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GM on the ropes

8:49 am April 27, 2009, by AJC

GM announced Monday that it will cut its workforce by 21,000 people and eliminate the Pontiac brand.

Do you have fond memories of that car line? Do you think that management is doing enough to save the company?

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83 comments Add your comment

Tom

April 27th, 2009
9:08 am

Growing up, the family car was always a Pontiac. Usually some variety of Catalina. In the late 70s though the family got a Buick Regal but my mom has continued after that with a few GrandAms and now has one of those V-8 Grand Prix. My most vivid memory was that the high-beam indicator on the Catalinas was a little red light on the dash in the shape of an indian.

It’s a shame really, since Pontiac is one of the best-selling GM brands. Shame on the GM management. I own a 93 Saturn, and it is likely that Saturn may follow suit.

Good-bye, Pontiac – we will miss you.

Don

April 27th, 2009
9:12 am

I owned a brand new silver 1967 Pontiac GTO. Young ladies didn’t know me from Adam. However, they sure knew that car. The car got a lot of attention.

John

April 27th, 2009
9:20 am

In the early fifties I had a girlfriend whose father was a regional sales manager for Pontiac. The family was allowed to use two new Pontiacs twice each year. When she and I went on a date in one of those cars instead of my somewhat lesser car, I thought I was riding high.

I’m afraid GM is doomed regardless of what action is taken.

RF

April 27th, 2009
9:25 am

Hmmm I wonder if I can get a good deal on a G8?

Dennis in Jax FL

April 27th, 2009
9:26 am

The first car I bought after graduating from college was a Pontiac T-1000 — I preferred driving a car with a Pontiac arrowhead on the grille than a Chevrolet bowtie. GM was offering a special incentive to new car buyers — a 15 percent interest rate, which seemed really low in 1982. I also recall that large neon profiles of Chief Pontiac were popular outside of Pontiac dealerships during the 1960s.

Addy

April 27th, 2009
9:33 am

The Pontiac Grand Am was my first car out of college in the early 90s. My dad would only let me buy a GM and I thought the Grand Am was the sportiest at the time :)

Patrick

April 27th, 2009
9:47 am

Although it has been gone for a few years now the best Pontiac ever was the Trans-Am!! The 76 Bandit was an awesome piece og machinery. Drove an 02 WS-6 Ram-Air Trans-Am for a while and that was one sharp car….I hate to see it go but you got to to what you got to do to surive. Maybe they can being it back when business picks back up..

NLH

April 27th, 2009
9:50 am

My mom had a 1971 LeMans. She was driving on I-75 and was pulled over going 110. It was a fast car.

John

April 27th, 2009
9:51 am

I had a 98 Pont Grand Prix, it was a piece of crapola, had it for 5 months and traded it in.

Judith Knox

April 27th, 2009
9:55 am

Growing up in a very small Western KY town, I drove nothing but Pontiacs as my Dad was the Pontiac dealer. We always looked forward to his September Showing of the next year’s vehicles. He would cover the showroom window with advertising “hype” to prevent anyone from getting a glimpse beforehand and on the first day of the showing would hand out Indian Chief headgear and other novelty items. His showroom would hold only two vehicles, with the remainder of the new cars (maybe 2!)being “shown” in the body shop.

I will never forget my family’s pride of the Pontiac line, not just during this time, but all year long.

See ya, Chief!

herbK

April 27th, 2009
9:55 am

Have owned numerous Pontiacs, some were junk, 1 or 2 held up ok. Had an uncle who had a 1965 Bonneville, beautiful car. But, like most GM, twas crap.

ME

April 27th, 2009
9:58 am

Have an 03 Grand AM GT and have only put a battery in it since i have had it. Just FINALLY put on brakes after 50000, but thats been it.

On the Bright Side...

April 27th, 2009
10:17 am

Well, with Pontiacs no longer on the road, MICHAEL VICK SUPPORTERS will have one less model of vehicle to carjack from law-abiding citizens.

abc

April 27th, 2009
10:21 am

Do you really expect the guys that ran GM into the ground to come up with good ideas about how to streamline, what to develop, how to make a great product and realize a profit? Puh-leeze.

