Why did you get your Pontiac?

[Frosty]

That's a great story Rick.

[Sonicfan287]

Now that I think about it, there was a chance I may never have gotten to drive a Pontiac and may have missed out on this iconic brand. 

 

When I graduated high school in 2006, my grandmother bestowed upon me her long time car (which she barely drove), a 1998 Chrysler Concorde with barely any miles on it. I thought for sure I'd have that car for at least a few years but it lasted me not even 2 years before the engine seized up due to poor oil circulation (a problem which also struck certain models of Dodge Intrepids). So, I lost use of that car with only 48k on it and had to look for a new one. 

 

Now, a Chrysler wouldn't have been my first choice anyway. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice car, drove well, had a powerful engine but it just didn't feel like my style. It was gold (reg said 'tan' but that's wrong) and the inside was kind of a "meh" color beige. I definitely wanted something more sporty (and honestly, manly, since my grandmother owned the Chrysler). Other than Pontiac, I was actually kind of interested in Saturn. I drove a couple of them and liked it but for some reason, the Pontiac Grand Am became my choice car. I can't explain why but for the price and how it looked, I honestly loved it more than some of the higher end models and after a certain point, I knew I was going to get a Pontiac Grand Am, it was just a matter of what color and model because 3 different dealerships had different ones that I liked. 

 

The kicker was one dealership was offering me a 2005 model for the same price as another dealer's 2002 model. The mileage was a bit higher on the 05 but it had a CD deck, and a couple other features the 02 didn't and even though I liked the blue 2002, I didn't mind the silver and of course, the 05 Grand Am would become "my" car for a long time. I knew from day one it was the car I wanted, I took a lot of pride driving it and upkeeping it,. Everybody knew me as the "Pontiac" guy, it was my thing. I nicknamed it "Ponty Mython" and was a geek over the spoiler in the back. 

 

The reason I say I may never have driven one is because if my grandmother's car had lasted me past 2010, chances are I would've been on the market looking for a new car after Pontiac's exit and without the fandom I have now, I don't know how concerned I would've been with shopping for a Pontiac. If things had gone better with the Concorde, I may have been a Chrysler or Dodge fan and gone with a newer ones of those. 

 

In many ways, I consider what happened with the Chrysler to be a blessing in disguise. I was upset when it first happened but about a month later, when I got the Grand Am, I was quite pleased. Also on a side note, while my Grand Am was silver, THAT registration said "gray" ... seriously, who writes these color descriptions? I've seen gray cars and that one was not gray 

[Frosty]

I like the Ponty Mython expression. I am going to have to remember that one. Thanks for sharing your story with us.

[Steven Rath]

I had a '68 camaro covertible and got tired of being one of 15-20 at every show. my '56 safari is 1 of 1 at shows now. 

[Ghost]

...my '56 safari is 1 of 1 at shows now. 

 

awesome.

[Caciquepr]

Hi buddy's I have a toy,he's names is a 92 firebird formula ram air ,he eat mustangs and camaros for dinner 😜every evening me and my girl get on it ,we living in Hagerstown MD.here in town every Saturday is a car show hundreds of cars show up in Valley mall Hagerstown MD.We go there e very Saturday ,but in the week we visiting dip country side,rivers and creeks mountains etc,and oun formula firebird take us every wear ,I'm proud of the car !!

[Ringo64]

Pedro! Got any pics of your bird?

[Caciquepr]

I get my 92Pontiac formula two years ago in a new peppers ,was on sale for 1,800 but I found issues in the car and the guy was alcoholic,I give him 1,200,and I put 600$ on parts ,from day o. The car run like new I keep it I. Good shape and I will never will put price on it.Is part of the family lol

[Ghost]

welcome to FP!

 

Hi buddy's I have a toy,he's names is a 92 firebird formula ram air ,he eat mustangs and camaros for dinner

 

i like this statement!

[steveeoaktree]

Grew up in the 70's tinkering in the "bull pen" of my family's car dealerships... Where the either cool stuff or the parts cars were parked. From a '53 Pont straight 8 to a 1973 LeMans sport, a 1968 Riv to a 1969 Cutlass Supreme (the notchback not the fastback S) I grew up eyeing cool cars (not realizing how much things would change) Underneath it all, we always loved the Pontiac. Everyone has Chevy and Fords, they just don't compare to the split grille torque monsters...

