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- 1977 Pontiac Sales Brochure, "Pontiac. The Mark of Great Cars. 1926-1977" - Pontiac commemorated its 50th anniversary in this 1977 sales brochure. The cover featured some of the automaker's best-known models. Pontiac added another memorable vehicle to its history that year. The 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am became one of the decade's iconic cars thanks to its appearance in the hit movie <em>Smokey and the Bandit</em>.
- 1977
- Collections - Artifact
1977 Pontiac Sales Brochure, "Pontiac. The Mark of Great Cars. 1926-1977"
Pontiac commemorated its 50th anniversary in this 1977 sales brochure. The cover featured some of the automaker's best-known models. Pontiac added another memorable vehicle to its history that year. The 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am became one of the decade's iconic cars thanks to its appearance in the hit movie Smokey and the Bandit.
- Brochure for Pontiac Club de Mer and Four-Door Catalina Cars, 1956, "Pontiac Motorama Masterpieces" - From 1949 to 1961, General Motors hosted a series of semi-regular shows spotlighting futuristic concept cars and aspirational production cars. In 1953, the event was named Motorama and transformed into a traveling show that toured major cities around the United States. Motorama also showcased products from GM subsidiaries, like the "kitchen of the future" equipped with Frigidaire appliances.
- 1956
- Collections - Artifact
Brochure for Pontiac Club de Mer and Four-Door Catalina Cars, 1956, "Pontiac Motorama Masterpieces"
From 1949 to 1961, General Motors hosted a series of semi-regular shows spotlighting futuristic concept cars and aspirational production cars. In 1953, the event was named Motorama and transformed into a traveling show that toured major cities around the United States. Motorama also showcased products from GM subsidiaries, like the "kitchen of the future" equipped with Frigidaire appliances.
- General Motors Golden Jubilee Poster, "Pontiac 58...and 50 Years of Service," January 1958 - Artist Jacqueline Bergey Ward worked for several prominent Detroit-area commercial art studios throughout her career. This poster, created during her time with Roupp Art Studios, celebrated General Motors' 50th anniversary -- and the new line of 1958 cars from GM's Pontiac division.
- January 01, 1958
- Collections - Artifact
General Motors Golden Jubilee Poster, "Pontiac 58...and 50 Years of Service," January 1958
Artist Jacqueline Bergey Ward worked for several prominent Detroit-area commercial art studios throughout her career. This poster, created during her time with Roupp Art Studios, celebrated General Motors' 50th anniversary -- and the new line of 1958 cars from GM's Pontiac division.
- "The Off-the-Shoulder Look is Just One of the Wonderful New Firsts in the '57 Pontiac" Advertisement, 1957 - Pontiac debuted new "Star Flight" styling for 1957. Missile-shaped side trim, flatter tailfins, lower hoods, and larger bumper grilles distinguished the new models from those of the previous year. Cars were available in three series: the entry-level Chieftain, the mid-priced Star Chief, and the premium Super Chief. Pontiac built more than 334,000 cars for 1957.
- 1957
- Collections - Artifact
"The Off-the-Shoulder Look is Just One of the Wonderful New Firsts in the '57 Pontiac" Advertisement, 1957
Pontiac debuted new "Star Flight" styling for 1957. Missile-shaped side trim, flatter tailfins, lower hoods, and larger bumper grilles distinguished the new models from those of the previous year. Cars were available in three series: the entry-level Chieftain, the mid-priced Star Chief, and the premium Super Chief. Pontiac built more than 334,000 cars for 1957.
- Pure Pontiac!, 1970 - Pontiac promoted its 1971 models in this sales brochure. The Firebird Formula 455 featured prominently. The sporty car included bucket seats, front disc brakes, and a 325-horsepower 455-cubic-inch V-8 engine. The 1971 Firebird Formula also boasted twin simulated air scoops, a black grille insert, and Pontiac's "Endura" front bumper made from dent-resistant urethane.
- August 01, 1970
- Collections - Artifact
Pure Pontiac!, 1970
Pontiac promoted its 1971 models in this sales brochure. The Firebird Formula 455 featured prominently. The sporty car included bucket seats, front disc brakes, and a 325-horsepower 455-cubic-inch V-8 engine. The 1971 Firebird Formula also boasted twin simulated air scoops, a black grille insert, and Pontiac's "Endura" front bumper made from dent-resistant urethane.
