[Geeto Tiger]

After GM was forced into liquidation, why wasn't Pontiac put up for sale like every other brand? Was there a reason behind it, or was it just done to cut as many costs as possible?

[Hitman]

Because they knew that selling it could and probably would come back and bite them in the rear. Another company would have come in and taken a Iconic American nameplate and made it better than they could have ever done.

[Jack Peters]

And it would take away from both Chevrolet and Buick sales.....

[LASJayhawk]

Take away from Buick sales? You mean like from 30 cars to 15?

[goatwgn]

Originally Posted by Hitman

Because they knew that selling it could and probably would come back and bite them in the rear. Another company would have come in and taken a Iconic American nameplate and made it better than they could have ever done.

Look how good Pontiac did in the '60s within the confines of GM control. Even in the '80s with inferior platforms to work with, they did more with less than other GM divisions did at the time. Chevrolet has needed all the help it could get over the years from GM, and when Chevrolet Division got more control over the Corporation, they dragged the other divisions down with them into the abyss. Instead of letting Cadillac design a top of the line car (worthy of the Cadillac nameplate) and then having BOP and Chevy "badge engineer a car down from that, they went the other way and designed a cheap Chevy and "badge engineered" other cars (including Cadillacs) from that. Instead of the '57 Bel Air looking like the "Baby Cadillac" you had a "Cadillac" that looked like a run of the mill "cheap Chevrolet" (Cimmaron-Cavalier). GM has since about 1971, also tried a little to hard to kiss up to the Government regulations and control. It is ironic IMO that the same government that implemented control over the auto industry with EPA/ CAFE/ NTSA and other nonsense ended up having to "bail them out" after sucking up to these things costs enough sales to practically kill them off.

[#1WideTrak]

Originally Posted by LASJayhawk

Take away from Buick sales? You mean like from 30 cars to 15?

Thems Chinese peoples loves theirs Buicks. They have for many years. If it wasn't for the sales over there, Buick likely would have been a goner some time ago.

One more reason to raise a finger to that country. LOL

[SRR]

IMHO GM has been trying to get rid of Pontiac since the late 50's. Darn near every thing they did that turned out to be a success was when someone went behind their backs and defied them.

[Dick Boneske]

If it was not for the huge success of Buick in China, Pontiac would not have been the division to be cut.

As for GM intentionally killing Pontiac, there are some obvious milestones that show they did kill the division intentionally---or did Pontiac do this within their own division.
Some examples:

Grand AM was their best-selling car in the late '90's, early 2000's. They stopped producing it and changed the name to G6.

Grand Prix's were purchased typically by young or middle aged buyers. In 2004, they eliminated the coupes and made only 4 door Grand Prix's. Then, in 2008, they eliminated it completely. It was one of Pontiac's best sellers--probably the best seller when they stopped making it.

Firebird production stopped in 2002. Sales were very slow in latter years of production. Instead of offering something beyond the Camaro options, Pontiac was content to let the Firebird die.

GTO re-introduction in 2004 gave us all hope. I bought a 2004. Terrific car!! But, we all wanted SOME part of it to remind people of the Glory Years. It looked like a Chev Cavalier.

Bonneville was killed in 2005. There was no Pontiac "big" car from that point on. Our 2000 SSei was a really nice car--unmistakenly a Pontiac! I'll bet none of you EVER saw a TV commercial for the Bonneville in the last 20 years. It was as though Pontiac didn't want to sell them.

The Montana APV was a huge success in its original form. I personally know five people that have them today. All five love them and will drive them 'til the wheels fall off. That, too, was killed about 2005 and changed to an SUV which was never much of a success.

[68lemansman]

Basically it sucks pontiac is no more!

[Alvin]

[bryansMtngto]

actually a company did try and buy the rights to Pontiac. But GM got it blocked saying it had to much shared technology with that platform. And the government took Gm's side. Which in any other Bankrupcy think it would of happened. Shame would of been interesting if it would of happened.

[LASJayhawk]

If GM was 1/2 as smart as Cobrabill gives them credit for, They would have kept Pontiac for the US sales and assigned the Buick nameplate to Pontiac or Chevy to build "buicks" for China

[Sirrotica]

Daewoo builds the chinese buihogs, not even a GM subsidy, the same people that built the wonderful late 80s Pontiac Lemans. The people that now run GM have no love for cars, to them they could be making any household appliance and put just as much thought into their cars as is put into a toaster oven or a vacuum cleaner. Keep looking for the all new GM inspired cadillac CTS toaster with all the buttons and whistles coming soon to a walmart near you, toast yer bread in high style.....................................

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by LASJayhawk

If GM was 1/2 as smart as Cobrabill gives them credit for, They would have kept Pontiac for the US sales and assigned the Buick nameplate to Pontiac or Chevy to build "buicks" for China

That there is funny.In all seriousness,the marques GM has sold,did or can stand as autonomous companies.Divisions can't.

[Formulabruce]

Oddly enough, the Last Pontiac made was a Solstice, which gets about 28 MPG. The plant made ALL 4 cyl cars.
The federal Government ( GM) gave money to a car company ( 532 BILLION) and they build their car in Finland. Same company retrofits a GM plant in Delaware ( Solstice maybe?) and make 40 cars, YEP 40 cars, the cost is 4 times that of a normal car... MPG?????
its gets 20 MPG.... go figure.....

[richard sargent]

General Mess has had it's head stuck in the sand in so many areas for so long all it took was economic downturn to bankrupt the company.

Leadership was driven by profit not product.

Greed and complacency leads to arrogance.

It's really hard to see what the world really wants when you have your head stuck in the sand.

True leadership is about vision, Jobs, DeLorean, Knudsen, all had it.

Vision is all about what the future holds for us , not what you already know.

GM for decades shoved crap down our throats, they had it all, billions upon billions, millions of loyal American buyers, the largest automobile company in the world.

It went to their heads, they built a product for pure profit and nearsighted greed.

If they had left Pontiac alone and left John D. in charge with his vision, Pontiac would have eventually overtaken Chevrolet

[242177P]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

Oddly enough, the Last Pontiac made was a Solstice ...

Actually, it was a white G6, as the final cars were fleet-only. Are you perhaps referring to when they were still available to the general public?

[GT182]

The Solstice and Vue were made here in Delaware, and were the last cars made at GM's Boxwood Plant. This new outfit that is supposedly making hybreds isn't doing a thing so far. Supposedly they're getting ready for production. I drive by the plant at least 2 to 3 times a week and I don't see much going on. Even the railhead is closed. I think these hybreds Fisker is supposed to make are nothing but vaporware.

Back when we were backhauling Chevettes out of the plant there was a 57 Belair convertable sitting on the roof over the door to the main entrance. But that disappeared years ago, and IIRC nothing replaced it.

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by GT182

The Solstice and Vue were made here in Delaware, and were the last cars made at GM's Boxwood Plant. This new outfit that is supposedly making hybreds isn't doing a thing so far. Supposedly they're getting ready for production. I drive by the plant at least 2 to 3 times a week and I don't see much going on. Even the railhead is closed. I think these hybreds Fisker is supposed to make are nothing but vaporware.

Back when we were backhauling Chevettes out of the plant there was a 57 Belair convertable sitting on the roof over the door to the main entrance. But that disappeared years ago, and IIRC nothing replaced it.

They supposedly made 40 cars there, the solstice molds are history, and the cars get a WHOPPING 20 MPG. really worth the 500 + BIllion eh?

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by 242177P

Actually, it was a white G6, as the final cars were fleet-only. Are you perhaps referring to when they were still available to the general public?

I was under the impression the Delaware plant was last to close... oh welll