They Had to Sell Pontiac On The Idea
When the idea was first proposed to use a Pontiac Trans Am in “Smokey and the Bandit,” filmmakers had to convince General Motors that it was a good idea. At the time, Pontiac was reluctant to allow their cars to be used in movies as they were concerned about how their brand would be portrayed on screen. To sell Pontiac on the idea, the filmmakers had to pitch the idea in a way that would highlight the Trans Am’s unique features (via Slash Gear).
They believed this would generate positive buzz around the car and help boost sales. Ultimately, Pontiac was convinced by the filmmakers’ pitch and agreed to allow the Trans Am to be used in the film. This decision proved wise, as the film was a box office success and helped cement the Trans Am’s status as an icon of American muscle cars.