[Ben2009GT]

The last of the rear drive and just flat out is sexy. To have a car that I know old school guy's look at and respect it as I drive by wondering is that really coming from that car. After stopping and getting out the car they come over and ask what is that and it sure sounds very nice and old school. I tell them it's a Pontiac G8 GT and they walk around it and ask is it front wheel drive and I tell them no rear drive and than it's is said never heard of this car LOL. I informed them it's the car that no one really knows about because GM cut Pontiac and they only made about 50K of them.  Being 55 yrs. old I grew up around some of the badest car ever made and love GM cars period.

[Old Man Taylor]

I completed high school and college with cars powered by six cylinder engines. Although this was easier on the pocket book, and more practical, it was tough on the ego. As my January '64 graduation from college approached reality, my fiancee and I began window shopping for cars. I was settling on a 427 fast back '63 Ford until I was spectating at the drag strip in San Fernando where I saw something I really liked. In the parking lot was a new silver two door hardtop that looked great. The problem was I couldn't figure what a GTO was (the only place that Pontiac is indicated is on the gas door). Within a few weeks the famous articles on the GTO started appearing. Not only did the car look nice but it also had good performance, and now I knew where to go to see it, and take a test ride. I ordered the car from A. E. England Pontiac in Hollywood where I got a no hassle price of $3236, $3416 out the door. The car was ordered about the first week in February, and my wedding was going to be on April 4. The stated lead time was 8-9 weeks. I wasn't too keen on driving my '52 Ford on my honeymoon. Fortunately the car came in a little early and I picked it up on March 28. Now my only problem was not getting it decorated (read that sabotaged) by my friends. Fortunately our reception was at a ranch that had a barn. I negotiated with the manager to have the car locked up in the barn so no one could touch it. At the end of he reception the new bride and groom took off for Santa Barbara and Monterey in their new muscle car.  That's the car I still have.

[67redgp]

I grew up in a Pontiac family and my 67 Grand Prix was bought by my mom when I was 3 years old in 1991 and her intention the whole time was to keep me interested in cars specifically Pontiacs and to give me the GP when she felt I was responsible enough and could care for it properly so this summer she finally signed it over to me so after a long 25 year wait I'm now the proud owner of the car I grew up in!! The first car that I had when I got my license was a 67 Bonneville 4 door hardtop that was a gift from my mom when I turned 16 and I regrettably say I sold it 4 years ago. Now this summer I picked up a 64 Bonneville 4 door hardtop Brougham with factory air, 8 lugs, power seat, and the factory rear air shocks. That's my new restoration project its a very solid original car that has very clean interior and hasn't ever been wrecked. So I have a long history with the Pontiac brand!!

[Ringo64]

Great seeing Pontiac in the family! Why'd you get rid of the Bonnie?

[74Esprit]

I purchased my Pontiac Firebird Esprit in October 1974 as a leftover from Kemper Pontiac Cadillac in Bridgewater, New Jersey. This was my first car purchase as I needed a car to drive to St. Joseph's HS in Metuchen, NJ from our home in Bound Brook, NJ. I was looking at Plymouth Dusters, Dodge Dart Swingers and a used 1971 Pontiac Grand Prix (silver with black interior). Glad I purchased the Firebird and glad I still have it! 28,900 miles on the Honduras Maroon with white interior. It has a 350 Automatic and I got it back on the road in April 2014 after nearly 30 years of inactivity in my Dad's garage. Gene Kirschenr at Auto Haus in Peapack, NJ resurrected the Bird and it's great to drive it once again.

[Last Indian]

My first car was a Pontiac, a "64" GTO in early "68" than the "69" Z/28 came out and bye bye GTO hello Z. Than in 2000 the Grand Prix followed by 2002 Black GP, a 2002 white GP & a red 2003 GP.

[Last Indian]

Couldn't find the single picture of the black 2002 the first time! 

Forgot to mention I also owned a "88" GTA for 6 months in 2012.

