First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List
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Right, I don't think that conservative or liberal values had much to do with
GM or Pontiac's decline. You are much closer to what I feel is the actual
cause. By the end of the 1960's GM was being run by people who were
less interested in building great cars and were more motivated by the
bottom line. And the Delorean story passed on by Jim Weil seems to back
this up.
The bottom line for me is that I'm quite sad to see Pontiac come to an end
as a division of GM. In the 1950s and '60s, the division built what are
considered legendary cars. And quite a few models built in the '70s
until the present were either excellent, or at least very good cars. An
indication that many of Pontiac's engineers and product managers were
trying to produce the kind of cars enthusiasts wanted. Even in the mid
to late 1970's when everyone else gave up on muscle cars, Pontiac had
the audacity to keep the Trans Am alive. And the sales figures proved
them right in doing so. But internally, the battle to bring these cars to
the market was intense.
And I always hoped that they would continue to be profitable and
become the "Excitement" division again. But it just didn't happen.
So I'll miss Pontiac. When the division is gone, the legend will not
be forgotten. There was once a car company called Pontiac. Hard
working men and women built some great cars. And we get to
enjoy them.
Long live the great Pontiacs of the past. Long live our Firebirds.
-Bob Cisneros
http://firstgenfirebird.org/show/closeup.mv?CarID=231
San Jose, CA
On 04/27/09 09:46 PM, Thomas R. wrote:
First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List
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I'm not sure how bad car design is again being placed at the feet of
conservative values, but if you must...feel free, seems most else is blamed
there too. :|
I would point more towards the emphasis on lower total cost, cheaper
manufacturing, increased safety requirements, and gov't regulation.
If you tell a sculptor he can create anything he wants, you get Michelango's
"David". If you make him create within a set of rules, you get Gumby.
Thomas
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 11:03 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [FGF] Pontiac to be scrapped - Express your opinions
First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List
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Styling got lost in the 60s. I have a 69 Firebird Convertible, red w/ white
convertible top. Even the Carrera drivers crane their necks to look over.
What happened? The country lost the free spirit and pannash of the 1960s and
become conservative including auto styling. Some of the ugliest cars on the
planet were made in the U.S. after the mid-seventies
through...well.....today.
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 8:52 pm
Subject: Re: [FGF] Pontiac to be scrapped - Express your opinions
First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List
.........................................................................
You have never been so right. Flat out ugly cars that you don't even want to
ride in let alone look at.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ridell, Niklas (C.N.) <[email protected]>
To: First Generation Firebird-L <[email protected]>
Sent: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 7:51 am
Subject: RE: [FGF] Pontiac to be scrapped - Express your opinions
First Generation Firebird-L Mailing List
.........................................................................
Pontiac didn't die today, that brand was killed many years ago.
And I think it all comes down to appearance.
When a customer is looking for a new car the exterior design is a much
more important factor than anything else. Then comes the overall quality
impression. When I say quality I'm not talking about the expected
lifecycle of your transmission. I mean the perceived quality impression
you get from things like interior surface material choice, door closing
sounds, fit and finish, gaps, NVH etc.
And also, today buying a car is not just a matter of transportation. We
all know it's a way to show your personality.
I don't blame that girl who ditched her Buick for a RAV4...
Please don't kill me but in my opinion the american car styling got lost
in the eighties.
Yes, there are some good looking cars now. But still the big 3 are
pumping out a lot of butt ugly cars.
/Niklas
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