This man made the Trans Am! If he goes to GM and asks for a free one, then you give him 5 of them and be damn thankful for his promotion. Without him, the Trans Am would’ve been nothing more than a cool car.

Between "Bandit" and "Kitt", the Trans Am was an iconic car. But GM blew it and decided to trash it's, probably most famous car. Just goes to show what kind of fools run these companies.

A legendary man, RIP Burt! An American icon.

Burt , was a stand up guy, Just down home normal human who happened to be famous and and actor. Wish we had more like him now. I don't even go to movies any more because actors are just jerks, Rest In Peace Burt. We still have your memories.

He, and Jerry Reed were the biggest, best CB Radio salesmen.

@47hammer

5 жыл бұрын

After the movie every body had to have a CB Radio,& a Cowboy Hat.

What a great story. RIP Burt.

RIP Burt. Great actor and great person.

RIP Burt. And love how you were rockin' that honorary National Champ. ring from your alma mater, the great FSU!!!! I was always so proud that my school/team was your's also!!!! Always in our hearts, Bandit.

Took the words right out of my mouth when Burt mentioned Jim Garner and his Polaroid commercials of the 1970's. Plus, Reynolds and Garner were very similar actors. They almost could have been doubles.

Loved that guy. Long live the legacy of Burt Reynolds and the black Trans am. RIP BANDIT.

He was an absolute class act. RIP

Maybe Pontiac would have servived if Bert would have pitched cars for them. But, Bert outlived Pontiac, so, I guess he got the last laugh...😀. God bless you Bert. Noles' games are never going to be the same.

@gmcnewlook

5 жыл бұрын

S V Pontiac though towards the end made horrible ugly cars that were just rebadged ugly Chevys (that were ugly rebadged European models of brands gm owns)

@marscarz

5 жыл бұрын

dafuq is Bert?

@rickyrick9328

5 жыл бұрын

Maybe your grammar would have "servived" if you had passed the third grade.

@biteme263

5 жыл бұрын

At the time all the car companies were dropping devisions and consolidating so not a big shock. And rebranding is very common too. The Sebring coupe and stratus coupe's were not even dodge products. They were straight up mitsibishi eclipses. Even the chrysler badge on my sebring had a Mits part number lol. They were made in American plants though. As where the Neon was made in mexico or canada. You just never know what you are getting anymore.

@MrSmooth320

5 жыл бұрын

MARSSS I know exactly what your implying and I'm laughing my ass off

Burt buddy we will miss you and I really enjoyed all your movies R.I.P my friend

@TheresaPowers

5 жыл бұрын

You idiot. He's dead. He can't hear you.

@sudo_nym

5 жыл бұрын

Soda Pop Is she incorrect?

@Corvid76

5 жыл бұрын

It's a very accurate statement that apparently needed to be told to this delusional person.

Reynolds didn't need to do trans-am commercials...his Movies 'Are' the commercials. Its too bad that the new president of pontiac destroyed the company...sales tanked the year he took over!!!

@mrbrowz1000101

5 жыл бұрын

Smdh. And just think, all of the Camaros, Challengers, Chargers would have Pontiac symbols. It was a setup.

R.I.P Burt...Thanks for All the COOL Films and cool Tonight Show appearances..!

The first one given to him resides at National Parts Depot in Ocala. It's been restored and in beautiful shape. I'd recommend if you're driving by, definitely stop and ask if you can see it.

I cant believe the new president would not continue the promise. What a turd. I bet they regret it. Pontiac is all dead now. Lol.

@anvil8478

5 жыл бұрын

What a “Turd”, great pun.

@thomasfleig1184

5 жыл бұрын

@robyn hlewka..... Probably because pontiacs are pieces of shit.

@bobcrow1462

5 жыл бұрын

Many are too young to remember or maybe they didn't know certain things about the auto industry, but in the old days of GM, it was extremely rare for any car to be "given" away to anyone except the winner of the Indy 500. The only "perk" typically given to movie stars and other famous people was being put on a list to be first in line to be able to "buy" (!) a new model coming out - like the 1953 Corvette for instance. It was good PR for a company to have movie stars seen driving around in their newest, flashiest cars on the street. But nobody was "given" a 53 Corvette. When you take that into account, Burt did pretty well compared to others because at least he got several free cars. Executives at the top come and go. Their commitments only last as long as they are still working. What happened doesn't surprise me. Sales generated by Burt and the movie had tapered off by the late-80s I'm sure. And 2nd gen Trans Ams were no longer being sold. The new guy saw profit going out the window.

