Let’s revisit Pontiac in its heyday decade, the 1960s. On this occasion, the virtual tour covers the marque’s products in the open in various locations; on roads, driveways, and parking lots. The images are more or less in chronological order, showing the progression from the slim Pontiacs of the early ’60s to the latter full-figure ones.
Unsurprisingly, GTOs make repeated appearances in these. However, other models appear, with a couple of wagons in idyllic settings and a Canadian Parisienne (photo #6).
That red Gran Prix looks nice! It’s such a shame that Pontiac is long gone….
Pontiacs have gotten rare enough that I’ll see a a G6 or Grand Prix and think “Wow, a Pontiac!” It’s good to see these pictures from back when they were common.
Here’s another in the same vein – a golden-colored Catalina parked at a shopping center in the late 1980s (if it wasn’t for the Subaru parked next to it, this would look like a 1970s shot):
Looks like “Willston Shopping ctr” in Falls Church, VA.
Close – it’s the former Fairfax Shopping Center on Lee Highway in Fairfax City. That shopping center was demolished in about 2019.
I knew this was local but couldn’t place it. Buls Maytag had a store in Rockville, MD and another in Silver Spring; as noted in the window seen here, they sold reconditioned used appliances alongside the new ones (and parts for them); lots of washing machines from the 1950s and ’60s for sale well into the ’90s. The Rockville store was for some reason a magnet for classic cars too; I saw a Continental Mark II parked there a few times along with an early BMW New Class sedan and a few others I can’t recall. But not, unfortunately, a Maytag car from their brief foray into the automotive business.
Is it the four-season shots throwing me off, or are many of these in Canada?
The 2 obvious snow shots are both Tempest/GTOs. Not commonly sold here due to high tariffs at the time. I guess you could special order one if you really wanted but it would have been expensive. Even today pre ’68 models of these cars are rare here.
And as anyone who lives in the northern states can tell you, they get their share of
fall/winter weather!
Not one but two 1965 LeMans (well, one is a GTO) in the snow! The black and white shot with the falling snow is wonderful.
I loved the adds for the GTO as the (Official Car of the USA Ski Team)!
took mine from San Antonio to Vail in January, 1973. Not A Snow car!
Dave
Here’s a one of one: The man who designed the OHC 6 cylinder Pontiac engine designed for his own car, a 64 Grand Prix, a pair of OHC heads for his 389 tri-power engine. I saw this car at the Pontiac Service Garage before there was a GM Heritage Center.
Nice pictures! My 73 Bonneville in Norway.
I like the fastback roofline on the third to last photo. I believe that would be a 1968 or 69 model.
I”m sure it’s a 67 vintage. My parents had a 67 Pontiac. Front end is the same profile.
That “Ford” in pic #4; fender skirts just don’t belong. Eeek!
Nice red ‘62 2-door! Catalina, I presume? 8 lug wheels?
The ‘62 Bonneville I had was a white 4-door hardtop. They overdid the side trim for those, in my opinion. The pictured red one looks just right to me.
I think that’s a Grand Prix. Even less trim. Nice car, indeed.
I like the full sized Pontiacs prior to 1970. Fortunately I get to see one every Saturday as it is owned by a Hornet volunteer who loves Pontiacs.
Once in a great while I see his 81 Bonnie which is very, very rare on the ground out here.
The red Grand Prix with the white top is a beauty. Particularly parked at CBS “Television City” on Fairfax Ave, in L.A.
The third to the last photo of the “sloper” ’67 fastback was a car that I thought was pretty ungainly at the time. Now, I find it strangely attractive. I guess I’ve gotten weird in my old age!
I too really like the LeMans snow picture .
-Nate
Perhaps, the most famous Pontiac on the road in the 1960’s.
They’re coming to get you, Barbara!
There’s so strangely calming and even romantic about snow falling on that Tempest
That red ’62 Grand Prix is simply gorgeous and so is that ”63 Grand Prix with that gentleman standing beside it.
My dad has a 1966 Bonneville original the only thing that was added is undercoating. It’s still a wonderful beautiful automobile.
My 65 GTO.
My dad owned a 1964 catalina 2 +2 421 tri power 425 horsepower 4 speed we would stud the tires in the winter and drive it on our swamp. He bought it for 50 dollars from a boarding house the owner got deported back to Boston for being a draft dodger .
So wonderful to see the ’60s-’70s Pontiac “beak”. I really love the split grill with “Pontiac” or GTO on the right-hand side! I did get a ride in a circa ’71 Catalina once, it was awesome!
Of all the stupid automobile industry decisions, dropping the Pontiac flag has to top the list. Oldsmobile and Plymouth are close behind. Plymouth was the 3rd best selling car in America for 70 years except for Buick in 1954 with the Century’s new body with the big V-8 engine. Dad was a Dodge/Plymouth guy for good reason. His cousin was a district sales manager.who sat on his tail bone during WWII because Chrysler valued his service. Dad got to go to the head of the waiting list in February 1947.. It was still cash on the barrel head ($1400) at Bellanger Motors, Crown Point, IN. Dad had the big choice between a green 4 door Special Deluxe with a cracked headlight which he chose and a blue 2 door. Muruell Bellanger, who was promised more cars to sell later, owned the 1951 Indianapolis 500 winning car driven by Lee Wallard.. Years later, Dad who in 1926 had perhaps unwittingly bought flowers from O’Bannion’s flower shop in Chicago, said that the dealership reminded him of an organizational front.. That reminded me of Bill Clintons’s uncle’s Buick dealership in Hot Springs, Arkansas. BTW, Walter P. Chrysler is credited with saving the Buick Division in its very early years.
The one at CBS, might have been one of Barker’s beauties.
Although I’ve been a Mopar man for most of my 71 years, I have always had a soft spot for Pontiac. My parents first car was a 49 Pontiac two door torpedo body in baby blue. They then had a burgundy 53 4 door before switching to Mopar in 57. My favorite uncle had a beautiful beige Bonneville two door and later a Gold 67 GTO. His had the His and Hers Hurst dual gate shifter and also PMD wire hubcaps. Didn’t see many of those wire wheel covers in that era. Pontiac was on an unstoppable roll during the Bunkie Knudsen years from the mid 50s to the end of the 60s. Everything they brought to market seemed to click . Wish they were still here clicking right along “as in days of yore”.