The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is the subject of our Iconic Car Series feature and is a car that’s certainly worthy of this distinction.

An iconic movie deserves an iconic car. Smokey and the Bandit, released in 1977, featured one of these incredible cars. Even more interesting and fun than the car itself is the fact that performing stunts were done without the benefits of CGI technology and green screens. This movie starred Burt Reynolds and Sally Field, but the Trans Am was as much the star of the film as the pair of actors.

Burt Reynolds got his own Trans Am After the Movie

Reynolds was so impressed by the car from the movie that he acquired his own, powered by a 6.6-liter 400 cubic-inch V8 engine. This car produced 220 horsepower, which was impressive for that decade. This Pontiac might not have ever been part of the movie if director Hal Needham hadn’t seen one and convinced GM to give him a collection of them to wreck during the film. He convinced the automakers to allow him to use this car by promising more sales, which happened shortly after the film was released.

The Car was Almost Discontinued Before the Movie Ever Begun

The sales numbers from 1972 were abysmal and so low that GM nearly discontinued the Pontiac Trans Am altogether. The third generation of this car was postponed, but sales of this car soared once the movie came out. In 1977, 68,745 models of this car sold, which increased to 94,341 in 1978 and 117,108 in 1979. These sales were incredible, and the movie grossed $300 million, making it a huge box office hit.

Which Year of the Trans Am Was Used?

The build of this iconic car was the 1976 version, but it was modified to show hints of the 1977 version. The front came from the later model along with the headlights, the head scoop, and a modified front end. The timing of these modifications was important for the car. The movie was released in 1977 and went up against Star Wars which was capturing some huge numbers at the movie theaters. The build of this Trans Am was unique, making it an iconic car.

Hal Needham Played Two Roles for the Movie

The director of Smokey and the Bandit, Hal Needham, was also an accomplished stuntman. Not only did he choose the car and direct the movie, but he also was one of the stunt drivers on set for the movie. The bridge jump scene was one of the scenes he performed during filming. It was pretty easy to see that Needham was working in several roles throughout the film, including what had made him a staple in Hollywood, being a stuntman.

The Engine Decal was a Bit Misleading

Popping through the hood scoop of the Pontiac Trans Am was a supercharger that wore the decal reading T/A 6.6. This indicated that this car had a 6.6-liter displacement in the engine. Strangely, at the time, most automakers used cubic inches and not liters to show the displacement of their engines. Another interesting fact is the 6.6-liter model from 1977 made 200 horsepower which increased to 300 horsepower only two years later using the same displacement in the engine bay.

Needham Didn’t Get Enough Cars from GM

Obviously, GM was skeptical of the potential of the Trans Am making an impact on their sales just because it was in a movie. Hal Needham requested six of the Trans Am models for production, but he was only issued four of them. Three were for film stunts in the movie, and one was supposed to be a promotional car to advertise the film. Because the movie models were destroyed during filming, the promotional model was also used and destroyed during filming.

The Engine Sounds in the Movie Didn’t Come from the Trans Am

The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am doesn’t sound the way it did in this movie. Most people watching would never notice the sounds were off; there was usually enough other background noise going on to avoid analysis. The engine sounds pumped into the movie actually came from a 1955 Chevrolet Custom. The sounds certainly remind you of muscle cars and the power we love to hear when cars are heading out on some high-speed chases.

A Destroyed Model Made it to the Final Scene

The final scene was in jeopardy because all four Trans Ams for the film crashed performing stunts. Another car had to push the promotional Pontiac during the filming of the final scene. The pushed car was in the best shape of the four cars, and it somehow made it to the end so the film could be finished and readied for editing.

One Stunt Went Over a Group of Children

If planned, this wouldn’t be a big deal, but as the story goes, it wasn’t planned at all. The stunt double for Sally Field panicked during a jump scene.  This caused the car to fly over a group of kids instead of a fence. Thankfully, no one got hurt during the scene. This was one of the dangers of doing live stunts that we don’t often face with movie scenes of today.

These Cars Increased in Price

After the film, Bandit Movie Cars gifted Burt Reynolds with a custom 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. This car sold at auction in 2019 for $317,500. A special-edition model of the 1977 Trans Am also owned by Reynolds sold at auction in 2020 for $172,000. Reynolds signed the hood of the second car. The eventual promotional car for the film sold for the most, bringing in $550,000 at auction in 2016. These iconic cars certainly increased in value and cost over several years.

The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am is one of the most iconic cars in the film industry. This 1977 model was more than just a supporting actor in the Smokey and the Bandit film.