Burt Reynolds Claimed Pontiac Gypped Him Out of 'Bandit' Trans-AM

The iconic 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am from 'Smokey and the Bandit' just sold for nearly $500,000 at auction.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Burt Reynolds, the star of the classic 1977 film "Smokey and the Bandit," claimed that a senior executive at Pontiac had promised him a free 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans-AM as a "thank you" for the movie's massive success, but Reynolds said he never received the car and had to purchase it himself.

Why it matters

The 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans-AM driven by Reynolds in "Smokey and the Bandit" has become one of the most iconic cars in cinema history. Reynolds' claim that he was denied the promised free car by Pontiac highlights the challenges some actors face in getting fair compensation from studios and manufacturers, even for their most famous roles.

The details

According to the IMDb.com documentary, a senior Pontiac executive had promised Reynolds a free Trans-AM if the movie became a hit. The film was a massive success, with the Trans-AM becoming one of the hottest selling cars of 1977. However, when Reynolds tried to claim the promised car, Pontiac told him the executive who made the offer had died, and they would not honor the deal. Reynolds said he had to purchase the car himself, even though its popularity skyrocketed due to the film.

  • In late 2014, Reynolds sold the 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans-AM he drove in "Smokey and the Bandit."
  • In 2026, the car was auctioned off through Barrett-Jackson for nearly $500,000.

The players

Burt Reynolds

The star of the 1977 film "Smokey and the Bandit," who claimed a Pontiac executive promised him a free 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans-AM as a "thank you" for the movie's success, but he never received the car.

Pontiac

The automaker that produced the 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans-AM driven by Burt Reynolds in "Smokey and the Bandit." Reynolds claimed a Pontiac executive promised him a free car, but the company did not honor the deal.

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What they’re saying

“On the DVD documentary, Burt Reynolds says that a senior executive at Pontiac promised him a free Trans-Am if the movie became a hit. It did and the 1977 T-Top Trans-Am became one of the hottest selling cars of the year. When the movie became a hit, Reynolds expected the executive to come through with his promise. But the Trans-Am never came.”

— Burt Reynolds (IMDb.com)

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges some actors face in getting fair compensation from studios and manufacturers, even for their most famous roles. Despite the massive success of "Smokey and the Bandit" and the iconic status of the 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans-AM, Reynolds claimed he was denied a promised free car by Pontiac, underscoring the power imbalance between Hollywood stars and the corporations that profit from their work.