There wasn’t much info to gather about the trucks that were used in the movie “Smokey and the Bandit”. I guess Convoy was a better truck movie, judging by the amount of material I was able to gather about Rubberduck’s truck as opposed to the minimal info I found about Snowman’s truck.There is quite a lot of speculation is flying around on message boards and such regarding which trucks were used in this movie, but I finally found enough evidence to list the following about the “Smokey and the Bandit” truck, with 99% confidence that these are the true facts:
* Three Kenworth W900s were used in the movie (yay!) (Although some websites suggests that more than 3 trucks were used….)
* Two of the three trucks were 1974 models, which can be confirmed by looking at the grill, where the standard silver Kenworth emblems are displayed.
* The last Kenworth was a 1973 model. It sports a gold plated Kenworth emblem on its grill, something which signifies Kenworth 50th anniversary, as the business was established in 1923.
* All trucks were painted brown with golden edges and equipped with 38” sleeper cabs.
* The mural trailer was 48 feet long & manufactured by Hobbs Trailers in Texas.
If anyone has more info on these trucks used in Smokey & THe Bandit, feel free to leave it here :-)
150 comments:
cool site. we were just arguing bout the motor in the mack used in convoy,found your site.big time truck freak.own 1,drive 1,love it. even in 2days world. that kw is (or if im not mistaken and could b) is a kw 925, cummins power, and a coffin 4 a sleeper.cool truck!
iam a trucker becuse of this movie
the 2 original trucks used in this movie were infact '74's one of them featured a 400HP V8 Catapiller engine the other one featured a VT-903 350HP Egnine the third truck was a infact a 1973 Kenworth that also featured a V8 catapiller engine after filming in '77 or '78 Truck #2 & #3 switvhed engines for what reason I don't know! for Snowman's trailer there was actually 2 trailers used in the movie, back in '79 the 2 trailers & 2 original trucks burnt down in a ware house on universal studio's truck lots, the '73 KW was auctioned off a year later in 1980 and was turned into a daycab rig! the trucks current location after 1997 is unknown! everything still remains the same on the truck bsides the truck being turned into a daycab rig
I forgot to mention all the trucks used in the film were Kenworth W-900's
Only one truck in this movie had a V8 power plant, and no, it wasn't a Caterpillar or a Cummins. The engine you hear right after the bar fight scene is a 2 cycle Detroit Diesel, possibly an 8V71. The other two trucks just had ol plain jane Cummins under the hood. I think I was told the they were the early version of the Big Cam Engines
What an excellent movie.
the truck is newnan ga
were would you buy a truck and trailer replica to export to ireland????
"john said...
the truck is newnan ga"
Actually, that is a replica according to his site.
Jason
So the Detroit two stroke one: V6 then? It just didn't have that raspy sound of a two stroke Diesel....But I am no expert..... I would love an actual replica model of a '74 that is trimmed exactly like the original, right down to the correct striping. Any suggestions?
One of the original trailers didn't burn in1979. My dad pulled one of the original hobbs. 40 footer to kenworth. In los angeles, ca in 1984
I would have to confirm at least one trailer survived because in the early 80's my brother went with my mom to L.A. for something and they saw the trailer going down the freeway.
paul darlow here jerry reed who played the snowman in smokey and the bandit the movies in the films he starred in will never be the same without him again many thanks to u all
I just watched a show on the Speed channel called "American Trucker". They redid the "Smokey & the Bandit" run. They stopped at a truck stop in Arkansas at a truck stop. A guy came up and told them the original truck is in a feild with weeds growing up bast the air filters. Someone should check this out.
Anne
Just heard that somewhere in arkansas the trailer is in a field with very tall grass
i just saw the exact same show, and thats what i am searching for... someones got to find this truck
I want that trailer! I make phone calls.
the truck didnt burn my grampa knows the old man that owns the truck its settin in a hay field in arkansas
Nice to walk down history with the truck facts.There are so many stories and legends created by these vehicles which guide the life of a trucker.
where exactley is this corn field any details?
The mural on the trucks were painted by my mom's brother James (Jim) Finger. He stated that he painted several because they wrecked a few doing the movie stunts, but I am not sure how many in all. The detail was difficult, he said, because of the corrugated sides.
They had to see a replica the actual truck used in the movie is in north central Arkansas I know of the man who ones it he has signed movie docs. To prove it. It is going to s#|t and he refuse to sell it cause he is a grumpy old man
Yes Anne your correct he also owns the original w900 and original trailer
in wapoto wa the orige also trailer wont sell tried to hotwire didnt work
Does any one have any pictures of the truck in the Arkansas field
Does anyone know what town in Arkansas the truck is in?
