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And they didn’t cut corners.
The exterior was completely reworked, ditching the Camaro’s identity in favor of classic Trans Am styling. The front end was redesigned with aggressive lines, a split grille, and bold gold accents. The hood proudly features the iconic “Screaming Chicken,” carefully hand-painted and sealed beneath layers of clearcoat for a factory-fresh look.
Details matter in a build like this—and they delivered. Gold pinstriping runs sharply across the deep black paint. Functional T-top panels return, capturing one of the most beloved features of the original car. Custom wheels, upgraded brakes, and a reimagined rear end tie the entire package together.
Inside, the tribute continues. The cabin features custom upholstery with Trans Am branding, along with unmistakable “Bandit” styling cues across the panels.
But one detail separates this car from every other restomod on the market.
On the dashboard, written in ink, is the signature of Burt Reynolds himself.
This wasn’t a simple licensing deal. Reynolds was directly involved in the project before his passing in 2018. He reviewed the cars, approved the design, and personally signed each one. Only 77 units were ever produced—and after his death, no more signatures would ever exist.
Under the hood, this modern Bandit is far from a nostalgic cruiser.
The car is equipped with a 7.4-liter supercharged V8 in its most extreme configuration, producing a staggering 840 horsepower. That power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission, creating a performance level that dwarfs the original.
For comparison, the 1977 Trans Am delivered roughly 200 horsepower. This modern version produces more than four times that output—turning a classic icon into a true high-performance machine.
With minimal mileage, the vehicle remains in near-new condition, making it even more appealing to collectors.
Now, the car is heading to auction, where interest is expected to be intense. And for good reason.
“Burt Reynolds can never sign another Trans Am.”
That reality alone places this vehicle in a category few collectibles ever reach.
Recent sales offer a glimpse into the market. A restored late-1970s Trans Am without any celebrity connection reportedly fetched around $285,000 in 2025. This car, however, brings far more to the table: rarity, performance, provenance, and a direct link to one of Hollywood’s most enduring figures.
The impact of Smokey and the Bandit cannot be overstated. The film helped drive Trans Am sales from 68,000 units in 1977 to 117,000 by 1979—a surge rarely seen in the automotive world. It proved that entertainment could shape consumer demand in a way few industries had ever experienced.
Today, the landscape looks very different. Pontiac is gone. The Camaro platform that underpins this build has also been retired. And Reynolds himself is no longer here to sign another piece of automotive history.
That combination creates something rare—something final.
This is not just a car crossing the auction block. It’s a tangible piece of American culture, tied to a moment when Hollywood, horsepower, and national identity collided in a way that may never be repeated.
Collectors aren’t just bidding on metal and performance.
They’re bidding on the last signature of a legend.
