Pontiac
In 1907, The Oakland Motor Car Company was formed in Pontiac, Michigan USA. The founder, Edward Murphy, had previously been involved in the production of horse-drawn carriages. With the combustion engine becoming a main force, it seemed only logical that a marriage of machine and carriage was inevitable. The Oakland Motor Car Company became a division of GM in 1909 and the ball started rolling
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The Oakland Four
In 1909, Pontiac (named after the city of Pontiac, Michigan) manufactured it’s first car, The Oakland Model A. It had a 4 cylinder engine and was available in various body sizes, including the Model 24 roadster (shown below)
The Pontiac Train Keeps Rollin’
In the 1920s, Pontiac began ramping up production in order to meet demand. To avoid supply chain issues, they began assembling vehicles at the GM factory in Osaka, Japan. This continued until 1941 when the Japanese bombed pearl Harbor and needless to say, it was all over for GM in Japan
Going Mainstream
Pontiac had produced some impressive V6 and V8 muscle cars in the early days but after The Great Depression, it decided to go with simpler and more affordable versions. A notable example is using the “Straight 8” (All 8 cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase). This made buying an 8-cylinder car more feasible for those who were struggling financially
Back to the Muscle
Before and after WWII, Pontiac was known for having solid cars that were not particularly fast. That all changed, however, when they introduced the Strato Streak V8 engine. Vrooooommmm! Sales increased and Pontiac was now producing Muscle Cars (and trucks)
The Brands
Over the years, Pontiac produced some of the most memorable brands in the car business. Bonneville, Catalina, Chieftan, Fiero, Firebird, Grand Am, Grand Prix, GTO, LeMans, Streamliner, Sunbird and Trans Am…just to name a few
The Fall of Pontiac
Unfortunately, the downfall of Pontiac had little to do with it’s incredible vehicles or it’s role in American History as a great auto manufacturer. It all boiled down to dollar and cents.
In 2008, the sagging financial status of GM caused it to seek a government loan in excess of $25 billion. Part of that deal was that GM would agree to dissolve Pontiac as one of their brands. The last Pontiac built was a 2010 G6, and thus marked the end of a great legacy
Pontiac GTO
The Pontiac GTO is a classic American muscle car that was produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors from 1964 to 1974. It was one of the first muscle cars to be produced and was a popular choice among car enthusiasts.
The GTO was designed by John DeLorean and was based on the Pontiac Tempest. It featured a powerful V8 engine and a sporty design that made it stand out from other cars on the road. The car was available in a variety of colors and trim levels, and it was offered with a variety of performance options.
The Pontiac GTO was a popular choice among car enthusiasts due to its performance and style. It was often used in drag racing and other forms of motorsport, and it was also popular with street racers. The car was also featured in a number of movies and television shows, including the classic film American Graffiti.
This awesome car was discontinued in 1974 due to declining sales and increasing emissions regulations. However, the model has since become a classic and is still popular with car enthusiasts today. It is often seen at car shows and is a popular choice for restoration projects.
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