Pontiac might be a forgotten brand. This name was a long-time member of the GM family and brought many amazing performance machines to the market. Unfortunately, when faced with necessary cutbacks during the global economic crisis of 2008, General Motors chose to shutter Pontiac and focus on the other remaining brands.
Despite the lack of support in its final days and the dwindling of models, the Pontiac brand represents a time in GM’s history of performance, power, precision, and presence from behind the wheel. Pontiac models were huge in the days of muscle cars, with models that stood out from the pack, such as the GTO.
Many Pontiac cars from the 1960s and 1970s have been around long enough to be classic cars, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been sought after as classics that many people want to drive and own. Some of the lesser-known Pontiac vehicles are overlooked for more popular choices, but these ten models could be future classics that call for top dollar at auctions.
Powertrain specifications and general vehicle data were sourced from General Motors. This list is sorted by top speed from lowest to highest.
1949 Pontiac Chieftain
Top Speed: 82 MPH
Classics.com
The 1949 Pontiac Chieftain brought the style from the early 20th century to the middle of the century, making it a bit of a throwback, even when it was new. This means the Chieftain is a classic car with an even classier look, giving you the style desired when you want a great car to show off and enjoy.
Powertrain Specifications
There were several body styles and shapes to encourage diversity and customization with tuners, making the Chieftain a sought-after car for the younger generations in the early 1960s. Today, this car should cost around $27,000 for a model that’s in good condition, and it should increase in value over time.
1957 Pontiac Safari Wagon
Top Speed: 113 MPH
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The Safari name was used by Pontiac on various models to indicate the vehicle was a wagon, but the original name came from the mid-1950s. The 1957 Pontiac Safari Wagon was one of the most attractive cars of its time. Considering it was a wagon, you might not expect much from this car until you see it.
Powertrain Specifications
The Safari Wagon was considered an affordable model that didn’t have much competition in its class. Today, the wagon name is almost blasphemy in America unless you’re talking about a car from the heyday of wagons and large sedans. This attractive and roomy car was made to haul families across the country in style.
1971 Pontiac LeMans GT-37
Top Speed: 114 MPH
Mecum
The 1971 Pontiac LeMans GT-37 was considered a vehicle that was built for buyers on a budget. It has several engine options, giving drivers the desired power and performance in a car that carries muscle car styling forward. The LeMans had already been around for a decade by 1971, but the GT-37 was relatively new to the market.
Powertrain Specifications
For some reason, the GT-37 version is not well-known and has often been overlooked in the classic car world. This means you could easily enjoy the look and feel of this classic car and show it off to anyone interested. You’ll be glad to let this car loose and see what it can do, especially if you have a massive V8 under the hood.
2007 Pontiac Vibe
Top Speed: 115 MPH
Pontiac
The 2007 Pontiac Vibe might be a surprise entry among the classic Pontiac cars, but it could be a surprise classic in the future. This wagon/car/SUV fits many drivers and makes it much easier for some to enjoy its compact size and driving nature. The Vibe is one of the last models made by this brand, which could be part of why it will be a future classic.
Powertrain Specifications
The Vibe didn’t sell well at the time, but it could be considered ahead of its time. In today’s market, this small SUV would be a huge hit, but, alas, its time has already passed. This makes it a unique and good option when you’re looking for a classic vehicle that doesn’t take you back to the 1960s.
1973 Pontiac Grand Prix
Top Speed:117 MPH
Classics.com
Pontiac blended luxury and muscle into an amazing package and called it the 1973 Pontiac Grand Prix. This car looks like trouble on the road with its long hood that houses a massive V8 engine. The Grand Prix is a large cruiser with lots of power and comfort, making it easy for you to have an excellent drive in a classic car.
Powertrain Specifications
This Grand Prix has a signature hood shape with the pointed nose coming together from two hold lines that jet back from the center to the A-pillars. This car is starting to gain momentum as a classic car and prices have begun to rise, but you might find a well-maintained version for around $16,000 and enjoy the value increase for yourself.
1967 Pontiac Catalina
Top Speed: 123 MPH
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The 1967 Pontiac Catalina was well-loved for its spacious interior and smooth ride. It is easily a hidden gem of the vintage car world and should cost no more than $31,000 for a well-kept model. This car should appreciate significantly, making it a good investment when you want a classic car that brings an excellent return.
Powertrain Specifications
The massive 7.0-liter V8 was the largest of the engines offered, giving this incredible car the desired power and performance when you want to experience a big naturally aspirated V8 engine. The Catalina is easily a sleeper among the giants of its time, giving you a car that has a fantastic story.
1967 Pontiac Bonneville
Top Speed: 123 MPH
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The 1967 Pontiac Bonneville was one of many in the long run for this nameplate. This car lasted for ten generations and was one of the most well-loved cars in America for many years. The Bonneville has a history as a sporty car, making it easy to enjoy the power and performance built into the vehicle that could be a great classic car to drive.
Powertrain Specifications
The styling of the Bonneville was never among its greatest qualities, but there wasn’t anything wrong with what the 1967 versions brought to the road. This is a timeless classic with the power, presence, and performance to be an excellent choice for anyone searching for a classic car that will eventually become more valuable.
1964 Pontiac Tempest
Top Speed: 126 MPH
Mecum
The Pontiac Tempest might be a name you know a little. If you’ve ever seen the movie “My Cousin Vinny,” a 1964 Pontiac Tempest plays an important role in the film. This impressive Pontiac car is a precursor to the muscle car era, giving the brand the foundation on which to build some of the greatest muscle cars.
Powertrain Specifications
Like many cars of the era, the Tempest came in several body styles, including convertible models, wagons, two-door coupes, and four-door sedans. This gave shoppers lots of options and makes it possible for you to find this Pontiac car and let it become the classic model that you love and enjoy.
1995 Pontiac SLP Formula Firehawk
Top Speed: 160 MPH
General Motors
The SLP moniker in the 1995 Pontiac Formula Firehawk is significant. It stands for Street Legal Performance Engineering, which means the car has been specially tuned by a separate company to be more engaging and impressive. SLP produced Firehawks from 1992 until the end of the car’s run, with a total of 1,000 models produced in 1995.
Powertrain Specifications
To create this car, the SLP team replaced several parts of the car and increased the power. This means the SLP Formula Firehawk is a car that should be a fantastic classic machine to own. It is also only produced in small numbers, making it a great choice when you want to enjoy a high-performance classic Pontiac.
1964 Pontiac Banshee XP-833
Top Speed: 172 MPH
artistmac/Wikimedia Commons
The Banshee name was given to a series of Pontiac concept cars that were built to rival the Corvette. This could have been a serious problem for the brand considering both cars were under the GM umbrella. This car was never built because it was deemed too similar to the Corvette and would cut into sales of the Chevy.
Powertrain Specifications
The 1964 Pontiac Banshee XP-833 was developed at the request of John DeLorean, but it never made it to production. One model made it into the public world. This is a car that will certainly continue to rise in value as one of the most unique and interesting cars of its day. If GM had allowed this Banshee, would the Corvette have died out?
Source: 10 Forgotten Pontiac Models That Could Become Future Classics
