Burt Reynolds 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am auctioned (2019)

I n Germany it was called “Ein Auskochtes Schlitzohr”, the original was called “Smokey and the Bandit” - the film with US actor Burt Reynolds in the lead role in 1977 was a huge hit. Produced for $ 4.3 million, it grossed $ 300 million. In the film, Reynolds, who died in September 2018, drives a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am. Privately he owned several models of this muscle car - the American auction house Julien's Auctions has now auctioned Reynolds last Trans Am as part of a kind of budget liquidation.

Julien's Auctions /www.juliensauctions.com

This 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am belonged to Burt Reynolds.

No original film cars available

The 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am SE Y84 was not used in the film, but is painted just like the original film car. Dozens of Trans Am were wrecked during filming, none of which remained. Reynolds stocked up on replicas. He bought it himself because, according to his own statement, GM subsidiary Pontiac, which was dissolved in 2010, did not keep a promise: According to Reynolds, a senior Pontiac employee had promised him a Trans Am during filming if the film was a success. Then when the film far exceeded all expectations, the actor asked about his Trans Am. Pontiac's answer: The said employee is now retired and you no longer feel bound by his promise.

Police car door also auctioned

850 items from Burt Reynolds' personal belongings were found at the auction the hammer - the Trans Am brought in the most with 317,500 dollars (currently around 283,470 euros). In October 2018, the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company auctioned a replica for 192,000Dollars (171,421 euros). In 2015, the biggest gain was a Trans Am that Universal Pictures used to promote the film: the buyer paid $ 550,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction. Julien’s Auctions also auctioned the dented door of a police car with the signature of Burt Reynolds from the film 'Ein Auskochtes Schlitzohr'. The souvenir brought in $ 10,240.