Big Jer from Indiana would love to know the "field" the snowmans trk is in down in the great state of Arkansas.... I watch this movie almost everyweekend !!!! Love it!!!
the trailer was painted by my husbands brother, Greg Choates. He was an air brush artist that passed away several yrs. ago ( 1999 I believe). He also did lots of work on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. All of his family is artistically talented. from singing to painting. His name should be in the bottom corner of the trailer.
i think i found the truck on google earth. in a field with brush around it. in northern arkansas
e-mail me at angelo.valla@gmail.com
Hey how's it going not to piss any one off here I love the movie satb its a great movie I am a truck drive I got a kenworth around the same time zone as the one in the movie mine has a removeable bunk like most of them back then and if its a 925 then it had one but to my point if u notice in the movie when the where in side the cab they had.a different truck cuz for one to get in the back in that year you went trought the window in the back which was pretty big don't get me wrong and for to you look closely there's a window in the bunk and you look out side there's not and for 3 the roof looks higher then it should be for a flat top that's all thanks and great page wish I had the money I paint me truck n trailer like that but it be pretty funny in canada
The man who painted that mural lives in south Carolina his name is Jim Norris and he still paints cars n trucks to this day. His shop is on us 1 south of rockingham.
Well we are up to 3 people who painted the truck... lol
do we know what town the truck is in in Arkansas?
Hi Pat,
someone said they found it sitting in a hay field in Northern Arkansas using google maps http://www.imcdb.org/movie_76729-Smokey-and-the-Bandit.html
and to who ever correct me on the Motors I want to say there no Detroit motors used in the movie I REPEAT there no Detroit motors used in the movie I, it was a 350HP VT-903 Cummins, which makes since because the Movin' On truck made the same sound and that was a VT-903 the only difference is Movin' On had the first ever VT-903 400HP Cummins and that truck was a 1974 this one here with the VT-903 Cummins was the 1973 which is the one that was said to be sitting in a hay field today in Arkansas from episode of "American Trucker" they did an episode related to the movie, the other 2 kenworth's in Smokey and the Bandit were 2 1974 Kenworth W-900's one had a 1693 350HP Cat and the other one had a NTC-350HP Cummins and both of them are unknown to still even exist to this day!!! this info comes from George Sack who happen to buy the trucks for the movie, so it's 100% correct! and the Mural was painted by Hobbs in Texas when the main trailer mostly used in the movie NOTE: there was 2 trailers in the movie and the info comes from this guy on youtube who took photo's of the movie on the set: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM1NHmb_bUQ&NR=1&feature=endscreen
So what is the latest news on this truck as of 26th July 2012? Has anyone actually located the truck in Arkansas? Does anyone have the address of it, or the co ordinates for google maps as some one stated they had found it on google?
my dad owned it and put it n field for my son so there clay co. ar.
anybody know the road name snowmans truck in ar. is?
could anyone tell me the exact location of the truck please, thanks
I would love to know to please let me know!!
It seemed the truck is located in Clay County Arkansas, in a field
ok but what field near what interstate or road name, thanks
I would like to know the location as well... My wife's father passed away when she was 5 years old... He owned Gilliam Trucking in Indiana... She was told growing up that her dad owned that truck prior to the filming of the movie... If anyone has any other information about the truck, I would very much appreciate it... You can email me at dionmerriman@almcare.org. Thanks
Judging what type of motor is used in the trucks in the movies by their sound is useless. All sounds are added later in the editing process including the sounds of vehicles.
Has any one found the truck of smokey and the bandits and what to the trucks of movies 2& 3 can get me on bearcat_au@yahoo.com would love to hear if it was found and it's condition
who painted the trailer??
Ok, It is now September 20, 2013. If someone knows for sure, plese post- WHERE IS SNOWMN'S TRUCK?????? We seem to have a lot of people who "know". I am not one of them, I am a fan. Where everit is, please know a lot of us want to be assured this truck is somewhere being loved.
dirtwrench@yahoo.com
I had a 1974 Kenworth W900 with a coffin sleeper like the one's used in Smokey and the Bandit. Mine had a 8V92 Detroit Diesel and 13 speed transmission. The sound made by the first truck whether added by the sound department or by the truck was a Detroit not a V903 cummins. I know I owned 6 trucks with Detroit's in them and still own GMC 5 Star General with a 8V92 Detroit engine. I start it up once in a while just to hear that whine and whistle and to keep the batteries built up. I think the truck in the Arkansas field is a ghost truck no one has actually seen it they heard it was there. It makes a nice story.
