Top 10 Greatest Pontiacs Of All Time
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Apr 27th 2009 at 12:00PM 
With Pontiac's death official, we decided it was only appropriate to take a look back to find the ten greatest vehicles that defined the brand's performance. As you will see and undoubtedly already know, there was a time when Pontiac really did build excitement.
First, some history: Pontiac was first launched in 1926 as a companion to the Oakland brand, which was purchased by General Motors way back in 1909. In 1949, Pontiac introduced a brand new model that was intended to usher in a new sporty flair to the automaker's stately line of automobiles. Though the new model was fairly successful, it was held back by the long-running straight-eight engine that had been used since the early 1930s. That was all about to change with the introduction of the first model on our Top 10 list. Want to know more? Read on.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Taglane 12:03PM (4/27/2009)
:'( I can't take it.
I have to admit though that Super Duty was badass.
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geo.stewart 12:46PM (4/27/2009)
I think what this list shows is that Pontiac usually has 1 really good car in its lineup and the rest is filler.
Giving credence to the idea of using Pontiac as a niche or a model name, though Pontiac doesnt make much of a model name.
the 97-03 Grand prix wasnt too bad either. early use of the headsup display, good looks, good handling, GXP performance...
Chris 2:08PM (4/27/2009)
I think this article is a prank. It has to be because there is a Pontiac 6000 on the list, which was one of the worst cars ever built...by far!!!
I still cannot believe I got suckered like that.
Dondonel 2:10PM (4/27/2009)
The list is pretty good, but I would make some changes.
IMO first successful Pontiac is the Tempest, then GTO (though I would pick the 65 instead of 64), then 67 Catalina hardtop. After mid 70s the Firebirds looked better than Camaros. I think Solstice also belongs in the top 10, save for the interior, it is an excellent sports compact.
I would delete from the list the 55 Pontiac (not relevant), 69 Le Mans (the coffin radiator grille is awful) and the 6000 (terrible average 80s saloon).
wilbonnet 4:56PM (4/27/2009)
I would have to add the 2004-2006 gto... It revived actual performance goals of the company that had been missing since the death of the firbird (despite its short duration and bad sales), more importantly, it's probably the only Pontiac that Jezza will ever love... come on!
Judy Zik 6:31PM (4/27/2009)
+1 Chris
They had me going too until I saw the 6000. What a rat that was. Especially 9 years later when they were still trying to sell them almost unchanged. I remember Lemon Aid described it best when they called them Jurasic Park Cars.
Unfortunately as impressive as many Pontiac models were they were always also rans to the original Chevy or whatever. Pontiac was an entire line of badge engineered vehicles (at least since the 70's). They thought if they stuck enough plastic cladding on the sides we might forget they were Chevys or Buicks or Holdens or whatever.
jinsei888 12:04PM (4/27/2009)
other than the GTO, I did not see many historical cars worth remembering...good riddance Pontiac.
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Taglane 12:12PM (4/27/2009)
oh no he didn't.
Holden Miecranc 12:15PM (4/27/2009)
You know jinsei888, if you don't type comments on these boards, the rest of us won't know just how stupid you really are.
John 12:22PM (4/27/2009)
Your right, not everything can be a collectors item. I'm sure your '92 Civic with big rear wing and fart can exhaust isn't destined to the automotive hall of fame......
Jake B 12:53PM (4/27/2009)
No but surely the addition of a NOS sticker will send him there.
Duke 1:02PM (4/27/2009)
Personally the 1964 GTO & Trans Am are the only cars that made me say "wow", but to ignore the significance of those other cars is just nuts!
Rob 1:09PM (4/27/2009)
Yes, because anybody who hates the rental car company that Pontiac has become, obviously owns a clapped out riced up Honda civic. You fanbois are ridiculous.
It couldn't possibly be that Pontiac completely fails to deliver driving "excitement" in 95% of the their models.... they have the Solstice, and the G8... .everything else is garbage. I rented a G6 once; and I have never seen such awful ergonomics. Try shutting the door from inside the car. You can't even reach the door handle. You have to close teh door with the map pocket. Oh, and it has a big round generic trailer reflector installed on it. Neat-o. >rolls eyes
Duke 3:50PM (4/27/2009)
Fanboys? LMAO! I haven't even considered buying one of their cars before - but now I'm a fanboy?! The internet never changes - there is always a tool to cry fanboy if he doesn't agree.
Mr.Oak 12:04PM (4/27/2009)
6* GTO with the vertical headlight stack.
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mike 11:29AM (4/28/2009)
65+. 64 was the only year of the horizontal headlights.
Dude 12:09PM (4/27/2009)
You forgot the Solstice GXP! Your list is lacking without it.
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TBlueMax 12:33PM (4/27/2009)
@Dude: "You forgot the Solstice GXP! Your list is lacking without it."
Dude's got a point there. The Solstice GXP and Sky Redline both offered GM's 2.0L direct-injected turbo 4-cylinder Ecotec engine, arguably one of the most advanced 4-cylinder engines ever offered by GM in a "mainstream" product (some would argue that Saab has been running turbo 4s for much longer, but not at 260hp when the Solstice GXP debuted).
Further... whether or not you believe the Kappa architecture was a game-changer for Pontiac (& Saturn/Opel/Daewoo), the Solstice caused a lot of people who would have never looked at a Pontiac to finally take notice. If only the sales reflected this.
Resipsa 12:46PM (4/27/2009)
Don't forget the ability to go to gmpp and for about 600 to get up to 300 hp and 340 ft of fun. Its only downfall is I do not fit in it, oh and the trunk that means it can't even be a good weekend car.
PGAero 1:14PM (4/27/2009)
TBlueMax,
Your'e right about the 2.0 DI Ecotec being a great engine, but Saab released a 2.3 4 with 260 HP for MY 2006 9-5s. The GXP debuted in 1/06, right? So Saab and the 2.0 Ecotec came out with 260 at about the same time. I think the 260HP 9-5 was on sale when the 260HP GXP was first shown. (The B235R 2.3 Saab engine makes full torque from an even lower 1900 RPM)
I'm not sure, but wasn't Saab's turbo experience beneficial in producing the 2.0 Ecotec? (And why isn't that engine in the 9-3 range?) All told, the ecotec is a fantastic engine for what it is.
For all the gems in the Pontiac history, there sure was a lot of fluff. Pontiac did bring to my attention the fact that big, bulbous plastic body cladding makes for "Driving excitement."
~P