Favorite Pontiac's

[DGS49]

From my lifetime...

1966 Bonneville Convertible

1964 Tempest GTO

1970 GTO "Judge"

1979 Trans Am Turbo

1988 Fiero GT (V6, 5-speed, of course)

1986 Pontiac 6000STE

1991 (and later) Firebird Formula, V8

2006 Pontiac (Holden) GTO

2007 Solstice GTP

2008 Pontiac (Holden) G8 GTP

2009 G6 GTP Coupe (3.6, 6-spd only)

It's a pity that GM chose to keep Buick and dump Pontiac (due to Buick's popularity in China). There is good justification to keep a division that focuses on low-cost performance cars.

 

[Jarlaxle]

There was no 1979 turbo Trans Am. 1979 still used the 6.6 litre (400 Poncho or 403 Olds) engines...the dreadful 301 turbo was 1980-81 only.

For Pontiacs, I will go with two Firebirds: the 1974 Super Duty 455 and the 1989 Turbo Trans Am. The SD was, despite low compression, a fire-breather, vastly underrated at 290HP. (I watched a stock 4-speed SD put down 295 at the wheels, so it's more like 330+HP!) A superb performer, despite the fact that by 1974, a loaded Trans Am was damn near two tons!

The 1989 TTA was stunning...the first car ever to pace Indy 100% mechanically stock. Sadly, it was a low-production (<1600 built) one-year wonder.

 

[DGS49]

My problem with the Firebirds (including T/A's) was always that they were structurally weak. After a couple years the doors wouldn't close properly and when you slammed the door it sounded like you were kicking a bucket of bolts.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Only when they rot out. My father in law's 74 is bank-vault solid. The 2nd-generation (1970-81) cars were notorious for the door hinges sagging.

 

[DGS49]

It's a poor design. Short wheelbase, long overhangs, GM took a long time to figure out how to make a car structurally sound without a full frame.

Still, these iconic cars are a uniquely American heritage and were a lot of fun when properly equipped.

 

[Jarlaxle]

The cars gained almost a foot of overhang due to the 1974+ 5MPH bumper standards. My only real complaint is they are HEAVY. Somehow, my father in law's 74 is 4000lbs!

 

[Wry Catcher]

From my lifetime...

1966 Bonneville Convertible

1964 Tempest GTO

1970 GTO "Judge"

1979 Trans Am Turbo

1988 Fiero GT (V6, 5-speed, of course)

1986 Pontiac 6000STE

1991 (and later) Firebird Formula, V8

2006 Pontiac (Holden) GTO

2007 Solstice GTP

2008 Pontiac (Holden) G8 GTP

2009 G6 GTP Coupe (3.6, 6-spd only)

It's a pity that GM chose to keep Buick and dump Pontiac (due to Buick's popularity in China). There is good justification to keep a division that focuses on low-cost performance cars.

1964 Lemans V-8 (326 ci) convertible.

 

[Moonglow]

My problem with the Firebirds (including T/A's) was always that they were structurally weak. After a couple years the doors wouldn't close properly and when you slammed the door it sounded like you were kicking a bucket of bolts.

and the interior fell to pieces.

 

[Moonglow]

pontiac brougham
-nice cruiser

 

[DGS49]

My brother had a '74 Grand Ville convertible. Huge boat. Completely lost from history. Great car.

 

[Moonglow]

My brother had a '74 Grand Ville convertible. Huge boat. Completely lost from history. Great car.

When I was 16 I inherited a 1966 Cadillac convertible 4 door. Got about 3 miles a gallon but could hold 10 people from school to go catin' around town. Gas was about 40 cents a gallon, same price as a pack of smokes. Beer was around 1.25 a six pack.

 

[DGS49]

??? The only four-door convertible sold in the U.S. since 1950 was the Lincoln with suicide doors.

Was this a project car or what?