The surviveing truck and trailer was owned by Wallace Trailers in the late 80's. It sat behind the welding shop on Airport Rd in Valdosta,GA. When it was sold it was still running and driveing. I was told it was sold to a man in Madison, FL where it became neglected parked in the edge of the woods where a tree fell across the trailer and destroyed it. I have also been told the man died last year and the truck and what was left of the trailer was hauled to Salvage GM in Valdosta, GA for scrap.I don't for sure about the scrap part but I do know for a fact the truck was in Valdosta in the late 80's or either an exact replica. My best friend's dad owns the shop where it was. Which would make more sense considering the movie was filmed in Georgia.
My uncles dad painted the picture on the side of the tuck..... Duck Newman
Possible location in Clay County.
36.321522, -90.327675
36°19'17.5"N 90°19'39.6"W
Where abouts at that location do you think the truck is hiding?
Does anyone know if B.R. had the original or a reproduction of snow man's trailer in web fla.
I happen to know where the one B.R. owned when he had his ranch in w.p.b. fla
Jerry Reed wore a CAT diesel ball cap on the movie so I'll speculate that the truck used in the movie had a CAT engine! (Sounds as good as the other guesses)
If you slow down and watch. That is not Snowman's truck. It was always Bandit's. He is just driving it while Bandit runs block.
there is a reefer sitting north east of Idaho Falls off of 20/26 with the same painting as the one in the movie.dont know if its the orginal but its there on the left going out of Idaho Falls sitting in a field with several old trucks and trailers
Hey anonymous I'm glad you mentioned Gilliam trucking! My dad drove one of their silver kenworths back in the day for quite a few years. Back when Gilliam were located in California but moved to Indiana. He still drove for Gilliam once Gilliam moved to Indiana and then thought my mom how to drive so they teamed up for a while.I remember my dad pulling one of the Smokey and the bandit trailers working for Gilliam. He said it was the trailer from the second movie.
Who ever said it had a v8 cat in the truck should do there homework because u can't put a v8 cat in a short hood a model has to be a long hood lol
The truck that pulls up to the truck stop before the fight scene is definitely a VT 903 Cummins. The other sounds are NOT 3408 cats or 1693s.
The truck that pulls up to the truck stop before the fight scene is definitely a VT 903 Cummins. The other sounds are NOT 3408 cats or 1693s.
Awesome movie.. sad that the truck(s) from it are lost though it does increase the legendary status a bit. I can say it's because of the movies, SATB and Convoy, that I'm a trucker today. I only wish my company would give me 28 hours to do the run they did LOL.. a very different time indeed.
I was always told the Robert Woolfe was the man who painted the mural on the trailer:
http://www.robertwoolfe.com/galleries.asp#
Drove by Bracketville, Tx last Wednesday - many movies are shot there. The truck and trailer are there - far off the road - could see it at a distance. Asked friends in Del Rio who said there was some sort of filming going on with the truck.
PLEASE!!!! If anybody knows were snowmans rig is or have ANY info please!!!! Email me at: mrcmpcruzer123@gmail.com
I think people saying they know where the truck is are confused or lying. Someone needs to put up a picture of it.
Its a great move and I watch almost every night I love the truck and it is the bandits truck but it can be the snowmans truck he drives it I would love to have one of the trucks even if it's not painted the same I can do that myself
plant trailers
Thanks for your great information, the contents are quiet interesting.I will be waiting for your next post. Better late than never!!! I can see the video now!!!
its August 15th of 2015 and nobody has found out the co ordinates of the kenworth? i feel like taking a trip to Arkansas to go find the truck myself lol but if anyone knows the co ordinates please respond asap. thank you
I think Elvis and John Lennon are team driving it down in Mexico.
I have heard all the rumors about the truck and trailer. A lot of it I do not know, but the man who painted the trailer is Jimmy Norris from Wallace SC. Still living still painting. He has done a lot of work for Hollywood. So if you want to know about it, hit him up.
Nice to walk down history with the truck facts.There are so many stories and legends created by these vehicles which guide the life of a trucker.
Trailer Hire
Has anyone found the truck or trailer cash in hand I want both or at least the truck!!
