Wikicars - User contributions [en]

Pontiac

2007-01-16T00:05:41Z

Bencar:

{{List Of Pontiac Models}}
'''Pontiac''' is a marque of [[automobile]] produced by [[GMC|General Motors]] and sold in the United States from 1926 to the present. In the GM brand lineup, Pontiac is a mid-level brand featuring a more sporting, performance-driving experience for a reasonable price, and a youthful feel to its advertising.

The Pontiac brand was introduced by General Motors in 1926 as the 'companion' marque to GM's Oakland Motor Car line. The Pontiac name was first used in 1906 by the Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works. The Oakland Motor Company and Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works Company decided to merge together in November 1908 under the name of the Oakland Motor Car Company. The operations of both companies were joined together in Pontiac, Michigan to build the Cartercar. Oakland was purchased by General Motors in 1909. The first General Motors Pontiac was conceived as an affordable [[V6|six cylinder]] that was intended to compete with more inexpensive four cylinder models. Within months of its introduction, Pontiac outsold Oakland. As Pontiac's sales rose and Oakland's sales began to decline, Pontiac became the only 'companion' marque to survive its 'parent'.

A Native American Headdress was used as a logo until 1956. The current Pontiac logo represents a Native American arrowhead. An alternate slang term for the marque among performance enthusiasts includes ''Poncho''. Another slang term used in the early stages of brand was "Indian" due the subject matter of its logo.

[[Image:ClassicCar5.JPG|left|thumb|250px|1948 Pontiac Streamliner Sedan Coupe]]

==Middle years==
For an extended period of time, prewar through the early 1950's, the Pontiac was a quiet and solid car, but not especially powerful. A flathead (side-valve) straight eight offered both the quietest and smoothest possible operation, with an appropriately soft suspension and quiet muffler offering the feeling of luxury without the expense. These combinations proved attractive to the vehicle's target market - a reserved lower middle class that was not especially interested in performance or handling and was seeking good value and a roomy vehicle in a step up from the entry-level [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]]. This fit well within parent GM's strategy of passing an increasingly prosperous customer up through the various divisions.

==Performance heritage==
Since the 1957 introduction of the [[Pontiac Bonneville|Bonneville]], Pontiac marketing has emphasized performance; the division's slogan for many years was ''"We Build Excitement"''. Traditionally, each GM division had its own market niche - [[Chevrolet]] was equated with value, [[Oldsmobile]] with technology, [[Buick]] was marketed affordable luxury, [[Cadillac]] as ultimate luxury and Pontiac embraced performance.

After the introduction of the Bonneville in 1957, Pontiac's next success was the introduction of its '''Wide-Track''' suspension layout in 1959. Wide-Track gave the car a broader stance by increasing the width between the wheels, providing greater stability and increased traction.

The [[Pontiac GTO]] was introduced in 1964 by Pontiac's John DeLorean as an option package on the [[Pontiac LeMans]]/[[Tempest]] (GM A-body) car. It was the first intermediate GM vehicle to be powered by the Pontiac division's 389 in³ V8. By being the first brand to feature a large engine in an intermediate car, Pontiac is often credited with launching the [[muscle car]] era. Throughout the 1960s, GTOs were well known for their combination of stunning looks and incredible performance.

The [[Pontiac Firebird|Firebird]], introduced in 1967, was an F-body car that closely mirrored the styling and motor offerings of the LeMans/Tempest cars but was placed on a smaller, sportier platform. This body style and its underlying [[Chevrolet Nova]] chassis were shared with the [[Camaro]], but the Firebird's engines and trim were totally different. As upscale competition for sporty cars like the [[Ford Mustang]] or the [[Dodge Challenger]], the Firebird was perfectly positioned. After reaching record sales levels in the 1970s, in part due to such publicity as the Smokey & the Bandit movies and in part due to being one of the very few performance cars on the market, Firebird sales slowly began to fall in the 1990s and GM pulled the plug on the Camaro/ Firebird lines in 2002, after 35 years of continuous production.

Even more famous was the limited-edition Firebird [[Pontiac Trans Am|Trans Am]], which was first offered in 1969 and continued through the end of the Firebird in 2002. Early on, the Trans Am was most notable for having the same high-performance 400 in³ and 455 in³ V8 engines as the GTO but in a smaller, lighter body. This pattern continued through the late 1970s, after which the Trans Am became more of a luxury model than a real performance machine. [http://bencar.freeyellow.com/TransAmFrameAndYellowTextSmall-2.jpg == '''1976 Pontiac Trans Am Coupe''' == ][mailto:bencar1@verizon.net '''Owner:Ben Deutschman''']

Just about the time that these muscle cars were getting big attention, emissions regulations and oil shortages quickly ground them to a halt. While production first started in the late 1950s, it did not hit its stride until the late 1960s. By 1972, few were left on the market. Most telling was the fate of the GTO - originally conceived as a powerful mid-size coupe, by 1974 the GTO option was offered only on the compact [[Pontiac Ventura|Ventura]]. And then, it too was gone.

From the late 1970s on to the late 1980s, while downsizing its North American operations, General Motors had little funds to spend on independent brand-specific performance platforms. That was, until the [[Pontiac Fiero]] was introduced in 1983 as a 1984 model. Drawing heavily from GM's parts bin, the Fiero was initially billed as a commuter car. While it was not performance oriented in its initial release, its final versions with improved suspension geometry and available 2.8L [[V6|V6]] made the Fiero a potent [[MR layout|mid-engined]] sports car. With the demise of the Fiero in 1988, Pontiac only offered badge engineered products from other GM divisions.

In 2001, Bob Lutz, the former Vice Chairman of the [[Chrysler|Chrysler Corporation]] was hired to help turn GM around. One of his first ideas was to bring back the GTO in order to revive Pontiac's performance heritage in light of the Firebird's demise. Finding limited numbers of smaller rear wheel drive coupe platforms, Pontiac looked to [[Holden]], a GM division of Australia, for the platform of their GTO.

Beginning late 2004, GM's [[Holden]] division produced a version of their [[Holden Monaro|Monaro]] coupe with Pontiac trim and all the attitude of the original 1960s editions. Debuting with the potent 350 [[HP|hp]] [[LS1]] V8 and a world-class chassis, the new GTO is at least as good as its predecessors. But its lackluster styling turned off many buyers and forced GM to add hood scoops and other styling touches in order to make the GTO look like the originals. GM increased the Performance of the GTO in 2005 by adding the [[Corvette]] derived [[LS2]] V8 producing 400 [[HP|hp]].

In the summer of 2005, the [[Pontiac Solstice]] sports roadster arrived, and with it the renewed promise of style and driving fun. It was launched on an episode of The Apprentice; the following day the first thousand Solstices were sold in just 41 minutes. Solstice became one of hottest car America's throughout 2005 as Pontiac reported orders far beyond their ability to produce the car, and dealer mark-ups of thousands of dollars over sticker price, a rarity for GM in this time of deep incentives. Pontiac is upping the ante even more for 2007 with a high-performance version of the Solstice, the Solstice GXP, drawing its power from a [[Turbo Engine|Turbocharged]], Direct Gas Injection, 2.0L 4 cylinder [[Ecotec]] producing 260 [[HP|hp]].

Also in 2005, Pontiac put a V8 under the hood of the [[Pontiac Grand Prix|Grand Prix]]. Called the Grand Prix GXP, it would give the Grand Prix its first V8 since 1987.

