing around the Georgia backroads in the Trans Am. However, the limits of ’70s automotive technology sometimes influenced Reynolds’ need for speed.
The car’s stock Pontiac engine had trouble outrunning the more powerful Dodge patrol cars, which were equipped with massive 440 cubic-inch V8s.
In those cases, the crew had to get creative with camera angles to make the Trans Am look faster than it was.
10. A Rocket-Powered Trans Am Made the Bridge Jump
For the film’s climactic bridge jump, Needham knew the stock Trans Am wouldn’t have enough power to clear the 100-foot gap. So, he enlisted the help of Ky Michaelson, a renowned builder of rocket-powered vehicles.
Michaelson outfitted a modified Trans Am with a booster rocket to give the car the extra oomph it needed to soar across the ravine.
With Needham at the controls, the rocket-propelled Pontiac flew 150 feet through the air before crashing down on the other side, crumpling the car but leaving the stuntman unscathed.
11. The Mulberry Bridge Scene Almost Ended in Tragedy
While the bridge jump was planned and calculated, another stunt nearly turned deadly.
In a scene where Frog, played by Sally Field, is behind the wheel of the Trans Am, the car jumps a ramp and crashes through a wall, landing in the middle of a Little League baseball game. The filmmakers didn’t account for how far the car would fly after hitting the ramp. As the Trans Am sailed into the shot, it narrowly missed a group of children who scattered at the last second.
Reynolds later admitted that the close call deeply rattled the cast and crew.
12. The Trans Am Couldn’t Actually Hit 110 mph
In one memorable scene, a flabbergasted Frog exclaims that the Trans Am’s speedometer reads 110 miles per hour. However, that was a bit of movie magic. In reality, the 1977 Trans Am topped out at around 120 mph.
But even that is generous. With its smog-choked 400 cubic inch engine and aerodynamics of a brick, the Trans Am was built more for cruising than outright speed.
In the film, the roar of the dubbed-in engine noise and the screech of the tires sliding around corners gave the impression of velocity. Just don’t look too closely at that speedometer.
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Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.
