Burt Reynold's 'Bandit' vehicles to be sold
LAS VEGAS - The last cars personally owned, titled and registered to Burt Reynolds will go on auction Saturday, Sept. 29, sold by Barrett Jackson at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.
The Reynolds vehicle auction will be the cap to a three-day Barrett Jackson event. Celebrities, friends and family members will be on the auction stage to celebrate his life and legacy, according to Gene Kennedy, promotions director at the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre.
Collectors, fans and automotive enthusiasts will have an opportunity to bid on these one-of-a-kind pieces of memorabilia that have come from Reynolds' "Bandit Movie Cars" personal collection. Up for auction will be:
• 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am "Smokey and the Bandit" re-creation (lot 709)
• 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am "Hooper" re-creation (lot 710)
• 1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am USFL Tampa Bay Bandits promo car (lot 711.1)
• 1987 Chevrolet R30 Pickup "Cannonball Run" re-creation (lot 711)
These vehicles have been signed by Reynolds and other actors in his films during tours and special events. They are also titled and registered in Burt Reynolds name.
Bandit Movie Cars worked extensively with Restore a Muscle Car to ensure that the re-creations meet the level of restoration and value expected by collectors and enthusiasts. "They're history pieces of time from the '70s, and we want to keep them that way," said Reynolds' friend and business partner, Gene Kennedy of Bandit Movie Cars.
"We were saddened to learn of the passing of our friend Burt Reynolds. We'll cherish the memories we've had with him at our auctions," said Barrett-Jackson chairman and CEO Craig Jackson. "He planned to attend our Las Vegas event for the sale of his personal vehicles. We are very honored to continue his legacy by making them available and sharing the moment with his great fans."
The auction will be televised live on Velocity and the Discovery Channel. Bidders can attend the auction in person, online or by phone. For bidding details, visit www.barrett-jackson.com/Bidder/Home.