(first posted 10/8/2012) The 1971 Pontiac had a fairly ambitious front end, but like most production cars, was a watered-down version of what was contemplated in the design studios. Here’s a rendering of how the new-for ’71 Pontiacs might have looked, if this design would have been green-lighted. It’s in a treasure trove of design renderings at glenh’s flicker page. And it looks like the same designer had an even wilder version for another pre-bumper regs in mind:
So THAT’s where the Trans Am nostrils came from.
This last version of the Trans Am IMO was the final revenge of the Pontiac Body Side Cladding designers. And to think the 1970’s screaming chicken hood decal was the ultimate in bad taste for some folks! The 1992 T/A was a tasteful looking car with it’s Banshee inspired front nose, but the new 93 restyle and this front end were simply tacky.
The 1970 GTO front end design was the high point for the Pontiac intermediate. The 71, inspired by the above rendering, always looked awkward and out of place. Were they readying the public for the coming of the Colonnade?
After seeing the design drawing of those Ponchos, I’m thankful that I like the finished product! Designers usually do bizarre things, and with a schnoz like they were doing in their studies, Pontiac owners were happy with the results.
And I think ‘Art & Science’ Cadillacs are ugly, some of these designs on that flickr page are plainly frightening to say the least… I’ll have nightmares for weeks… thanks! (lol)
Looks like I’m one of the rare guys who like the Cadillac “Art & Science” design. ^^;
And check how Keith Kaucher would had imagined the frond end nose of the 1969 Firebird. http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/BLKGT350/vehicles/25178/photos/973878
You have company. I love Cadillac’s Art & Science designs… All of them!
Gone now. Link broken 2017
I wish automobile manufacturers would consolidate their history of design proposals, artists sketches and clay model pictures into concise archives for public viewing.
These have always fascinated me to no end.
It’s a nice thought, but I’ve got no doubt that there’s an attitude in marketing along the lines of, “Don’t ever show them what we didn’t decide to do. Either the customer will like one of those better than our current product, or, it’ll start customer asking why we didn’t take it down another slightly different path. And thinking that the current product isn’t as great as we’re claiming it to be. The key to selling our current product is to convince the customer that they’re getting the best we could do.”
I don’t disagree, but when the company in question is defunct (Pontiac, Olds, Mercury, any non-Big 3 automaker), what difference would it make?
Wow, that first beak definitely looks like what happened to the T-Bird for 1970 and 1971, right down to the headlight pods and the pan underneath what passes for a front bumper. Even the point running along the top of the front fenders from between the headlights.
Bunkie Knudsen?
That’s the first thing I thought of, too.
It didn’t grab me at first, but once you see it you can’t un-see it. Perhaps this was Knudsen’s work and he carried the general idea to Ford after it wasn’t used on the Poncho?
The second rendering looks a lot like the back of the Firebird II dream car of the ’50s.
Thanks for sharing that link Paul, glenh’s flicker page is fascinating. I’ve just spent an hour there, feel I’ve only scraped the surface! Some very interesting Australian prototypes in there too – although probably of limited interest to those outside Australia/NZ. Hours of fun!
Thanks for the heads-up, some new ones to me in there such as the Chrysler Diplomat
Yes, I’d never heard of that Diplomat prototype, let alone seen one. Certainly improved the enormous pillar of the regular Valitank.
This is precisely the polar opposite of the current car noses that are mandated by pedestrian safety standards. Because there would be no pedestrians in the stratosphere, where these designers’ lofty ambitions soared. Funny how I don’t much like either extreme, blunt or pointy…
The top drawing displays similarities to the side styling of the 1973 mid-sized Pontiacs. Not surprised the big cars didn’t go down that road; by 1970 Pontiac had moved toward an upright, classic look, particularly with its big cars and the Grand Prix.
Collectible Automobile magazine shows a lot of these early sketches. Most are way to radical for real assembly line production, and are mainly for aspirational appearances.
The basic look of the first drawing hints at 71’s headlights and bumper shape. Reality is car got more functional looking
The 73 Catalina very much tamed down.
I’ve never been a fan of Pontiac cars after 1970. I find the nose of 1971 through 1975 Pontiac cars to be the most hideous of anything produced by General Motors.
This definitely looks a lot better
Flared nostrils of a bull. The ’50s wasn’t the only decade that was way out there in design themes.
Reminds me of this Mad song, for some reason….
I wonder if the twin nostril design was an intentional homage to the 1956 GM show Car ‘The Firebird II’ or whether it is merely a coincidence…
Had to be, way too similar to be coincidental and the Firebird II would have been a recent-ish memory in ’67 or so when these designs were being cooked up.
Dad had a ’71 Grand Safari. I always thought the front end of that car was the last of the cool looking Pontiac grilles, what with the red 455 emblem and no big bumper to take away from the cool, menacing look.
Intellectually, I know those nostrils probably have grilles behind them and don’t lead to jet engines, but I keep imagining them vacuuming up small animals.