Pontiac’s Great One

On the day I received this book it was the day GM announced the pending death of Pontiac.
Over the years I have owned numerous Pontiac models and always loved each and everyone of them. I lusted after certain Trans Ams and GTOs and adored some of the early Grand Prix models. We have already lost the creator of the Avanti, the mother of the Superbird and the builder of the 442 just to mention a few. How ironic it is that just as the Muscle Car craze arguably started by the GTO is about to take off again with multiple new models from Detroit the entire industry is on the verge of collapse.
The book is Pontiac’s Great One a tribute to the GTO. It is published by Motorbooks and authored by Darwin Holmstrom with beautiful photography, as usual, from David Newhardt.
On page 57 there is a very telling few paragraphs; they sound totally different than what you hear today. Please go to our Book Review page and read the complete review of this book and read what part the American Justice Department played in the future of GM. It will shake you to the roots if you are paying any attention to what is happening to GM and Chrysler today.
This is not a political book nor is this a political column; it is simply an observation and a point of view about not only how the GTO came to be but also how Pontiac came to die.
This book tells a wonderful story in great detail about the “foreplay” and eventual birth of the Pontiac GTO. I was a hormone driven teenager during this time and can tell you it was a wonderful time for cars, music and life in America. This book taught me a lot about the creation of the GTO and its roots back in some of Pontiac’s grand history. There is considerable discussion of the role that Royal Pontiac in Royal Oak, Michigan played in racing history. Remember the Royal Bobcat?
The author takes you through the development of not only the first GTO but every GTO after that. There are inside stories and details on every model that make you want to read more. And the photos…David Newhardt out did himself on these.
Not only does the author take you through the development of every major GTO and the changes it received from the prior year, the book includes reprints of Pontiac ads, dealer brochures and magazine reviews of the GTO. These make terrific additions to the book.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: We’re Going Racing!
Chapter 2: Delorean’s Outlaw Car
Chapter 3: Coping with Success
Chapter 4: A Maturing Car For a Maturing Audience
Chapter 5: Highlights and Low Points
Chapter 6: The Death and Short-Lived Reincarnation of the GTO
Even the last GTO is included in this historical recap of The Great One. It too was a great car but a total flop. Why? The author includes a compelling reason for the GTO that did not sell.
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