@bobcrow1462

5 жыл бұрын

That was several GM presidents after the one that cut Burt off.

@pulseweld

5 жыл бұрын

giving away free cars wont keep the lights on

Rip Burt Reynolds genius actor miss you mate

Y'know, he was far from perfect. But Damn he was cool.

Everyone knows that getting something for life means the lifetime of the recipient. Shame on you GMC.

@bigman55434

5 жыл бұрын

David Volk - GMC had nothing to do with Pontiac.

@davidvolk54

5 жыл бұрын

Shame on you Pontiac.

@ArgyrosVivum

5 жыл бұрын

David Volk I tought the same thing I was like the minion, whaat!

@HansDelbruck53

5 жыл бұрын

Wouldn't have been possible anyway since Burt far outlived the Trans Am model which died in 2002.

@Stealthcola

5 жыл бұрын

GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY

I didn't know how cool and laid back Burt was until I watched this video. Seems like an easy guy to talk with. Thanks.

@coldwinter5710

4 жыл бұрын

There are so many more IV's out there to view, thanks to You Tube! He was one of the best IV's a person could get. RIP BR

Burt made everyone want a Trans Am. Weather you were a Ford guy or Mopar guy, you wanted a Trans AM. It's one of my favorite cars to this day because of Burt and the memories of Smokie and the Bandit. RIP Burt

That GM president is a jerk messing with a icon , gonna miss Burt

He told great stories. Will miss you Burt.

Sales up 700 percent and weaseled out of the deal. There's 'Buy American' for you! Disgraceful.

@coltc5360

5 жыл бұрын

Sales looked flat to the new guy.

@signlsirchir2156

5 жыл бұрын

6-7 years later yeah? New pres of gm could have involved the Bandit for a 10yr SE to boost sales but in that time we were trying to forget the recent past.

@paulbroderick8438

5 жыл бұрын

Indeed. The new pres no doubt viewed the original 'deal' as too generous but could have installed his own for a set period, keeping good faith.

@motorcitymanman7711

5 жыл бұрын

You think sales were up 700% FOREVER? A TA EVERY year is pretty outrageous, Burt should have negotiated a new TA every 3 or 4 years, sounds like he rolled over pretty easy! They sold 120,000 in 1979, most ever of the 70s early 80s TAs.....most years they sold less than 50,000, in some years only 3 or 4 or 5,000 cars. GM almost killed the TA in 1973 but John DeLorean who was a executive at Pontiac lied about the pre sales orders and they kept it alive.

@paulbroderick8438

5 жыл бұрын

Yep, a new one EVERY year seems a bit over the top, I agree. Perhaps he could have sweet talked the new pres for a set period of say 3,4 or 5 years before the cut-off point.

The sense of timing with regard to story tellig....bringing quick laughter.Burt Reynolds RIP

Good bye to a true Icon. Never Forgotten

I remember him as the detective Dan August. An old, old show brudda'. Aloha, Burt.

@coldwinter5710

4 жыл бұрын

Dan August & his previous TV show to that, Hawk, were both really good! Hawk was 1st (& only) TV show to ever be entirely filmed at night (in NY City). Very cool.

The original 77 trans am promo car for the movie sold at auction in 2016 for $550,000. They used 4 different trans ams in the movie. 3 were wiped out, and by the last scene the 4th wouldn't start. So they had to use another car to push it into the scene.

What a great movie there won't be another in my life time I saw a black trans am this week I immediately thought of smokey and the bandit it would be great to drive one Burt Reynolds will all ways be rembered RIP

Ol’ Burt deserved a New TransAm for life! RIP Bandit.

GM's word is cardboard.

@mypinis

5 жыл бұрын

GM's cars are cardboard.

@penname1001

5 жыл бұрын

I'm the best. Touché 😂🤣

@lordgarion514

5 жыл бұрын

That GM doesn't exist anymore. I run a side business that my boss owns. His day job is investment banker/regional manager. When the feds bailed out GM the stock was junked and new stock issued. So it's an entirely different company now.

@Dastardly_X

5 жыл бұрын

Government Motors 😵

@WARVANE

5 жыл бұрын

GM's Word is MORE PLASTIC!

Rip Burt Reynolds, he’s blocking for snowman up on the highway to heaven

@ralphsmallblock4367

5 жыл бұрын

Slacker 1552 Fuckan ay😢 First Carroll Shelby now Burt Reynolds loved and still loved. RIP boys

He mentioned James Garner in the clip. In Rockford Files, Garner's TV series of the 1970s, he drove a gold Firebird and did most of the detective show's stunt driving himself. In real life, Garner was into Daytona Racing, owning and also racing various cars himself. His character Jim Rockford always drove the cheaper Esprit model (unlike Smoky's flashy Trans Am) in keeping with Rockford's anti-hero, blue collar image.

