Smokey and the Bandit episodes of the series. Needham saw an advertisement for the soon-to-be-released 1977 Pontiac Trans Am and knew right away that would be the Bandit's car, or, as Needham referred to it, a character in the movie. He contacted Pontiac and an agreement was made that four 1977 Trans Ams and two Pontiac LeMans 4-door sedans would be provided for the movie. The Trans Ams were actually 1976-model cars with 1977 front ends. (From 1970 to 1976, both the Firebird/Trans Am and Chevrolet Camaro had two round headlights, and in 1977, the Firebird/Trans Am was changed to four rectangular headlights, while
Smokey and the Bandit II three years later, "Smokey and the Bandit Part 3" (1983), in which Reynolds appeared only in a brief cameo appearance, and Sally Field was absent completely. The plot centers on Bo "Bandit" Darville (Burt Reynolds) and Cledus "Snowman" Snow (Jerry Reed), transporting an elephant to the GOP National Convention, with Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason) in hot pursuit once again. Big Enos Burdette is running for Governor of Texas against another candidate, John Coen. After a figurative and literal "mudslinging," both are confronted by the outgoing governor and given a thorough tongue-lashing. Burdette overhears the governor yelling at an