Here’s What Happened To The Very Last Pontiac Ever Built
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Pontiac, originally intended to slot between Chevy and Oldsmobile, has quite the storied history. The brand is particularly known for kickstarting the muscle car era with the introduction of the 1964 GTO, and for soldiering through the malaise era with the Firebird Trans Am models.
1967 Pontiac GTO Ram Air Convertible
Around the turn of the 20th century, Pontiac was posting poor sales as GM struggled to find a successful identity for the brand, becoming increasingly stagnant and diluted within GM’s portfolio. In the mid-2000s, Pontiac started to turn a corner and find its stride with the introduction of performance models like the 2004 GTO and 2009 G8 GXP. In fact, it was later reveled that Pontiac was intended to become GM’s performance brand during this renaissance, similar to what Dodge has become today.
Pontiac G8
Unfortunately, GM’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009 and subsequent government bailout forced the Detroit-based automaker to axe the brand entirely. The feds wanted GM to remove brands from its lineup and only keep one the ones that were necessary. As such, Cadillac was kept as the luxury division, Chevy was kept as the volume division, Buick was kept for interests in international markets (China), and GMC was kept because it was profitable. This left Pontiac, along with Hummer, Saab and Saturn, as the odd men brands out, spelling Pontiac’s discontinuation in 2010. Interestingly, the last car produced to ever bear the iconic red badge was a 2010 Pontiac G6.
The last Pontiac G6
The G6 in question carried a VIN of 1G2ZA5EB5A4166962, and was equipped with a 2.4 L VVT DOHC four-cylinder engine. Sadly configured as a fleet vehicle, it was painted in Summit White and furnished with an Ebony interior. Even more sad is that the car experienced a relatively short life.
According to a thread on Reddit, the last mileage report to GM had the car around 60,000 miles. Then, two years later on September 1st, 2015, it was allegedly totaled and received a branded title. GM then voided all open warranties on the car, thus ending the G6’s record.
The last Pontiac ever built, this 2010 G6 in Summit White paint, was totaled and received a branded title
For a brand as iconic Pontiac, it’s downright tragic to read this story. Just as the brand came to an abrupt and unexpected end, so too did the last vehicle it ever produced.
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BEST CARS EVER!!!! My first car was a 2001 Pontiac Grand AM named Savannah Joye Lynn😊. That car got me through college and the first few years of adulthood. She was durable and I ROOOOODE!
If there was ever a special edition; I’m buying but it’s gotta have the iconic 💪🏾💪🏾 Pontiac is known for.
This car resides in Mexico as of 2020
Its both sad and incredible that the last Pontiac ever made was a white G6 with a base 4 banger. You would think that a long storied brand like Pontiac would have at least been sold with some special editions of the last 500 of each model like Oldsmobile did back in 2002-2004 with their existing models such as the Intrigue, Aurora and Alero to name a few! Just shows how little they really care about their vehicles and customers!
The Aztec Heisenberg edition was a great car
My first Pontiac was picking up my perents 55 star chief from Phil Amogone Pontiac in Buffalo NY ! I had just turned 4 years old! It was torques and white 4 door with leather interior. In October of 1955! I remember the salesman giving me a dealer promo exactly like mom& dads car! Which I still have today! My first car was a 63 tempest lemans convertible I traded for a lawn more for! I took my road test in moms 63 Grand Prix with a 421 tri- power. Which I ended up with in 69 ! Then I got a 64 GP and after that a 67. GP! Then in 72 I got 68 GTO 2 dr post the car was loaded except it had a bench seat deleat and a chrome front bumper very rare optioned car! It had the highest GP 400 in it w/ cast iron long tube headers , from factory I came to find out that tha chrome bumper was 15 lbs lighter than the endurance bumper! Then I ordered a 72 GP SJ new from Austen Pontiac which was originally Amogone Pontiac drove that 2 years till I bought a 73 SJ left over I’m March of 74 during the gas crisis! It had every available option except a stick transmission and no sunroof! Drove that until early 78 I bought a dealer demo from Austin Pontiac had that car 89 where my Grand Prix story ended it had 215000 miles with original engine and transmission! Secret was 30w pennsoil every 2500 miles and change trans fluid every year!
I traded that Grand Prix for a 89 Bonneville SE which I got 400000 miles out of that 3800 engine with same results! And now I just bought a 2006 G6 GT coupe w/ 156000 mi on it!it’s a good solid car the 3500 engine is solid and expect to go to 300000 mi! I’ve had classic Pontiac’s over the years a 64 Catalina 2+2 65 GTO, and many more!
