| You've probably seen the headline about GM getting | | | | when the era of the unrestricted motor was coming to |
| ready to drop Pontiac. Big deal, right? To most people | | | | an end. Furthering this idea was GM's regulation that all |
| it's not important enough to warrant their attention, but | | | | GM engines must be capable of using a lower-octane |
| if most people were to take a closer look they might | | | | fuel, thus reducing compression ratios, fuel economy, |
| stumble upon the significance of something like this. | | | | and performance. It seemed like the classic American |
| In 1926 GM created Pontiac to accompany their | | | | muscle car was on its deathbed - and it truly was. In |
| Oakland brand of vehicles (much like GMC and | | | | 1974 laws were passed to regulate vehicle emissions |
| Chevrolet today) and subsequently outsold Oakland | | | | and with gas prices on the rise, more economical |
| which caused Oakland to be dropped by GM in 1932 | | | | engines took over. |
| (perhaps some foreshadowing). For the first part of | | | | But Pontiac was still around. It restyled its Grand Prix in |
| Pontiac's life, up til the early 1950's that is, Pontiac cars | | | | 1973 along with introducing the Grand Am, a popular |
| were very quiet, well built cars, but not particularly fast. | | | | car until it's end in 2004. |
| This problem was remedied in 1955 with the | | | | However, Pontiac, like most GM cars, have lost quality |
| introduction of a 173 horsepower V8 which quickly | | | | and popularity in recent years. That's a good size of |
| boosted Pontiac's sales. | | | | GM's current problems. Now days the only thing |
| Pleasantly surprised with the results, Pontiac | | | | separating Pontiac from Buick and Chevrolet cars is |
| discontinued production of all 6 cylinder engines in full | | | | the badging and some of the exterior body. And thus, |
| sized cars and had an all-V8-line of full sized cars until | | | | due to sales and waning popularity, GM is ditching |
| 1977 when GM when through a bout of corporate | | | | Pontiac to focus on its core group of vehicle brands: |
| downsizing. A 6-cylinder engine was used in the | | | | GMC, Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac. |
| Tempest model in 1966 as well as the Firebird. | | | | Rest in peace, Pontiac. |
| Jump forward to the early '70s. This was the time | | | | |