Burt Reynolds and the Pontiac Trans Am became inseparable in the public imagination after the success of Smokey and the Bandit. The 1977 model featured in the film quickly became one of the movie’s most recognizable symbols, alongside Reynolds himself.
The film’s popularity led Reynolds to an arrangement with General Motors that provided him with a brand-new Pontiac Trans Am each year for the rest of his life. The deal reflected the powerful connection between the actor, the movie franchise and the car’s cultural profile.
However, the arrangement eventually took an uncomfortable turn during a phone call with the president of General Motors. The exchange changed the circumstances surrounding Reynolds’ annual cars, adding an awkward ending to one of Hollywood’s most memorable celebrity and automotive partnerships.