That’s remarkable. My grandpa had a ’55 Star Chief, which influenced my dad to buy a ’59 Catalina.
Fred Garvin:
I hope they enshrined the Aztec Heisenberg edition in a museum. Bill Harrah, RIP, would have given his eye teeth for it. This is Americana at it’s finest. Also, Vince Gilligan did a superb job in depicting the bad actors in present day America. Kudos and accolades to all.
I have a 09 pontiac g6 and I love it.
I had to have my transmission replaced but it was worth it.
All I know is Pontiac fed me, kept me clothed & gave me insurance coverage over my entire life. My dad worked for Pontiac 40 yrs. I’ve had ford’s, Olds, Buick & Chevy’s over my 58 yrs. The fastest, coolest & longest lasting w/o rusting out & breaking down was the PONTIAC’s!!! So mad that I gave in and sold my last G-6 (2006)! It’s still hauling down M-59 with ease & motor still growling! My favorite is a 65 GTO or a 76 Grand Prix! Bring back PONTIAC!!!
We still have our 1968 pontiac firebird 400 4 speed convertable.. # 51 off the assembly line.. even though pontiac is no longer, these old cars prove that pontiac made some great cars in the day!!
I was reading down the list here and so many people loved their 90’s and 80’s Pontiacs but so few have comments on experience with the Pontiacs of the real Pontiac era.
I wish more has hands on experience with the cars from 57-79. These cars were amazing as while they shared some things with Chevy they really were their own thing.
The first gen Firebird was really changed as much as they could under GM’s direction. We all know they had different engines but they came with Hurst Shifters in most applications including the 3 speed. The cars were one inch lower and had larger tires. They had built in traction bars one for automatic and two for the manual cars. They had their own tuning on suspensions by Herb Adams.
These differences and changes were though the Pontiac line. You payed more but generally you got more with the Pontiac.
The Grand Prix was build on the same frame as the Monte Carlo. But the car was much more different. It was better handling, riding and faster with engines up to a 428 HO that was very common unlike the Monte SS that was rare. You could clear 130 MPH and it was a stone solid ride.
I have been lucky to be around a number of collectors and have ridden and driven most of the great Pontiac cars of this early era. Many do not know what they missed.
Did you know Pontiac had a 421 SOHC and DOHC with FI built but GM killed it. They had plans for 4 wheel disc brakes in 1965 for the GTO but GM killed it. They had composite headlamps they tried to get approved it was killed. Radial tires were planned in the late 60’s again killed. Electronic ignitions showed up in the 60’s and early 70’s but was limited.
They did offer a SOHC I6 and a number of special engines over the years. The 455 SD was a 12 second car even on low compression in the 73-74 era. GM killed it.
The band of engineers Delorean brought together were still there when he left. They also had John Schinella as a designer and they all broke rules. Some got mad and left others fought right till they retired.
The Bandit TA was rejected with the bird on the hood. John Schinella took the car and painted to match Mitchells John Player Norton Motorcycle. It got approved then. The Fiero was canceled several time and they never gave up. The engineering was sent to an outside firm to hide it and then the car was sold as a commuter car with the full intentions of a sports car. Rules were broken and many people got mad and Chevy and the Corvette people killed the car on risky mistakes the Pontiac people took to get the car in production. The Fiero was the last project for a number of these engineers as they retired.
The last rebel car was the 87 Pace car with the Buick turbo in a TA.
GM never could figure out how to get the divisions to work together and compliment each other and they never understood the Pontiac line.
While the later cars were better than Chevys cars they were still not really Pontiacs outside the styling. They tried to do things but they just never reached production.
Lutz knew what to do but it was too late and there was just no money. In todays market there is just no room for that many divisions anymore. Add that to a slowing performance market. I hate to say it but Killing Pontiac was the right thing at the time vs letting them linger into a worse rep. At least now people still hold a positive image and if there is a opportunity the name could come back.
70 1/2 Firebird formula it has some scratches but it is not going to get repainted.
Sure wish the dealer or original owner would have checked the ram air box.
