Burt Reynolds and Smokey and the Bandit were a cultural phenomenon back in the late 1970s, when the movie first premiered. Since then, there have been many special editions of various vehicles meant to commemorate the iconic 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am used in the first film, and now, a 2023 Chevy Silverado decked out in black and gold just sold for nearly $80,000 at a recent auction.
Officially titled as the 2023 Chevy Silverado Bandit Edition, this full-size pickup truck is no. XXIII of a limited run of Bow Tie pickups dressed out in the special edition attire. With just 850 miles on the odometer, this 2023 Silverado sold for $77,000 at a recent Mecum Auction.
As to what makes this particular Silverado special, the most striking feature is the exterior. The black paint job is adorned with gold highlights that allude to the unmistakable scheme of the original Trans Am. To match the exterior, this Silverado is also fitted with custom 24-inch Bandit wheels, which are wrapped in 35-inch tires.
There aren’t many alterations to the interior, which is equipped as standard in Work Truck (WT) or LT affair. That being said, the front driver and passenger seats do get little Bandit patches on the headrests.
One of the more interesting aspects of this Silverado Bandit Edition is the powertrain, where we find the turbocharged 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine, rated at 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, and the GM eight-speed automatic transmission. The Bandit-minded enthusiast may consider this a letdown, seeing as the 1977 Trans Am featured a selection of high-displacement V8 engines – which were all less powerful than today’s four-cylinder L3B.
What do you think of this 2023 Chevy Silverado Bandit Edition? Are the graphics overdone, or is the L3B just not potent enough to live up to the Bandit name? Let us know in the comments below!
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Comments
Need a shot of the hood graphics and a V-8. Generally, I like it except for the wheels. I assume this is a factory issue? How many were produced? Is the package noted in the VIN or could anyone buy the stickers and have one, that’s the key to any future collectible value. I love special editions as long as they are identifiable by the VIN. Also, it needs a name plate badge somewhere that’s not a sticker.
Hey, just stick some tacky graphics on the exterior and voila! Typical “themed” non-performing who-ha that reminds me of the guys that always paid the big bucks to look good but still wore white belts and too short pants.
I love Chevrolet and General Motors……this however is a let down. Should have much more pronounced interior…..nothing close to the namesake.
Chevrolet is starting to let me down. Why would you not at least have the 5.3 in it.
For me personally I would never pay 80 thousand for any vehicle with only 310 horsepower. Pinstripes!!!! On a modern day vehicle??? No sir, I’ll pass. I just bought a 2023 High Country with the 6.2 with leather interior fully loaded and still didn’t pay 80 thousand for it.
Fully loaded? So you got EVERY single option? Post the build sheet, I bet there are some things you left off. It is funny when people love to boast about something FULLY LOADED when things are obviously not optioned (then it isn’t fully loaded). What ever makes them feel better I guess…
You Jealous bro??
35″ tires without some type of lift? Cutting within the confines of the wheel well? Agree no V/8 is truly a letdown. Lipstick on a pig. Wonder what Dealership did the upfit.
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2022/02/2021-chevy-silverado-bandit-edition-fetches-286k-at-barrett-jackson/#:~:text=Power%20in%20this%20Bandit%20Edition,641%20pound%2Dfeet%20of%20torque.
I like the graphics, but the interior needs to be more compatible to the graphics theme, and the truck screams for the 6.2 engine! What were they thinking?
Big let down. I had a 2023 Sierra with the 2.7 and it’s a dog. And terrible gas mileage. Why would you want it?
It is right there with the 5.3 which is far from a dog and that 5.3 is only a little over half a second and around 6 mph behind the 6.2 on premium (guess what, the 5.3 can run E85 for a power bump). So the 2.7 is far from a dog, no need to spread false information just to inflate your narrative. They regularly average 1-2 mpg better than the 5.3 (which regularly average 1mpg better than the 6.2). On top of that with the huge low end torque they drive much better daily and towing, especially around town and just cruising on the highway.
A 6,000 Lb brick with a four cylinder that will do the quarter mile in just under a day and it’s dub “The Bandit”. I’m not sure as to whom is more depraved, the one who thought of building such a mess, or the one who paid $77,000 for it???
What a great fall our amazing GM has endured. Roger Smith in a dress all over again. The company may not survive this time. Less cars and record profits but how long before the buyer wakes from the stupor?
The State Highway Patrol will love catching one of these speeding. I can see the “Bandit” stickers on their doors. (Like WWII fighter planes) lol
Anyone old enough to want to drive this will be in the right lane going 5 under.
Why didn’t they add more horsepower? It’s a beautiful truck on the outside but……… Kind of pointless.
The truck isn’t really butt-ugly, but like many of you already said, it does need a lot more power and they could’ve gone the extra mile to add some real distinguishing upgrades to the interior of this limited edition truck.
