The end of Pontiac

[trigger]

Just heard on Radio 2 that GM is to drop the Pontiac brand name by the end of 2010 due to the resession, so that another big brand name gone.

[dollywobbler]

That's nothing - I've seen rumours that Chrysler might be bankrupt this week!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Good, and WHOOPPEE!!!The US just found out that their cars are about as desirable as bum cancer. They were told that 30+ years ago but didn't listen. They thought they only had to make cars to satisfy their protectionist home market, and thought wrong.

[vicsmith]

For some reason, Pontiac were the one brand I thought would be least likely to go, my money was on Buick or Mercury next.

[Negative Creep]

Correct me if I'm wrong but is this just not like VAG ditching Skoda, i.e the end to a load of badge-engineered cars?

[vicsmith]

Yeah it is really, and I don`t suppose the GM badge engineering will ever reach the levels of excitement it did with the J-car again, where you got a Mk2 Cavlier with a nice egg-crate grille from Chevy, a Firebird style nose-cone from pontiac, pop-up lights from Buick, split grille from Olds and really ostentatious egg grate grille from Cadillac. I`m not joking by the way, that is actually the sort of thing I find exciting.

[Justin Case]

For some reason, Pontiac were the one brand I thought would be least likely to go, my money was on Buick or Mercury next.

Buick is apparantly big in China, which is good news for those who worry about the Chinese dominating the world

[Rocket88]

Good, and WHOOPPEE!!!The US just found out that their cars are about as desirable as bum cancer. They were told that 30+ years ago but didn't listen. They thought they only had to make cars to satisfy their protectionist home market, and thought wrong.

Exactly the same as British Leyland then....................shame about Pontiac, they built some of the all time greatest American cars, [GTO, Grand Prix, Firebird etc] but the later stuff was awful....

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Good, and WHOOPPEE!!!The US just found out that their cars are about as desirable as bum cancer. They were told that 30+ years ago but didn't listen. They thought they only had to make cars to satisfy their protectionist home market, and thought wrong.

Exactly the same as British Leyland then....................shame about Pontiac, they built some of the all time greatest American cars, [GTO, Grand Prix, Firebird etc] but the later stuff was awful....

Indeed. In the 1959-69 period the US built some of the most remarkable cars ever built - Ford, GM and Mopar. And just like us they flushed it all away.Forget the J car - the K car is where it's at in shitedom. Where's my beige Dodge Aries?

[Station]

 

Yes.

 

 

No.

 

Good riddance frankly, it's all dead weight.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

'Dead weight' is right, what a shower of shit. Give me (and all americans) a Toyota Camry!

[Station]

Do you get the feeling they're just releasing crappy car after crappy car because that's what they do? We don't need marques that are there to just rebadge other brands in the same market. GM and VW ffs. I'm not sure if Vauxhall is needed either.

[VWPowered]

see lots of these here..

 

 

drove one the other week, was quiet...errr.........naff

[reallyloud]

Obviously all the major manufacturers are suffering. Saab are currently going through potential buyers, and there was some talk of Fiat getting involved with Chrysler. Karmann Ghia are officially bankrupt, and Pininfarina and Steyr puch are all in series trouble. Mitsubishi have pretty much stopped all European operations bar the car sales and parts distribution. I have to say I'm watching it all with a morbid fascination, wonder who going to go down next.Curiously Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini are all doing quite well. Actually making profits in some cases.

[pogweasel]

Curiously Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini are all doing quite well. Actually making profits in some cases.

Not surprising at all, to me. The rich don't stop being rich just because the rest of us are being economically bum-raped. It's the way of the world. Sadly.

[seth]

Sad to see another historically significant name go by the wayside though that's been going on for years all over the world.

 

I'll have a '62 421 Super Duty Catalina if they find one in a darkened corner.

 

[Guest]

I'll have a Pontiac 6000 please.

 

[lovejoy]

Well, here's another chance to win a tot of my prized rumbullion !!Who can tell me what " PONTIAC " actually stands for ???answers on a postcard, please, to P.O. Box 1, Keynsham, Bristol.c'mon guys, use your imagination !!!!! ...............

[seth]

I thought it was related to a Native American tribe/warrior or something? Hece the head on earlier cars.

 

[fordpoplier]

The local news coverage over here on the Pontiac brands imminent demise has been a little more balanced than the ‘end of and era, can’t let this happen’ rant of the main national news channels. Hard as it is to take the tone of the copy is that the writing’s been on the wall for a while and parallels with the UK car industry have also been drawn alongside the current US mess. Most yanks (who remember) agree that Pontiac once ‘stood’ for something, but now it’s just what you get at the rental counter. Buick and Mercury are viewed here in a similar fashion but only non domestic demand will save the brands coz there isn’t any demand here. Some of the Pontiac manufacturing was also a joint venture with Toyota so that’ll be worth watching. Brand dropping has been seen as a prerequisite for getting Federal bailout dollars for GM, so has making a deal with Fiat for Chrysler, will be interesting to see what ‘cute’ little Fiat models show up here and what they are called.

[Station]

Who can tell me what " PONTIAC " actually stands for ???

Hmm, well off the top of my head, the 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 or Obwandiyag (c. 1720 – April 20, 1769), was an Ottawa leader who became famous for his role in Pontiac's Rebellion (1763–1766), an American Indian struggle against the British military occupation of the Great Lakes region following the British victory in the French and Indian War. Historians disagree about Pontiac's importance in the war that bears his name. Nineteenth century accounts portrayed him as the mastermind and leader of the revolt, while some subsequent interpretations have depicted him as a local leader with limited overall influence.The war began in May 1763 when Pontiac and 300 followers attempted to take Fort Detroit by surprise. His plan foiled, Pontiac laid siege to the fort, and was eventually joined by more than 900 warriors from a half-dozen tribes. Meanwhile, messengers spread the word of Pontiac's actions, and the war expanded far beyond Detroit. In July 1763, Pontiac defeated a British detachment at the Battle of Bloody Run, but he was unable to capture the fort. In October he lifted the siege and withdrew to the Illinois country.Although Pontiac's influence had declined around Detroit because of the unsuccessful siege, he gained stature in the Illinois and Wabash country as he continued to encourage resistance to the British. Seeking to end the war, British officials made Pontiac the focus of their diplomatic efforts. In July 1766, Pontiac made peace with British Superintendent of Indian Affairs Sir William Johnson. The attention which the British paid to Pontiac created resentment among other Indian leaders, particularly because Pontiac claimed far greater authority than he actually possessed. Increasingly ostracized, in 1769 he was assassinated by a Peoria Indian.

[Justin Case]

 

The war began in May 1763 when Pontiac and 300 followers attempted to take Fort Detroit by surprise.

Oops, I'll have to get some new glasses. I read that as 'The war began in May 1763 when Pontiac and 300 followers attempted to take Ford Detroit by surprise'