Matt
Mattcherry16@icloud.com if you have any info on whereabouts of either
THERES ALOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THE SNOWMAN TRUCK HAD CHROME WHEELS
THE ONE I SEEN IN THE MOVIE THAT HAD BIG ENOS AND LITTLE WALKING DOWN NEXT TO IT HAD GOLD RIMS,IF IT WAS DUST,DONT YOU THINK THEY COULD HAVE WASHED IT OFF,I SEEN THE THE TRUCK TOO THE ONE I SEEN HAD GOLD RIMS LIKE THE ONEs I SEEN IN THE MOVIE.I KNOWED THEY USED MORE THAT ONE TRUCK SOME DID HAVE CHROME WHEELS BUT THE ONE I SEEN IN THE MOVIE THAT BIG AND LITLE ENOS WALKING DOWN PAST THE WHEELS THE OUTER EDGE OF THE WHEELS ARE CHROME BUT THE INSIDE IS GOLD ..II DONT BELIVE ITS DUST
I HAVE SEEN BJ AND THE BEAR TRUCK SHOWS OVEr AND OVER, AND HIS TRUCK WHEELS ARE CHROME DUST OR NOT.,..IF MORE CONTACT ME michael_hembree@aol.com
If you're going to poke fun at someone you ought to leave a name and not "anonymous". What makes the comedian resident KW expert think that W900a models with short hoods didn't come off the production line with V8's? Maybe you are the one needing homework done. A V8 has but 4 holes front to back. A " little engine" in your mind with 6 holes (each bigger than those of an 8) takes up more space between radiator and firewall and a short hood covers both engine styles. And guess what Mr. Gotjokes ? If you search online you can find short hood A's covering V-12's. (6 holes on the left bank and 6 on the right) same length but much wider than the 6 that you already mention will fit below the shorts. Get your facts straight before you let the world know you're a fool. Fool.
Who gives a crap?
Your mom didn't for a week after I plugged that hole.
Truck painting was actually painted by Jim Simpson from Georgia. He was my mom's 1st husband and I have rough draft for mural. He painted southern scenes and war scenes from Georgia history in Revolutionary war. The truck was sorta lithographic from original painting so more than one was used in movie.
I grew up in Lancaster Ca and there was a truck with the very same mural on the trailer from this movie. The truck use to park along Avenue J just across from El Dorado Park from 1977 to 1979. I didn't see it after that.
Did anyone find the bandits truck I'm looking for it I seen that movie a 1000 times
Hey everyone! I work in the motion picture industry and I have been following this thread over several years and nobody has found these trucks yet? We all want to know if these trucks are being loved and not be rotting away in some field. Everybody in the Smokey And The Bandit community are all curious as to what happened to these trucks and their whereabouts. If anyone have any info please share!
I can confirm Jim Norris actually painted at least one of the trucks "I actually witnessed him painting it" Lefr handed painter One of the best I have ever seen
So after all this, no one has found the truck ?
I don't know where the truck is but I happen to know FOR A FACT that the man who painted the murals lives in Dallas, Texas. His name is Jim Finger. He is my brother. He actually painted two trailers which means that he painted four of them - one on each side
So far we're up to about 7 people that have supposedly painted the trailer(s).
Some of ya'll are correct about the year of the trucks. They are 1973 and 1974 I heard somebody say there was a 1969 used in the movie,wrong. I know that in 1972 KW went to the paddle style door handles. In 1973 the hood emblem went from four red stripes to three. I believe there was a 350hp come a long used in one of them. I don't think any 1693 cats were used.
Probably won't help anyone find it; but, I saw both a truck and trailer that I'm confident were original to the movie about 1999. There was a truck show in Pamona, Ca, which also had a truck drag race going. The guy that had the rig was sitting in the trailer drinking beers and I asked if I could look around. The trailer was converted to be a travelling caasino, he told me after the movie, and still had most of the dealer tables set up in it. The truck and trailer (paint) were aged just about what they would have been based on when the movie was shot. The guy had another truck there he was showing off with, doing massive tire eating burn outs with. I'm convinced I was able to view a piece of this history. I don't know where it is, I know where it was.
Forgot to mention, it was in fact to older model KW.
So what day are we all gathering to go on a truck hunt in Arkansas
Just saw the trailer from smokey and the bandit on walking dead. Looked rough, episode 2/19/2017
Trailer is on the newest Walikng Dead.Its used as a back drop in a scene, you can see the old mural. It aired 2/19/17. I guess try to find out where they filmed it.
I am watching The Walking Dead right now and saw the mural and went WTF?!?!?!?
