An American Classic: A Brief History Of The Pontiac Brand

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Pontiac automobiles have All-American written all over them. They have been a part of U.S culture for generations, and continue to be a popular driving choice for millions.

The seeds for the brand were sown over 100 years ago, when a horse buggy maker in Pontiac, Michigan named Edward Murphy became anxious to expand his business and adapt to the wave of the future: automobile production. In 1906, he met an engineer named Alanson Brush who had been offering his designs to Cadillac. Cadillac did not accept Brush's designs, but Murphy saw their potential and bought them.

His newly formed Oakland Motor Car Co. greatly improved on the original designs and produced a four cylinder car which found great success. Before Murphy's untimely death in 1908, he joined forces with another automobile newcomer named William Durant. Durant ultimately absorbed the Oakland Motor Car Co. into his own car empire named General Motors, and in 1926 the first auto under the Pontiac brand was produced.

The new car was called the Coach Pontiac, and was introduced at the New York Auto Show. It was a roomy 5-seater, and boasted a 6-cylinder engine. Indeed, it was designed to be in direct competition with the more common 4-cylinder car models that were being offered to the public at that time. In 1927, it became the top selling 6-cylinder car in the nation and was rated 7th in overall sales. An impressive beginning!

In 1932, a smart convertible Pontiac came on the market; it was called the V-8 Convertible Coupe. By the following year, sales of the brand increased by 50%, and it was well on its way to becoming an American classic. In fact, by 1936, the millionth car bearing the Pontiac name was produced.

Pontiacs were known for their sturdiness and reliability; in 1949 GM aimed for a younger market by giving its cars a sleek new design. The new design boasted lower lines and more attention to how it looked from behind. A slew of innovative models, such as the Chieftain and Chief Star captured the public's imagination. The 1959 Bonneville had double rear fins, and sales of all Pontiac cars skyrocketed due to innovative styling and the addition of a V-8 engine and ramped up horsepower.

The 1960's saw the introduction of even more iconic Pontiac models, including the Grand Prix, GTO, and Firebird. Powerful engines and performance were the order of the day, and these cars saw tremendous popularity. By the 1970's, the public wanted more family-friendly cars with good gas mileage; the Grand Am was Pontiac's quality response to this new trend, but the brand never gave up its reputation for sportiness and fun: in later decades, the Sunbird and Fiero models filled that bill as well.

Pontiac has continued to evolve right along with the American public, producing high quality cars with stylish design and performance. The Pontiac brand is still an integral part of the U.S automotive landscape future, just as it has been an important part of its past.

About the Author:
If you are looking for an American Fork Utah car dealership which offers a great selection of Pontiac cars and personal service, contact Gregory Pontiac (http://www.gregorymotors.com/). Art Gib is a freelance writer.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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