1) 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
Posted on 04/27/2009 6:49:32 PM PDT by Daffynition
We told you months ago Pontiac was dead, but today GM CEO Fritz Henderson made it official. Now that the pointy-arrow brand is gone, we'll mourn by celebrating our ten favorite examples of driving excitement. [snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at jalopnik.com ...
S-W-E-E-T!
The Bonneville was Pontiac's longest surviving nameplate, running from 1957 to 2005 when it mercifully got the axe. As lackadaisical as the car had been for the last 20 or so years, there were some gems throughout its history. The 1999 SSEi had woeful build quality, but when it held together the FWD 240 HP supercharged V6 was a hoot (as was battling torque steer). The monstrous '71 Bonnie wore a 455 cubic inch V8 and four barrel carb good for 325 HP and the '59 model wore outrageous quadruple fins.
“455 cubic inch V8 and four barrel carb good for 325 HP”
Most people have forgotten how to speak car.
Of course, that breath of fresh air was tainted by its fart of styling. Not since the Edsel was a vehicle so universally panned for the stylistic abomination it was. So the second reason we'll miss it is because it was so easy to make fun of. In many ways, that's what the Pontiac brand's been all about. We'll miss it.
Crazy list....
#1 is terrible. and one looked like a brand new el camino.
And the honorable mention went to the Aztek?????
1973 pontiac grand am
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/1973-1975-pontiac-grand-am-3.jpg\
http://www.tachrev.com/GTOGenealogy_files/73_Grand_Am_DrvrSde2.jpg
http://www.tachrev.com/GTOGenealogy_files/73_Grand_Am_DrvrSdeRag2.jpg
http://www.abodysite.com/73gawhitneyducaine01.jpg
http://www.tachrev.com/GTOGenealogy_files/Lilly33.jpg
http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/12/2007/11/73_GrandAm_Snout.jpg
This car should be on the top ten list. I suggest dropping that stupid elcamino looking thing.
http://jalopnik.com/5229812/ten-ways-to-prepare-your-car-for-the-swine-flupocalypse?skyline=true&s=x
Ummm...his #2 choice is #1. One of the definitive muscle cars - the ‘64 GTO.
The 1969 Pontiac GTO Conceptualised to gain appeal to the younger market, Pontiac put a 6.3 litre V8 engine into the midsized Tempest shell, making for a cheap fast car. To the surprise of Pontiac's marketing team the GTO became massively popular and in 1969 they fitted it with a 6.5 litre V8 which could kick out 366bhp. The Judge was born
You spent all night in it? With whom? ;>
Seriously, AB!, you, my friend, speak car well.
What’s Pontiac for ugly? Aztec...ugliest damn car/vehicle ever.
She’s a beauty and that ain’t no lie.
My daddy bought the exact same one for me in turquoise when I was 16. For some reason boys really started talking to me.
The Fiero was a great concept ruined by poor execution (a recurring theme in GM as a whole).
As for the ‘78 Trans-Am, I thought it was the coolest thing on wheels back then. The graphics look a little cheesy today, but the basic styling of the second-generation F-body still looks great (at least prior to 5mph bumpers).
And how did a Holden get the top spot? :b
oh man do I remember that feeling! long, long time ago but It seems like all happened only yesterday.
I don’t know about the ugliest car, some would say the AMC Pacer was not all that good looking.
My brother had one just like that...same color and vinyl top. He wrapped it around tree.
Yeah, okay and the Gremlin as well...and the old Metro - let’s not forget the tiny Metro. But it certainly ranks up there...and I do mean RANK :)
Oops. I take that back. His was a GTO.
According to my pontiac book, the ohc firebird sprint should be on the list. Also the fitch firebird.
Oops again. Posted to the wrong person. Sorry. I’m quittin’ for the night.
Anyway, my brother’s was a GTO.
The "classic" Pontiacs were Chev body styles with denutted BOP motors. Here's some car speak for ya.
"The LS6 454 Chevelle features a MK IV "Big Block" motor with forged crankshaft, 4 bolt main bearing caps, and solid valve lifters to eliminate valve float at high RPM. The limited edition LS6 is only available with the M-22 "Rock Crusher" close ratio 4 speed transmission, and can, indeed, lift the front wheels off the ground, right out of the showroom. Chrysler's 426 Hemi 'Cudas only wish they could.
I was once a fiercely partisan Chevy guy, now it doesn't really matter, does it.
Romanced my late wife in a White 1961 Catalina. I inherited it from my dad when I left for college in 1969. Many a wonderful memories of that car. I took her off to our honeymoon in a 1967 LeMans, the first car I ever bought. The last car we bought together was a 1985 Trans Am, Dark bronze with gold trim. I will hate to see Pontiac go, I obviously have a lot of fond Big Chief memories.
In 1966, I drove a friend to a Pontiac Dealer in Crestview, Florida to pick up his new GTO. He had ordered the four barrel version but they got in one with 3 two barrels and he decided to go ahead and take it.
Until then I had never ridden in a car with so much pickup. It literally would push you back into the seat. Boy that was one hot car.
My Daddy had a 65 Oldsmobile with a 425 and it had a tiny bit more HP than the GTO but with that large body it would not accelerate with the GTO. Still with positraction and if the GTO driver was not good, that old 65 would beat it off the line pretty bad. Man that Olds rocket v8 would roar. The air cleaner had the top reversed to let in more air and it really did make it go whooom.
I mean, that thing would bark the tires from a dead stop. Ah, the good, good, good old days. 
-PJ
S’ok.
Just the idea of some of these cars going away is wrong. You get out on the highway and think about what it would be like to drive a podcar. You think a Vespa might be a good idea (Ciao!). You might get a golf cart to go fetch groceries.
But how are we going to morph to another car nation out of all these we see on the road everyday? What happens if you run into a truck or semi or postal delivery vehicle while driving in a podcar? Do we get separate highways? Do we have to have transfer papers to get to another state?
What is this other place, where you need to drive like a bat out of h3LL in the West or in Alaska if you ever expect to arrive anywhere by nightfall, and you can floor your car with no one in sight? In a podcar? From Pontiacs to podcars is not a move forward.
Bark the tires from a dead stop??
That doesn’t sound so impressive. Now, if it could bark the tires from 40MPH...that would be a little impressive.
You, J_T, should instruct others on how to speak car. It will become an archaic language come podcar nation.
Also, I bow to your car speak kung fu.
Next.
Baaaa. Baaaa.
Man this brings back some memories. My brother and I shared a 74 LeMans. The great thing about it was we took it with us to our Special Forces medical training in San Antonio and it became the class car. We hung the keys on a nail with a sign out roster for anyone in the class to take it when they needed it. That car some some goooood times.
Are you trying to pick up an Islamicist beau?
two speed auto AND posi?? It’s a miracle it could lose traction in the snow.
Gas mileage through the floor!
My brother had a ‘77 Trans-Am with t-tops and a 400.
We went riding and as the night progressed me and my buds ended up sitting on top of the car screaming with long-necks in each hand going 80 MPH.
After that stunt, I thank the Lord everyday that I’m still alive.
My best Pontiac moment.
Well, before I read all the other posts, I’ll tell my little story. This car was not a sports car, GTO/Firebird, etc.
My Dad had a ‘72 Catalina. 4 door boat. Long and wide. I had the speedometer buried (speedometer maxed at 120.) The car still felt like I was only doing 55.
Out on a long highway, I would’ve put that car up against anything.
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