Five of The Most Memorable Pontiac Cars

Pontiac was put to an end in 2009 but even now, seven years later, this classic name is still in high demand for those that truly fell in love with Pontiac and the extreme engineering and sleek style that the Pontiac name had. Pontiac was named after an Indian chief that led a failed attack on the British and was introduced in 1926 by General Motors (GM) brand as a companion for Oakland, a GM brand. The first car was simply called, the Pontiac Six and was labeled by the company as “Chief of the Sixes” because it had a 6-cylinder engine. By the year 1933, Pontiac had seen a huge surge in popularity and eventually, the Oakland brand fizzled out and Pontiac became the companion brand to Chevrolet by the year 1932. By 2009, the production of Pontiac ended due to financial problems but their popularity amongst collectors and those that have the need for speed has never ended. More than 90 car models were produced by Pontiac before the demise of the brand and while it is difficult to narrow this amazing brand down to a mere five, these are the top on the list of most memorable Pontiacs ever designed and placed for sale to the public.

5) 1969 Pontiac GTO “Judge”

The GTO was introduced in 1964, but the 1969 GTO was designed with a sleek fastback style unlike any of the previous years and had a mighty 400 cubic inch V8 engine that would go from zero to 60 in under five seconds. This care had it all including a 4-speed transmission, bucket seats and console and a key on the steering column instead of the dashboard as earlier models had. The “Judge” was introduced to be a competitor to the Plymouth Road Runner and was just a small amount more to purchase than the regular GTO. Nearly 7000 Judge models were sold in 1969 and until the middle of the year, all that were produced were the color red. Today, collectors work very hard to restore these cars and have them shipped by classic auto transporters to keep them safe when taking them to shows and events across the country. Then GTO, especially when fully restored or in showroom condition, is always a hit with car enthusiasts when they attend shows.

4) 1956 Pontiac Star Chief

In 1954, Pontiac manufactured the Star Chief, and when the second generation Star Chief was introduced in the year 1956, this car was the dream car for many. The 1956 model was manufactured not only in a hardtop but it was available in a 2 door coupe as well as a convertible. This steel machine is one that can really make collector stop and say, they just don’t make them like they used to. When they rolled off the showroom floor with their shiny duo pain jobs and fabulous chrome bumpers, they were the envy of the owner and even today, these cars are still a prized possession to those that are lucky enough to have one. While it’s not always easy to find a classic that is fully restored and ready for a new driver, these classic beauties are well worth the effort to spend time restoring.

3) 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT

The Pontiac Fiero is a name that is well-known no matter what area of the world you reside in. The Fiero was introduced in 1984, but the 1988 model is the one that made the list of most memorable because this was the year that Pontiac revamped the suspension as well as the control arms that kept the effort to steer down to a minimum, thus making the 1988 Pontiac Fiero smoother to drive and, for many, easier to race. The car was readily available as a 4 cylinder as well as a 6 cylinder and the style was sleek and smooth. While there were several other years available, the 1988 is the year that collectors tend to search for because this was the year that the improvements were able to truly capture the true charm, as well as speed, of the Fiero.

2) 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

It is highly doubtable that there is man over the age of 25 that does not know about theFirebird Trans Am. This car, known widely as the Trans Am, is one of the most popular models that Pontiac ever manufactured and thanks to movies like Smoky and the Bandit, has long been known as a fantasy car not only for men, but for many women as well. The Firebird came out in the late 1960’s but the 1978 model was by far, the one to go down in history as the most memorable of them all. With modular alloy wheels, an SE Trans Am rear spoiler and HD gas shocks, this V8 engine infused with 10% more power than any other year mad this car the most popular Firebird that had ever been engineered thus far.

1) 2010 Pontiac G6

Rolling in at number one on the list of most memorable Pontiacs ever to have been built is the last automobile that ever rolled off the manufacturing lot and that was the 2010 G6. This sleek car was available as a coupe, sedan and convertible as well as with both four and six cylinder engines or a V8 with either manual or automatic transmissions. The G6 was fuel efficient and could get up to 22 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway and could seat five passengers comfortably. While it definitely was not the fastest model ever designed by Pontiac, it was the last to be designed and sold, and when an era comes to an end for a motor vehicle, the ending is just as vital to the memory as the beginning.

Many car brands have come and gone throughout the years, but none quite as memorable, nor as missed, as the Pontiac. Whether you like a classic family car or a sleek and sporty race car, Pontiac had something for every taste. This was the incredible thing about Pontiac, they had such a vision for the future of the automobile and it is unfortunate that the vision had to end so abruptly. Pontiac was able to produce performance cars that people could afford and while many strive to do the same, this is something that other manufacturers have just not been able to compete with, even after the demise of Pontiac in 2009.