Never Forget – 8 Pontiacs Worth Remembering
Damn! I really need to wake up earlier. You get a great idea for a some 10 list and sites like Jalopnik have already written and put it online. So forget “10 Best blah blah Pontiacs” list, we are going to choose our personal favorite Pontiac vehicles, for better or worse, meaning not necessarily the best ever made.
1977-78-79 Trans Am – Smokey & The Bandit
Not only a General Motors icon but a legend of the film industry. Smokey and The Bandit fans world wide join clubs and create replicas of the classic Trans Am from the hit Burt Reynolds/Jackie Gleason comedy. The only thing more iconic than the car is that Firebird hood logo – at least it was during the 80′s, when you weren’t cool unless there was a mural painted somewhere on your ride.
1982 Firebird TTop – Knight Rider Style
Firebird Trans Am variants remained popular throughout the 1980′s thanks to NBC’s Knight Rider. Just like Bandit fans, there is a global following made up of KITT lovers who transform their Trans Am cars into personalized Knight Industries Two Thousands. One thing that always bugged me – couldn’t NBC give Michael Knight a larger ride? He always looks so scrunched up in that car.
1980-82 Pontiac Acadian – Chevrolet Chevette Knock-off
My father used to rock a Chevrolet Chevette – or “The Shitter”. Not the best from GM, Chevettes were cheaply made and not well received. Pontiac’s version, the Acadian, was produced for Canadian car buyers, and were latched to the back of tow trucks just as often as the Chevy.
Pontiac Trans Sport – A Minivan for the GM Crowd
When soccer moms needed a Minivan to get their kids to school, but don’t want to go down the Caravan or Sierra route, there was Pontiac’s 1990 Trans Sport van. The roomier interior may have been a plus, but they probably should have invested in flame-retardant materials.
Pontiac G6 – Hertz Favorite Rental Car
I have been a rental customer of Hertz since I was old enough to not pay that extra charge for being under 25. Since the introduction of Pontiac’s G6 it has been a favorite of the car rental company, and I have driven a few. I must admit it’s a nice car, at least to drive for a weekend. There seem to be a good amount on the roads, so perhaps they have some staying power – though not enough to make GM feel the make’s worth keeping around.
1980′s Bonneville – The Boxiest of Boxy 80′s Cars
The Bonneville claimed Pontiac’s longest run from 1957 to 2005. Our personal favorite generation came during the late 70′s thru mid-80′s. The boxiest of sedans had horse power under the hood and comfort in the back seat (and LOTS of back seat, that thing was huge!) The Bonneville had staying power, literally, as we see many mid-80′s Bonne’s still on the streets today.
Pontiac Vibe – The Hipster’s Hatchback
Want a Toyota Matrix but don’t have a money? Try out a Pontiac Vibe! One of GM’s answers to the growing want of hatchbacks for younger drivers, the Vibe (which is also slang for a self pleasuring device) features 5-door design and sporty interiors. 2009 looks to be the last for this hatchback, however, so you college grads may have to look towards Saturn…I mean Saab…I mean…damn.
Pontiac’s First Car
Pontiac’s name was taken from Chief Pontiac, an American Indian chief who led an unsuccessful uprising against the British shortly after the French and Indian War. Pontiac, the brand, was introduced by General Motors in 1926 as the ‘companion’ to GM’s Oakland Motor Car line. The Pontiac Coupe (shown above) was the first in an 80-plus year reign that has been put to an end thanks to America’s automotive financial crisis.
Dude, no Fiero!? WTF?
As I said on Twitter, Jalopnik did it this morning and I was trying to not completely rip off their idea – my top 8 are based off my personal experience, and I’ve never had the pleasure (or misfortune) of driving a Fiero.
What about 1988 Pontiac LeMans. It was very popular car … in Poland.
It was a good hatchback.
No mention of the G8? Even GM leadership still feels bad about not keeping it around. They’ve even said so…