DIY Network To Air Burt Reynolds Bandit-Building Show
The DIY Network's airing a five show segment of its Celebrity Rides program devoted to big Burt and his new Bandit. The Burt in question is of the Reynolds variety, and the Bandit is the YearOne TransAm restomod project. That is, the Burt Reynolds Edition TransAm, which YearOne creates from the bones of rescued Firebirds and sells at a nearly $130,000 base. It's called "Burt Builds a Bandit," and although Burt likely doesn't actually build the Bandit, we're sure it would be another guilty pleasure of Alfred Hitchcock, if the rotund one was still among the rolling. [Year One]
Press Release:
DIY Network's "Celebrity Rides": Burt Builds a Bandit
The latest installment of DIY Network's new automotive programming franchise, Celebrity Rides, returns with a five-episode series featuring the history-making reunion between a legendary star and his famous ride. On Friday, Oct. 19 at 10 p.m. ET, Celebrity Rides: Burt Builds a Bandit chronicles award-winning actor Burt Reynolds and his design team at YearOne auto restoration company, as they begin the exciting process of restoring a select fleet of limited edition Trans Ams. DIY also knows Bandit enthusiasts will want to get behind the wheel, so one lucky fan will have a chance to win one!
Heavy.com, where users can upload videos explaining why they should win the car. Reynolds will help select the most creative video, and the winner gets to drive home in a fully restored Burt Reynolds Edition Trans Am, as featured in Celebrity Rides: Burt Builds a Bandit. The winner will be announced during a one-hour recap special of the series on Friday, Dec. 14, which airs at 10 p.m. ET.
The premiere episode of DIY's Celebrity Rides: Burt Builds a Bandit features original film footage of the 1977 cult classic film and an up-close and personal interview with Reynolds offering insight into how the Bandit (Pontiac Trans Am) became an auto industry icon. Reynolds says: "There wasn't anything on the road that looked like it." And how does he feel about the car today? "It still looks dangerous," he says. "It still looks like it could eat you for lunch."
"In 1977, the water cooler conversation focused on Princess Leia, Annie Hall and a hot little car called Bandit. Thirty years later, car and film enthusiasts alike still have a passion for this incredible vehicle and the impact it had on pop culture," says Kathleen Finch, DIY Network's general manager. "To be able to give away one of these incredible custom vehicles to a lucky DIY viewer is just icing on the cake."
DIY's Celebrity Rides franchise premiered in June with a one-hour special featuring Jay Leno's extensive Duesenberg collection. The franchise continues in 2008 with Celebrity Rides: Dillon and the Rebel, a limited series documenting Emmy Award nominee and Entourage star Kevin Dillon as he takes on the task of building a kit car replica of a 1955 Porsche Spyder, made famous by another Hollywood legend, James Dean. In addition, Jay Leno returns with Celebrity Rides: The Last Duesenberg, a six episode series of the step-by-step restoration of his latest car conquest — a 1931 Model J418 Wood Towncar — found in an old garage after walking the streets of Manhattan.
DIY's Celebrity Rides: Burt Builds a Bandit airs every Friday at 10 p.m. ET, beginning October 19. Also in October, visit http://www.DIYnetwork.com/tv for a sneak peek of the show and click on "Celebrity Rides: Burt Builds a Bandit" in the TV Showcase section.