As GM struggles to get its financial house in order, word out of Detroit is the Pontiac brand will be cut to help GM survive. When I think of the Pontiac division , a few of their models come to mind. Some are automotive icons. Others are among the biggest disappointments to ever come out of Detroit .


First, the high points of Pontiac. At the Spring Carlisle Collector Car Show the other day, I was talking to a man who was selling a 1967 Pontiac GTO. The gleaming, black beauty is an example of the most coveted Pontiac ever. He had the GTO listed on Ebay and the bids were up to $40,000 with two days to go for the on-line auction. I could tell that selling the coupe was something he had to do, rather than wanted to do.

I also thought the Chieftan models of the late 50's were pretty cool and the mid 60's Bonnevilles were too. The Firebird Trans-am's of the late 60's and into the early 70's were also striking cars with excellent performance.

In my opinion, the other best Pontiacs ever made came out in just the past couple of years. While it's true the Pontiac G8, GT sedan is a modified Holden from GM's Australian division, it is still the best sports sedan value on the market in North America today. What a shame it may be gone.

The Pontiac Solstice roadster and the new coupe version, are arguably the best looking cars produced by any American car company in several years. The Solstice is also more than just a good looker, with excellent handling and power, especially in the GXP version.

Then there are the blunders from Pontiac. I remember when the mid-engined Fiero, two seater, debuted back in the early 80's. I couldn't wait to get to a dealer and test drive one. But the Fiero proved to be a real dissappointment to me and the rest of the motoring public. It was gone in a few years after a major investment by GM.

What may be the ugliest vehicle ever from Detroit also came from Pontiac in 2001. The Aztec was GM's first crossover, combining the features of a car with an SUV. Sales were as awful as the Aztek's looks.

So other than than the highs and lows from Pontiac, the rest of the product line is pretty much forgettable. Perhaps that's among the reasons, what started in 1926 may soon be gone. What are your Pontiac memories?