Personally, I believe that they should’ve borrowed a page from Cadillac’s book and put that new Supercharged 6.2L 685 horsepowered Cadillac Escalade V engine in this truck so that it can truly live up to that classic “Bandit” nameplate.
I’m sure GM has plenty of LT4 engines that they could have used on something like this, to me the it’s pointless to screw up a truck with graphics like this thing has. I can tell you there is a collector for everything they push out the door, just wish people would quit buying this kind of mess. Not something they made a bunch of, I’m sure.
It’s crazy that someone would go through the trouble to put the graphics on the truck but not upgrade the motor. They should’ve used a better trim level. Buford T. Justice would have no problem catching this thing lol. IMO I’ll stick with the 1977 Trans am.
If you talking about 6.5 Turbo that would be worth the speeding tickets but a 310hp 4 cylinder REALLY!
I don’t mind the paint job but the turbo blister on the hood, Hell No. I’m A Diehard GM fan with 3 Corvette and a 62 Liter AT4.
I would to see GM do a striped down Hotrod pick for around $80K but unfortunately this one doesn’t cut it.
Cheers
This should have been diesel powered High Country, like the big rigs on the show. No knobby tires, as this has all the appearance of a highway “street truck.”
Which is exactly what a high country is..
A lot of money for wheels and stickers. Congratulations to the seller. You definitely won that round.
They call it Bandit because if you paid 80k for it…. You got robbed!!
somebody’s making a $hit load of money on that. WT’s start at around 37K—-retail. There certainly is not 40k of add ons on that truck
love the look ,although it was a limited edition and then while in production it was selected to be used in the movie. a quote from Bert Reynolds stated the pontiac was the real star of the movie. great paint job, John Schinella
… more graphics… bigger engine
I just took Delivery of my new C8 Corvette. What a fantastic car! I only had to wait 27 months!
My personal opinion is that you just don’t put a 4 banger in a full sized American truck, you especially don’t put the “Bandit” nameplate on anything without tricking out the interior with full on leather seats. Again, just my opinion. I only have a 2021 Z71 LTZ 2500 HD with a 6.6 L8T gas engine, but it has full on leather seats and in my opinion, my old cheap truck looks a lot nicer than this horrible attempt at a commemorative icon like the Bandit. You just don’t put a 4 cylinder in a full size truck.
Nearly $80,000 for a base model truck with some stickers. Somebody has more money than sense.
I worked with Burt Reynolds starting in1993 providing vehicles for his movie Cop & 1/2. In 2016 our team developed and designed the Bandit Truck With Mister Reynolds, It was used initially for personal appearances, promos and to pull the Burt Reynolds institute equipment display. Mr. Reynolds personally approved every design, down to the signed, recorded and numbered dash plate. along the Bandit certificate of authenticity.( Bandit Truck) was Trademarked through Mr. Reynolds personal attorney . I still have the number two Truck. After Mr. Reynolds death in 2018 All Trademarks, Marketing Agreements and Use of the Bandit Truck name, was sold to a Texas Cooperation to produce and market this vehicle. This 4 Cyl, Work Truck with some stickers and a set of wheels is not a Bandit Truck, and does a great disservice to the legend of Burt Reynolds, who simply wanted to insure the increased collectability of The Bandit Truck. John Satino Film Cars
they say its just one of like 80 or so, anyone know where a guy could buy one, cant find anything on the net so far ? THANKS
My 2023 at4 with diesel engine costs less. Somebody got ripped off!
Seeing the comments I see that I agree with everyone else and it is a big let down. What happened to America. I have had nothing but Chevrolet since I was just 9yrs old when my grandfather gave me the old 66 truck named Brownie..back when y our truck was family and DESERVED a name and the respect that they earned and I currently have a really nice 85 swb 2wd that I built in 98 ..should be worth more than that disgrace to get a bowtie with 310 horsepower!!!??…I mean…can it even get enough speed to get to the other side of a creek or river when the bridge is out and the smokeys are on your ass…?…..I believe that I can with my torquey 05 4.8 5spd 4wd swb but it is a good looking truck and I don’t have any interest in any thing much newer than my 05…sad but I will always have a good reason to love the old Chevrolet trucks that you can be proud to have and have known what they once earned is gradually getting pissed in the wind and finally I guess that it’s best that Burt Reynolds will not be able to see what has happened here for you know that the Bandit would want the biggest bang under the hood…wtf has happened to the world….dang it all to heck… ps. Ever who was the buyer must have plenty of money to throw away unless he was going to throw more into a 6.2 455hp and keep the other motor to be original but COME ON CHEVY!!!!! GET THE PICTURE BEFORE YOU ARE A MEMORY AND A BAD ONE FOR THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE THROUGH IT ALL ESPECIALLY THE FREAKING 80S!!!!!ONWARDS AND UPWARDS NOT TO HECK WITH IT AND FLUSH!!!!