Pontiac is dead, long live Pontiac.

Michael

April 27th, 2009
10:24 am

I had an 73′ Lemans. Bought it for $100.00 when I was a senior in highschool in 88′. It had rust holes around all the windows. It was champagne color and at one point had a vinyle roof. My grandfather I and spent many hours fixing it up. He did body work on cars after WWII and taught me how to work on it and do our own body work. We fixed her up pretty good and my uncle put a decent paint job on it. Needless to say I was t-boned on the right side then sent onto on coming traffic, hit again on the left side and went flying out of my car on the way to work to deliever pizza after I graduated from highschool. Pretty sure that car saved my life. I did not even break any bones.

glen

April 27th, 2009
10:31 am

If someone owns a newer pontiac, how long are they going to be able to aquire new parts for it?

Tyree

April 27th, 2009
10:37 am

I saw this quote once in a car magazine. ” Pontiac is the car for those people who never knew bell bottom jeans EVER went out of style.”

GTO Fan

April 27th, 2009
10:40 am

GTO, one of the best “muscle” cars ever built. I’ll never forget it.

Pontiac Fan

April 27th, 2009
10:46 am

I have 4 Pontiacs now, 2 Trans AMs, 2 Vibe’s. Pontiac is the only GM division that is making attractive and sporty cars. If Pontiac does indeed disappear it will be a very sad day. GM should dump some of the other crap they are selling before they do this to Pontiac.

watts

April 27th, 2009
10:48 am

My first car was a 1990 Grand Am two door, 5 speed. I bought that car brand new and when I sold it in 1997 it had over 500,000 miles. The only reason I sold it was because I wanted a new Grand Am with a little more speed. In 1997 I bought my 2nd Grand Am and I drove it until my son started driving in 2003. He put it down in 2005 because he wanted a new car. My daughter just turnt 16 and she is now driving my 1997 Grand Am. It only gave me a few wear and tear problems. I will miss Pontiac. I still have a GM car.

They Named Me "GTO"

April 27th, 2009
10:54 am

I don’t have any personal memories of Pontiacs, but my parents do – they told me I was conceived in the back seat of one!

Doing donuts in GrandPrix

April 27th, 2009
10:57 am

New Year’s eve, Ohio, fresh snow on the ground, doing donuts on a snow-covered parking lot with fiancee. Nothing like a rear-wheel-drive four-barrel V8 to sashay two tons of American steel around a snow-covered parking lot. Of course then five police cars that showed up, thinking I was DUI. I had to balance on one foot on glare ice, and had to be reminded to keep my hands out of my pockets (it was 19 degrees) while the cop used threats/insults to try to make me lose my cool, but no worries, as I was in my Pontiac. As I drove away from the patrol cars, I was tempted to bark the tires just for fun, but better judgement prevailed….. Another fond memory was when I was 15 and helped my friend wash his sister’s red 1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400. He decided that the wash would not be complete without a short drive to help dry it off. To make a long story short, there was so much tire smoke from doing dry-donuts in the parking lot of the city park that somebody called the fire department, thinking the Bain Park community cabin was on fire.

Professor

April 27th, 2009
10:58 am

Well adieu Pontiac. I have a Firebird with almost 200K miles and outside of basic PM I had to put a fuel pump on it. It is the best car ever.

Shoot GM

April 27th, 2009
11:02 am

Why not dump Buick, the only ones you see on the road are white and the drivers are over 70

Norman Martin

April 27th, 2009
11:05 am

The first and so far the only new car I’ve ever owned was a 1986 Pontiac 6000. It was the worse car I have ever owned. The only good thing about it was that I purchased an extended warrenty. Over $5,000 of repair orders on that car(not to be confused with service orders), and that’s just the ones I kept. The good news is the extended warrenty covered most of them.The 1993 Saturn we bought when it was a year old was a good car.

