Burt Reynolds’ personal Pontiac Trans Am is up for auction

Reynolds owned and drove this one
The current owner bought it from Reynolds’ estate
Major restoration and modifications made

Updated: Aug 31, 2024 / 03:51 PM CDT

A Pontiac Firebird Trans Am similar to the one from Burt Reynold’s film “Smokey and the Bandit” is seen in front of Burt Reynold’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 6, 2018 in Los Angeles.

(NewsNation) — A 1978 Pontiac Trans Am, like the one Burt Reynolds made famous in the movie “Smokey and the Bandit” will be on the auction block in Dallas next week. And this one has a unique history.

It is not one of the Trans Ams used in the movie. And it is not one of the after-market restoration models that Reynolds endorsed in 2007.

It was, however, one of Reynolds’ personal vehicles.

According to Motor Trend, this one is a stock Pontiac that the actor owned and drove. According to Reynolds’ estate, he gave it to the groundskeeper at his Jupiter, Florida home. The estate then got it back after Reynolds died in 2018.

Gene Kennedy, the owner of Bandit Movie Cars, bought it from the estate and restored it, adding state-of-the-art technology. The glossy black paint job includes the iconic gold Pontiac wings on the hood.

The car hits the auction block during Mecum’s four-day event in Dallas starting on September 4. Experts peg the value at $124,000. But a similar Trans Am owned by Reynolds sold for $192,000 shortly after the actor’s death.