A majority of Pontiac dealerships also sell [[GMC]] trucks - the trade name used by GM executives is the Pontiac/GMC division.

==Engines==
Pontiac's second generation V8 engines were nearly identical, allowing many parts to interchange from its advent in 1958 to its demise in 1981. Sizes ranged from 265 in³ to 455 in³. This similarity (except the 301 & 265) makes rebuilding these engines particularly easy, as almost any Pontiac engine one can find will contain useful parts. This dimensional similarity between engines of various capacity also made it possible for Pontiac to invent the modern [[muscle car]], by the relatively simple process of placing its largest engines into its mid-size cars, creating the [[Pontiac GTO]].
The non-traditional Pontiac V8 was the 301 and the smaller displacement 265 in³. Produced from 1977 through 1981, this motor has the distinction of being the last Pontiac V8 produced by PMD. The 301 has a 4 inch bore and 3 inch stroke, identical to the vaunted [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] and Ford 302 motors.

Pontiac engines were not available in Canada, however, but were replaced with [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] engines of similar size and power, resulting in such interesting and unusual (at least to American car fans) models as the Beaumont SD-396 with a [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] big-block 396  in³ V-8.

All Pontiac Motor Division (PMD) engines (pre-1980 unified GM) were designed around a low-RPM/high-torque model, as opposed to the ubiquitous [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] Small-Block engine known for its smaller displacement and high RPM/high power design. PMD engines were unique for their rear distributor, integrated water pump and timing chain cover, and separate valley pan and intake.

==Carburetors==
PMD originally used Rochester 1-barrel [[carburetor]]s for many years, but by the time of the second generation engines had switched mostly to the 2-barrel offerings. These were the basis for the [[Tri-Power]] setups on the engines.

The Tri-Power setup included one center carburetor with idle control and two end carburetors that did not contribute until the throttle was opened more than half way. This was accomplished two ways, mechanically for the [[manual transmission]] models, and via a vacuum-switch on the automatics. This went through various permutations before being banned by GM.

PMD also had a square-bore 4-barrel at the time, but this was rated at a lower power than the Tri-Power. This carburetor was later replaced by the [[Quadrajet]], a spread bore. 'Spread-bore' refers to the difference in sizes between the primaries and secondaries.

By the end of the muscle car era, the QuadraJet setup had become the nearly-ubiquitous choice on PMD engines, due to its excellent economy and power characteristics. While QuadraJets have been occasionally derided as being poor performers, with proper understanding and tuning it can compete at most levels with other designs.

This design proved good enough to last well into the 1980s with emissions modifications while most others carburetors were dropped for the easier to build fuel injection when economy mattered.



==See also==
*[[List of Pontiac vehicles]]
*[[:Category:Pontiac vehicles]]
*[[Pontiac V8 engine]]

==External links==
* [http://www.firebirdnation.com FirebirdNation.com, a site dedicated solely to the Pontiac Firebird, all models and years.]
* [http://www.pontiac.com/ Pontiac web site]
* [http://www.omcea.be/517290,pontiac,trouble/ Pontiac problems], is that over of GTO ?
* [http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Autos/Makes_and_Models/Pontiac/ DMOZ.org: Pontiac]
* [http://pontiac.naszapaczka.com/ Pontiac Gallery] - Pontiac Images
* [http://www.scripophily.net/pospwawo.html Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works made the 1st Pontiac Car] Pontiac, Michigan
[http://www.poci.org Pontiac-Oakland Club International],a site dedicated to the preservation, and enjoyment, all models and years of Pontiacs, Oaklands, and GMC vehicles
[http://www.pontiacregistry.com PontiacRegistry.com]an Internet based Pontiac Club, designed to provide the Pontiac enthusisat with THE most up to the minute Pontiac information and resources, plus 'Discussion Forums.'

[http://bencar.freeyellow.com/76TAPage.html Ben's 1976 Pontiac-Firebird Trans Am Homepage]A personal Website for those who own and admire the 1976 Pontiac Trans Am, with 'Links' to other Pontiac related and automotive related Websites.

{{Pontiac}}
{{General Motors brands}}

[[Category:Automobile manufacturers]]
[[Category:General Motors]]
[[Category:Pontiac]]
[[Category:Makes]]

Pontiac

2007-01-15T23:57:17Z

Bencar:

{{List Of Pontiac Models}}
'''Pontiac''' is a marque of [[automobile]] produced by [[GMC|General Motors]] and sold in the United States from 1926 to the present. In the GM brand lineup, Pontiac is a mid-level brand featuring a more sporting, performance-driving experience for a reasonable price, and a youthful feel to its advertising.

The Pontiac brand was introduced by General Motors in 1926 as the 'companion' marque to GM's Oakland Motor Car line. The Pontiac name was first used in 1906 by the Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works. The Oakland Motor Company and Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works Company decided to merge together in November 1908 under the name of the Oakland Motor Car Company. The operations of both companies were joined together in Pontiac, Michigan to build the Cartercar. Oakland was purchased by General Motors in 1909. The first General Motors Pontiac was conceived as an affordable [[V6|six cylinder]] that was intended to compete with more inexpensive four cylinder models. Within months of its introduction, Pontiac outsold Oakland. As Pontiac's sales rose and Oakland's sales began to decline, Pontiac became the only 'companion' marque to survive its 'parent'.

A Native American Headdress was used as a logo until 1956. The current Pontiac logo represents a Native American arrowhead. An alternate slang term for the marque among performance enthusiasts includes ''Poncho''. Another slang term used in the early stages of brand was "Indian" due the subject matter of its logo.

[[Image:ClassicCar5.JPG|left|thumb|250px|1948 Pontiac Streamliner Sedan Coupe]]

==Middle years==
For an extended period of time, prewar through the early 1950's, the Pontiac was a quiet and solid car, but not especially powerful. A flathead (side-valve) straight eight offered both the quietest and smoothest possible operation, with an appropriately soft suspension and quiet muffler offering the feeling of luxury without the expense. These combinations proved attractive to the vehicle's target market - a reserved lower middle class that was not especially interested in performance or handling and was seeking good value and a roomy vehicle in a step up from the entry-level [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]]. This fit well within parent GM's strategy of passing an increasingly prosperous customer up through the various divisions.

==Performance heritage==
Since the 1957 introduction of the [[Pontiac Bonneville|Bonneville]], Pontiac marketing has emphasized performance; the division's slogan for many years was ''"We Build Excitement"''. Traditionally, each GM division had its own market niche - [[Chevrolet]] was equated with value, [[Oldsmobile]] with technology, [[Buick]] was marketed affordable luxury, [[Cadillac]] as ultimate luxury and Pontiac embraced performance.

After the introduction of the Bonneville in 1957, Pontiac's next success was the introduction of its '''Wide-Track''' suspension layout in 1959. Wide-Track gave the car a broader stance by increasing the width between the wheels, providing greater stability and increased traction.

The [[Pontiac GTO]] was introduced in 1964 by Pontiac's John DeLorean as an option package on the [[Pontiac LeMans]]/[[Tempest]] (GM A-body) car. It was the first intermediate GM vehicle to be powered by the Pontiac division's 389 in³ V8. By being the first brand to feature a large engine in an intermediate car, Pontiac is often credited with launching the [[muscle car]] era. Throughout the 1960s, GTOs were well known for their combination of stunning looks and incredible performance.