SR

April 27th, 2009
11:08 am

I had a 96 Grand Am, half of the time it was in a shop getting repaired. So i got rid of it.

Smyrnadude

April 27th, 2009
11:08 am

Just bought 2009 G8 GT. Kicks butt. Amazing car and more powerful than any German or Japanese comp. All bells and whistles. Also half the price. Will drive with extra-pride now as it is a collector’s item and homage to all things American.

nathan

April 27th, 2009
11:11 am

My 2nd car was a 1975 Pontiac Trans AM! I loved that car! I kept it for nine years and foolishly allowed my wife to convince me to trade it for a family car. I then started driving her 76 Gremlin. To this day I cannot believe that I did that. About two months after I let the car go I saw it driving thru Hapeville. I quickly turned around and followed the guy and he pulled over after I flashed my lights several times. Amazingly he pulled over! He was relieved when I told him that I once owned the car. LOL. That by far was one of the dumbest things that I ever did.

Johnny V

April 27th, 2009
11:19 am

The first car I ever sold was a 1987 Saphire Black TA.. What a beautiful car.. I am going to miss this brand.

Glad your gone

April 27th, 2009
11:23 am

I owned a Pontiac Montana, engine blew up, bearly out of warranty. GM no help. Lost me as a customer. I since have gone Toyota. I am on my third car, never a major problem. I am not going to shed any tears.

Michael Covington

April 27th, 2009
11:31 am

Please photograph Boomershine’s big sign, before it’s gone.

KY Blue

April 27th, 2009
11:34 am

My first car was a 1986 Pontiac T-1000. It was Royal Blue and on the showroom floor. They had to open the showroom doors to drive it out. It was so small when it rained my mother would tell me to put it on the porch! Great 1st car!

Rob

April 27th, 2009
11:35 am

My first car was a 1965 Pontiac Tempest, 4 door with a 326 motor. My grandmother bought it and drove it for eight years, only replacing the battery. She gave me the car when I turned 16 and I drove it for another 2 years before selling it to get something more modern for an 18 year old. Great car.

Mike

April 27th, 2009
11:36 am

I had a 68 Firebird, metallic green, 350V-8, big 4 barrel carb, 4 speed that was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Looked like a plain jane but ran with the best of them. I especially remember the red-line wide oval tires that made it track like a go-cart. Traded in a 65 Mustang on it and wish I had both back!

Mel

April 27th, 2009
11:40 am

I had a 1969 Firebird – 350 – convertible- It was wonderful and such fun memories.
Kept it for about 30 great years

Rag Top Firebird

April 27th, 2009
11:42 am

When I was 17 my first car was 1969 Pontiac Firebird convertible with a 400 CID engine. There is NO replacement for displacement! The car was 8 years old when I bought it and was well kept. It was a true muscle car. While nice, the Camaro could not compare to the Firebird. I remember the little marker lights on the rear quarter panel were little light up firebirds. It was an easy car to work on and was dependable. I remember being so happy that the highway mileage at one time was 14 mpg! Regretably I had sold the car years later, not knowing what a prize it was. So long Pontiac.

Jim Goodwin

April 27th, 2009
11:58 am

I will never forget the Pontiac we had, the Indian Chief’s head on the front of the hood, light up at night, kind of a red-orange light. It was really neat, I will miss the brand and feel so sorry for all the people put out of work by this.

ramblwrk68

April 27th, 2009
12:11 pm

Lots of fond memories of Pontiacs!

My daughter’s first car was a used ‘97 G-A purchased in ‘06. Never had a major problem in the 18 months she drove it, until she capped a small deer one afternoon on Spain Rd! She drove away from it to the shop where they pulled the fur and hide fragments off! Didn’t even break headlights! Unfortunately, insurance totalled it due to all the body repair, but she drove it until then.

I leased a 2007 G-6 in early ‘08, and it has been a dream! Will have it for about 2 more years, unless GMAC does something stupid!

