This year's Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance will celebrate the dead-in-the-water Pontiac brand and, as a special treat, has a contest searching for the oldest Pontiac and oldest Pontiac with an original owner.
If you think you have the oldest privately-owned Pontiac, likely a 1926 model, or are the oldest original owner of a Pontiac, likely not a 1996 Pontiac Grand Am GT, contact the organizers and they'll provide free road transportation of your car to the festivities. Additionally, you'll be given a pair of first class tickets and accommodations for two. Full details and contact information below.
Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance celebrates: Pontiac – An American Icon
+ Famed American brand changed the way Americans looked at cars
+ Demise of the brand "a sad day for American car enthusiasts" (Bill Scheffler)
+ Star Chief, Bonneville, GTO, Firebird, Trans Am – nameplates for generations
+ Looking for America's oldest Pontiac as well as the oldest Pontiac still with its original owner
+ Free road transport courtesy of Fed Ex Auto Transport
+ Complimentary First Class air travel for two courtesy of United Airlines
+ Complimentary accommodation for two courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Hotel, New York City
Westport, June 17, 2009. As we go to press with this release, General Motors is in bankruptcy, and the turmoils of the worldwide automotive industry are set to cost the disappearance of yet another legendary American nameplate: Pontiac. As part of the bankruptcy arrangements made by GM, the Pontiac brand will cease to exist at the end of 2010. Dealers have been informed and contracts will be cancelled throughout the summer.
Pontiac, which was named after an Indian tribal chief, emerged in 1926 as the "companion marque" to the Oakland brand. In Pontiac's 83 years of existence, it produced many cars that captured the imagination of American mainstream drivers. Famous for its "Wide-Track design" in the late 50s, the Pontiac models were often advertised for their "excitement." Legendary models like the ‘60s GTOs, which started the muscle car race, as well as the various Firebird and Trans Am models, remain favorites with American car collectors. In recent months, Pontiac had first been scheduled to be reduced to a "niche brand," while in the latest chapter of the bankruptcy arrangements the brand will be phased out altogether by the end of 2010.
"We are saddened to learn of the demise of an American icon," says Chairman and Founder of the Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance, Bill Scheffler. "But rather than look at it passively, we have decided to address the significance of this event for the American car enthusiast by bringing together a unique collection of Pontiac automobiles, among them America's oldest Pontiac as well as the oldest Pontiac still with its original owner."
Throughout the summer, the event will try to locate owners of the most significant Pontiac models from 1926 to today, and will assemble a special exhibit honoring the Pontiac brand. The dedicated Pontiac car clubs are also invited to participate in this most important gathering of significant Pontiac models and contact the event at clubs@fairfieldcountyconcours.com.
"But we are going even further," says John Shuck, co-founder of the Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance and its Director of Operations. "We are actively asking the media for help in locating America's oldest Pontiac still in existence, as well as the oldest Pontiac which is still with its original owner today. We would like to invite both cars and their respective owners to participate in our event; our valued partners are providing free transport for their cars, free air fare and accommodations."
Owners from the lower 48 States who believe they or their car(s) may qualify for either one of the two spots can find out more about this quest and complete the entry form at www.fairfieldcountyconcours.com/pontiac. The owner of the oldest Pontiac in private ownership will get his or her car transported to the Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance and back courtesy of FedEx Auto Transport as well as receive two First Class Tickets from anywhere in the continental US, sponsored by United Airlines, as well as three nights' accommodation at the Mandarin Oriental in Manhattan, sponsored by Mandarin Oriental, New York. Equally, the oldest Pontiac still with its original owner will receive the same VIP treatment.
We would like to ask the media for help in this quest in order to cast the widest possible net for this search. Please direct questions to Automotive PR of America, Axel Catton. Media contact: Automotive PR - Axel Catton - Tel (201) 845-5418 - media@fairfieldcountyconcours.com