The [[Pontiac Firebird|Firebird]], introduced in 1967, was an F-body car that closely mirrored the styling and motor offerings of the LeMans/Tempest cars but was placed on a smaller, sportier platform. This body style and its underlying [[Chevrolet Nova]] chassis were shared with the [[Camaro]], but the Firebird's engines and trim were totally different. As upscale competition for sporty cars like the [[Ford Mustang]] or the [[Dodge Challenger]], the Firebird was perfectly positioned. After reaching record sales levels in the 1970s, in part due to such publicity as the Smokey & the Bandit movies and in part due to being one of the very few performance cars on the market, Firebird sales slowly began to fall in the 1990s and GM pulled the plug on the Camaro/ Firebird lines in 2002, after 35 years of continuous production.

Even more famous was the limited-edition Firebird [[Pontiac Trans Am|Trans Am]], which was first offered in 1969 and continued through the end of the Firebird in 2002. Early on, the Trans Am was most notable for having the same high-performance 400 in³ and 455 in³ V8 engines as the GTO but in a smaller, lighter body. This pattern continued through the late 1970s, after which the Trans Am became more of a luxury model than a real performance machine. [http://bencar.freeyellow.com/TransAmFrameAndYellowTextSmall-2.jpg == '''1976 Pontiac Trans Am Coupe''' == ]

Just about the time that these muscle cars were getting big attention, emissions regulations and oil shortages quickly ground them to a halt. While production first started in the late 1950s, it did not hit its stride until the late 1960s. By 1972, few were left on the market. Most telling was the fate of the GTO - originally conceived as a powerful mid-size coupe, by 1974 the GTO option was offered only on the compact [[Pontiac Ventura|Ventura]]. And then, it too was gone.

From the late 1970s on to the late 1980s, while downsizing its North American operations, General Motors had little funds to spend on independent brand-specific performance platforms. That was, until the [[Pontiac Fiero]] was introduced in 1983 as a 1984 model. Drawing heavily from GM's parts bin, the Fiero was initially billed as a commuter car. While it was not performance oriented in its initial release, its final versions with improved suspension geometry and available 2.8L [[V6|V6]] made the Fiero a potent [[MR layout|mid-engined]] sports car. With the demise of the Fiero in 1988, Pontiac only offered badge engineered products from other GM divisions.

In 2001, Bob Lutz, the former Vice Chairman of the [[Chrysler|Chrysler Corporation]] was hired to help turn GM around. One of his first ideas was to bring back the GTO in order to revive Pontiac's performance heritage in light of the Firebird's demise. Finding limited numbers of smaller rear wheel drive coupe platforms, Pontiac looked to [[Holden]], a GM division of Australia, for the platform of their GTO.

Beginning late 2004, GM's [[Holden]] division produced a version of their [[Holden Monaro|Monaro]] coupe with Pontiac trim and all the attitude of the original 1960s editions. Debuting with the potent 350 [[HP|hp]] [[LS1]] V8 and a world-class chassis, the new GTO is at least as good as its predecessors. But its lackluster styling turned off many buyers and forced GM to add hood scoops and other styling touches in order to make the GTO look like the originals. GM increased the Performance of the GTO in 2005 by adding the [[Corvette]] derived [[LS2]] V8 producing 400 [[HP|hp]].

In the summer of 2005, the [[Pontiac Solstice]] sports roadster arrived, and with it the renewed promise of style and driving fun. It was launched on an episode of The Apprentice; the following day the first thousand Solstices were sold in just 41 minutes. Solstice became one of hottest car America's throughout 2005 as Pontiac reported orders far beyond their ability to produce the car, and dealer mark-ups of thousands of dollars over sticker price, a rarity for GM in this time of deep incentives. Pontiac is upping the ante even more for 2007 with a high-performance version of the Solstice, the Solstice GXP, drawing its power from a [[Turbo Engine|Turbocharged]], Direct Gas Injection, 2.0L 4 cylinder [[Ecotec]] producing 260 [[HP|hp]].

Also in 2005, Pontiac put a V8 under the hood of the [[Pontiac Grand Prix|Grand Prix]]. Called the Grand Prix GXP, it would give the Grand Prix its first V8 since 1987.

A majority of Pontiac dealerships also sell [[GMC]] trucks - the trade name used by GM executives is the Pontiac/GMC division.

==Engines==
Pontiac's second generation V8 engines were nearly identical, allowing many parts to interchange from its advent in 1958 to its demise in 1981. Sizes ranged from 265 in³ to 455 in³. This similarity (except the 301 & 265) makes rebuilding these engines particularly easy, as almost any Pontiac engine one can find will contain useful parts. This dimensional similarity between engines of various capacity also made it possible for Pontiac to invent the modern [[muscle car]], by the relatively simple process of placing its largest engines into its mid-size cars, creating the [[Pontiac GTO]].
The non-traditional Pontiac V8 was the 301 and the smaller displacement 265 in³. Produced from 1977 through 1981, this motor has the distinction of being the last Pontiac V8 produced by PMD. The 301 has a 4 inch bore and 3 inch stroke, identical to the vaunted [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] and Ford 302 motors.

Pontiac engines were not available in Canada, however, but were replaced with [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] engines of similar size and power, resulting in such interesting and unusual (at least to American car fans) models as the Beaumont SD-396 with a [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] big-block 396  in³ V-8.

All Pontiac Motor Division (PMD) engines (pre-1980 unified GM) were designed around a low-RPM/high-torque model, as opposed to the ubiquitous [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] Small-Block engine known for its smaller displacement and high RPM/high power design. PMD engines were unique for their rear distributor, integrated water pump and timing chain cover, and separate valley pan and intake.

==Carburetors==
PMD originally used Rochester 1-barrel [[carburetor]]s for many years, but by the time of the second generation engines had switched mostly to the 2-barrel offerings. These were the basis for the [[Tri-Power]] setups on the engines.

The Tri-Power setup included one center carburetor with idle control and two end carburetors that did not contribute until the throttle was opened more than half way. This was accomplished two ways, mechanically for the [[manual transmission]] models, and via a vacuum-switch on the automatics. This went through various permutations before being banned by GM.

PMD also had a square-bore 4-barrel at the time, but this was rated at a lower power than the Tri-Power. This carburetor was later replaced by the [[Quadrajet]], a spread bore. 'Spread-bore' refers to the difference in sizes between the primaries and secondaries.

By the end of the muscle car era, the QuadraJet setup had become the nearly-ubiquitous choice on PMD engines, due to its excellent economy and power characteristics. While QuadraJets have been occasionally derided as being poor performers, with proper understanding and tuning it can compete at most levels with other designs.

This design proved good enough to last well into the 1980s with emissions modifications while most others carburetors were dropped for the easier to build fuel injection when economy mattered.



