{"id":78964,"date":"2022-12-07T01:17:45","date_gmt":"2022-12-07T09:17:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=78964"},"modified":"2025-05-10T05:47:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T12:47:20","slug":"what-year-is-the-smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-year-is-the-smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am\/","title":{"rendered":"What Year Is The Smokey And The Bandit Trans Am?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column78964_a86cf3-4a > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column78964_a86cf3-4a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column78964_a86cf3-4a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column78964_a86cf3-4a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column78964_a86cf3-4a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column78964_a86cf3-4a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column78964_a86cf3-4a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column78964_a86cf3-4a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column78964_a86cf3-4a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column78964_a86cf3-4a inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-78c8c3  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-214df8\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading78964_e428b5-4b, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading78964_e428b5-4b[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading78964_e428b5-4b\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading78964_e428b5-4b mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading78964_e428b5-4b[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading78964_e428b5-4b\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading78964_e428b5-4b img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading78964_e428b5-4b[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading78964_e428b5-4b\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading78964_e428b5-4b summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading78964_e428b5-4b\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The 1977 Pontiac Trans Am is not the featured car shown in the hit comedy movie Smokey and the Bandit.<\/strong> Pontiac gave modified units of the 1976 Firebird Trans Am Special Edition to the filmmakers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three out of the four modified units were wrecked by the end of filming. No one knows where the last working vehicle ended up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One way to differentiate the 1977 and 1976 models is by checking the headlights. The &lsquo;76 model had two large round headlights, while the &lsquo;77 had quad rectangular assemblies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>There are few cars as iconic as the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am featured in the classic road action comedy franchise &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/top-15-most-iconic-hollywood-cars-pop-culture\/#15_1977_Pontiac_Firebird_Trans_Am_-_Smokey_and_the_Bandit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Smokey and the Bandit\">Smokey and the Bandit<\/a>.&rsquo; The midnight black pony car with gold highlights and a phoenix decal on the hood is every bit as big a movie star as Burt Reynolds, Sally Fields, and Jackie Gleason. To this day, people are still willing to pay considerable amounts of cash for a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The &lsquo;Smokey and the Bandit&rsquo; Trans Am Wasn&rsquo;t The 1977 Model<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&lsquo;Smokey and the Bandit&rsquo; was released in Los Angeles on July 29, 1977, so it&rsquo;s understandable that viewers thought the Pontiac Trans Am featured in the film was the model released that year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on who you ask, either lead actor Burt Reynolds or director Hal Needham chose the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/vehicle\/1977\/pontiac\/firebird\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"1977 Pontiac Trans Am\">1977 Pontiac Trans Am<\/a> as the film&rsquo;s feature car after seeing an advertisement for it. They approached Pontiac and asked for permission to feature the company&rsquo;s new vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"smokey and the bandit trans am\" class=\"wp-image-78981\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pontiac gave modified examples of the 1976 Firebird Trans Am Special Edition to the &lsquo;Smokey and the Bandit&rsquo; filmmakers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This was in 1976. At that time, Pontiac was still working on the 1977 Trans Am. They could not spare one unit, much less several. And given what happened to the cars they eventually gave to the filmmakers, their reluctance was a good thing for the unfinished model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Model Year Is The Pontiac Trans Am In &lsquo;Smokey and the Bandit&rsquo;?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If there were no 1977 Pontiac Trans Am units available, then what was in the film? And why did it look exactly like the 1977 model?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, Pontiac gave modified examples of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/vehicle\/1976\/Pontiac\/Firebird\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"1976 Firebird\">1976 Firebird<\/a> Trans Am Special Edition to the &lsquo;Smokey and the Bandit&rsquo; filmmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were four modified 1976 Pontiac Trans Ams provided for the movie. By the time filming ended, three had been wrecked and the last could barely run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The famous bridge jumping scene required the installation of a rocket to help boost the Trans Am into the air, and the landing totaled it. It and the other wrecked cars became spare parts sources for the vehicles that still ran. No one knows where the final survivor went after filming wrapped up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Differentiating Between The 1976 and 1977 Pontiac Trans Am<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best ways to tell the two Pontiac Trans Am model years apart is to check their headlights. The 1976 Trans Am used two large round headlights, a feature that it shared with the Chevrolet Camaro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In comparison, the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am ditched those headlights for quad rectangular assemblies. Later Trans Ams would keep the new headlights while the old design would continue to see use on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/chevrolet-camaro-reliability-and-common-problems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Chevrolet Camaro\">Chevrolet Camaro<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other changes included a revised hood and shaker scoop. The first batch of 1977 Pontiac Trans Am units featured a scoop that was positioned off center. Both the scoop and the hood were reduced in profile compared to the earlier second-generation Trans Am model years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"584\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1976-pontiac-trans-am-1024x584.png\" alt=\"1976 pontiac trans am\" class=\"wp-image-78970\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1976-pontiac-trans-am-1024x584.