@davidhunt6463

5 жыл бұрын

Hi, excuse my ignorance of American cars as I'm a Brit and I haven't watched the Rockford Files for nearly 40 years, but I always thought that Jim Rockford drove a Camero or am I just being a complete idiot (as usual) ?

@riyaanduminy4636

5 жыл бұрын

Burt is the reason .... I started my relationship with performance cars... Rip bandit.... Gone not forgotten.....

@LS1007

5 жыл бұрын

Only the ‘74 models were Esprits. The rest were Formula 400’s with plain hoods to look like Esprits but with beefed up suspensions.

@michaeljordan6008

5 жыл бұрын

David Hunt - you're not an idiot, but Jim Rockford drove a Firebird. James Garner always said the Trans Am was too flashy for Rockford and that he would not have been able to afford one anyway.

@johnflynn4966

5 жыл бұрын

James Garner also ran the Baja race in the early 70s.fun guy

The bandit best movie ever made

@rickeyripley5957

5 жыл бұрын

I bought a trans am just because of burt..i loved it..

@gerrydooley951

5 жыл бұрын

what are you, like 12?

@silentghost7420

5 жыл бұрын

@Joey K I just watched it lol

@silentghost7420

5 жыл бұрын

No I'm like 45 and it still the best movie ever made what are you like 5

@stag3t-muspsa910

5 жыл бұрын

buford T JUSTICE ....and his son....also best part of movie.

“Gimme back my yearly Trans-Am and I’ll do advertising...”

They bought all those trans Sam's from amity Buick in Stuart Florida, my grandfather got a jacket from burtI used to fish his dock on snook season

Sounds like the new president renigged on the deal. A deal is a deal.

@Deploracle

5 жыл бұрын

He got what he deserved … the eventual full absorption of Pontiac into GM and thus cancelled for lesser brands. Idiots, but hey look at Detroit today, see what they have done?

@V8_screw_electric_cars

5 жыл бұрын

Must been Roger B Smith

@aarongreenfield9038

5 жыл бұрын

You do know is spelled reneged, Unless you spelled it like that on purpose!

@rickn8or

5 жыл бұрын

"Bust a deal, face the wheel!"

@aarongreenfield9038

5 жыл бұрын

@@rickn8or Ladies & gentlemen, boys & girls, dying time is here!

I remember a magazine ad that he did do for Pontiac. He was sitting on top of an '80 Trans Am Bandit edition in his cowboy hat.

METV shows an episode of WKRP every weeknight, my DVR is set to catch them all. Every night when I watch it and "Jennifer" comes on the screen (Burt's wife at the time, Mrs. Loni Anderson) it reaffirms the notion that Burt was the luckiest man to ever walk the planet!!

he loved being a movie star he sure did it great loved that guy thanks for the memories

This really doesn’t surprise me. My own experience in applying for jobs at GM (since it’s always been my dream to work in the automotive industry) has always been negative. They always came off as very stuck up whenever I’d talk to them or get a response. Then they’d try to get me to take positions lower than I was qualified for despite the fact that I graduated with honors in engineering. If you happily work for GM and don’t have any issues with them, then great for you. I even know a guy that works for them now (granted, I never much cared for him either). All I’m saying is that I have not had a good experience with them yet. Burt made the Trans Am an icon, and he really should have been compensated for it like he was promised.

He bought a RollRoyce from princess Margret and it had to get certified for US. EPA, dot, and i did that and took it to him at his WPB RANCH. COOL JOB.

@dbnitetrain3959

5 жыл бұрын

Mr Berry that had to be the best day ever! Ur a lucky man!

@4406bbldb

5 жыл бұрын

Yes the exotic (gray market)car business is always interesting.

@jm361

5 жыл бұрын

Don Berry NHTSA is pretty weird sometimes...

@dbnitetrain3959

5 жыл бұрын

U actually meet the man?(Burt) or just some goons?

@xcofcd

5 жыл бұрын

Don Berry i didn't know there has work to be done after importing it to the US. When we get US cars here in Germany there need to be a lot of modifications like foglights blinkers and on and on. I always though in the US you just slap a plate on there and drive it...

Considering how GM screwed over their investors with their "bankruptcy" scam, this is not surprising. They should have been forced to liquidate and pay off the investors and creditors instead of just being allowed to steal the money with no repercussions.

