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05/11/2009 Pontiac
The demise of Pontiac stirs up a carload of memories
Another one bites the dust’. Great song, but a not so great expression when it comes to the recent news that Pontiac will soon go the way of countless other great American brand automobiles. In its new classification as a ‘orphan’ marque, it will share good company. Going back a number of years, we saw makes like Studebaker, Packard, Hudson, DeSoto and far too many others to mention, fall by the wayside due to weak sales and/or struggling economies.The most recent in modern history was Oldsmobile, another GM marque that was near and dear to The FIN MAN as my father drove Oldsmobiles for the most part, and after selling his half of Han-De Super Service, a Mobil service station in University City, Missouri, he got into full time sales of Oldsmobiles for a number of St. Louis area dealerships.
When I heard the news the other day, I began to reflect back on the Pontiacs in my life, and although the list of cars I’ve owned over the years is extensive, it only included one example of the proud, performance car from GM.
I was twenty-something at the time, and in the market for a good, reasonably priced used car... nothing fancy, just reliable transportation. My father had just taken a 1969 Pontiac Custom S in on trade for a new Oldsmobile Cutlass. He invited me to come to the dealership, give it the once over and take it for a test drive. Although my first and second choices in body styles would have been convertible and two door hardtop (like the curvaceous LeMans coupe shown above), this particular car was a four-door– but at least it was a pillar less ‘hardtop’ and as such, delivered a pleasing open-air driving experience, weather permitting.
The Custom S and LeMans models were part of the Tempest line of compact cars. Like their GM cousins Buick Special and Oldsmobile Cutlass, the Tempest series evolved from near ‘sub-compact’ size upon introduction in model year 1961, to what would become commonly known as ‘mid-size’ or ‘intermediate’ automobiles. The first eight years of production would also see an overall refinement of the vehicles including improved performance, handling, comfort and ride.
Two-tone paint schemes remained a popular option at the turn of the decade and my Tempest Custom S was dressed, in Cameo White over Antique Gold... two of the eighteen hues offered to 1969 Pontiac buyers. Others were:
- Mayfair Maize (a soft yellow)
- Midnight Green
- Palladium Silver
- Limelight Green
- Carousel Red*
- Liberty Blue
- Expresso Brown
- Verdoro Green
- Matador Red
- Champagne
- Goldenrod Yellow* (a deeper yellow)
- Warwick Blue
- Windward Blue*
- Crystal Turquoise
- Burgundy
- Starlight Black
Tempest/LeMans’ overall look, perhaps not one of Pontiac’s most exciting, was ‘pleasing’ nonetheless. The pinched center grill section closely mimicked full-size Pontiacs of the same vintage– so much so that, upon reading this story in print, one reader e-mailed to tell me that I had mistakenly published a photo of a full sized Catalina instead of a Tempest LeMans. I wrote ‘Tom D’ back explaining that the illustration I chose for this story, is typical of brochure and magazine ads of the period in which the illustrators used artistic license in order to exaggerate the longer, lower, wider look that appealed so much to buyers. That styling was further accentuated by Pontiac’s familiar ‘wide-track’ look... a form that was (and still is) very pleasing to the eye. While the term ‘wide track’ didn’t necessarily apply to the mid size Pontiac Tempest series, the ‘track’, or ‘tread width’, was about an inch wider than the comparable Chevrolet Chevelle.
My recollections of the driving experience behind the wheel of my Tempest Custom S are positive. While definitely not a ‘muscle car’, my Tempest Custom S four door hardtop, powered by a 350 cubic inch V-8 engine which produced a healthy 265 horsepower, was lively, if not breathtaking, off the line. (That 350 cubic inch spec equals 5.7 liters for all you gen-Xers [or later] in the crowd.) That engine was more than adequate for everyday driving in a car which tipped the scales at a modest 3,315 pounds... about 700 less than a comparable full size Pontiac Catalina.
