The Awkward Call That Halted Burt Reynolds' Lifetime Supply of Free Pontiacs
A legendary handshake deal between Hollywood's favorite bandit and a corporate giant hit the brakes after one uncomfortable phone conversation.
By Blip Tech
1 min read
Following the cultural explosion of 'Smokey and the Bandit', Burt Reynolds became synonymous with the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. To capitalize on this fame, General Motors president Alex Mair promised the actor a brand new Trans Am every year for the rest of his life. However, this perpetual gift came to a sudden halt after a change in leadership at GM. When Reynolds called the new president to inquire about his missing delivery, the cold response indicated that the actor was no longer seen as a priority for the brand, effectively ending one of Hollywood's most famous automotive perks.
