Vehicle Description
This 2019 Chevrolet Silverado Bandit Edition is a modern
interpretation of the 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am from Burt
Reynold's hit movie "Smokey and the Bandit" - but in truck form.
That's right, even cars and trucks can cosplay these days. Born as
a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado Custom and transformed into a show-truck
diabolical enough to resurrect THE Buford T. Justice himself, the
legends at Jay's Customs in Conyers, GA are the professionals
behind this unique build. According to them, this exact model you
see before you is the very first Bandit Truck ever made - the
prototype to what is now a limited run of trucks built through a
collaborative effort between Legendary Concepts and Saleen
Automotive. If that's true (and we'll let the public research and
decide that on their own, rather than make any claims here), then
this would indeed be the real-deal Bandit Truck prototype, and
thusly a stone-cold BARGAIN when you compare the $286,000 sales
price the alleged "first-ever" Bandit iteration brought at auction
in Scottsdale 2022.
Let's put aside all claims, hearsay, and conjecture regarding who
first came up with the Bandit Truck concept and who was the first
to actually build one, at least for now, so we can drool over just
how insanely cool this amazing truck actually is. We all know the
inspiration - the 1977 Pontiac Trans AM - although some may not
realize that that model wasn't even the actual car used in the
movie. Filming took place in 1976, so the real Bandit prop cars
were in fact 1976 models with 1977 front clips. So, as fate should
have it, controversy over the origins of the Bandit Truck is par
for the course, much like the first Bandit in 1977. Nevertheless,
ever since the success of the movie, millions have lusted after the
1977 SE Bandits - only considered to be "real" if they were born as
Special Editions in black-over-gold with custom gold decals, gold
snowflake wheels, Y81 or Y82 options, and a 400 V8/THT. (Okay, we
know there can be minor variations here, but please save your
complaints for the message boards that discuss these things ad
nauseum). That very desire for that famous black-and-gold outlaw is
exactly what inspired this Bandit truck. The build started with a
Jet Black Silverado and a body kit that includes a more aggressive
front clip, sculpted hood, fender scoops, and side-skirt ground
effects. No Bandit is complete without gold accents, and between
the "Screaming Chicken" (aka the Firebird T/A logo) on the hood and
the painted gold accents throughout, they nailed the two-tone
effect. All the Chevrolet badging was replaced in favor of
"Pontiac" and "Trans Am" emblems, the front grille, bumpers, and
bed cover were blacked-out, the windows darkened with limo-tint,
and the truck's lighting got the full treatment with
honeycomb-shaped LED bulbs inside the headlights and a honeycomb
pattern laid over the taillights. And lest we forget the reimagined
26-inch gold "Snowflakes", which might be the coolest rims on the
planet, and the additional "Firebird" installed in the bed that
lights up from underneath. COOL. The results speak for themselves,
and with only 12,822 miles on this build, this bespoke Bandit Truck
is still exceptionally clean today.
To keep the Bandit theme going strong, the pickup equivalent would
require a tan/gold/light buckskin trimmed interior, and this Bandit
Truck's cab definitely follows suit. Supple Peanut Butter leather
hides on the seats feature honeycomb-pattern inserts, stitched
beautifully and punctuated with custom "Bandit Edition" logos
embroidered in the front headrests. Thankfully, the designers
elected to retain a lot of the Jet Black components, resulting in a
two-tone look that'll have you hungry for Reese's Cups every time
you step in. Every option a Silverado Custom offered is available,
and with so few miles it all works as it should, and you might
expect the truck still look, feels, and even smells like new. Four
switches inside the glove box control the illuminated hood, fender
vents, and Firebird logo in the bed, along with the underdash light
that projects down a Firebird. The driver can also control custom
sirens, a CB radio, the multi-media screens in the dash and
seatbacks, and the cleverly installed Bentley Starlight headliner
all from the cockpit. Curiously enough, the badge on the glove
compartment includes Jerry Reed's signature, which somewhat makes
sense since "Snowman" was the only one that drove a truck in the
movies - maybe this prototype was initially meant to honor him, not
Burt Reynolds. The mystery continues...
Under the hood is the truck's original 5.3L V8 equipped with
Chevrolet's efficient Active Fuel Management System. Producing a
stout 355HP and 383 lb-ft of torque, it runs basically like new,
and with only 12,822 miles on the clock it's barely been broken in.
Everything under the hood is stock, save for a couple engine braces
that were powdercoated gold to continue the theme, although the
exhaust system has been upgraded to a stainless-steel Borla unit
that sounds terrific and features gold powdercoated tips. The
undercarriage obviously hasn't driven over anything rougher than a
shallow puddle, and for good measure is highlighted by the
contrasting gold powdercoated front spindles and swaybar,
respectively. A 6L80E 6-Speed automatic transmission is the V8's
perfect match, and the lowered stance looks absolutely killer atop
those UNREAL 26-inch gold "Snowflakes" with custom Firebird T/A
center caps.
No, it's not the 700+HP Legendary Concepts/Saleen Bandit Truck that
sold at Barrett-Jackson for over a quarter million in 2022. But if
the reports are true and this is indeed the prototype that begat
those limited edition trucks, then it may just be a screaming
(chicken) bargain. Call today!