==See also==
*[[List of Pontiac vehicles]]
*[[:Category:Pontiac vehicles]]
*[[Pontiac V8 engine]]

==External links==
* [http://www.firebirdnation.com FirebirdNation.com, a site dedicated solely to the Pontiac Firebird, all models and years.]
* [http://www.pontiac.com/ Pontiac web site]
* [http://www.omcea.be/517290,pontiac,trouble/ Pontiac problems], is that over of GTO ?
* [http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Autos/Makes_and_Models/Pontiac/ DMOZ.org: Pontiac]
* [http://pontiac.naszapaczka.com/ Pontiac Gallery] - Pontiac Images
* [http://www.scripophily.net/pospwawo.html Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works made the 1st Pontiac Car] Pontiac, Michigan
[http://www.poci.org Pontiac-Oakland Club International],a site dedicated to the preservation, and enjoyment, all models and years of Pontiacs, Oaklands, and GMC vehicles
[http://www.pontiacregistry.com PontiacRegistry.com]an Internet based Pontiac Club, designed to provide the Pontiac enthusisat with THE most up to the minute Pontiac information and resources, plus 'Discussion Forums.'

[http://bencar.freeyellow.com/76TAPage.html Ben's 1976 Pontiac-Firebird Trans Am Homepage]A personal Website for those who own and admire the 1976 Pontiac Trans Am, with 'Links' to other Pontiac related and automotive related Websites.

{{Pontiac}}
{{General Motors brands}}

[[Category:Automobile manufacturers]]
[[Category:General Motors]]
[[Category:Pontiac]]
[[Category:Makes]]

Pontiac

2007-01-15T23:42:24Z

Bencar:

{{List Of Pontiac Models}}
'''Pontiac''' is a marque of [[automobile]] produced by [[GMC|General Motors]] and sold in the United States from 1926 to the present. In the GM brand lineup, Pontiac is a mid-level brand featuring a more sporting, performance-driving experience for a reasonable price, and a youthful feel to its advertising.

The Pontiac brand was introduced by General Motors in 1926 as the 'companion' marque to GM's Oakland Motor Car line. The Pontiac name was first used in 1906 by the Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works. The Oakland Motor Company and Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works Company decided to merge together in November 1908 under the name of the Oakland Motor Car Company. The operations of both companies were joined together in Pontiac, Michigan to build the Cartercar. Oakland was purchased by General Motors in 1909. The first General Motors Pontiac was conceived as an affordable [[V6|six cylinder]] that was intended to compete with more inexpensive four cylinder models. Within months of its introduction, Pontiac outsold Oakland. As Pontiac's sales rose and Oakland's sales began to decline, Pontiac became the only 'companion' marque to survive its 'parent'.

A Native American Headdress was used as a logo until 1956. The current Pontiac logo represents a Native American arrowhead. An alternate slang term for the marque among performance enthusiasts includes ''Poncho''. Another slang term used in the early stages of brand was "Indian" due the subject matter of its logo.

[[Image:ClassicCar5.JPG|left|thumb|250px|1948 Pontiac Streamliner Sedan Coupe]]

==Middle years==
For an extended period of time, prewar through the early 1950's, the Pontiac was a quiet and solid car, but not especially powerful. A flathead (side-valve) straight eight offered both the quietest and smoothest possible operation, with an appropriately soft suspension and quiet muffler offering the feeling of luxury without the expense. These combinations proved attractive to the vehicle's target market - a reserved lower middle class that was not especially interested in performance or handling and was seeking good value and a roomy vehicle in a step up from the entry-level [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]]. This fit well within parent GM's strategy of passing an increasingly prosperous customer up through the various divisions.

==Performance heritage==
Since the 1957 introduction of the [[Pontiac Bonneville|Bonneville]], Pontiac marketing has emphasized performance; the division's slogan for many years was ''"We Build Excitement"''. Traditionally, each GM division had its own market niche - [[Chevrolet]] was equated with value, [[Oldsmobile]] with technology, [[Buick]] was marketed affordable luxury, [[Cadillac]] as ultimate luxury and Pontiac embraced performance.

After the introduction of the Bonneville in 1957, Pontiac's next success was the introduction of its '''Wide-Track''' suspension layout in 1959. Wide-Track gave the car a broader stance by increasing the width between the wheels, providing greater stability and increased traction.

The [[Pontiac GTO]] was introduced in 1964 by Pontiac's John DeLorean as an option package on the [[Pontiac LeMans]]/[[Tempest]] (GM A-body) car. It was the first intermediate GM vehicle to be powered by the Pontiac division's 389 in³ V8. By being the first brand to feature a large engine in an intermediate car, Pontiac is often credited with launching the [[muscle car]] era. Throughout the 1960s, GTOs were well known for their combination of stunning looks and incredible performance.

The [[Pontiac Firebird|Firebird]], introduced in 1967, was an F-body car that closely mirrored the styling and motor offerings of the LeMans/Tempest cars but was placed on a smaller, sportier platform. This body style and its underlying [[Chevrolet Nova]] chassis were shared with the [[Camaro]], but the Firebird's engines and trim were totally different. As upscale competition for sporty cars like the [[Ford Mustang]] or the [[Dodge Challenger]], the Firebird was perfectly positioned. After reaching record sales levels in the 1970s, in part due to such publicity as the Smokey & the Bandit movies and in part due to being one of the very few performance cars on the market, Firebird sales slowly began to fall in the 1990s and GM pulled the plug on the Camaro/ Firebird lines in 2002, after 35 years of continuous production.

Even more famous was the limited-edition Firebird [[Pontiac Trans Am|Trans Am]], which was first offered in 1969 and continued through the end of the Firebird in 2002. Early on, the Trans Am was most notable for having the same high-performance 400 in³ and 455 in³ V8 engines as the GTO but in a smaller, lighter body. This pattern continued through the late 1970s, after which the Trans Am became more of a luxury model than a real performance machine.

Just about the time that these muscle cars were getting big attention, emissions regulations and oil shortages quickly ground them to a halt. While production first started in the late 1950s, it did not hit its stride until the late 1960s. By 1972, few were left on the market. Most telling was the fate of the GTO - originally conceived as a powerful mid-size coupe, by 1974 the GTO option was offered only on the compact [[Pontiac Ventura|Ventura]]. And then, it too was gone.

From the late 1970s on to the late 1980s, while downsizing its North American operations, General Motors had little funds to spend on independent brand-specific performance platforms. That was, until the [[Pontiac Fiero]] was introduced in 1983 as a 1984 model. Drawing heavily from GM's parts bin, the Fiero was initially billed as a commuter car. While it was not performance oriented in its initial release, its final versions with improved suspension geometry and available 2.8L [[V6|V6]] made the Fiero a potent [[MR layout|mid-engined]] sports car. With the demise of the Fiero in 1988, Pontiac only offered badge engineered products from other GM divisions.

In 2001, Bob Lutz, the former Vice Chairman of the [[Chrysler|Chrysler Corporation]] was hired to help turn GM around. One of his first ideas was to bring back the GTO in order to revive Pontiac's performance heritage in light of the Firebird's demise. Finding limited numbers of smaller rear wheel drive coupe platforms, Pontiac looked to [[Holden]], a GM division of Australia, for the platform of their GTO.

Beginning late 2004, GM's [[Holden]] division produced a version of their [[Holden Monaro|Monaro]] coupe with Pontiac trim and all the attitude of the original 1960s editions. Debuting with the potent 350 [[HP|hp]] [[LS1]] V8 and a world-class chassis, the new GTO is at least as good as its predecessors. But its lackluster styling turned off many buyers and forced GM to add hood scoops and other styling touches in order to make the GTO look like the originals. GM increased the Performance of the GTO in 2005 by adding the [[Corvette]] derived [[LS2]] V8 producing 400 [[HP|hp]].

