This year’s event is a tribute to Burt Reynolds. A stunt to recreate a scene from the 1977 movie “Smokey and the Bandit” is cancelled due to a Confederate flag on the Pontiac Trans Am.
Detroit’s Autorama is a big deal. It is America’s Greatest Hot Rod Show and without a doubt the best place to pay tribute to one of Hollywood’s favorite on-screen car guys. Burt Reynolds passed away last September and to mark his passing, the organizers of Detroit’s Autorama thought it would be cool to organize a stunt.
The stunt itself is nothing completely insane. It would recreate a scene from the 1977 action-comedy “Smokey and the Bandit” where Burt Reynolds and his trusty Pontiac Trans Am take a big jump. Worry not if you’re concerned more for the car than the driver as the Trans Am that was to give its life for the stunt is a replica.
And like all good replicas, the Bandit has on its front bumper a Confederate flag plate which the City Council took offense too. Councilman Scott Benson said the Bandit car “still proudly flies a Confederate flag, which is a symbol of oppression, slavery, as well as home-bred American terrorism.” Because of this, the city denied the show their permit request to do the stunt.
We’re saddened with the city’s final decision but not all is lost as the car and a Burt Reynolds look-alike will still be part of the show.
The Detroit Autorama custom cars and hot-rod show will be held this weekend at Cobo Hall.