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1976-pontiac-trans-am-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1976-pontiac-trans-am-768x438.png 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1976-pontiac-trans-am-150x86.png 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1976-pontiac-trans-am.png 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 1976 Trans Am used two large round headlights, a feature that it shared with the Chevrolet Camaro. Image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:1976_Pontiac_Firebird_Trans_Am.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"JL1Row\">JL1Row<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Did Pontiac Make the 1976 Trans Am Look Like The 1977 Trans Am?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So what did Pontiac do to make the 1976 Firebird Trans Am look like the upcoming 1977 model? It replaced the bumper of the 1976 model with the more aggressive-looking one from the 1977 model. It also replaced the 1976 Trans Am&rsquo;s round headlights with the 1977&rsquo;s distinct quad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were other changes, too. The 1976 Firebird Trans Am used cubic inches to measure the engine size callouts on its hood scoop. The 1977 model switched to liters as its unit of measurement. Pontiac altered the measurements on the 1976 Trans Am units that it gave to the &lsquo;Smokey and the Bandit&rsquo; filmmakers. Instead of cubic inches, they now used liters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pontiac Promised To Give Burt Reynolds A Free 1977 Trans Am<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, the Pontiac Trans Am owes much of its iconic popularity to &lsquo;Smokey and the Bandit,&rsquo; so it might come as a surprise that Pontiac didn&rsquo;t want to lend its name or its car to the film at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pontiac&rsquo;s reluctance was understandable. &lsquo;Smokey and the Bandit&rsquo; was an action comedy. It didn&rsquo;t promise to tell a dramatic tale. It also lacked star power. Burt Reynolds was good, but he wasn&rsquo;t considered on the same level as Charlton Heston or Marlon Brando at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, Pontiac agreed to let its Trans Am grace the big screen. It also promised to give Burt Reynolds a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am for free if &lsquo;Smokey and the Bandit&rsquo; made it big at the box office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&lsquo;Smokey and the Bandit&rsquo; became 1977&rsquo;s second best grossing film, only losing out to Star Wars. It also made the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am an American icon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drivers dressed up like Bandit and wanted to drive the same car. The movie increased sales of the Trans Am for two years and kept the production line for second-generation units alive longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pontiac, however, took years to deliver on its promise to Reynolds. When it did, the company gave the actor a 1978 Trans Am instead of a 1977 model. Reynolds accepted the late, not exactly accurate car and customized it to better resemble the one that his character Bandit drove in the classic movie. He later sold it during an auction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"649\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1977-pontiac-trans-am-1024x649.jpg\" alt=\"1977 pontiac trans am\" class=\"wp-image-78971\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1977-pontiac-trans-am-1024x649.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1977-pontiac-trans-am-300x190.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1977-pontiac-trans-am-768x487.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1977-pontiac-trans-am-150x95.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/1977-pontiac-trans-am.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 1976 and 1977 Pontiac Trans Am both belonged to the second generation of the Pontiac Firebird, but most people call it the Pontiac Trans Am rather than the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Pontiac Trans Am<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 1976 and 1977 Pontiac Trans Am both belonged to the second generation of the Pontiac Firebird. A pony car intended to compete with the Ford Mustang, the Firebird shared the F-body chassis with the Chevrolet Camaro. GM owned both Chevrolet and Pontiac, and the approach of shared body platforms helped save development and production costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trans Am was a specialty package for the Pontiac Firebird that upgraded its performance and altered its appearance. It&rsquo;s technically a Firebird variant and not a different model, but most people call it the Pontiac Trans Am rather than the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get High-Quality Pontiac Replacement Parts, Accessories, and Upgrades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to keeping your Pontiac in tip-top shape or elevating its performance and style, you can always count on <a href=\"http:\/\/carparts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a> to have everything you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From collision and replacement parts to accessories and performance upgrades, all of our products are carefully handpicked by industry professionals, so you&rsquo;re sure they&rsquo;re built to last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All our products also come with a lifetime replacement and low-price guarantee, helping you get the best value for your money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start shopping by entering your vehicle&rsquo;s specifications into our vehicle selector. This will narrow down the catalog to compatible products for your ride. For a more personalized shopping experience, use the search filters to refine the results according to your preferred brand, price range, quantity, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Order now, and get what you need delivered to your doorstep in as fast as two business days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out our products today!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>There are few cars as iconic as the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am featured in the classic road action comedy franchise&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-year-is-the-smokey-and-the-bandit-trans-am\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1651,"featured_media":78982,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3770],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[2607,3269],"class_list":{"0":"post-78964","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-trivia-and-history","8":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Year Is The Smokey And The Bandit Trans Am? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Trans Am is one of the most iconic Pontiac models to date, thanks to Smokey and the Bandit. 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