In the summer of 2005, the [[Pontiac Solstice]] sports roadster arrived, and with it the renewed promise of style and driving fun. It was launched on an episode of The Apprentice; the following day the first thousand Solstices were sold in just 41 minutes. Solstice became one of hottest car America's throughout 2005 as Pontiac reported orders far beyond their ability to produce the car, and dealer mark-ups of thousands of dollars over sticker price, a rarity for GM in this time of deep incentives. Pontiac is upping the ante even more for 2007 with a high-performance version of the Solstice, the Solstice GXP, drawing its power from a [[Turbo Engine|Turbocharged]], Direct Gas Injection, 2.0L 4 cylinder [[Ecotec]] producing 260 [[HP|hp]].

Also in 2005, Pontiac put a V8 under the hood of the [[Pontiac Grand Prix|Grand Prix]]. Called the Grand Prix GXP, it would give the Grand Prix its first V8 since 1987.

A majority of Pontiac dealerships also sell [[GMC]] trucks - the trade name used by GM executives is the Pontiac/GMC division.

==Engines==
Pontiac's second generation V8 engines were nearly identical, allowing many parts to interchange from its advent in 1958 to its demise in 1981. Sizes ranged from 265 in³ to 455 in³. This similarity (except the 301 & 265) makes rebuilding these engines particularly easy, as almost any Pontiac engine one can find will contain useful parts. This dimensional similarity between engines of various capacity also made it possible for Pontiac to invent the modern [[muscle car]], by the relatively simple process of placing its largest engines into its mid-size cars, creating the [[Pontiac GTO]].
The non-traditional Pontiac V8 was the 301 and the smaller displacement 265 in³. Produced from 1977 through 1981, this motor has the distinction of being the last Pontiac V8 produced by PMD. The 301 has a 4 inch bore and 3 inch stroke, identical to the vaunted [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] and Ford 302 motors.

Pontiac engines were not available in Canada, however, but were replaced with [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] engines of similar size and power, resulting in such interesting and unusual (at least to American car fans) models as the Beaumont SD-396 with a [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] big-block 396  in³ V-8.

All Pontiac Motor Division (PMD) engines (pre-1980 unified GM) were designed around a low-RPM/high-torque model, as opposed to the ubiquitous [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] Small-Block engine known for its smaller displacement and high RPM/high power design. PMD engines were unique for their rear distributor, integrated water pump and timing chain cover, and separate valley pan and intake.

==Carburetors==
PMD originally used Rochester 1-barrel [[carburetor]]s for many years, but by the time of the second generation engines had switched mostly to the 2-barrel offerings. These were the basis for the [[Tri-Power]] setups on the engines.

The Tri-Power setup included one center carburetor with idle control and two end carburetors that did not contribute until the throttle was opened more than half way. This was accomplished two ways, mechanically for the [[manual transmission]] models, and via a vacuum-switch on the automatics. This went through various permutations before being banned by GM.

PMD also had a square-bore 4-barrel at the time, but this was rated at a lower power than the Tri-Power. This carburetor was later replaced by the [[Quadrajet]], a spread bore. 'Spread-bore' refers to the difference in sizes between the primaries and secondaries.

By the end of the muscle car era, the QuadraJet setup had become the nearly-ubiquitous choice on PMD engines, due to its excellent economy and power characteristics. While QuadraJets have been occasionally derided as being poor performers, with proper understanding and tuning it can compete at most levels with other designs.

This design proved good enough to last well into the 1980s with emissions modifications while most others carburetors were dropped for the easier to build fuel injection when economy mattered.



==See also==
*[[List of Pontiac vehicles]]
*[[:Category:Pontiac vehicles]]
*[[Pontiac V8 engine]]

==External links==
* [http://www.firebirdnation.com FirebirdNation.com, a site dedicated solely to the Pontiac Firebird, all models and years.]
* [http://www.pontiac.com/ Pontiac web site]
* [http://www.omcea.be/517290,pontiac,trouble/ Pontiac problems], is that over of GTO ?
* [http://dmoz.org/Recreation/Autos/Makes_and_Models/Pontiac/ DMOZ.org: Pontiac]
* [http://pontiac.naszapaczka.com/ Pontiac Gallery] - Pontiac Images
* [http://www.scripophily.net/pospwawo.html Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works made the 1st Pontiac Car] Pontiac, Michigan
[http://www.poci.org Pontiac-Oakland Club International],a site dedicated to the preservation, and enjoyment, all models and years of Pontiacs, Oaklands, and GMC vehicles
[http://www.pontiacregistry.com PontiacRegistry.com]an Internet based Pontiac Club, designed to provide the Pontiac enthusisat with THE most up to the minute Pontiac information and resources, plus 'Discussion Forums.'

[http://bencar.freeyellow.com/76TAPage.html Ben's 1976 Pontiac-Firebird Trans Am Homepage]A personal Website for those who own and admire the 1976 Pontiac Trans Am, with 'Links' to other Pontiac related and automotive related Websites.

{{Pontiac}}
{{General Motors brands}}

[[Category:Automobile manufacturers]]
[[Category:General Motors]]
[[Category:Pontiac]]
[[Category:Makes]]

Plymouth

2007-01-12T03:07:48Z

Bencar: /* External links */

[[Image:Plymouthlogo.jpg|thumb|right|Plymouth "sailboat logo" used from 1996 to 2001.]]
[[Image:Plymouthinsignia1960s.gif|thumb|right|Plymouth division logo, 1960s.]]
'''Plymouth''' was a brand of [[automobile]] based in the United States, marketed by the [[Chrysler|Chrysler Corporation]] and [[DaimlerChrysler]] from 1928 to 2001.

For much of its life, Plymouth was one of the top selling American automobile brands, along with [[Chevrolet]] and [[Ford]] ("the low-priced three"). Plymouth even surpassed Ford for a time in the 1940s as the second most popular make of automobiles in the U.S. Through 1956, Plymouth vehicles were known for their durability, affordability and engineering. In 1957, Chrysler's ''Forward Look'' styling theme produced cars with much more advanced styling than [[Chevrolet|Chevrolet]] or Ford, although Plymouth's reputation would ulitmately suffer as the cars were prone to rust and sloppy assembly. The marque also introduced its limited production Fury line in 1956, and it too benefited from the crisp Forward Look designs.

The Plymouth brand lost market share rapidly in the early 1960s. While Plymouth was a styling leader from 1957 to 1958, its 1959 through 1962 models were awkwardly styled cars that failed to strike a chord with the public. Plymouth also found itself in competition with its own corporate sister division [[Dodge]] when the lower-priced full-size [[Dodge Dart]] was introduced for 1960. [[Rambler]], and then [[Pontiac]] would assume the number three sales position for the remainder of the decade. Plymouth went into a decline from which it would never fully recover.

The marque regained market share following the introduction of the 1965 models, which returned Plymouth to full-size vehicles and more mainstream styling. Plymouth regained its traditional third place in the sales race in 1971 and 1974, primarily with its popular [[Plymouth Valiant|Valiant]] and [[Plymouth Duster|Duster]] compact models, but as a brand Plymouth was hardest hit by Chrysler's financial woes of the late 1970s. Marketing decisions ultimately reduced the Plymouth lineup to the point that it was no longer a full-line make (by the late 1990s, only four cars were sold under the Plamouth marque: the [[Plymouth Voyager|Voyager/Grand Voyager]] minivan, the [[Plymouth Breeze|Breeze]] mid-size sedan, the [[Plymouth Neon|Neon]] compact car, and the [[Plymouth Prowler|Prowler]] sports car). New models were increasingly given to the Dodge and Chrysler brands, and denied to Plymouth. By 1979, its lineup consisted of only the domestically produced Volare and Horizon models, and a number of rebadged [[Mitsubishi Motors Corporation|Mitsubishi]] imports.

