The Independent , the Diaspora ’ s Multicultural Voice February 28 2017 13
Auto From the Smokey & the Bandit Trans-Am to the Aston Martin
from 007 ’ s Goldfinger , fans get rare treat at Canadian Auto Show
Auto ‘ stars ’ shine at Canadian show
When the credits roll at the end of a film , it is the men and women in the starring roles that get all the credit .
But it is not uncommon for the cars those characters drive to be the real stars of the show , captivating audiences and generating attention for years after the movie screened or the TV show went off the air . The 2017 Canadian International AutoShow , which ran in Toronto from February 16 - 26 , featured several cars that were stars on screens big and little :
Smokey and the Bandit – Burt Reynolds made the 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am popular when his character “ Bandit ” drove it from Texas to Atlanta while smuggling beer across state lines . A replica of Bandit ’ s famed Trans Am can be found in Muscle Car Matchup on the 700 level of the South Building in the Convention Centre .
Transformers – When the Transformers toys were introduced in the 1980s , the Autobot Bumblebee was a yellow Volkswagen Beetle , but when the popular toys hit the big screen in the live action 2007 action film , he entered the film as a rusted and beat up 1977 Chevrolet Camaro ( before , ummm , transforming into the new Camaro that was being re-introduced by Chevrolet at the time ). One of the cars featured in Muscle Car Matchup this year is known as “ Betterbee ,” a restored yellow 1977 Camaro that has been shown at official events for Chevrolet , Hasbro Toys and Paramount Pictures .
Goldfinger – Quite possibly the most famous car in the world is James Bond ’ s silver-birch Aston Martin DB5 . Driven by three different Bond actors ( Sean Connery , Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig ), the DB5 first appeared in the 1964 film Goldfinger . The car was also driven by 007 in Thunderball ( 1965 ), GoldenEye ( 1995 ), Tomorrow Never Dies ( 1997 ), Casino Royale ( 2006 ), Skyfall ( 2012 ) and the latest installment in the franchise , Spectre ( 2015 ). A silver-birch Aston Martin DB5 can be found in Art & Automobile , presented by Cobble Beach Concours d ’ Elegance , on the 700 level of the South Building .
Talladega Nights – The 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS owned by Reese Bobby , the father of main character Ricky Bobby , boasts a custom two-tone paint job and a sporty 13 splashed across the side . In the movie , the car helps the fictional former stockcar champion Ricky rediscover his love of speed and driving while fleeing the police . A replica of the 650hp car is part of the Autostrada exhibit in Auto Exotica on the 100 level of the North Building .
Miami Vice – Everything about Miami Vice was stylish in the 1980s , from the t-shirt worn under a sport coat to the linen pants and loafers worn without socks . Of course , the black 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder 365 driven by Don Johnson ’ s Sonny Crockett character also turned heads for the two seasons it served as his main ride . Legendary Motorcar Company from Halton Hills , Ont . has a black 1972 Ferrari on display in Muscle Car Matchup on the 700 level of the South Building .
Gone in 60 Seconds – “ Eleanor ” first rose to stardom in this 1971 film , a 1971 Ford Mustang Fastback cosmetically redesigned to look like a 1973 — and also the first Ford Mustang to receive top credit in a motion picture . When the movie was remade in 2000 with Nicholas Cage in the lead role as the master car thief who steals 50 cars , the role of Eleanor was again played by a Mustang . But this time around , she was a Dupont Pepper Grey 1967 Mustang Fastback done up like a Shelby GT500 . Find a similar car in Muscle Car Matchup on the 700 level .
Orange County Choppers — Reality television dominates today ’ s airwaves . But amid the celebrity dust ups and family squabbles are great behind-thescenes looks at the way things are done . Orange County
Choppers has developed a huge following building motorcycles from scratch with a custom touch and a certain flare that makes heads turn . One of the custom choppers from the show can be seen in the Gladiator ®
The Pontiac Trans Am made famous by the movie Smokey and the Bandit
GarageWorks display outside of Muscle Car Matchup on the 700 level .
Star Wars – Maybe not a car per se , but as part of its promotional efforts with the 2016 movie Rogue
The Aston Martin from the James Bond movie Goldfinger
One : A Star Wars Story , Nissan has incorporated elements from Star Wars as part of its exhibit , including a replica of the droid K-2SO and a Nissan Rogue decked out with a Star Wars motif .