Detroit City Council rejected the request for the stunt reportedly because of the car’s plate.
Autorama is a well-known name in the custom car world. This Detroit-based hot rod event has been the Holy Grail for builders all over the United States and around the world for decades. Sometimes, a cool stunt is performed outside to get it off the ground. This year such a plan was put in place to honour the passing of Burt Reynolds, a Hollywood actor and Smokey & the Bandit star.
It was planned to recreate the famous bridge jump scene using a screen-accurate Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am. However, it was too accurate for the Detroit City Council. According to Detroit Free Press, 7-1 votes were cast against the jump due to the car’s iconic front license plate. It features a Confederate flag similar to that used in the blockbuster 1977 film.
It was not a problem for council members in 2017. Curiously, council members didn’t mind the incident in 2017. This is because the General Lee has a Confederate Flag on its roof. It’s much larger than the 12-inch-wide Confederate flag license plate found on the Trans Am.
It’s not known to many outsiders that the Confederate Flag has been the subject of controversy in recent years. While some see it as a symbol for rebellion, others view it as a symbol for racism and hatred from the past. Both assessments are true. However, some might argue that context is also important in determining where and how it is displayed. It seems that Detroit City Council members believe it’s sufficient of an issue for them to refuse to allow the jump to take place.
The absolutely stunning machines that visit Detroit’s Cobo Center every winter – the same place that hosts the North American International Auto Show– are perhaps lost in all the controversy. Autorama is not just another car show. It’s far more than that. Autorama entries are anything but ordinary. They have incredible craftsmanship and detail. For builders, the show’s Ridler Award is often life-changing.
2019 marks the 67th year of the prestigious event. It is expected that 800 cars will be present, and the show begins on March 1 with or without Bandit’s Trans Am airborne.