After discontinuing the [[Eagle]] brand in 1998, Chrysler was planning to expand the Plymouth line with a number of unique models before the corporation's merger with [[Daimler-Benz]] AG. The first model was the [[Plymouth Prowler]], a modern-day [[hot rod]]. The [[Chrysler PT Cruiser|PT Cruiser]] was to have been the second. Both models had a similar grille, showing that Chrysler was intending to take a retro styling route with the Plymouth brand. Other than the Prowler, at the time of the takeover Plymouth had no unique products that were not also available in the Dodge line. Furthermore, whereas all Plymouth dealers also sold the Chrysler line of cars, many Dodge dealers sold only Dodge; thus it would cause much more dealer disarray to discontinue Dodge than it would to discontinue Plymouth. Consequently, DaimlerChrysler decided to drop the make after a limited run of 2001 models. The PT Cruiser was ultimately launched as a Chrysler, and the Prowler line was absorbed into that make as well. The [[Plymouth Voyager]] was also briefly absorbed into the Chrysler line.

== Plymouth car models ==
[[Image:ClassicCar4.JPG|right|thumb|250px|1935 Plymouth PJ Touring Sedan]]
[[Image:800px-1942 Plymouth.jpg|right|thumb|250px|1942 Plymouth]]
[[Image:800px-1966_Plymouth_Barracuda.jpg|right|thumb|250px|1966 Plymouth Barracuda]]
[[Image:PlymouthReliant1987.jpg|right|thumb|250px|1987 Plymouth Reliant K]]
[[Image:1997Voyager.jpg|right|thumb|250px|1997 Plymouth Voyager]]
*[[Plymouth Acclaim]] (1989-1995)
*[[Plymouth Arrow]] (1976-1980, rebadged [[Mitsubishi Lancer|Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste]])
*[[Dodge Ram 50|Plymouth Arrow Truck]] (1979-1982, rebadged [[Mitsubishi Forte]])
*[[Plymouth Barracuda]] (1964-1974)
*[[Plymouth Belvedere]] (1954-1970)
*[[Plymouth Breeze]] (1996-2000)
*[[Plymouth Caravelle]] (1985-1988)
*[[Plymouth Champ]] (1979-1982, rebadged [[Mitsubishi Mirage]])
*[[Plymouth Colt]] (1983-1994, rebadged [[Mitsubishi Mirage]])
*[[Plymouth Conquest]] (1984-1986, rebadged [[Mitsubishi Starion]])
*[[Plymouth Cranbrook]]
*[[Plymouth Cricket]] (1971-1975, rebadged [[Hillman Avenger]])
*[[Plymouth Duster]] (1970-1976)
*[[Plymouth Fury]] (1956-1978)
*[[Plymouth Gran Fury]] (1975-1977, 1980-1989)
*[[Plymouth Grand Voyager]] (1987-2000)
*[[Plymouth GTX]] (1967-1971)
*[[Plymouth Horizon]] (1978-1990)
*[[Plymouth Laser]] (1990-1994, rebadged [[Mitsubishi Eclipse]])
*[[Plymouth Neon]] (1995-2001)
*[[Plymouth Plaza]] (1954-1958)
*[[Plymouth Prowler]] (1997-2001)
*[[Plymouth Reliant]] (1981-1989)
*[[Plymouth Road Runner]] (1968-1980)
*[[Plymouth Sapporo]] (1978-1983, rebadged [[Mitsubishi Galant]])
*[[Plymouth Satellite]] (1966-1974)
*[[Plymouth Savoy]] (1951-1965)
*[[Plymouth Scamp]] (1971-1976)
*[[Plymouth Scamp]] (1982-1983)
*[[Plymouth Sundance]] (1987-1994)
*[[Plymouth Suburban]]
*[[Plymouth Superbird]] (1970)
*[[Plymouth TC3]] (1979-1982)
*[[Plymouth Trailduster]] (1974-1981)
*[[Plymouth Turismo]] (1983-1987)
*[[Plymouth Valiant]] (1960-1976)
*[[Plymouth VIP]] (1966-1969)
*[[Plymouth Volaré]] (1976-1980)
*[[Plymouth Voyager]] (1974-2000)

==External links==
* [http://www.stockmopar.com/ Stock Mopar] — dedicated to all Mopars, especially the Mopars from the muscle car era!
* [http://www.allpar.com/ Allpar] — A comprehensive resource for information on Chrysler Corporation and related automobiles and products, including historical information, forums, and current news and reviews.
* [http://www.musclecarfacts.com/mcf/index.asp Muscle Car Facts]- A year by year account of some of the greatest mopar muscle cars ever.
* [http://clubs.hemmings.com/nynjslant6/ NY-NJ Slant-Six Club of America]-A Club dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of all Chrysler products powered by the venerable 'Slant-Six' engine.

{{Plymouth}}

{{DaimlerChrysler}}

[[Category:Makes]]
[[Category:1928 establishments]]
[[Category:2001 disestablishments]]
[[Category:Chrysler]]
[[Category:Discontinued Makes]]

Plymouth Savoy

2007-01-12T02:52:44Z

Bencar:

[http://bencar.freeyellow.com/CopyofPlymouthWithFrameAndBlackBoxAndTextSmallBrightened.jpg]]

File:100 2059.JPG

2007-01-12T02:49:34Z

Bencar:

My 1976 Carousel Red Pontiac Trans Am. More info available at [http://bencar.freeyellow.com/76TAPage.html]

File:100 2059.JPG

2007-01-12T02:45:46Z

Bencar: My 1976 Carousel Red Pontiac Trans Am. More info available at http://bencar.freeyellow.com/76TAPage.html

My 1976 Carousel Red Pontiac Trans Am. More info available at http://bencar.freeyellow.com/76TAPage.html

Classic car

2007-01-12T02:38:36Z

Bencar: /* External links */

[[Image:Ford Model A Fordor.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Ford Model A]] Four-door]]
[[Image:1948 Buick Eight convertible.jpg|thumbnail|right|1948 [[Buick Eight]] convertible]]
[[Image:ClassicCar6.JPG|thumbnail|right|1959 [[Chevrolet Impala]]]]
[[Image:DirkvdM yank tank yellow.jpg|thumb|A '[[yank tank]]' or 'maquina' in [[Havana]], Cuba]]
[[Image:DirkvdM yank tank blue-red.jpg|thumb|Another 'yank tank' in Havana]]

'''Classic car''' is a term frequently used to describe an older [[automobile|car]], but the exact meaning is subject to
serious differences in opinion. One school, the broader "antique car club" faction, are very inclusive. Almost any older car in fine condition becomes a classic. The other extreme are the "[[Concours d'Elegance]]" supporters, such as the CCCA, who think that only a few thousand "Classic Era Motor Cars" even exist in good condition. They consider nothing newer than 1948 to qualify.

