Smokey and the Bandit Movie Car?

There has been a rumor for many years that a Smokey and the Bandit movie car actually survived the crusher and was put back on the road by a young man who worked for the salvage yard. Supposedly the car was only crushed down to the hood and the representative left before it was totally crushed. Comment below if you heard this story of the surviving Bandit car.

[@googleusergp]

You wouldn't know it's a real Y81 without a PHS because typically the Y82 and Y81 weren't always stamped on the cowl tag. By the time the "Y84" cars came out, they were sometimes stamped on the tag. Back in the day, people would put on the SE stripes and they were readily available across the parts counter and many dealers would add them as requested, or a body shop would do them upon request.

[@wlc1980]

I have the PHS documents with all of my options and everything is correct. It costs around a $100 to get everything from PHS in Michigan. Thanks for watching!

[@googleusergp]

@@wlc1980 Yes, I own two Trans Ams (including one my parents bought new) and I have the PHS for both of them.

[@mikee2923]

I’m not familiar with the codes but if this is supposed to be a W72 equipped T/A, Pontiac would have used the 500557 casting block in 1977. They didn’t start using the XX (which was the 1971-early 1975 casting block) for the W72 until 1978. The heads would be 6X4 castings found on any Pontiac 350 from 1976-77. Not sure what cam was used (maybe the 067?) but the intake manifold was the same as any 1975-79 Pontiac V8. If it was the standard 400 it would be no different than what was used in the Grand Prix, LeMans or Bonneville from 1975-78. Definitely a cool find and worthy of saving unless it’s too far gone.

[@wlc1980]

I have collected a few W72 parts. I have the 6x4 heads, a 17057266 carburetor. The block I need is a Y6. It won’t be numbers matching but it will be the correct block.

[@googleusergp]

I do not believe that's correct from a numbers standpoint on the intake manifold. Some year 400 engines (1979 for sure) could use a different manifold (I have one I bought at a swap meet). They may be "interchangeable", but the stamping numbers are different.

[@wlc1980]

The hood scoop indicated it came with the W72 engine of which I don’t have. I bought it with a 1973 L78 400 engine. I’m looking for a correct Y6 block. My PHS paperwork indicated it is a real special edition car with AC and the W72 option.

[@googleusergp]

@@wlc1980 If everything matches on the PHS, then you know what you have and you should be good to go.

[@mikee2923]

@@googleusergp I thought all Pontiac V8 (except the 301) from 75-79 used the same intake manifold. 2nd generation EGR design that had the D shaped port below the qjet secondaries. Even the W72. No?

[@garymiller9118]

Movie cars were crushed

[@wlc1980]

@@garymiller9118 Is there proof that all three were completely crushed? I heard the story of the red parts car from two different sources over the years. I’m only passing on the rumors. Thanks

[@terrybangley2281]

Yep, gm sent people down to make sure the cars were crushed because they “lent” the cars to them for the movie and therefore they would have be held liable if someone took the cars and something bad happened because gm still was the owner of the cars