Pontiac was always GM's performance division. Whether it was a Fiero, Solstice, G6, Sunbird GT, Firebird, GTO, Grand Prix, Bonneville, they were all very nice. The least popular Pontiac's were most likely the Le Mans and Tempest but there is a long list of other models. I have no idea why GM dropped the Pontiac Division as those cars filled a good niche.,
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
I have no idea why GM dropped the Pontiac Division as those cars filled a good niche.,
I've heard it came down to budget cuts during the last recession. The two brands on the chopping block being Pontiac and Buick. The story goes that Buick had a rather large market in China, apparently large enough to offset whatever market Pontiac had going for it in the states. I think the Aztek played a pretty big role in the whole thing too. Pontiac wasn't exactly on a hot streak going into the 00's to begin with. They'd lost their identity. Their cars had become indistinguishable from other regular commuter cars. They didn't have the same flair as they did pre 90's. Case in point the Aztek. People thought it was ugly, and it was ugly, sold abysmally, and in my opinion was pretty much a hard reset for people's view of Pontiac. I've always thought the Aztek was pretty ahead of its time, all things considered. I mean look at the market just a decade later, dominated by hatchback SUVs. Maybe if Pontiac had held their tongue a little bit and waited for the market to warm up to the idea of the sport utility vehicle, they might still be here today. That's just my 2 cents though
I've heard it came down to budget cuts during the last recession. The two brands on the chopping block being Pontiac and Buick. The story goes that Buick had a rather large market in China, apparently large enough to offset whatever market Pontiac had going for it in the states. I think the Aztek played a pretty big role in the whole thing too. Pontiac wasn't exactly on a hot streak going into the 00's to begin with. They'd lost their identity. Their cars had become indistinguishable from other regular commuter cars. They didn't have the same flair as they did pre 90's. Case in point the Aztek. People thought it was ugly, and it was ugly, sold abysmally, and in my opinion was pretty much a hard reset for people's view of Pontiac. I've always thought the Aztek was pretty ahead of its time, all things considered. I mean look at the market just a decade later, dominated by hatchback SUVs. Maybe if Pontiac had held their tongue a little bit and waited for the market to warm up to the idea of the sport utility vehicle, they might still be here today. That's just my 2 cents though
Actually Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Saturn divisions were closed about the same time. I believe it may have been to ward off bankruptcy and a condition of the government bail out. The Japanese did a job on the American Auto industry with their low cost imports. Ford, and Jeep are still making their products here but today foreign brands Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Subaru, Kia, BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes are being built in the USA.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 04-17-2025).]
Oldsmobile's closure was announced nearly a decade before the final Pontiac rolled off the line, however the phase-out was spread across four years.
Doggo pretty much echoes what Bob Lutz has said of the matter: lawmakers wanted Chevrolet-Cadillac only, GM made successful cases that GMC was profitable and had brand loyalty, and that Buick was printing money in China. Meanwhile the reality of Pontiac is the brand fell from #3 in the domestic market (behind Chevy and Ford) toward irrelevance during the 90s into the new millennium. No amount of innovation or practicality could save the Aztek from being the industry's punching bag, especially among a product line otherwise dominated by aging, FWD shared platforms and captive imports.
Like the Fiero story, the unfortunate thing is that the seeds of redemption (GTO, G6, G8 and Solstice) were planted too little-too late for the powers that be to take note.
[This message has been edited by jonrev (edited 04-17-2025).]
the 1982-92 camaros/firebirds were great cars.the 700r4 automatic and the t5 fivespeeds though a little weak were great too.the engines in the earlier ones sucked.i had a 1884 camaro ho that ran pretty well.of course if i still had it id LS it.i also had a 1989 rs convertible that id still have if someone hadn't shortened it.
Originally posted by jonrev: ... Like the Fiero story, the unfortunate thing is that the seeds of redemption (GTO, G6, G8 and Solstice) were planted too little-too late for the powers that be to take note.
Too bad that Pontiac wasn't given a chance. The G6 was about to migrate to a RWD platform, to be built on the same architecture as the CTS. Ah, well...
The GTO was not a good seller, though. It only was around for a handful of years. I was searching for a "loss leader" GTO to purchase, when the Challenger was re-introduced. It was all over (for me) at that point. BUT... GM really missed the boat with the GTO. Holden has always - at least in my mind - been considered the "Australian Chevrolet". After it was introduced, everyone said that the GTO looked like a big Cavalier. Which I agree that it kind of did. It was a very good car. It just didn't look like a Pontiac, which made it a hard sell. If GM had marketed it as a Chevy, and called it a Chevelle, it would have been GM's chance to print money. (Not to say that it would have prevented the bankruptcy at that point, but who knows?) It would have fit the description - and the idea - of a Chevelle, precisely. And would have fulfilled a three-decades long yearning for a Chevelle/SS.
Edit - Just watched the video. (Yeah... I know.) The Aztek. The concept car was properly proportioned, and was actually quite attractive. The focus groups loved it. Then GM cheaped out and built it on the Montana platform, which made it look like a minivan that got wet and shrunk.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 04-30-2025).]
Guess what? The guy who styled the Aztek (maybe should call it the Azzz-Yech!) was the guy they hired (?!) to style the C7 and C8 Vettes....that is why those vettes look like a Toyota and nothing like a (real) Vette.....
I restyled a pic of the azzz-yech into something a bit better looking....Eliminated the extra lights and vents on the upper front end, and squared off the back like a real SUV (I absolutely detest the fast-back SUVs (Like that G-O-ugly Bummer)
[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 05-05-2025).]