[74Esprit]

Hi Gary, here's the cars I have owned since 1974 (don't have electronic pics, something I will have to do in the future!)

1974 Pontiac Firebird Esprit Honduras Maroon (Still alive and on the road)

1979 Pontiac Grand Prix LJ Mission Beige

1981 Pontiac Grand Prix LJ Montreaux Maroon Metallic (replaced 1979 Pontiac Grand Prix)

1984 Pontiac 6000 STE Light Briar Brown Metallic/Dark Briar Brown Metallic (replaced 1981 Pontiac Grand Prix)

1986 Pontiac Grand Am SE Light Silver Metallic (Wife's car, got married 1985, replaced her 1975 Chevrolet Camaro)

2002 Pontiac Bonneville SE Light Bronzemist Metallic (replaced Pontiac 6000 STE)

2004 Pontiac Bonneville SLE  Light Bronzemist Metallic (replaced wrecked 2002 Pontiac Bonneville)

2006 Pontiac Torrent SE Stone Gray Metallic (Wife's Car replaced Grand Am)

Since the death of Pontiac I purchased the following:

2011 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ (Wife's car replaced Pontiac Torrent)

2012 Cadillac SRX Performance (replaced my 2006 Pontiac Bonneville)

2013 Kia Sportage SX (Wife's car replaced 2011 Chevy Equinox)

 

[TWO LANE BLACK TOP]

Started when I was 6 or 7 yrs old rode in my cousin's 65 Lemans that was only 3 yrs old at the time. My first car was 69 Buick Skylark In 1977. Got my first pontiac a black 79 Trans Am. 400 4 speed. Was not black and gold.  had Charcoal and red trim bird on the hood with the silver colored snow flake wheels . When was in the Navy in 1981. Had less than 10,000 miles on it. When I got it. Sold it 2 years ago it was completely Oringinal  unmolested all the way down to the last vacume line under the hood had 70K miles. Kicked myself in Ass ever since......have owned a couple of 70s Grand Prixes one them a 70 model LJ with a 455. Wish would have kept that one too. The other was a 76 model. Have also had 4 or 5 other  Late 70s TAs. And 3 or 4  third gens . Including an 85 TA that was destroyed in a head on collision with a Ironically a Sunbird. Was extremely LUCKY everyone was able to walk away.  Have always at least 2 or 3 Pontiacs at the same time. Special ordered 97 Formula 1LE. Took delivery of it in June 1997.Still have it also have 96 firebird that I got in 1998 it will probably turn over 40,000 K in the next couple monthes. Also have a Pontiac Transport van.Am looking to buy another Firebird. Want a 67 thru 69 base Firebird with OHC 6 with column shift 3 speed manual trans. Got a feeling might be hard to find? Been driving Pontiacs almost exclusively since 1981.Still having depression issues.  LOL Since GM Killed Pontiac....

Edited March 23, 2017 by TWO LANE BLACK TOP

[Last Indian]

Nice assortment of Pontiacs Mark!

[SUMRCA]

  My first Pontiac was a 68 Firebird. That's the car I learned how to drive a standard on. It was originally a sprint six cylinder   Three speed, but when I bought it it had a 350 in it. Being 18 years old I beat that car like you would expect and blew the engine.  I replaced it with a 400 in a while later I blew the clutch. So I started to rent a two car garage and proceeded to tear   The car apart to rebuild it. Well that didn't go anywhere. A few years later I had to vacate the garage   And say goodbye to that car. I had no room for it but I kept the engine, the automatic transmission I was going to put in it and some other parts. 