Yes you spoke about the many first innovations Pontiac had done over the years but you forgot to mention Malcom Mckeller he was the engine genius. He was the guy that both Bunkie Kunson and Jon Delorin both turned to for Pontiac engine power. I knew Mac and he told me things that are hard to find in Pontiac history! Fact #1 he was the brain be hind the small block Chevy engine. That engine was developed at Pontiac. But in 1953 GM corprate told Pontiac to hand it over to Chevy. So that when Mac went to work on the Pontiac engine developed it in less than a year and was ready for the 55 model year. He was also instrumental in the tripower setup! In the OHC 6 and was developing a DOHC 421! Also the 366 cams he worked with Vic Edelbrock on cams and the Pontiac intake manifolds that were used and sold with Pontiac part numbers.if you set a first generation chev 265 ci and a 287 Pontiac side by side you can see the similarities in design. And I will make this statement of fact “ there is No such thing as a small block or a big Block Pontiac engine. There’s one size block in size! The 287, the 316 , 347, 389,326,350,400, 421,428 and 455 were all physically the same size.with in a 16th of an inch! But read up on Mac Mckeller, Hemmings motor news did a grate artical on Mac.
No I did not forget Mac. He is the Engine master at Pontiac and cam master. He developed most of the best engines. His 63 GP still has the OHC 421 in it. I hot yo meet him years ago before he passed.
He even did the slant 4 and worked much with Mickey Thompson.
But if you get into the engineers Pontiac had a large group of great engineers. Herb Adam the creator of the Trans Am did many great things at Pontiac from Suspensions to engines like the 455 SD. He even converted his wife’s 64 Lemans into a Trans Am Racer. They almost beat Penske and Mark Donahue at one race. His crew were a number of Pontiac engineers.
The heart of Pontiac was the engines but when the last 400 was built it went down hill from there. They tried yo be different but were force to use corporate engines.
As for Mac on the Chevy small block he may have had a small role as he is not credited with that. I never heard of him on Ed Coles team.
Goad was another guy at Pontiac that really made Pontiac handle and he even raced to several championships for Pontiac in SCCA.
Pontiac was an engineers division
C8.R
Time for you to memorialize your very interesting history of latter day Pontiac and is long painful death in a book for industry fans, the business school crowd, and the those in this complex industry that crave insight into success and failure. Am enjoying all your comments which from my experiences are spot on.
I know that GM will not underwrite this project because they have too much egg on their face. Maybe you can get that school in Ann Arbor to participate.
I have talked with another Fiero historian about putting together the true story on what all happened. It would be much easier today as you can now self publish.
I would like to get this together to leave a true story stop all the false info out there from becoming fact.
Much what I know of GM is from my own business experience and from what people at GM either told me or have already written. There are a number of good books on GM already out. Johns book, The Lutz book Another called Comback. etc.
Many with in GM mostly have spoken off record as they fear pay back. That is going away but many involved are passing away.
We may get to the Fiero book at some point as it is a great snap shot of what was wrong at GM. Many would be surprised at the things they heard were wrong but the truth is nearly as shocking.
I recall being at an event at the Pontiac headquarters and the 1990 Fiero was promised to be displayed. At the last min John Middlebrook was threatened not to pull the car out at the risk of his job. There were still so many sore feelings at GM, Pontiac and with the UAW they did not want to pour gas on the wound.
At the dinner that night John Shinella brought slides of the car and said they were not to be shown but he did not care. He was close to retire and high enough up that he did it. The photos later were released in a magazine quietly.
Soon after the 1990 coupes were crushed and only the one 1990 GT is left in the GM collection. I have the nose emblem from the coupes and one from the GT. Which is funny as the car GM has uses a GTA emblem as GM no longer has a correct emblem I know only of 3 and a possible 4th one.
One bit of information I would to kill is the Lotus designed suspension on the 88 Fiero. The truth is GM designed the suspension and Goad the engineer was very proud of it.
Pontiac did hire Porsche engineering to come in and tune the suspension for turn in and on center feel due to their work in the 911 with now power steering.
Pontiac had two 2.9 turbo Fieros that had tail lamps that lighted up from black to say Porsche Eater with the brakes on. Both cars exist yet today but the lights were removed to not offend the Porsche folks.
Remember this was at the time Corvette/Camaro was locked in major SCCA racing showroom stock with Porsche.
That was how divided GM was.
“For a brand as iconic Pontiac, it’s downright tragic…”
Hardly! The short and infamous life of this G6 meshes perfectly with the history of Pontiac vehicles.
Let’s just say Pontiac fell very far. I’m just glad people have restored GTOs, Firebirds, Grand Prix, and other golden age cars or kept the survivors going. That’s how I want to remember the arrowhead division.
I still have a Pontiac G6 2006, 226,389 miles and it still is my primary car.
Love my car!