Too bad the original buyer didn’t opt for the 4-barrel version which was rated at 325 ponies. Oh well, I’d probably just have gotten myself into even more trouble if that had been the case! At least they DID go for the first V-8 option on the list. Standard fare for Tempests was an in-line six displacing 250 cubic inches (4.1 liter) with a power output of 175 horsepower.
The 1969 Pontiac sales brochure listed a dizzying array of available engines for the model year... twenty in all across the entire Pontiac line. No wonder there are some obvious discrepancies between two noted publications regarding engine options for the ‘69 Pontiacs!
A generous list of appearance, convenience and performance options included such popular items as:
- power disc front brakes ($64.00)
- ‘Wonder Touch’ power steering ($100.00)
- power door locks ($45.00)
- power rear antenna ($34.00)
- cruise control ($58.00)
- tilt wheel ($45.00)
- hood mounted tach ($63.00)
- instant air heater ($16.00)
- Rally II wheels ($64.00)
- ‘Custom Sport’ steering wheel ($34.00)
- Turbo-Hydramatic ($227.00)
My Custom S 4-door hardtop had a base price of 2,777.00 and the sensuous LeMans Coupe was tagged at $2,835.00. Buyers who gingerly checked off items on the aforementioned options list, could handily add another $1,000.00 to the bottom line.
In terms of 2009 dollars, that $2,777.00 to $3,777.00 range would equal approximately $16,970.00 to $23,000.00. With that in mind, today’s cars don’t seem to be too far off base in terms of price and you get a much more advanced automobile for the money.
Before long ‘Pontiac excitement’ will be just a memory, only to be experienced by those who protect, preserve and enjoy collectible automobiles. And someday in the future, as I stroll the Easter car show with my grandson, strolling past row after row of Nissans, Toyotas, Kias and Hyundais, he just might look up at me and ask, “Grandpa... what’s a Pontiac?”
If my story has moved you to run out and look for a ‘69 Pontiac LeMans for the next Saturday evening cruise at your local Culver’s, check Trader Publishing Company’s Auto Trader Classic Cars & Parts book. It’s a wish book for old car lovers and one of the best sources to find that collectible car that you know you want. According to Krause Publication’s Old Cars Price Guide, you should be able to pick up a very nice Tempest Custom S four door hardtop, like the one I had, for just a skoche over ten grand. A LeMans coupe, on the other hand, will set you back about fifteen g’s. Still, that’s a bargain compared to other, more sought after muscle car era intermediates.
A great source for learning more about Pontiacs of all years and models is the Pontiac-Oakland Car Club... the largest Pontiac club in the world. A membership will pay itself back many times over in terms of the knowledge you will gain from it... and the newsletters are a good source for cars for sale.
Good luck. See you at the next big car event.
Trivia Questions (answers below)
Trivia Questions of the Week:
1. What artist performed the song, “Another One Bites The Dust” and what year did it hit the pop charts?
2. And while we’re on the subject of pop songs, the following lyrics are from what 1969 top hit and who performed the song:
3. Moving on to visual media, the highly popular medical series Marcus Welby, M.D. debuted on the ABC television network on September 23, 1969. Who played in the starring role?
4. Born on July 24, 1969, this American actor, singer, record producer, dancer fashion designer and television producer is, according to Forbes, the richest person of Latin descent in Hollywood. And according to People magazine, is the most influential Hispanic entertainer in the U.S. What is this person’s name?
5. Sadly, Pontiac will see its last production year in 2010. In 1969, however, it once again held third place in U.S. automobile sales. What was the new sub-model Pontiac introduced in 1969?
6. How good are you in sixties pop music trivia? What famous pop music event was held in 1969? Okay, can you answer the month, or better yet, specific dates it was held? In what state did this event take place? What town? On whose property was the event held?
7. The first ‘ATM’ was installed in Rockville Centre, New York on September 2, 1969. What does ‘ATM’ stand for?
8. October 9-12, 1969 are referred to as the ‘Days of Rage’ due to violent demonstrations in Chicago, Illinois in which the National Guard was called in to maintain order. What was the radical group called that was the center of the ‘Chicago Eight Trial’ that spurred these demonstrations?