Knew this story, Burt was the 70’s

I can't imagine what it must feel like to recall one's life after being a star... it must be very surreal being close to death after having a life like that...

Such and influence on my young life and interest in cars... weird Burt has gone, RIP man, keep them wheels rolling

Burt's tough Trans-am. Sally's tight blue jeans.

I want you all to know that Burt Reynolds was admired and loved by my uncle who was in the music industry and hundreds of artists in the Film industry. Burt Reynolds was "NOT" a player, he dated famous women, but, he was a serial monogamous and kept his small town morales through out his career. Dolly Parton was the Mae West of Country Music, but, Dolly and Burt were sister and brother, they would flert on Television, so, people thought that they hade a relationship, but, it was NOT TRUE!!! actors public persona is not accurate 90% of the time, R I P Burt Reynolds you was one of the last real men of Hollywood.

Gonna miss ya Burt! Love your Gator character the best and the Bandit!

THE MAN, THE LEGEND, R.I.P MR REYNOLDS.

well burt my friend the world remembers you. god bless

Burt Reynolds.... great guy !!

In 1982 I bought a 1979 6.6 ltr trans am. DAMN! A bit much for a 18 year old, but I pulled off with no serious injuries....to me or car, even others.

He didn't need to make a commercial, those movies where the biggest commercial Pontiac could have ever got.

Rest easy Burt!

This is why he's always been one of my favorites,9 down to earth great guys.......All American people's hero.......God bless you sir.............I wonder if you meet the president again up in heaven, he'll reinstate your agreement...?....I'm wishing he does.

That’s how loyal GM is

God bless you Burt there don’t make em like you

Back then if you saw a big name doing a commercial you assumed they must be desperate for money. I think because there was some truth to it. There were some stars that would disappear off the scene for years and then start doing commercials toward the end of their careers.

BURT IS DOWN IN THE DIRT WEARING AN OLD SHIRT AND HES RIGHT NEXT TWO KURT

".. So I called up GM and asked for the president..." And got him lol. Nicely done Burt, too bad the new guy was a jerk.

What's funny is that in one of his final interviews, one of the things he wished he'd have done differently was to take acting a little more seriously. His philosophy of 'don't do it unless it's fun for you to do' has its merit-if one can afford it-but in hindsight he passed on some plumb roles that would have been well worth it for their own sake, but he didn't see that until later on in life.

Ahh, Thank you Burt for all the fun you bought to me growing up all the way over the pond in the UK, still love Trans Ams & all things American now in no small part, because of those films. And yep, what weasley guy for not upholding a gentleman’s agreement!

What a greedy jerk for that new president to do that to Burt but as everyone said where's Pontiac now Haahaa haaa,REST IN PEACE BURT THE BANDIT YOU WERE A GOOD MAN AND FUNNY TOO👍👍👍

This actually isn't the full story, the new president also told Burt he wasn't a fan of his movies.

He deserved to get one for life! That new president of Pontiac who cut him off was a dick obviously.. In 1990 I purchased a Bandit Black Trans Am from the dealer and this was my dream since I was 7 and saw the movie. Over 12 years on at the time and those movies were still selling Trans Ams. The actual count for how many of us did buy one because of The Bandit, countless. Best salesman Pontiac ever had hands down.

So handsome and love his personality. No one like Burt. I miss you

His agent wouldn't have let him do unpaid Trans Am commercials anyways; no way for the agent to get their percentage.

GM President, what a shyster, Trans Am for life. Burt got the shaft, even though he didn't need a new Trans Am every year.

The Trans Am *IS * Burt Reynolds car forever. shame on you Pontiac

Burt, the man, the legend!

This is gold! Pure gold!

he wouldn't have wanted one of the newer models. they were junk.

@Grit489

5 жыл бұрын

Wrong

@bobcrow1462

5 жыл бұрын

Not junk at all if you buy the right 3rd gen. The 1989 20th Anniversary Pontiac Trans Am Indy Pace Car with the Buick Grand National 3.8L turbo engine in it from the factory is pretty impressive. The suspension and brakes on that car were developed for Australian road racing. They were turning 13.5 in the quarter off the showroom floor - easily beating a heavy 1977 T/A for instance. In the turns, no contest. I like 2nd gen Bandit cars a lot for the classic looks, but performance wasn't quite as good as my 89 that has just over half the cubic inches. Fuel economy in the low to mid 20s too.

@paranormaltheorist

5 жыл бұрын

Bob Crow is right. The later models weren't the head turners that the earlier ones were, but they took corners like they were on rails.

