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1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM “Smokey and the Bandit” Promo Car Sells for $550K

Barrett-Jackson sold many cars this weekend at its Scottsdale auction, and one of them is an MY 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am that was used as a promo car for the “Smokey and the Bandit” movie.
1977 Pontiac FireBird Trans AM Smokey And the Bandit Promo Car 9 photos
Photo: Barrett-Jackson
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM "Smokey And the Bandit" Promo Car1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM "Smokey And the Bandit" Promo Car1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM "Smokey And the Bandit" Promo Car1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM "Smokey And the Bandit" Promo Car1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM "Smokey And the Bandit" Promo Car1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM "Smokey And the Bandit" Promo Car1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM "Smokey And the Bandit" Promo Car1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM "Smokey And the Bandit" Promo Car
Even though the car didn’t appear in the actual film, as it was just a promotional vehicle that was exhibited in selected locations to promote the Burt Reynolds motion picture, LOT number 7004 sold for $550,000. The price includes a 10% buyer’s premium and was paid by John Staluppi’s Cars of Dreams Museum in Florida. The latter will exhibit the 1977 Pontiac and keep it in the best shape possible.

This marks the highest ever price achieved at an auction by a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. We believe that only one of the original cars that appeared in the movie could have attained a higher price, and that would have happened if they were the same shape as this exhibit.

As promised, Burt Reynolds was present on the auction block when the car was sold. The actor was riding shotgun and appeared on stage while “Eastbound and Down” (by Jerry Reed) was playing on the hall’s audio system. The Pontiac Trans Am was being driven by a Sally Field lookalike, Mr. Reynold’s co-star in the Smokey and the Bandit film.

Curiously, this car sold for more than previous authorized “Bandit” Pontiac Trans Am models ever achieved at an auction. Last year, Mr. Reynolds sold his personal Pontiac Trans Am “Bandit,” the last of the cars made for him.

However, the MY 1977 Pontiac Trans Am that went under the hammer at the Scottsdale auction was previously titled to the “Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theater.” The car was restored and retains its original drivetrain. The restoration process was a complete “nut and bolt” rotisserie, that involved cleaning and repainting every part of the body to attain a factory finish.

The buyer also received a certificate of authenticity from Universal Pictures, a Plaque from General Motors, the Original Movie Script, film location maps, pictures from behind the scenes, the Original Press Release kit, and an autograph from Burt Reynolds himself.
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About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
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