1. What artist performed the song, “Another One Bites The Dust” and what year did it hit the pop charts?
2. And while we’re on the subject of pop songs, the following lyrics are from what 1969 top hit and who performed the song:
Now it’s been 10,000 years, Man has cried a billion tears, For what, he never knew. Now man’s reign is through. But through eternal night, The twinkling of starlight. So very far away, Maybe it’s only yesterday.
3. Moving on to visual media, the highly popular medical series Marcus Welby, M.D. debuted on the ABC television network on September 23, 1969. Who played in the starring role?
4. Born on July 24, 1969, this American actor, singer, record producer, dancer fashion designer and television producer is, according to Forbes, the richest person of Latin descent in Hollywood. And according to People magazine, is the most influential Hispanic entertainer in the U.S. What is this person’s name?
5. Sadly, Pontiac will see its last production year in 2010. In 1969, however, it once again held third place in U.S. automobile sales. What was the new sub-model Pontiac introduced in 1969?
6. How good are you in sixties pop music trivia? What famous pop music event was held in 1969? Okay, can you answer the month, or better yet, specific dates it was held? In what state did this event take place? What town? On whose property was the event held?
7. The first ‘ATM’ was installed in Rockville Centre, New York on September 2, 1969. What does ‘ATM’ stand for?
8. October 9-12, 1969 are referred to as the ‘Days of Rage’ due to violent demonstrations in Chicago, Illinois in which the National Guard was called in to maintain order. What was the radical group called that was the center of the ‘Chicago Eight Trial’ that spurred these demonstrations?
(answers below)
Trivia Answers
Trivia Questions of the Week:
1. What artist performed the song, “Another One Bites The Dust” and what year did it hit the pop charts?
“Another one bites the dust” might well have been a phrase often uttered by GTO drivers in 1969 after they smoked the car that had been lined up next to them at the red light. It was also the name of a big hit for the English rock band Queen, reaching number one on the Billboard Top 100 chart in the year 1980. The song was also one of Queen’s all-time best -selling singles with sales of over 7 million copies, and is ranked number 34 on Billboard’s list of All Time Top 100 songs.
Bonus trivia question: How many of the four musicians that made up the ban Queen at the time of this recording, can you name? (Answer at the end of this set of answers.)
2. And while we’re on the subject of pop songs, the following lyrics are from what 1969 top hit and who performed the song:
3. Moving on to visual media, the highly popular medical series Marcus Welby, M.D. debuted on the ABC television network on September 23, 1969. Who played in the starring role?
Marcus Welby, M.D. was played by Robert Young.
4. Born on July 24, 1969, this American actor, singer, record producer, dancer fashion designer and television producer is, according to Forbes, the richest person of Latin descent in Hollywood. And according to People magazine, is the most influential Hispanic entertainer in the U.S. What is this person’s name?
Jennifer Lynn Lopez... a.k.a. J.Lo.
5. Sadly, Pontiac will see its last production year in 2010. In 1969, however, it once again held third place in U.S. automobile sales. What was the new sub-model Pontiac introduced in 1969?
A new, top-of-the-line performance Firebird was introduced on March 8, 1969. It was the legendary Trans Am.
6. How good are you in sixties pop music trivia? What famous pop music event was held in 1969? Okay, can you answer the month, or better yet, specific dates it was held? In what state did this event take place? What town? On whose property was the event held?
The event was the Woodstock Festival. It was held from August 15-August 18 on Max Yasgur’s 600 acre farm in Bethel, New York, 43 miles southwest of the village of Woodstock.