25 years is generally considered a good cut-off age for such terms because it's extremely rare for a vehicle that old to still be owned or used without special consideration for its classic status — by 25 years old, a car will have exceeded its design life by some considerable margin, 10-15 years being the norm barring accidental loss. It will probably need significant maintenance to keep running, and many parts will be hard to obtain through the usual channels. Thus, a non-enthusiast will sensibly conclude that it is not feasible to continue using a car that old for regular driving.

This is not to say that an enthusiast of classic cars might not drive such an old vehicle daily, but that enthusiast will be willing to live with the greater difficulty of so doing or the high cost of restoring the vehicle to reliable condition. Another reason to drive classic cars is that alternatives are hard to come by, as is the case in [[Cuba]], because before the [[Cuban revolution]] many rich US citizens lived there, but after the revolution the influx of cars stopped, at least in part due to the [[United States embargo against Cuba]], so people made sure to keep the cars they ''had'' in good condition. As a result, Cuba is in the unique position that pre-1959 cars are the standard, rather than an exception, although that is slowly changing. These cars are generally referred to as [[yank tank]]s or maquinas and often used as taxis.

==Classic Car Club of America Definition==
The [[Classic Car Club of America]] "claims" to have invented the term '''Classic car''' and thus they believe that the true definition of the term is "theirs". According to the CCCA:

:''A CCCA Classic is a "fine" or "distinctive" automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between 1925 and 1948. Generally, a Classic was high-priced when new and was built in limited quantities. Other factors, including engine displacement, custom coachwork and luxury accessories, such as power brakes, power clutch, and "one-shot" or automatic lubrication systems, help determine whether a car is considered to be a Classic.''

The Club keeps an exhaustive list of the vehicles they consider Classics, and while any member may petition for a vehicle to join the list, such applications are carefully scrutinised and rarely is a new vehicle type admitted.

This rather exclusive definition of a classic car is by no means universally followed, however, and this is acknowledged by the CCCA: while they still maintain the true definition of 'classic car' is theirs, they generally use terms such as ''CCCA Classic'' or the trademarked ''Full Classic'' to avoid confusion.

==Other Definitions==
===United States Legal Definition===
Legally, most states have time-based rules for the definition of "classic" for purposes such as [[antique vehicle registration]]; for example, Pennsylvania defines it as "A motor vehicle, but not a reproduction thereof, manufactured at least 15 years prior to the current year which has been maintained in or restored to a condition which is substantially in conformity with manufacturer specifications and appearance."

===Antique Automobile Club of America===
Alternate usage fundamentally equates ''Classic car'' with the definition of [[antique car]] as used by the [[Antique Automobile Club of America]], who define an Antique car as "anything" over 25 years old. Thus, in this "broader usage" any car over 25 years old can be called a 'classic car'.

===United Kingdom===
There is no fixed definition of a Classic car. Two taxation issues do impact however, leading to some people using them as cut off dates. All cars first registered before 1 January 1973 are free from paying the annual [[Antique vehicle registration|vehicle excise duty]]. The government Revenue and Customs define a classic car for company taxation purposes as being over 15 years old and having a value in excess of £15,000. [http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/eim23200.htm]

== Classic Car Styling ==
There was a world wide sea-change in styling in the immediate years after the end of World War II. The 1949 Ford, for example, utterly changed the traditional discrete "replaceable" fender treatment and the radiator "semi-functional" look. From this point on, automobiles of all kinds became "rounded boxes", in basic plan. The CCCA term, "Classic Car" has been confined to "the functionally traditional designs of the earlier period" (mostly pre-war). They tended to have "removable", fenders, trunk, headlights, and a usual vertical grill treatment. In a large vehicle, such as a Duesenberg or Pierce Arrow or in a smaller form, the MG TC, with traditional lines, might typify the "CCCA" term. Since some antique car owners are "investors" it serves the purposes of those clubs to classify a "new look" car as a classic. Thus, it may be a "classic" example of a later period, but not a car from the "Classic period of Design", in the opinion of the traditionalist CCCA faction. Those of the "Antique Car", school of thought would include a 1980 "Anything", that is "clean".

The French 1948 Delahaye is a good the example of a final year of "Classic Era Design".
[[Image:DelaHaye.jpg|thumb|200px|right|1948 Delahaye {{3d glasses}}]]

Among the Marques (Brand names) of cars that are usually considered "Classic" by the "traditionalist group" are:

[[Auburn Automobile|Auburn]] -
[[Bentley]] -
[[BMW]] -
[[Buick]] -
[[Cadillac]] -
[[Cord]] -
[[Delahaye]] -
[[Duesenberg]] -
[[Graham]] -
[[Hispano-Suiza]] -
[[Jaguar]] -
[[LaSalle]] -
[[Lincoln]] -
[[Mercedes-Benz]] -
[[MG]] -
[[Morgan]] -
[[NSU]] -
[[Packard]] -
[[Pierce-Arrow]] -
[[Renault]] -
[[Rolls-Royce]] -
[[Stutz]]

==See also==
*[[Veteran car]]
*[[Vintage car]]
*[[Antique car]]

==External links==
* [http://www.classicrallies.com Classic Rallies] - Where Historic rallies and races enthusiasts click - lots of excellent classic car pictures, a complete worldwide events calendar, Classic cars Classifieds and automobilia.
* [http://www.classicsandcustoms.com Classics and Customs] - Collector cars for sale, forums and resources for car enthusiasts.
* [http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk Old Classic Car] - A UK based site containing articles, an extensive photograph archive, and free downloads for enthusiasts of classic and vintage cars.
* [http://www.mydreamwheels.com Custom Classic Cars & hot rods] - Online resource for Custom car enthusiasts and collectors
* [http://www.is-it-a-lemon.com/classic-car/index.htm Classic Cars history] - Online resource for classic cars based on car model, year and specification.
* [http://www.classic-and-dream-cars.com Classic & Dream Cars] - Dedicated to Classic Cars and their influence on present Concept Cars' design.
* [http://www.classicnation.com Classic Nation] - A classic car enthusiast website with pictures, classifieds, forum and event calendar.
* [http://www.My-Classic-Car.org My-Classic-Car Community] - A classic car restorers/enthusiast resource with videos, pictures, classifieds, forums and event calendars.
* [http://www.clubsportiva.com Club Sportiva] - A classic, sports and exotic car sharing club.
* [http://www.carinpieces.com Car-in-Pieces] - A classic car restorers/enthusiast website with galleries, forums, classifieds, user blogs and event calendar.
* [http://www.classiccardirectory.co.uk] - A free to enter directory of classic car related websites.
{{Automobile history eras}}
[[Category:Automobile history eras]]
[[Category:Classic Cars]]
* [http://clubs.hemmings.com/nynjslant6 A Club dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of all Chrysler products powered by the venerable 'Slant-Six' engine

Hobbyist Cars: Those that aren't necessarily coveted as investments, but are recognized by various State laws as being 'Antique', or 'Historic', generally meaning that they are at least 25 years old

Classic car

2007-01-12T02:36:14Z

Bencar:

[[Image:Ford Model A Fordor.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Ford Model A]] Four-door]]
[[Image:1948 Buick Eight convertible.jpg|thumbnail|right|1948 [[Buick Eight]] convertible]]
[[Image:ClassicCar6.JPG|thumbnail|right|1959 [[Chevrolet Impala]]]]
[[Image:DirkvdM yank tank yellow.jpg|thumb|A '[[yank tank]]' or 'maquina' in [[Havana]], Cuba]]
[[Image:DirkvdM yank tank blue-red.jpg|thumb|Another 'yank tank' in Havana]]

'''Classic car''' is a term frequently used to describe an older [[automobile|car]], but the exact meaning is subject to
serious differences in opinion. One school, the broader "antique car club" faction, are very inclusive. Almost any older car in fine condition becomes a classic. The other extreme are the "[[Concours d'Elegance]]" supporters, such as the CCCA, who think that only a few thousand "Classic Era Motor Cars" even exist in good condition. They consider nothing newer than 1948 to qualify.

