The annual automotive extravaganza at Scottsdale quickly approaches next week, offering enthusiasts and collectors a chance to check out some of the world's most amazing and valuable cars. Among the vintage classics and modern supercars, though, nothing helps a car's bidding escalate to absolutely absurd levels like a bit of Hollywood provenance. Something as iconic as a Smokey and the Bandit Pontiac Firebird Trans Am replica formerly owned by silver screen star (and bonafied car guy) Burt Reynolds will surely prove that point, as Barrett-Jackson no doubt hopes listing number 1421 will eclipse the half-a-million Reynolds himself netted when he sold this Firebird back in 2014.
Craig Jackson Introduces The Famous Firebird
Befitting such a famous offering, Barrett-Jackson produced a video featuring Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson as he gives a brief history of this piece of movie and automotive history. The car is allegedly the only 1977 Trans Am that Reynolds personally owned, with a 400ci Ponitiac V8 under the hood mated to an M40 automatic transmission. Of course, that powerplant only routed 180 horses to the rear wheels due to the emissions restrictions that choked output throughout the era, though any potential bidder will likely keep this car in a museum rather than taking it to the drag strip or re-enacting scenes from Smokey behind the wheel.
Previously Sold On Bring A Trailer?
Curiously, the car looks exactly the same as a Bring a Trailer listing from May of 2020, with the same Y82 Special Edition Package that adds gold alloy wheels, the T-top roof, and unique graphics. It also bears the same signatures, including on a matching Bandit hat and jacket, though the listings include different VIN numbers of 2W87K7N171427 and 2W87Z7N194062. The BaT car sold for $172,000 at the height of pandemic insanity.
A Chance To Own Bandit History
Of course, the collector car boom that seemed unable to logically keep exploding in May 2020 then went on to grow and grow, so this rolling piece of Hollywood fun could certainly jump up to the half-million mark once more, as did a promotional car used in period for Smokey and the Bandit when it sold via Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale back in 2016.
Sources: barrett-jackson.com, youtube.com, and bringatrailer.com.