GM Announces the End of Pontiac

[TM]

GM needs to keep Buick alive since Buick is a very respected brand name in China.

In Detroit there has always been tension between the "Piston Heads" and the "Bean Counters". Pontiac in the 1960's was driven by engineers and car nuts who cared about what they were doing. They were albe to run with it and were very succeful. If you read an biography of the now-former head of GM you will see that he was respected for being a good cost cutter. Once the Bean Counters got in control they did cut costs, but they also cut individuality, design, development and just homogonized their brands into one pool of jelly.

I think it was telling that when GM hired Lutz, out of retirement from Chrysler, his comment about contemporary GM styling was "They all look like angry kitchen appliances".

Tony

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Yes, although it was covered (especially on albums) by a number of other 'acts'.

There was a programme (m) on radio in the UK last night that pointed out that due to excessive paternalism among US auto makers in 'the boom years' (healthcare plans, non-contribury pensions) and the subsequent decline in GM's workforce (of which the 'credit crunch' is just the steep tip) there are more dependents (pensioners and funded illnesses) than there are workers. And each one costs a very high percentage of what an employed worker earns for the company. So, labour costs are killing the company, even before material and other costs are taken into account!

I haven't checked these assertions...

I went and looked up the year and Artist and I lucked out, Ronny and the Daytonas from 64. Gotta win one once in a while!

 

[Prairie Dog]

Today's the day (Nov. 1, 2010) that Pontiac Drives Into The Sunset after 84 years of production.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Bu..._Brand_Pontiac_Closes_Down_After_Eighty_Years

Bill Hoglund and Bob Lutz, former GM executives, blamed the decline of the brand on a mid-80s brand rethink. The overhaul saw several GM brands combine on manufacturing, design and other operations leading to what Bob Lutz called a "dilution" of the Pontiac performance image.

"There was no passion for the product,” said Hoglund. “The product had to fit what was going on in the corporate system.”

 

[Foofoogal]

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?51789-No-More-Pontiacs
I had started this thread earlier in the Golden Era. Nice pics.

 

[Prairie Dog]

This Pontiac thread was originally initiated by PD [04-26-2009 09:41 PM] revisited by PD [11-01-2010 08:48 AM]
Foofoogal's on the same topic was started [10-31-2010 11:53 AM]
Seems some sort of merger is necessary to eliminate duplicity.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Ah, my dream car! I had a '75 Black T/A, and an '80 Indy Pace Car Edition T/A, but this is still my dream. A '69 LeMans was as close as I could come to a '69 GTO Judge.

Brad

 

[Foofoogal]

yes, you started it first. I did not see it. Sorry. Hopefully they merge it together.

 

[Ed Bass]

Does anyone have a vintage Pontiac in their garage, or a pic they're especially fond of from period?

Yes, I have a 1968 Firebird 400, 4 speed in the garage. Verdoro (dark metallic) green with black vinyl roof and black interior, all numbers match and it has the hood tach as well.

I've been a Pontiac fan for years and have owned 4 '66 GTO's, 2 '67 GTO's and a '67 Firebird 400, 4 speed.

Harley Earl must be spinning in his grave.

Best,
Toots