25 years is generally considered a good cut-off age for such terms because it's extremely rare for a vehicle that old to still be owned or used without special consideration for its classic status — by 25 years old, a car will have exceeded its design life by some considerable margin, 10-15 years being the norm barring accidental loss. It will probably need significant maintenance to keep running, and many parts will be hard to obtain through the usual channels. Thus, a non-enthusiast will sensibly conclude that it is not feasible to continue using a car that old for regular driving.

This is not to say that an enthusiast of classic cars might not drive such an old vehicle daily, but that enthusiast will be willing to live with the greater difficulty of so doing or the high cost of restoring the vehicle to reliable condition. Another reason to drive classic cars is that alternatives are hard to come by, as is the case in [[Cuba]], because before the [[Cuban revolution]] many rich US citizens lived there, but after the revolution the influx of cars stopped, at least in part due to the [[United States embargo against Cuba]], so people made sure to keep the cars they ''had'' in good condition. As a result, Cuba is in the unique position that pre-1959 cars are the standard, rather than an exception, although that is slowly changing. These cars are generally referred to as [[yank tank]]s or maquinas and often used as taxis.

==Classic Car Club of America Definition==
The [[Classic Car Club of America]] "claims" to have invented the term '''Classic car''' and thus they believe that the true definition of the term is "theirs". According to the CCCA:

:''A CCCA Classic is a "fine" or "distinctive" automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between 1925 and 1948. Generally, a Classic was high-priced when new and was built in limited quantities. Other factors, including engine displacement, custom coachwork and luxury accessories, such as power brakes, power clutch, and "one-shot" or automatic lubrication systems, help determine whether a car is considered to be a Classic.''

The Club keeps an exhaustive list of the vehicles they consider Classics, and while any member may petition for a vehicle to join the list, such applications are carefully scrutinised and rarely is a new vehicle type admitted.

This rather exclusive definition of a classic car is by no means universally followed, however, and this is acknowledged by the CCCA: while they still maintain the true definition of 'classic car' is theirs, they generally use terms such as ''CCCA Classic'' or the trademarked ''Full Classic'' to avoid confusion.

==Other Definitions==
===United States Legal Definition===
Legally, most states have time-based rules for the definition of "classic" for purposes such as [[antique vehicle registration]]; for example, Pennsylvania defines it as "A motor vehicle, but not a reproduction thereof, manufactured at least 15 years prior to the current year which has been maintained in or restored to a condition which is substantially in conformity with manufacturer specifications and appearance."

===Antique Automobile Club of America===
Alternate usage fundamentally equates ''Classic car'' with the definition of [[antique car]] as used by the [[Antique Automobile Club of America]], who define an Antique car as "anything" over 25 years old. Thus, in this "broader usage" any car over 25 years old can be called a 'classic car'.

===United Kingdom===
There is no fixed definition of a Classic car. Two taxation issues do impact however, leading to some people using them as cut off dates. All cars first registered before 1 January 1973 are free from paying the annual [[Antique vehicle registration|vehicle excise duty]]. The government Revenue and Customs define a classic car for company taxation purposes as being over 15 years old and having a value in excess of £15,000. [http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/eim23200.htm]

== Classic Car Styling ==
There was a world wide sea-change in styling in the immediate years after the end of World War II. The 1949 Ford, for example, utterly changed the traditional discrete "replaceable" fender treatment and the radiator "semi-functional" look. From this point on, automobiles of all kinds became "rounded boxes", in basic plan. The CCCA term, "Classic Car" has been confined to "the functionally traditional designs of the earlier period" (mostly pre-war). They tended to have "removable", fenders, trunk, headlights, and a usual vertical grill treatment. In a large vehicle, such as a Duesenberg or Pierce Arrow or in a smaller form, the MG TC, with traditional lines, might typify the "CCCA" term. Since some antique car owners are "investors" it serves the purposes of those clubs to classify a "new look" car as a classic. Thus, it may be a "classic" example of a later period, but not a car from the "Classic period of Design", in the opinion of the traditionalist CCCA faction. Those of the "Antique Car", school of thought would include a 1980 "Anything", that is "clean".

The French 1948 Delahaye is a good the example of a final year of "Classic Era Design".
[[Image:DelaHaye.jpg|thumb|200px|right|1948 Delahaye {{3d glasses}}]]

Among the Marques (Brand names) of cars that are usually considered "Classic" by the "traditionalist group" are:

[[Auburn Automobile|Auburn]] -
[[Bentley]] -
[[BMW]] -
[[Buick]] -
[[Cadillac]] -
[[Cord]] -
[[Delahaye]] -
[[Duesenberg]] -
[[Graham]] -
[[Hispano-Suiza]] -
[[Jaguar]] -
[[LaSalle]] -
[[Lincoln]] -
[[Mercedes-Benz]] -
[[MG]] -
[[Morgan]] -
[[NSU]] -
[[Packard]] -
[[Pierce-Arrow]] -
[[Renault]] -
[[Rolls-Royce]] -
[[Stutz]]

==See also==
*[[Veteran car]]
*[[Vintage car]]
*[[Antique car]]

==External links==
* [http://www.classicrallies.com Classic Rallies] - Where Historic rallies and races enthusiasts click - lots of excellent classic car pictures, a complete worldwide events calendar, Classic cars Classifieds and automobilia.
* [http://www.classicsandcustoms.com Classics and Customs] - Collector cars for sale, forums and resources for car enthusiasts.
* [http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk Old Classic Car] - A UK based site containing articles, an extensive photograph archive, and free downloads for enthusiasts of classic and vintage cars.
* [http://www.mydreamwheels.com Custom Classic Cars & hot rods] - Online resource for Custom car enthusiasts and collectors
* [http://www.is-it-a-lemon.com/classic-car/index.htm Classic Cars history] - Online resource for classic cars based on car model, year and specification.
* [http://www.classic-and-dream-cars.com Classic & Dream Cars] - Dedicated to Classic Cars and their influence on present Concept Cars' design.
* [http://www.classicnation.com Classic Nation] - A classic car enthusiast website with pictures, classifieds, forum and event calendar.
* [http://www.My-Classic-Car.org My-Classic-Car Community] - A classic car restorers/enthusiast resource with videos, pictures, classifieds, forums and event calendars.
* [http://www.clubsportiva.com Club Sportiva] - A classic, sports and exotic car sharing club.
* [http://www.carinpieces.com Car-in-Pieces] - A classic car restorers/enthusiast website with galleries, forums, classifieds, user blogs and event calendar.
* [http://www.classiccardirectory.co.uk] - A free to enter directory of classic car related websites.
{{Automobile history eras}}
[[Category:Automobile history eras]]
[[Category:Classic Cars]]
Hobbyist Cars: Those that aren't necessarily coveted as investments, but are recognized by various State laws as being 'Antique', or 'Historic', generally meaning that they are at least 25 years old