 During that time I had a 71 Grand Prix type J. The car had the coldest air conditioning I've ever owned. I sold it to my brother   And one night a local tow yard stole it.    The SUMRCA  was a mistake find. I was dropping off one of my coworker friends at his house and this car was parked down the end of a driveway face in with a for sale sign in the rear window.  The sign caught my eye driving by.  They wanted 2500 for it I gave them 2000.  That will be 30 years ago this summer. And just like most of us I still have lots of plans for that car including putting that 400 engine in it from the Firebird.  I just bought an MSD fuel injection set up for it. Got to gather more parts. Can't wait to start the project 

[JoePentium]

Trans Ams became very popular 75-76 and I thought they were so great looking. Now people and television look down on them as a car that southern white trash drives. I knew better, the handling was already there and all that was needed was modifying the engine. I owned a 69 GTO first (never did get it to run), then a 75 Grand Prix (brother wrecked it), a 75 Trans Am next (holes in the hood so big you could change the oil without popping the hood open) A teenage girl on downers ran a stop sign and took that one out, then a 78 T/A next with nitrous, then a 76 50th Anniversary Edition T/A (kick myself in the butt for selling that one) then family came along and had to get vans and the like. When my wife left me and the kids I was ready to get back into a project car but I did not want the Trans Am/Camaro/Corvette everyone else had at the local car shows so I went looking and found a 73 Grand Am.

I have been working on that for several years now. When I do get it fixed up and go to a show I will probably be the only one there.

Did not know it then but when I bought it and drove it home ($3800 with current license and inspection) the  motor had been went through and was a unit out of a 74 T/A 4 speed car. I don't know what type of cam is in the car but it is far from stock. The exhaust was a 2.5" dual system and the previous owner had put a 850 CFM Holley on it (way too much carb for the motor) I replaced that with a Edelbrock 1401 and then later a street demon carb. Now It is going through mods for a Fitech fuel injection system. The rear end  was changed from a 3.08 peg leg to a 3.73 positraction unit from an 85 Monte SS. Turbo 400 Trans was swapped for a 2004R OD unit from a 85 Monte SS as well. The 4x-3H heads have been milled down (found that out when trying to fit the Performer RPM manifold). Rebuilt the front end and new springs and KYB shocks all around. I pulled off the headers as well as I have already been through exhaust gasket changing 101, 102, 103, Etc. and have a set of Ram Air Restorations RAIII exhaust manifolds installed now.

the interior has my attention now as I have new seat covers and carpet (came with the car) a Just Dashes restored dash, and the instrument cluster with a tachometer instead of the clock. One thing you learn with a rare car is that you have to jump on parts when they become available, it might be years before you see that part again.

The dash was purchased spur of the moment ebay as was the T/A steering wheel, front bumper, rear tail lights, and automatic shifting console.

I had to drive from League City, Tx  all the way to OMG Denton, Tx just to spend $300 on a bumper only to throw the bumper away because all I needed was the rubber impact strip for the rear bumper. well enough for now, talk to everyone later.

[Ringo64]

Lots of history you have there with Pontiac and a Trans Am! 

52 minutes ago, JoePentium said:

When I do get it fixed up and go to a show I will probably be the only one there.

Most definitely, it's a rare sighting to see a a 70s Grand Am. 

[cactusloon]

1) Smokey and the Bandit : very influential movie on me as a kid

2) Knight Rider : same

My first car was a 1977 Vega wagon. After high school I bought my first Firebird, a 1977 Formula. I've own a Pontiac Firebird Formula every since. The one I have now is #7

[ScottieDogFLA]

My '02 Firebird is actually my 7th Pontiac (after the '64 LeMans,  '83 T1000 (shouldn't even count!), '86 Sunbird, '88 FIrebird, '97 Grand Prix, '04 GTO (Man, I wish I still had that one!!) and there's a funny little story behind it.  Basically, while we were all battening down the hatches and waiting for Hurricane Irma here in South Florida, I was going through listings on Cars.com for Pontiacs, primarily Firebirds.  After several days of imbibing a good quantity of beer and sangria (can't let it go to waste), I picked up the phone and called Quality Buick/GMC (formerly Pontiac/Buick/GMC) in Alton Illinois regarding the sweet '02 they were selling.  Everything about the car checked out:  1 owner that made repeat purchases that had gotten a little too old for 2 cars, only 40000 original miles, no accidents.   I made a bold offer (including tax-in and shipping to South FL) and they accepted.  On October 3rd of this past year,  my '02 Bird arrived to sunny South Florida.  We dodged the bullet here in Palm Beach County in regards to Irma and I ended up a Pontiac owner again!  I call it my "Lucky Hurricane Car!"