:::::::::::: L O O K :::::::::: Bandit almost got a Mustang for Bandit 2
Believe it or not .... In the months before Smokey And the Bandit II began filming, there was a bidding war took place between General Motors and Ford Motor Company. FORD Motor Company almost convinced Producer Hal Needham to use this car instead of a 1980 Trans Am
click link to see photo of what the Bandit's Black n Green 1980 Mustang Cobra would;ve have looked like if Ford had won thier bid to furnish automobiles for this film.
http://www.morten.com/cars/mustang/mus90.html
After seeing the runaway sales success of the 1977-78 Firebird/Trans Am after the release of the first Smokey and the Bandit Movie ibn 1977. FORD tried to capitalize when they offered to help finance Smokey and the Bandit II, Only catch was that the Bandit would have to drive one of thier newly redesigned Ford Mustangs instead of a Trans Am. They created a special Neon Green trim paint scheme complete with a neon Green Snake decal that covered the hood of the car (very similatr to the screaming eagle on the hood of a Trans Am)
Ford was hoping to use "Smokey and the Bandit II" as a way to advertise thier newly redesigned Mustang. .......However exectutives at General Motors cought wind as to what Ford was offereing and came in at the last moment and sealed a deal to garuntee that that every car featured in the film (including police cars) were to be all Pontiacs.