- Pontiac Sales Brochure, 1965 - Pontiac promoted 11 models in this 1965 brochure. Bonneville, Grand Prix, Star Chief, Catalina, and 2+2 were full-size cars, while GTO, Le Mans, Tempest Custom, and Tempest were classed as intermediates. Safari and Tempest Safari station wagons rounded out the lineup. Model-year production was over 800,000 cars, and the ten millionth Pontiac rolled off the line on April 13, 1965.
- 1965
- Collections - Artifact
Pontiac Sales Brochure, 1965
Pontiac promoted 11 models in this 1965 brochure. Bonneville, Grand Prix, Star Chief, Catalina, and 2+2 were full-size cars, while GTO, Le Mans, Tempest Custom, and Tempest were classed as intermediates. Safari and Tempest Safari station wagons rounded out the lineup. Model-year production was over 800,000 cars, and the ten millionth Pontiac rolled off the line on April 13, 1965.
- Pontiac Radiator Emblem, 1926-1933 - An automobile manufacturer's badge is fundamental to the company's brand identity -- just as the maker's name is often important to <em>our</em> identity as consumers and drivers. Early automobile badges tended to be small and often discreetly located; today they have evolved into enlarged, prominently placed, and frequently symmetrical logos -- easy to recognize, even at a glance in a rear-view mirror.
- 1926-1933
- Collections - Artifact
Pontiac Radiator Emblem, 1926-1933
An automobile manufacturer's badge is fundamental to the company's brand identity -- just as the maker's name is often important to our identity as consumers and drivers. Early automobile badges tended to be small and often discreetly located; today they have evolved into enlarged, prominently placed, and frequently symmetrical logos -- easy to recognize, even at a glance in a rear-view mirror.
- "Some Tigers are Fierce. Some Tigers are Ferocious. We Build Both," 1965 Pontiac Tempest and GTO Automobiles - Pontiac called its GTO muscle car a Tiger. Fans called it a Goat -- perhaps for want of another animal with the letters G, T and O in its name. Both sides agreed on a third nickname: The Great One. While GTO wasn't an exact acronym for the phrase, the sentiment perfectly captured how enthusiasts felt about the car.
- 1965
- Collections - Artifact
"Some Tigers are Fierce. Some Tigers are Ferocious. We Build Both," 1965 Pontiac Tempest and GTO Automobiles
Pontiac called its GTO muscle car a Tiger. Fans called it a Goat -- perhaps for want of another animal with the letters G, T and O in its name. Both sides agreed on a third nickname: The Great One. While GTO wasn't an exact acronym for the phrase, the sentiment perfectly captured how enthusiasts felt about the car.
- Christmas Card Sent to Pontiac Motor Company Employee, Wilford D. Pain, 1941 - Colorful, commercially designed greeting cards were popular in early 20th-century America--especially during the holidays. Friends and neighbors commonly exchanged cards wishing one another a Merry Christmas or Happy New Year. This example of a fashionable "trick" card appeared at first to be an authentic voucher, but contained only an expression of seasonal goodwill.
- 1941
- Collections - Artifact
Christmas Card Sent to Pontiac Motor Company Employee, Wilford D. Pain, 1941
Colorful, commercially designed greeting cards were popular in early 20th-century America--especially during the holidays. Friends and neighbors commonly exchanged cards wishing one another a Merry Christmas or Happy New Year. This example of a fashionable "trick" card appeared at first to be an authentic voucher, but contained only an expression of seasonal goodwill.
- Pontiac Sunfire Nameplate, circa 1996 - Car model names might seem straightforward (especially once they are well-established and familiar) but most are masterpieces of allusion, rife with references to glamorous locations, social rank, rugged environment -- all tied to the self-image and aspirations of potential car buyers. Different styles of lettering -- whether bold, high-tech, freehand, or formal -- offer further reinforcement to the power of a model name.
- circa 1996
- Collections - Artifact
Pontiac Sunfire Nameplate, circa 1996
Car model names might seem straightforward (especially once they are well-established and familiar) but most are masterpieces of allusion, rife with references to glamorous locations, social rank, rugged environment -- all tied to the self-image and aspirations of potential car buyers. Different styles of lettering -- whether bold, high-tech, freehand, or formal -- offer further reinforcement to the power of a model name.