Pontiac Falls From Muscle Car Glory to Graveyard

New York Times ^ | 10/29/2010 | Nick Bunkley

[Responsibility2nd]

DETROIT — Pontiac, the brand that invented the muscle car under its flamboyant engineer John Z. DeLorean, helped Burt Reynolds elude Sheriff Justice in “Smokey and the Bandit” and taught baby boomers to salivate over horsepower, but produced mostly forgettable cars for their children, will endure a lonely death on Sunday after about 40 million in sales.

It was 84 years old. The cause of death was in dispute. Fans said Pontiac’s wounds were self-inflicted, while General Motors blamed a terminal illness contracted during last year’s bankruptcy. Pontiac built its last car nearly a year ago, but the official end was set for Oct. 31, when G.M.’s agreements with Pontiac dealers expire.

[yarddog]

I went with a fellow student in 1966 to pick up his new GTO. He had ordered the 4 barrel but the first one they got in was the 3 deuces. He went ahead and got it. This was at James Lee motors in Crestview, Florida.

I remember riding with him back to school and passing another car. I had never ridden in anything that ran like that.

[Joe 6-pack]

This is the company that spent four years getting the Fiero just right, only to cancel it...

[RoadTest]

You guys with your pictures make these articles sing!

[Pollster1]

The sooner GM gets liquidated the better.

I'm with you. GM crossed the line with the Bailout. All GM brands need to join Pontiac.

[ssaftler]

I was always partial to the ‘66. My folks bought a 1966 GTO convertible, royal blue with a blue interior. It was a gorgeous car, and passed everything on the road but a gas station, even with the Pontiac slush-o-matic transmission.

I got to drive it when it was a bit old and beat up (thanks to a few fender benders my brother got into) but I recall that it still could fly.

A lot better than the European Jogging Shoes that are on the market today!

[TalBlack]

Well, it’s just me and my ‘98 FireBird now. Anyone got an extra Firebird 3800 six cyl engine for sale? Gonna stick some heads on there, stuff in a cam...

[luvbach1]

The G6 is a great looking car.

[Last Dakotan]

GM was at its best when the divisions competed hard against each other in the 50s and 60s.

How can they compete against each other when the UAW runs the show, then and now?

[Disambiguator]

Previous Pontiac owner here, too!

‘66 GTO

‘67 Catalina

The GTO was an ugly beater, but it was fast and fun. It even got good mileage on the highway if you maintained 75 mph (which was a problem, because I had it during the era of the 55 mph national speed limit).

[Spktyr]

That’s AKA the Buick 231, as made famous in the Buick GNX.

DON’T cam it, turbo it.

[printhead]

Poor Old Nobama Thinks It’s A Cadillac.

[nascarnation]

The UAW runs the show now because their VEBA has the ownership.

That was a result of the Baraqqi ploy to steal GM from the bondholders and overturn centuries of bankruptcy precedents.

I can guarantee back in the 50s and 60s the UAW had essentially zero input regarding corporate strategy. If you don’t believe me, read some of the books by guys like Delorean.

[ßuddaßudd]

I was a big fan of the Temptest back in the day.

[B4Ranch]

ping

[budwiesest]

My first ride in a Goat (67) almost snapped my neck- and that was going uphill.

[titanicsuccess]

I had an 88 Fiero Formula. I really enjoyed that car!!!

[wtc911]

I had a ‘63 Bonneville drop-top. It was bronze with black leather interior and with the big Detroit V8 it went like hell. I buried the needle more than once.

[rahbert]

Little GTO, you’re really lookin’ fine
Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389
Listen to her tachin’ up now, listen to her why-ee-eye-ine
C’mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO

Wa-wa, (Yeah, yeah, little GTO)
Wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa (Yeah, yeah, little GTO)
Wa-wa, (Yeah, yeah, little GTO)
Wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa (Yeah, yeah, little GTO)
Wa-wa (Ahhh, little GTO)
Wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa

You oughta see her on a road course or a quarter mile
This little modified Pon-Pon has got plenty of style
She beats the gassers and the rail jobs,
really drives ‘em why-ee-eye-ild
C’mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO

Wa-wa, (Yeah, yeah, little GT”)
wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa (Yeah, yeah, little GTO)
Wa-wa, (Yeah, yeah, little GTO)
Wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa (Yeah, yeah, little GTO)
Wa-wa (Ahhh, little GTO)
Wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa

Gonna save all my money (turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out)
and buy a GTO (turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out)
Get a helmet and a roll bar (turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out)
and I’ll be ready to go (turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out)
Take it out to Pomona (turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out)
and let ‘em know (turnin’ it on, blowin’ it out), yeah, yeah
That I’m the coolest thing around
Little buddy, gonna shut you down
When I turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO

Wa-wa, (Yeah, yeah, little GTO)
Wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa (Yeah, yeah, little GTO)
Wa-wa, (Yeah, yeah, little GT)
Wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa (Yeah, yeah, little GT)
Wa-wa (Ahhh, little GT)
Wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, wa

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

I’m home alone. When I saw this photo, I said ^out-loud^...

Dude...that is one tricked out goat.

Thanks for the memories!

[peeps36]

I wish Pontiac brought back the GTO and Firebird like Dodge did with the Charger and Challenger. I think both the Charger and Challenger are sharp sport scars. They look a lot like the old muscle cars and you can get one with the horsepower too.