7. The first ‘ATM’ was installed in Rockville Centre, New York on September 2, 1969. What does ‘ATM’ stand for?
‘Automatic Teller Machine’
8. October 9-12, 1969 are referred to as the ‘Days of Rage’ due to violent demonstrations in Chicago, Illinois in which the National Guard was called in to maintain order. What was the radical group called that was the center of the ‘Chicago Eight Trial’ that spurred these demonstrations?
Known for their campaign from 1969 through the middle 1970s of riots, bombings, and a jailbreak, was the radical, left wing group known as the ‘Weathermen’.
Answer to bonus trivia question:
Queen was made up of Freddie Mercury on vocals; Brian May on lead guitar; John Deacon on bass, rhythm guitar and piano and Roger Taylor on drums.
1. What artist performed the song, “Another One Bites The Dust” and what year did it hit the pop charts?
“Another one bites the dust” might well have been a phrase often uttered by GTO drivers in 1969 after they smoked the car that had been lined up next to them at the red light. It was also the name of a big hit for the English rock band Queen, reaching number one on the Billboard Top 100 chart in the year 1980. The song was also one of Queen’s all-time best -selling singles with sales of over 7 million copies, and is ranked number 34 on Billboard’s list of All Time Top 100 songs.
Bonus trivia question: How many of the four musicians that made up the ban Queen at the time of this recording, can you name? (Answer at the end of this set of answers.)
2. And while we’re on the subject of pop songs, the following lyrics are from what 1969 top hit and who performed the song:
Now it’s been 10,000 years, Man has cried a billion tears, For what, he never knew. Now man’s reign is through. But through eternal night, The twinkling of starlight. So very far away, Maybe it’s only yesterday.The year was 1969, but the song’s title was, “In The Year 2525”. It was the product of the Lincoln, Nebraska duo Zager and Evans, and remained in the number one slot on the Top 100 chart for six weeks.
3. Moving on to visual media, the highly popular medical series Marcus Welby, M.D. debuted on the ABC television network on September 23, 1969. Who played in the starring role?
Marcus Welby, M.D. was played by Robert Young.
4. Born on July 24, 1969, this American actor, singer, record producer, dancer fashion designer and television producer is, according to Forbes, the richest person of Latin descent in Hollywood. And according to People magazine, is the most influential Hispanic entertainer in the U.S. What is this person’s name?
Jennifer Lynn Lopez... a.k.a. J.Lo.
5. Sadly, Pontiac will see its last production year in 2010. In 1969, however, it once again held third place in U.S. automobile sales. What was the new sub-model Pontiac introduced in 1969?
A new, top-of-the-line performance Firebird was introduced on March 8, 1969. It was the legendary Trans Am.
6. How good are you in sixties pop music trivia? What famous pop music event was held in 1969? Okay, can you answer the month, or better yet, specific dates it was held? In what state did this event take place? What town? On whose property was the event held?
The event was the Woodstock Festival. It was held from August 15-August 18 on Max Yasgur’s 600 acre farm in Bethel, New York, 43 miles southwest of the village of Woodstock.
7. The first ‘ATM’ was installed in Rockville Centre, New York on September 2, 1969. What does ‘ATM’ stand for?
‘Automatic Teller Machine’
8. October 9-12, 1969 are referred to as the ‘Days of Rage’ due to violent demonstrations in Chicago, Illinois in which the National Guard was called in to maintain order. What was the radical group called that was the center of the ‘Chicago Eight Trial’ that spurred these demonstrations?
Known for their campaign from 1969 through the middle 1970s of riots, bombings, and a jailbreak, was the radical, left wing group known as the ‘Weathermen’.
Answer to bonus trivia question:
Queen was made up of Freddie Mercury on vocals; Brian May on lead guitar; John Deacon on bass, rhythm guitar and piano and Roger Taylor on drums.
Email the Fin Man
Upcoming Event:
Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drags
The FIN MAN is available for your group’s special occasions.
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Upcoming Event:
Muscle Car Reunion and Nostalgia Drags
The FIN MAN is available for your group’s special occasions.
book my services
Content copyright . Bruce Kunz. All rights reserved.