@BigWheel.

5 жыл бұрын

Ws6? Those were excellent

@crazyrebl

5 жыл бұрын

GM sucks.

2:37 who in the hell is over talking him. Why in the hell would you do that to a legend. Rip burt. Ride on bandit ride on

great as "QUINN" on GUNSMOKE!!!!!!!!!!

@Lance2773

5 жыл бұрын

"Quint"

THE ORIGINAL PHONE CALL TOO GM Where the hell is my CAAAARRR..LOL kidding i liked the burt-ster

You were a part of my youthful life, and I hope you will be a part of my future eternal life. See you soon Burt. Me :O)

😱 Dayum, Pontiac! Makes me glad I've ALWAYS been a Camaro girl.

Actually, Mr. Reynolds does appear in a Trans Am ad/brochure. He is sitting on a 1981 Black Special Edition's open T-top roof keying up the mic on a CB radio. The image can be readily found online.

For being AWESOME... have a "Dif-Der-Dif-i-KATE!"

just him havin the car is better than a commercial...great actor too...when real was real... none of this fake... i gotta make a statement shit... r .i .p...

As if I need another reason to never buy a GM product. Bring back the Trans Am in Burt addition and I might think about it...

A Trans Am was a super cool car, better when driven at high speeds with smokeys on your tail. Burt you left a life time memory thank you God bless and RIP.

Fairwell to a childhood hero ..

I used to mechanic on the trans ams, there just a Camaro, with a different engine, and body style. 1/02/21.

Did Burt let out his famous magical laughter when he was reaching old age too? I only saw it when he was in his 30´s and 40´s, like with Carson on the Tonight Show and such.

@coldwinter5710

4 жыл бұрын

His voice & laughter changed as he aged, as it does w/everyone, but certainly he still had his magical laugh in there somewhere :)

LOL this reminds me of the 70s Ginsu knives "lifetime" warranty, yes I know the company is back doing business now but there was a time in the 80s where the company went bust and the joke was the warranty was good for the lifetime of the company not the knives. I learned a lot about warranties and extended plans back when I was a kid because of that.

Ah Bert, if only you said "Gee Thanks Boss. Can we put that in a contract? I'd surely appreciate it."

I had a smokey and bandit clone trans am, kids stay away from alcohol and drugs, I got drunk and traded it for " Marshall Matt Dillon's" horse from gunsmoke in 2015.....sigh*

@yourhandlehere1

5 жыл бұрын

Well at least ya had somethin' to eat.

@wolfmanrebel874

5 жыл бұрын

@mike rusch yes, I tried some mods, I hooked a small bottle of nos to it but the thing just went to sleep

@yourhandlehere1

5 жыл бұрын

Try mounting a leaf blower to the saddle bags, run a flexible hose up to his nose and Bingo! I mean Turbo!

@wolfmanrebel874

5 жыл бұрын

@@yourhandlehere1 Great idea!!! It should take more for him to run out of air that way, brilliant

I think he got a new Ford every year since he done Stroker Ace too

the Pontiac Burt drove had a 403 Oldsmobile engine in it

That was a pretty damn good story. I LOL'd when Burt said he was told… Well I don't want to ruin it in case you're reading this comment before watching the video. Just watch. Damn funny. God, we are going to miss you Mr. Burt Reynolds.

The Poleroid commercials Reynolds refers to starred James Garner and Mariette Hartley. They made so many of these and the screen chemistry between them was so strong that people began to believe that they were a married couple. It should be noted, however, that by that time Garner had largely departed from major motion pictures and was a solid TV star with the Rockford Files. TV stars didn't have to worry about Academy Awards and it was quite normal for them to appear in commercials.

yea will miss burt reynolds loved gator deliverence and of course smokey and the bandit

Turd Ferguson brought me here. Loved ya Turd.

R.I.P Burt Reynolds!

GM, always a class act.. (cue eye roll)

It's like the Navy not giving Tom Cruise a free pass to a Blue Angels show. C'mon!

That's just so fucked up. Burt and Smokey and the Bandit were the reasons a lot of us bought the TransAm in the first place. The first muscle car I bought was a 1979 Black Special Edition TransAm back in 1987. My dad referred to that car as an albatross, because it took a lot cash to keep it on the road, even though I only had it for two years, unlike his VW Karmann Ghia, which he had for 11 years (and never ran).😱😱😱 Ironically, my second favorite car movie is the Vanishing Point with Barry Newman. Any wonder why I now own a 2014 Challenger R/T Redline.😆😆😆