The scene with the trailer mural in it is where the character of Daryl (Norman Reedus) and another actor are hiding behind the trailer alongside a road waiting to ambush the Saviours (local asshole thugs)
Altho dirty looking it is easily recognized from the figure of the highway-man holding up the stage coach.
It really does look like the snowman's trailer on walking dead.
No doubt, that was the trailer!
On the walking dead tonight. I noticed it immediately and paused the show to check it out. On the Talking Dead it was mentioned as a fun fact that it was an original from the 77 smokey and the bandit movie. The show is filmed in Georgia as was Smokey and the bandit. The trailer appeared to be in poor shape
I just watched this episode & pointed it out to the wife. On the Talking Dead after show, they stated a scene was filmed with the Smokey & Bandit trailer in the background.
The Walking Dead series is filmed in many different locations in Georgia.
I always heard the original trailer was in west GA, near where TWD is filmed. The one in TWD looks like a fake with the aero panels underneath.
Its not the original. Look carefully at the panels on the trailer. They are nice and flat and smooth. Riveted on. Reminds me of say the mid to late 1980's. The original was corrugated sides with the mural painted on. Its why so many people claimed to have painted it. They were painting replicas years later.
I seen this episode of TWD as well and the Smokey and the Bandit trailer caught my eye too, but it's not one of the originals from the movie,. The originals were refrigerated trailers and the one in The Walking Dead is a dry box, it's just a replica probably from the 80's..
Hi everyone 'just found the truck from smokey and the bandit actually on an episode of the walking dead shown on amu but it does look a bit rundown on there thought you might like to know
Well I used to date truck drivers and was a waitress at the ontairo 76 truck stop in California. There were a few sign painters there who also painted trucks. My boyfriend at the time was Marty DeBellis. He helped to paint on some of the trucks. The main artist was a fellow who went by the nickname of Redd. If I ever knew his real name I no longer remember it. I do remember the trucks were owned by Gillium trucking. He was a very sweet man who also painted boats in Corpis Cristie texas. He also painted at another truck stop just down (west)the highway from the 76 truck stop. I also just saw the truck trailer on the tv show The Walking Dead.
If people really think the trailer on walking dead is real your silly look at the new stile air deflector under it lol
The rig that was in Arkansas is a replica. It was pretty close and was painted by one of the people mentioned in this thread but not the original painter. The Arkansas rig was done using a transparency from original photos and an overhead projector to transfer the image on to the surface.
Here is another replica.
http://www.livetrucking.com/trucker-creates-a-near-perfect-replica-of-snowmans-rig-from-smokey-and-the-bandit/
Really Ian Cole? According to this link, it was indeed the same truck - "Spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 10 follow. Sunday night's episode of The Walking Dead came with an Easter Egg reference to Smokey and The Bandit.
As Daryl and Richard hid from the Saviors, ultimately coming to blows over their opposing views of Carol's importance, they were ducking behind a truck. The truck seen in the moment featured in the New Best Friends episode of the AMC series was a truck seen in the popular film Smokey and The Bandit. See a photo of the truck in the tweet below." -->
http://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/2017/02/20/smokey-and-the-bandit-easter-egg-in-the-walking-dead/
The rug in WD was a painted replica; there's a few of them out there. To the best of my knowledge the original one is still unaccounted for.
Yes! I saw the trailer on The Walking Dead. Knew exactly what it was as soon as I saw it. The Talking Dead said that it was used in the 1977 movie. I figured that it was a "stunt double" and not the pretty, up-close trailer that was used. I figured that they used more than one trailer (which I have sense discovered that they used two) The photos that I have seen of the trailer hooked to the truck shows that it's a refrigerated trailer. The one in the Walking Dead scene was not. So I might actually be right about it being a stunt double....or even a replica.
The one on TWD is not the original. The original was not a smooth-side rig like the one in TWD. Also, the one in TWD is longer (look at the distance behind the Bandit on the horse and the nose of the rig). Original was a 40+ ft (not sure but probably a 48"). The one in TWD is obviously a 53 ft. Would love for it to be the original but it is not. Even the color or the trailer (black) is not the same. No way they can repaint, take off the lower running lights, go from ribbed to smooth, add 5+ feet, add a windskirt, and call it the original. I wish it were but it is not...
They actually used 3 plus trailers on Smokey and the Bandit, one was considerably longer than the others. The trailer in TWD was in fact used in Smokey.
I saw this rig in the early 90s in Rome ga close to Spears mattress the man who owned it lived in Rome heading out towards Kingston
The real truck and trailer are fine and well cared for.
