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junkman
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
The Pontiac ads done by Art Fitzpatrick and Van Kaufman represent the highest level of art in postwar American auto advertising.
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If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
Somehow I doubt the G-body Bonneville is remotely exciting in any way.

Come to think of it, the Pontiac variants of the A/G platform were the worst. That's saying something, considering the idiotic aeroback Cutlass Salons and Centurys, and the fact that all the cars were so cheap, the rear windows didn't even roll down.
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Tossed Accord taco salad over Malibu face
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
May god himself help John Z. A fabulous man working at a company who couldnt give a shit.
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tonyola
05/03/09

@Accords went loco, killed Camry and Malibu.: John Z's legacy at Pontiac is mixed at best. He definitely improved the brand in the 1960s. However, he's the one who decided in the late '60s to make Pontiac the big breadwinner at GM by trying to outproduce and outprice Chevrolet. Quality went down, badge-engineering mediocrity became the order of the day, and the brand got watered down. Malaise certainly hurt the performance image, but it was John Z who sent Pontiac on a downward spiral in the 1970s after boosting it up in the 1960s.
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If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
05/03/09

@tonyola: Really? Delorean left to run Chevrolet in '69, so you can't blame him for the badge-engineered craptacity of Pontiac in the '70s. In fact, if John Z had his way, the Firebird would have been much, much different than the Camaro (GM shot him down).

In fact, I also remember reading that Delorean attempted to ramp quality controls on the Vega when it first came out. The Vega had been entirely designed and engineered by GM Corporate and was dumped on Delorean and Chevy at the last minute. Delorean put inspectors on the assembly line and every single one of the first few thousand cars was road tested. Then Corporate pulled the plug...

When the engineers (even flamboyant ones like Delorean) lost control of GM in the '70s and the finance guys like Roger Smith took over, that was it. GM was finished 35 years ago. That's why engineer's should run everything, or at least that's what I keep telling potential employers.
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tonyola
05/03/09

@FromaBuick6: There's no question that GM Corporate gets a huge share of the blame for the company's downward spiral. However, it was decisions by John Z prior to leaving for Chevy that hurt Pontiac. He tried to move close to Olds 98/Buick Electra territory with the '71 Grand Ville. He decreed that most Pontiacs get "neoclassic" grilles like the '70 big cars and '71 GP. He authorized the '71 Ventura, which was a Nova clone. He made production shortcuts for profit that ended up hurting the quality of the cars. The whole thing was a pissing match with Chevy and his angling for the GM top spot.
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If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
05/03/09

@tonyola: I forgot the Ventura was an early '71...that was definitely on his watch then. I kinda like the '70 full size front end though.

You're probably right about John Z stretching the the division too thin and ultimately hurting it. However, I always thought that the inter-divisional rivalries helped GM at the time. Back when all the divisions had unique styling, engines and engineering, plus the General owned 50%+ of the market, why the hell not? After Malaise, corporate engines and imports, not so much.
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MushyHeirloom
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
The 1958 anything-made-by-GM-or-Ford: A bold new car for a blind new generation.
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UDMan
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
The Pontiac advertisement illustrations were the work of Arthur Fitzpatrick, and Van Kaufman. The pair created one of the most memorable illustrated campaigns, having twelve-year run of stunning ads for Pontiac. Running from 1959 to 1971, Pontiac consciously chose illustration so that new Wide-Track advertisements would stand out against the trend towards photography. The artists' work is recognizable for its monochrome palettes and their initials, "AF VK", found in the corner of all their work.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
And the only cure is Murilee.
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arbnpx
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
"Mileage and range lower in California."

Gee, thanks CARB.

"Bonneville is equipped with GM-built engines produced by various divisions. See your dealer for details."

It's sad that this is ending up in an advertisement; it's basically confusing the phasing out of each brand's best V8's as a good thing.

"Pontiac has the wildest thing in Detroit. And it comes with tiger paws."

Ah yes, the Tiger Paw, the tire that firmly established the mediocrity of OEM-selected tires. The tire that established the rule, now passed down from generation to generation, "After you buy a car, start shopping for better tires."

"The 1979 Pontiacs. Our best get better."

Your best? Losers always whine about their best...
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Franzouse
05/03/09

@arbnpx: Bitter much?
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arbnpx
05/03/09

@franzouse, weekend jalop...: yeah, a bit. Then again, the only Pontiacs I've known have been either Malaise-era Pontiacs, or cladding-era Pontiacs. The only GTO's I've seen have been at car shows. I've seen the Solstice at a show, but it just doesn't get me interested. I thought the Manero-rebadge was boring to look at (but I never did see one take off). I haven't seen a G8 in person, nor do I feel the motivation to go test drive one.
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Franzouse
05/03/09

@arbnpx: I feel for you man. Sorry about that.
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Novaload
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
Not worthy of a DOTS post but in keeping with the nostalgic Pontiac tribute...

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deathbob
05/03/09

@Novaload Misses Murilee: Frankly, I think wheels larger, modern wheels look good on older cars. To my young eyes, the tiny stock wheels of that period have always looked funny compared to the enormous bodies and wheel wells.
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Novaload
05/03/09

@deathbob: These aren't bad, I admit. Borderline. Rockers like the GTO had big fats on the back, tho, as a rule.
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Muscles Marinara
05/03/09

@Novaload Misses Murilee:

I think 18s are a happy medium... They look pretty just about right on both old and new muscle cars, as long as they're some type of AR or cragar-based design; seeing "euro-tuner" or bling-bling rims on classic cars is a huge pet peeve of mine. And by pet peeve I mean wanting to choke someone.

[www.thecartorialist.com]
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MushyHeirloom
05/03/09

@Muscles Marinara: Whoever made that can choke on a kilometer of boar dick.
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Novaload
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
And the rear:

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Novaload
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
These make me sad for Pontis. But they won't ever really die. I finally caught this elusive critter in the daytime, occasional parker, almost stock except for slightly donk rims, but that's all I would change:

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Franzouse
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
I hadn't seen that one, it's my new favorite!

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Franzouse was starred Franzouse was unstarred

Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
05/03/09

In reply to 50 Classic Pontiac Print Ads
I think I might be catching that Wide Track excitement!
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Novaload
11/23/08

In reply to Volvo S80L: Longer, with More Chinese Characters!
So does "L" stand for "Large"? And there's also going to be an "XL" and a "XXL" etc? Why haven't US makers done this? Then SS will be "SuperSize."
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Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing
11/21/08

In reply to Volvo S80L: Longer, with More Chinese Characters!
Umm, so they made this for the Chinese market, since of course we all know what stubby-legged runts the Swedish citizenry are...? Huh?
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MushyHeirloom
11/22/08

@Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing: This car seats twenty, you see.
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Boosted Lego Wagon
11/21/08

In reply to Volvo S80L: Longer, with More Chinese Characters!
Apparently Jalopnik has adopted Chinese attitudes towards free speech for their coverage.
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