As of 31st October 2010, the Pontiac arm of General Motors has ceased to exist. I’m gonna say outright that I don’t like American cars very much, but when it comes to good ol’ American muscle, any car nut would go weak in the knees.
The trademark split grille of Pontiac adorned the front of many muscle car icons. One of the most well-known vinyl graphics – the Phoenix – proudly spread its wings on the hood of the Pontiac Firebird, an iconic American pony car.
Since Pontiac started producing cars in the 1920s, they have been an integral part of General Motors’ colourful portfolio of automakers. Sadly, their mismanagement of the brand would also lead to the much-loved brand’s eventual demise.
The Firebird, in various forms, was equipped with six to eight-cyclinder engines that pumped out anywhere between mid 200s to a full-blown 300plus bhp on the 455 cubic-inch or 7.5 litre V8. That’s a HUGE engine! Later on, Chevy LS1 V8s off its sister car, the Chevrolet Camaro, were used to power both cars.
But Pontiac had a bigger gun in its arsenal. The GTO was a bad-ass motherf*cker that competed up there with the full blown muscle variety – Chargers, Hemi-Cudas and the like. In 1966, a special Ram Air package was offered by Pontiac, pushing outputs to a rated 360bhp. Sources after said, however, that this figure was a gross underestimate to get past GM mandates.
On the drag strip it did low 13s out of the factory. Fully modified, the 440 cubic-inch V8 would rip the 9-second barrier apart. It was also available with a smaller 6.4L V8. Front tipping and rear roll bars like those seen on his drag machine were a common sight.
As globalization became more proliferated, GM employed platform sharing amongst all its models. The later 1975 model was the last time the GTO nameplate was used. In 2002, Pontiac adopted Australian marque Holden’s Mondaro V platform and simply redesigned the front grille to revive the GTO name. Needless to say, it was never the same car. This special 2004 Ram Air 6 revival was a snorting V8 beast that pumped out 575bhp, but remained in concept form due to falling demand.
The GTO and Firebird – two names that will go down in history as one of the most loved and worshipped cars from the Red, Blue and White. Pity the mismanagement of the brand by GM will ensure their names remain lost forever.
- Brendan