The truck comes out for large fundraising events for example wounded warriors, st Jude projects,.
Truck not for sale
Be well
The real truck and trailer are fine and well cared for.
The truck comes out for large fundraising events for example wounded warriors, st Jude projects,.
Truck not for sale
Be well
Ps. Eastbound and Down.............forever!
Smokey and the Bandit trailer is in the Walking dead, you can see it clearly, new season, episode 2
My bad episode 10, or I guess I should say it's one of the trucks featured in Smokey and the Bandit, RIP Jerry Reed, Snowman.
I think you're all full of it
If the trailer in WD is in fact from the movie it is gonna be from the second one. Like a previous poster said, look at the distance from the horse to the trailer nose. The smaller tires and the side air dam. The color around the mural as well. It is a stepdeck trailer as in the second movie.
heres the bandit truck rome ga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9vGbGjk2Bk
Just saw a trailer painted that way go up 65 in bowling Green KY today
"anybody who paint his truck like that, would go to a ministers funeral dressed in feathers." -big enos burdette.
Hey everyone! Just checking in. I've made my original post on June 11th 2016 about working for the motion picture industry. I have been following this thread since 2013 and I would love to find the original 1974 Kenworth W900 & trailer to add to my personal collection of movie cars. Following this thread alone I have even hired a private investigator to search for the whereabouts of this "Ghost Truck" if it even exists. I just hate to think this rig is sitting somewhere rotting away and being forgotten like most to all the prop vehicles uses in movies.
During the private investigation I have personally contacted through a series of friends in the film industry regarding people who actually have worked on the film "Smokey And The Bandit". I've came across with Set Designer and several transportation crew drivers that officially worked on the film. All of whom knows everything about the film and the whereabouts of the Kenworth W900, Pontiac Trans Am and Pontiac LeMans's Police Car up until the late 1980s.
After that nobody knows what had happened to all the cars and where they might have ended up. It's another dead end. The common thing with Hollywood is that prop vehicles used in movies will usually stay in the studio inventory for decades upon decades to be used as props in other film projects. The majority of the times I've seen movie vehicles being auctioned off is when they're completely rotted out to pile of wrecks. It's very unfortunate but that's how it goes with Hollywood.
I've notice several others others have mentioned about seeing a Kenworth W900 as a spoiler in The Walking Dead series - (Season 7 Episode 10). That truck is actually a near perfect replica of the Snowman's truck made by Brad's Classic Trucks in Arkansas. I believe that's the same replica truck others have mention seeing it at wounded warriors charity events.
Here are some photos!
https://postimg.org/image/5mvqk3q0l7/
https://postimg.org/image/8tdipkcqob/
Also as what SquareLoops said earlier. "So far we're up to about 7 people that have supposedly painted the trailer(s)."
I think that could be correct as if those extra people who may have painted the trailers could be replica trucks but not the actually truck in the film. I know there is officially about 6 or 7 replica snowman's trucks painted with the mural.
After all these years through so many sources even with people in Hollywood and on this thread. I'm starting think we're all chasing a "Ghost Truck" that's doesn't exist. I'm sure it existed at some point but I have no idea where on earth did the original trucks went.
Signed,
A. Torres
Creative Arts Director
The supposedly "Smokey And The Bandit truck" exists. It's been converted to an basic trailer after a couple decades. The original truck and trailer belongs to a film studio in Atlanta, Georgia. The truck is not being cared for and is left rotting away in the studio lot since the filming of The Smokey And The Bandit.
As through experienced with film studios they will not sell these prop vehicles until it's been completely rotted and gutted out.
https://postimg.org/image/1uxotl0c2j/
Signed,
A. Torres
A. Torres, I'm sure many of us who've followed this thread appreciate the contributions you've made to it. Thanks.
Hi, My name is Albert Toll from Newcastle, Australia. An old friend of mine, Lindsay Fox, bought one of the original Kenworth W900s as used in the movie and shipped it back home to Melbourne, Australia. It came with documentation from Universal Studios verifying it as a screen used vehicle. It is a '74 model, powered by a 903 Cummins with a 13 speed. When he bought it, Lindsay asked for the dash to be signed by Hal Needham, Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed and Jackie Gleason, but only Jerry Reed agreed to sign it in return for a case of Wild Turkey Whisky. Lindsay gave him two cases. When the truck arrived in Sydney, I helped Lindsay drive it back to Melbourne, still with the licence plates from the US attached. We drove 9 hours to Melbourne, which back in those days was a 12 hour drive, boy did that thing haul! Lindsay still owns a few trucks, and has a few vehicles in his collection.
