What is being billed as the “last” of Burt Reynolds’ “Bandit” Trans Am cars has been consigned to the Spring Carlisle Auction scheduled for April 23-24 at the Carlisle Expo Center in Pennsylvania.
But didn’t Reynolds just sell his Smokey and the Bandit Pontiac Trans Am at Julien’s Auctions event in Las Vegas back in December, and for $450,000?
Yes, he did, but it turns out that Reynolds had several versions built of his famous movie machine. The one being offered at Carlisle is the last of the line, a 1977 Trans Am that Reynolds purchased last year and had restored as a full Bandit tribute vehicle by Harold Murphy of Murphy Auto Body and Restoration in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The car carries Reynolds’ autograph — on the hood and on the dash — and also comes with the Florida DMV title that verifies that Reynolds is the car’s owner. Also included are a hat and jacket worn by Reynolds.
Carlisle quotes Trans Am expert Rick Dieters in a news release as saying, “A huge amount of fans of the car and the movie are out there looking for this important piece of Americana. To find an authentic black-on-black 1977 TA Special Edition proves to be a mission because only a limited amount of them were produced.
“In 2014 alone, ones in museum-quality condition sold for over $100,000 and in December of 2014, another ’77 Trans Am from Reynolds’ collection sold for $450,000… and in my opinion, that car wasn’t in as good a condition as some of the others I’ve seen. In my opinion, this last car from his collection is a really good and a correct one. I personally know the car as it was sold by my company to Mr. Murphy to do the project for Mr. Reynolds and I know the group who restored it.
“The car is identical to the car driven in the movie; it’s a correct Special Edition Y82 model with Hurst T-Tops, black deluxe interior and a 6.6-liter engine.”
Reynolds’ Bandit will be among some 350 cars offered at the Carlisle sale.
The very last one. Interesting he purchased a year ago, had it restored , now up for auction. Does it have the CB option? lol Hope it sells for Burt at a fair price.