Quote:
Originally Posted by bdk1976
If there is money to be made by slapping an arrowhead on something and calling it a 'Pontiac' they will do it. See: 04-06 "GTO"
|
One flaw in your example, Holden already had a Monaro GTO/HSV model before Bob Lutz ever thought about using Pontiac styling cues, and importing it to the US. So the idea that they Pontiac/GM slapped a GTO emblem on the car is totally false. They did however put an arrowhead on it. Holden had already identified it as a GTO starting on 2001, 3 full years before it was sold in the US.
Since GM and Holden merged in 1931 they have had decades of making cars under the GM/Holden umbrella it isn't like GM put their emblem on a Kia and imported it to the US to sell as a Pontiac GTO. Pontiac isn't the only car manufacturer that used the GTO moniker, they just got the most mileage from it because they promoted it the most.
The people that say it isn't a real GTO are oblivious to the heritage of the cars model identification under Holden. Since Holden had no dealer network in the US the Pontiac dealers were chosen to sell the GTO model hence the reason it was branded as a Pontiac. Make no mistake, Bob Lutz knew Pontiac was on a steep descent, and tried to save the brand from the axe.
If you go back to 2004 the big wigs at chevy were feeling butt hurt that Pontiac got the reincarnation of the muscle car, and chevy got shut out. There was even a Holden based SS malibu/chevelle commissioned by chevy to try to get their own version of the GTO.
Pontiac once again in 2008 reached out to Holden to get a RWD 4 door sedan the G8. Again chevy is all butt hurt because the RWD Caprice was discontinued and chevy had no RWD sedans in their lineup. After Pontiac is crushed and out of business, chevy gets their wish and finally their own version of the G8, the GM/Holden chevy SS. From 2014- 2017 they sold a meager 13,000 units. In 2017 GM/Holden folds up, and chevy is again without a RWD sedan.
I just want to keep the record straight because so many people don't know the facts about the 04-06 GTOs how, and why they were sold in the US under the Pontiac name plate. It doesn't make them bad cars because they weren't produced here, I'm just shy of 20 years ownership on my own 2005 GTO.
Little known fact that in 1970 some of the GTOs were also made outside of our borders, they were made in Canada. 1866 Pontiac powered GTOs were built north of the border, and imported to the US. so foreign built GTOs aren't confined to 04-06 GTOs it's been done decades ago.