The California Blossom said...
Well I used to date truck drivers and was a waitress at the ontairo 76 truck stop in California. There were a few sign painters there who also painted trucks. My boyfriend at the time was Marty DeBellis. He helped to paint on some of the trucks. The main artist was a fellow who went by the nickname of Redd. If I ever knew his real name I no longer remember it. I do remember the trucks were owned by Gillium trucking. He was a very sweet man who also painted boats in Corpis Cristie texas. He also painted at another truck stop just down (west)the highway from the 76 truck stop. I also just saw the truck trailer on the tv show The Walking Dead.
Hi I am Julian Anstis from the UK and I was in California in 1980 for the Winston World Finals at Ontario Motor Speedway just across the road from the 76 Truck Stop. Being a truck driver in the UK we dined in the truckstop on many occasions. While wandering the parking lot video filming I came across a guy called Redd Hann who was in the process of freehand painting the back doors of a trailer (Gone Fishing). I was filming him as he painted and he showed me in his album many of the trucks he had painted over the years. In conversation with him he told me he had to paint six trailers for Smokey and the Bandit and showed me the photos of him on a staging as he was painting them. All of which I recorded on betamax video which I still have to this day. Hope this helps verify California Blossom's comments. Hey who knows she probably even served me in the 76 Truckstop
1 of the original trailers sat by a trucking shop in Winfield Alabama right on old hwy 78 westbound just as you were coming into town back during the 80s. I went back to the area to show it to some friends in the mid 90s and couldn't locate it again. Not sure what happened to it.
The trailer was 45 feet long not 48 feet long
A. Torres that old trailer is not refrigerated like in the movie.
So after all these years, no one even knows what the VIN number of the original trucks were?
too bad the 4 TransAms were scrapped, but in someone had the VINs, who knows? they could still be rusting in a junkyard somewhere.
good chuckle that a dozen people claim to have painted the trailers.
in the movie its a reefer trailer, but there is no fuel tank under the trailer
I grew up in Georgia got to watch them film some scenes in Deliverance and
Bandit and I think Movin' On filmed a couple episodes in GA
I saw the truck heading north on Highway 26 here in Western North Carolina a month ago, wish I had my phone camera ready, I could have taken a picture.
Dont know if its the original but their is as 73 truck and 77 Hobs in a private collection in Maiden NC. It lives with BJ Mckays truck among others. Check Brad's Classic Trucks on facebook.
I saw this truck on I 85 in gwinnett county Georgia last spring.it was going south bound in the flowery branch area, I was shocked to see it.2018 spring I 85 in the north gwinnett county area. About 2pm.
Does anybody know if the painting on side of trailer had a special meaning, or why that particular painting was chosen to be on the trailer?
I have a question at the beginning of the article the gentleman said that the truck was painted brown with a gold striping now everything I've ever seen the truck is black with a gold stripe striping Can someone say if it was black or brown cuz I0,
LOVE all the interest, imagination and admiration for SATB! I would love to see at least one of the original Kennys used in the film, but hey it's been 42 years and it's doubtful anyone knew this classic would still be this popular in 2018. At least one of them may have survived the years, but it's condition at this point might leave us all a little disappointed. We will always have the movie footage - and I just saw it in the theatre last weekend! RIP Bandit and Snowman, 10-4 Good Buddies!
well folks,two things,i know for sure ,my inlaws all p[layed extras in the seens shot in and around west jefferson,ababama,,and I happen to live in west tennessee and drove all over clay conty arkansa looking for the feild truck.There is a 1974 kw sitting in a feild outside of Gwinn al.i walked up to it and and though its its in super ough shape,it is a 1974 kw,it is super faded and wrecked,but marked awbandit one would of been.inside the passenger door was some old paper work ,that appears to be from a movie production supply company.,and the dates all match when the movied was shot.
im heading back over to arkansas to fly around and see if we can locate that truck,if so I know someone who is pretty axanixiouse to purchase it and pretty dam persuavive.updates soon.chester evitt,west tennessee and my familymiss the team.
