Pontiac

. Worldwide, thousands of 356 owners maintain the tradition, preserving their cars and driving them regularly. This design proved good enough to last well into the 1980s with emissions modifications while most others carburetors were dropped for the easier to build fuel injection when economy mattered. Today the Porsche 356 is a well regarded collector car that has stood the test of time. Similar carburetors include the Thermoquad and the Q-jet. In 2004, Sports Car International named the 356C number ten on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1960s. While it has been derided by many as a poor performer, many have shown that with proper understanding, it can compete at most levels with other designs. The 356's engine was later re-used to power Porsche's "entry level" 912 model, produced between 1965 and 1969, after customers complained that the 911, at almost twice the price of the 356, was too expensive.

By the end of the muscle car era, the Quadrajet setup had become the nearly-ubiquitous choice on PMD engines, due to its excellent economy and power characteristics. 356 production peaked at 14,151 cars in 1964, the year that the new 911 model went on the market, although the company continued to sell the 356C in North America through the end of 1965 as a lower-cost vehicle (the late Janis Joplin had a 356C cabriolet which was psychedelically painted). Spread-bore refers to either the distance between the primaries or to the difference in sizes between the primaries and secondaries. The final model, the 356C, featured disc brakes and the most powerful pushrod engine Porsche ever produced: the 95HP "SC". This carburetor was later replaced by the Quadrajet, a spread bore. Coupe and cabriolet models were produced every year up to 1965, with the last 356B Roadster built in early 1963. PMD also had a square-bore 4-barrel at the time, but this was rated at a lower power than the Tri-Power. While the 356 model changed over time with various mechanical refinements, the basic shape remained the same and was instantly recognizable year to year.

This went through various permutations before being banned by GM. Production of the Speedster peaked at 1,171 cars in 1957, and it was replaced in 1959 by the Convertible D model, which featured a taller, more practical windshield, glass side windows, and more comfortable seats. This was accomplished two ways, mechanically for the manual transmission models, and via a vacuum-switch on the automatics. (and its sequel Another 48 Hrs.), and Top Gun. The Tri-Power setup included one center carburetor with idle control and two end carburetors that did not until the throttle was partly opened. The now much coveted Speedster (which often sell for over $100,000) was later used in a number of films, including - 48 Hrs. These were the basis for the Tri-Power setups on the engines. With it's low, raked windshield (easily removable for weekend racing), bucket seats, and minimal folding top, it was an instant hit.

PMD originally used Rochester 1-barrel carburetors for many years, but by the time of the second generation engines had switched mostly to the 2-barrel offerings. The 356 "Speedster" was introduced in late 1954 after Max Hoffman, the sole importer of Porsches into the United States, told the company that they needed a lower cost, racier version for the American market. PMD engines were unique for their rear distributor, integrated water pump and timing chain cover, and separate valley pan and intake. The original selling price of a late 50's Porsche was nearly $4,000, the price of a Cadillac!. All Pontiac Motor Division (PMD) engines (pre-1980 unified GM) were designed around a low-RPM/high-torque model, as opposed to the ubiquitous Chevrolet Small-Block engine known for its smaller displacement and high RPM/high power design. 356 "Carrera" (with a special racing engine), "Super 90" and "Speedster" models are among the most desirable versions; 356 Carrera models often sell for well over $150,000 USD. See Pontiac V8 engine. It was initially available as a coupé, cabriolet (luxury convertible) and later a roadster (a stripped down convertible) and went through several evolutions before being retired in 1965.

Pontiac engines were not available in Canada, however, but were replaced with Chevrolet engines of similar size and power, resulting in such interesting and unusual (at least to American car fans) models as the 396 GTO. had designed. The 301 has a 4 inch bore and 3 inch stroke, identical to the vaunted Chevrolet and Ford 302 motors. The 356 concept was created by Ferdinand "Ferry" Porsche (Ferry being a nickname), styled by Erwin Komenda, and mechanically derived from the Volkswagen Beetle, which Ferdinand Porsche Sr. Produced from 1977 through 1981, this motor has the distinction of being the last Pontiac V8 produced by PMD. It was preceded by the Porsche 64, which has lead to some argument over which car is officially the first Porsche, although the Type 64 was never mass-produced and was never much more than a driveable test-mule. The non-traditional Pontiac V8 was the 301 and the smaller displacement 265 in³. The Porsche 356 was a Porsche sports car sold from 1948 through 1965, and Porsche's first production automobile.

This dimensional similarity between engines of various capacity also made it possible for Pontiac to invent the modern muscle car, by the relatively simple process of placing its largest engines into its midsize cars, creating the Pontiac GTO. Porsche 550 Spyder. This similarity (except the 301 & 265) makes rebuilding these engines particularly easy, as almost any Pontiac engine you can find will contain useful parts. ISBN 0-75252-072-5. Sizes ranged from 265 in³ to 455 in³. Parragon. Pontiac's Second Generation V8 engines were nearly identical, allowing many parts to interchange from its advent in 1958 to its demise in 1981. Porsche: The Legend.

