So, you think you
know your cars now, do you Well, consider this to be a test
of your knowledge of Pontiac history. 21 Pontiacs are featured here: some are
current models while others are truly classic in every sense of the word,
dating back to the early 1960s.
6000 – Full sized
[or almost] front wheel drive sedan of the 1980s.
Aztec – Ugly is
as ugly does. This crossover vehicle ashamed the Pontiac fleet for two years
during the early 00s.
Bonneville – Full
sized Pontiac sedan excitement retired in 2005 after more than 40 years of
service. Part of GM's massive restructuring and retiring of top model names.
Catalina – This
model hearkens back to the mid 60s when two door hard tops ruled the day.
Discontinued during the late 70s during GM's "down sizing" shell game
days.
Fiero –
Mid-engine sport two-seater built for Pontiac during the go-go 80s. GM reached
into their parts bin and took out Chevette and other components to create this
little roadster.
Firebird – It
goes without saying that this "pony" car is sorely missed. The good
news is that it may be back by the time the 2009 model year rolls around.
Firefly – Twin to
the Geo Metro, the Firefly was Pontiac's 3 cylinder captive import of the late
eighties to mid nineties.
G6 – Current
compact model in Pontiac’s arsenal available in rakish coupe or sporty sedan.
Grand Am -- With
its 1973 debut, the Grand Am quickly became the division's mid-range performance
car. Retired in 2005 with a host of other Pontiac model names.
Grand Prix –
Hidden tail lights and a concave rear window marked the Grand Prix's 1963
debut. The car has survived GM's model name shake out and today's car is a
mid-sized, front wheel drive sports sedan.
GTO – Introduced
in 1967, the GTO was a true coupe turned sports car. Eliminated in the 1970s,
the GTO is back thanks to GM's Australian division, Holden. Rear wheel drive
and a big V8 too.
LeMans –
Originally a Tempest model, the LeMans became its own model once the Tempest
name was retired in the 1970s. Retired in the mid 1990s after a cheap Korean
car was allowed to carry its name.
Sheesh
Montana -- A
minivan for Pontiac, if not for the ages.
Parisienne –
During the 1980s Pontiac needed a version of the Chevrolet Car price. This full sized, rear wheel
drive sedan filled the bill.
Phoenix – Part of
GM’s "X cars" of compact import fighting vehicles introduced
during 1979 as a 1980 model.
Sunbird – Nothing
but a rebadged Chevy Cavalier.
Sunfire – Compact
coupe retired in 2005 as part of, you guessed, GM's model restructuring.
Sunrunner –
Nothing but a rebadged Geo/Chevy Tracker.
Tempest – From
the early sixties until the early seventies, the term "muscle car"
befit this hot coupe. Especially nice as a convertible!
Trans Sport –
Hideous looking minivan that debuted in the early 1990s. Mercifully replaced
years later by the Montana.
Vibe – A
currently produced compact five door sport wagon; cousin to the Toyota Matrix.
So, there you
have it. At least another half dozen models were left out from this time period
plus many models that dated back to the division's founding as part of the
Oakland Automobile Company in 1926. Pontiac excitement…have you caught it yet
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