Just a quick opinion on the 3 truck theory, you can hear 3 distinct engines. The truck with the vortox chrome bottom air cleaners sounds like a Cummins V8 when it runs over the bikes. You can hear a Cat 1693 multiple times with the same Vortox air cleaners on it. The smaller Donaldson air cleaners definitely were feeding a 855 Cummins. It sure seems like the sound of the truck with the Vortox was dubbed in a couple times. One thing for sure is multiple times you can hear the distinct rattle and turbo of a 1693. I’ve seen a bunch of replica trucks out there and some are done up really close if not perfect to the movie so without serial numbers I don’t think anyone could ever say for sure if they survived.
I found a video on youtube of the truck, and it exists and is in perfect loving care out in California, ill post the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9vGbGjk2Bk
the original trailer didnt have air deflectors
Just to let ya'll know the small town of Cowan Tennessee just had their Heritage Festival this weekend of August 20th thru the 22nd. One of the attractions was 3 of the Smokey and Bandit cars. One with the tag reading Ban 1, or Band One. The cars all had Georgia plates. The attraction also included Snowman's rig. The 48 foot tractor/trailer. Here is a facebook link with pics and videos of the Bandit and Snowman coming into town. The video shows Sheriff Buford Justice in hot pursuit of the Bandit and Snowman.
https://www.facebook.com/Kevin.Cronin.EP/videos/10221091438899573/
Here is the URL of the video
https://www.facebook.com/Kevin.Cronin.EP/videos/10221091438899573/
Someone here local said that a person from Cowan was supposed to have painted the trailer. But I'm taking that with a grain of salt. I believe it was BS just to carry on a conversation.
And BTW concerning the Cowan Heritage Festival I noticed stickers on the back of all the cars (Bandits car, and Sheriff Justice's car) stating Snowman's Run. The ones driving the cars were look alike of Burt Reynolds, and Jackie Gleason. Sheriff Buford Justice looked a bit like Gleason. And the look alike of Bert Reynolds was more of a look alike.
From what I gathered the Snowman's Run is a benefit for Wounded Warrior Project. Or they have done benefits for Wounded Warrior. At least that's what I found on the web.
Well here we go, another person who supposedly painted the scenes on the truck. I met a guy in Winter Haven, Fl. He did great caricatures of the red sox. People that knew him said he painted the truck. His name was Bill "Kandyman" Penny.
Don’t know who painted the trailers but a guy named Dick Abarico from golden Colorado painted all the paintings on the sides of the Jolly Ranchers candy trucks I remember watching g him do a few and they original paintings were owned by the guy that owned jolly Ranchers candy.. Dick painted one and after he was don the owner said no guns on the painting and he had to change the image.
As a teen in the early 80's I worked in a food warehouse in central Massachusetts. One day a truck pulled in with the trailer used in Smokey and the Bandit. I remember the stagecoach and the funniest / coolest part of the mural was in the lower right corner was a rabbit smoking a joint with the artist signature!
The original truck was painted in Wallace, South Carolina by a man name Jim Norris his place was on HWY #1. I seen the truck myself after it was done.
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Ok,everyone had their say about the trailer great! But what I have not seen is the paint code for coffee brown/coffee black, which is a metallic gold flake brown that was so dark that posers think it was black, yeah right. So if any info would be great info to all,and don't tell lies like it was gloss black I've seen enough fakes.signed BearCaveWorks85920@gmail.com
Well to add my 2 cents worth. I want to know not how many trucks were used in the movie, but how many trailers were painted with that mural in the 70's, because I lived practically next door to a guy who trucked out of a little town in northern Idaho with a trailer that looked exactly like that from around 75 to 80 or so. Whenever he was home from a haul (which seemed to be a lot of the time) his truck sat along Hwy 53 at an old "Husky" gas station between Rathdrum, Idaho and Spokane, Washington. I think it VERY unlikely that it was one of the movie trucks, but that is the mural he had on it. Can't remember what the truck cab looked like or if it was a Peterbuilt or a Kenworth, but can't forget that trailer as I passed by it hundreds and hundreds of times in my youth and since my grandfather was a Fleet Truck owner in California at the time I was pretty infatuated by it. All the talk on here about multiple people claiming to have painted the trailer makes me certain there were more than a few of these trailers besides the ones in the movie. It is possible the one I lived by was painted after the movie as a tribute, because I'm not sure what year I first saw it, but definitely around the mid 70's as we moved there in 72, left there by 79 and it was there for multiple years of my living there.
Someone should do a run down of all the comments on this blog so we can do that stats on how many people have seen a trailer like it, where it was, how many different people painted it, how many different states it was seen.
The painted scene on the Snowman's trailer depics a stagecoach robery scene. What is the red/white/blue (bag?), next to the rabbit and cactus with hands up?
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