A majority of Pontiac dealerships also sell GMC trucks - the trade name used by GM executives is the Pontiac/GMC division. Wood, J (1997). Called the Grand Prix GXP, it would give the Grand Prix its first V8 since 1987. Also, in 2005, Pontiac put a V8 under the hood of the Grand Prix. Solstice became one of hottest car America's throughout 2005 as Pontiac reported orders far beyond their ability to produce the car, and dealer mark-ups of thousands of dollars over sticker price, a rarity for GM in this time of deep incentives.

It was launched on an episode of The Apprentice; the following day the first thousand Solstices were sold in just 41 minutes. In the summer of 2005, the Pontiac Solstice sports roadster arrived, and with it the renewed promise of style and driving fun. But its lackluster styling turned off many buyers and forced GM to add hood scoops and other styling touches in order to make the GTO look like the originals. Producing 400 hp from a thoroughly modern V8 engine, and with a world-class chassis, the new GTO is at least as good as its predecessors.

Beginning late 2004, GM's Holden division produced a version of their Monaro coupe with Pontiac trim and all the attitude of the original 1960s editions. Finding limitted numbers of smaller RWD coupe platforms, Pontiac looked to Holden, a GM division of Australia, for the platform of their GTO. One of his first ideas was to bring back the GTO in order to revive Pontiac's performance heritage in light of the Firebird's demise. In 2001, Bob Lutz, the former Vice-Chairman of Chrysler Corporation was hired to help turn GM around.

With the demise of the Fiero in 1988, Pontiac only offered badge engineered products from other GM divisions. While it was not performance oriented in its initial release, its final versions with improved suspension geometry and available 2.8L V6 made the Fiero a potent mid-engined sports car. Drawing heavily from GM's parts bin, the Fiero was initially billed as a commuter car. That was until the Pontiac Fiero was introduced in 1983 as a 1984 model.

From the late-1970's on to the late-1980's, while downsizing its North American operations, General Motors had little funds to spend on independent brand-specific performance platforms. And then, it too was gone. Most telling was the fate of the GTO - originally conceived as a powerful mid-size coupe, by 1974 the GTO option was offered only on the compact Ventura, a rebadged Chevrolet Nova. By 1972, few were left on the market.

While production first started in the late 1950s, it did not hit its stride until the late 1960s. Just about the time that these muscle cars were getting big attention, emissions regulations and oil shortages quickly ground them to a halt. This pattern continued through the late 1970s, after which the Trans Am became more of a luxury model than a real performance machine. Early on, the Trans Am was most notable for having the very same 400 in³ V8 engine as its big GTO counterpart, but in a smaller body.

Even more famous was the limited-edition Firebird Trans Am, which was first offered in 1969 and continued through the end of the Firebird in 2002. They did so in 2002, after 35 years of continuous production. The Firebird began to be seen as little more than an expensive Camaro - and when sales of the F-body twins began to falter, it didn't take long for GM to pull the plug. Over time, Americans began to slowly switch to smaller FWD sport compacts like the Celica and Datsun Z, and Firebird sales slowly began to fall.

As upscale competition for sporty cars like the Ford Mustang or the Dodge Challenger, the Firebird was perfectly positioned. This body style and its underlying Chevrolet Nova chassis were shared with the Camaro, but the Firebird's engines and trim were totally different. The Pontiac Firebird, introduced in 1967, was an F-body car that closely mirrored the styling and motor offerings of the LeMans/Tempest cars but was placed on a smaller, sportier platform. Throughout the 1960s, GTOs were well known for their combination of stunning looks and incredible performance.

By being the first brand to feature a large engine in a mid size car Pontiac is often credited with launching the muscle car era. It was the first Mid Size GM vehicle to be powered by GM's 389 cubic inch V-8. The Pontiac GTO was introduced in 1964 by Pontiac's John DeLorean as an option package on the LeMans/Tempest (GM A-body) car. Wide-track gave the car a broader stance, by increasing the width between the wheels, and claimed greater stability and increased traction.

After the introduction of the Bonneville in 1957, Pontiac's next success was the introduction of its Wide-Track suspension layout in 1959. For many years each GM division had its own market niche - Chevrolet was equated with value, Oldsmobile with technology, Buick was marketed affordable luxury, Cadillac as ultimate luxury and Pontiac embraced performance. Since the 1957 introduction of the Bonneville, Pontiac marketing has emphasized performance; the division's slogan for many years was "We Build Excitment". .

Another slang term used in the early stages of brand was "Indian" due the subject matter of its logo. An alternate slang term for the marque among performance enthusiasts includes Poncho. The current Pontiac logo was originally meant to represent a Native American arrow-head. A Native American Headdress was used as a logo until 1956.

As Pontiac' sales rose and Oakland's sales continued to decline, Pontiac became the only sudsidiary to survive its parent brand. Within months of its introduction Pontiac outsold Oakland. The first General Motors Pontiac was conceived as an affordable six cylinder that was intended to compete with more inexpensive four cylinder models. The Pontiac name had been used on by another manufacturer in 1906, but that company did not survive.

The Pontiac brand was introduced by General Motors in 1926 as the subsidiary to GM's Oakland Motor Car line. In the GM brand lineup, Pontiac is a mid-level brand featuring a more sporting, performance-driving experience for a reasonable price, and a youthful feel to its advertising. Pontiac is a marque of automobile produced by General Motors and sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 1926 to the present.