RE: “Judith Knox, April 27th, 2009, 9:55 am” – I grew up in Paducah, KY, where my Dad was old buds with the Pontiac dealer(”Pace”?). In ‘58, GM gave selected dealers, including him, a gold-colored, special edition 50th anniversary model(can’t recall the model name!) with a distinctive trunk medallion. After driving it a few months, he sold it to my Dad in ‘59, and we ended up putting about 150,000 miles on it until ‘67 when my widowed Mother sold it for a smaller car. I was at Tech at the time, and saw the car on the Tech campus in ‘68, the medallion still on the trunk, and the lower front quarter-panel scrape I put on it in ‘62 still showing!

We Go Back Awhile

April 27th, 2009
12:16 pm

While parts manager of a combination no-showroom Pontiac dealership and Gulf service (filling) station in a small Western North Carolina town in 1949, I excitedly bought my first car, a ten-year-old Pontiac coupe, a brown, straight-eight cream puff. In subsequent years, I bought three later-model Pontiacs and several other U.S and Japanese brands but never felt the pride and satisfaction in any of them that I realized in the ‘39 beauty.

Matthew

April 27th, 2009
12:20 pm

Someone thinks their 2009 G8 is a “collector’s car”, that just makes me chuckle.

Craig

April 27th, 2009
12:22 pm

I bought a slightly used arrest-me-red 65 GTO, with 4-speed and no A/C, from a friend who had just been drafted. Sticker price was $2817. No Kidding. Drove it 4 years and traded it for a slightly used 68 GTO to get the air conditioning.( sticker was $4480) Loved that 65 !

Recondog

April 27th, 2009
12:44 pm

I am saddened that my 1965 Bonneville is now an orphan! Pontiacs have always been in my life, as it was a favorite marque of my parents and aunts and uncles. My high school ride was a nearly new 76 Catalina with a 400, 4bbl that could light the tires up without breaking a sweat. For graduation I got a new ‘79 Sunbird. My summers were filled with cruising on Cape Cod with the sunroof open on that bright yellow coupe. Later I got a 97 Bonneville and I am currently restoring my ‘65. Pontiac will be missed by me!

BS Patrol

April 27th, 2009
12:51 pm

I had a 65 GTO too. What a car! I still look at them on ebay. Slicks on the back. My favorite year. Traded for a Bonneville conv.

jimmy

April 27th, 2009
12:53 pm

‘the 62 421 cid aluminum boby catalina.the G T O,ram firebird 400 ramair.here come the judge.Deleorian,harley earl.smokey yunick,thanks for the memories

N. Joy Pharteen

April 27th, 2009
1:06 pm

I high school “Neil” had a Trans Am and so did “Ricky.” They used to drag race and “Ricky” always won. “Neil,” kept adding soup-up elements to his car, but never did catch up to “Ricky”’s off-the-floor model.

Gary

April 27th, 2009
1:09 pm

Wow GM, way to think. Closing off one of your most profitable product lines. Yeah and that Volt is really going to save you…..NOT! Another bonehead move by GM. I can see a not so distant future when anything GM is a relic and they will go down in the history books in pop culture lure “as man I remember those cars.” Its sad, but GM is done and they don’t have the management or the cajoles to make the right decisions.

Brian Turner

April 27th, 2009
1:14 pm

My fondest memory of Pontiac is the day that I pulled up next to a Grand Prix at a red light (I was driving my brand new Honda), I thought to my self -”I am glad that I didn’t buy one of those”.

Rusty

April 27th, 2009
1:14 pm

The “Bandit” T/A with the old Georgia flag tag. I saw one the other day and felt like I was in the presence of Royalty. Happy Confederate Memorial Day everyone.

Rusty

April 27th, 2009
1:18 pm

Hey Joy, I think I know the Neil and Ricky you’re talking about and Neil was about 300lbs so the car wasn’t really his problem.

lost in windy

April 27th, 2009
1:19 pm

First car I owned was a 1969 Pontiac Ventura. Still one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. Used it to pick up a girl I met in college thought I might marry. Now don’t have the girl or the car.

What has the world gone to.

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