Burt Reynolds was gifted a brand new Pontiac Trans Am every year for the rest of his life until an awkward call with GM president

Burt Reynolds had one of the most famous movie roles in modern history when he starred in the Smokey and the Bandit franchise.

It was one of the biggest cinematic hits of the 1970s, and it made Burt Reynolds – as well as his 1977 Pontiac Trans Am – a global icon.

The incredible success of the film series led to General Motors (GM) gifting the actor a brand-new Trans Am every year that was set to be for the rest of his life.

But an awkward phone call with the GM president a few years later put an end to the deal.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

Burt Reynolds makes Trans Am a silver screen icon

For anyone under the age of 40, allow us to explain what all of this is about.

Back in the 1970s, Burt Reynolds starred as Bo “The Bandit” Darville in the film series.

Starring alongside Reynolds was an all-star cast including the legendary Jerry Reed, Sally Field, and Jackie Gleason.

The trilogy of films made Burt Reynolds a star – and his bootlegging character the ultimate icon.

But the films also made his vehicle of choice – a Pontiac Trans Am – just as big a star.

It quickly became an icon, to the point that Reynolds said that sales had shot up by 700 percent due to the film’s success.

Not long after, Reynolds received a phone call from the president of General Motors (GM).

He told Reynolds that, thanks to his work in the film, he could have a new Trans Am every single year – for the rest of his life.

Famed for his generosity, Burt Reynolds would gift the first car to his sister and the second to his stepbrother.

The Hollywood legend couldn’t remember what happened to the third, but he kept the fourth for himself.

Click the star icon next to supercarblondie.com in Google Search to stay ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest supercars, hypercars, and ground-breaking technology

New president cuts Pontiac Trans Am deal short

Reynolds would ultimately receive a new Trans Am, as promised, every year for the next five years.

But one day the deal suddenly came to a shuddering halt.

Having amassed quite a collection, the actor was surprised when the car did not show up one day.

So he rang the GM president to find out what had happened.

The actor subsequently admitted to feeling like a jerk when he did so.

After getting through, it turned out there was a new man at the top of GM.

It turned out that the previous deal was for the president’s lifetime – not his own.

Since that president had passed, the new president had ended the deal.

Reynolds hit back, saying that was for his lifetime and not that of the president.

The new man at the top claimed that his predecessor had loved Burt Reynolds’ films.

But he himself was not the biggest fan in the world.

And thus ended the lifetime deal that lasted for half a decade.