Text by Patrick Bell.
Pontiac excitement had cranked up during this era, and today’s gallery has a nice selection of that excitement. Let’s take a peek.
We will get off to a fast start today with a close-to-new looking 1968 Firebird 400 sport coupe. It was well-equipped, with a hood-mounted tachometer, remote control mirror, and whitewall tires on Rally II styled wheels. The gentleman looked justifiably proud of it.
Let’s take a step back into the 50’s and look at this 1959 Bonneville sport coupe. It was the first year of the split grille style that became a Pontiac trademark, as well as the first use of the “Wide-Track Wheels” slogan (shortened by 1961 to “Wide-Track”). This one had what appears to have been a chrome wheel with a spinner center on the front, with a full wheel cover on the rear. It had a Washington state license plate issued in Asotin County, where the seat is a town of the same name. Asotin County is located in the far southeast corner of the state. Across the street was a 1965 Plymouth Valiant 100 4-door sedan, beyond it in the driveway looked like a 1960 Ford full-size, and down the street a Volkswagen Type 1.
Pontiac took a short break from the split grille, as shown in this 1960 Bonneville Vista 4-door hardtop. It was a clean two-year-old car (per the photo date) equipped with a rear-mounted antenna, whitewalls, and curb feelers to keep them looking good. The gentleman did look like a Pontiac man. Down the street was a 1962 Ford Galaxie 500.
The split grille was back for good in 1961, as seen in this 4-door sedan with an Ontario license plate issued in 1964. I can’t tell if this was a Canadian Strato-Chief or an American Catalina. (The only difference I know of from this view was the nameplate on the front door, which is difficult to read in this image.) The lady appeared to be enjoying a warm sunny day.
This appeared to be a Pontiac neighborhood, with a newish 1964 Le Mans convertible from Illinois in the foreground, and to the left a 1963 Catalina or Star Chief. Perhaps the youngster was thinking, “This is going to be my car someday.”
Another new-looking one, a 1964 GTO hardtop with the standard hub caps and what appeared to be red line tires. Across the street was a sharp-looking Triumph TR4 or TR4A, and to balance things out on the right upper edge a 1964 Rambler American.
Another Pontiac household, with a 1965 Le Mans sport coupe with standard hub caps and whitewall tires. Behind it was a 1963 Star Chief 4-door sedan.
Here was a 1965 GTO Sport Coupe registered in Lee County, Iowa. It apparently belonged to a military man, going by the base decal on the bumper. The spare tire may have been mounted on the back, and there was a STP decal in the quarter window. Under the carport on the left was a red 1967 Ford Galaxie 500.
A man was out for a drive on a late fall or early winter day with some new snow melting away. His ride was a 1963 Catalina convertible with full wheel covers and an aftermarket fender-mounted mirror.
This 1966 Tempest Custom Hardtop Coupe looked good in light yellow, and appeared to be equipped with the Sprint package, which meant the four-barrel version of the Pontiac overhead cam six-cylinder engine. The owner apparently preferred no wheel covers with their whitewalls. Parked behind it was what looks like a 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II.
These folks were out for a drive in the rolling hills with a 1965 Catalina sport coupe with what might have been an Illinois license plate.
A sharply dressed dude was posing with a 1968 Firebird convertible with Rally II wheels and aftermarket fog lights. It looks like he was about to leave for the prom or a similar function.
A friendly person was waving goodbye as they were leaving in their red 1972 LeMans Sport hardtop coupe. It had either an unusual canopy-type vinyl roof or a two-tone roof treatment, definitely aftermarket. In the background was a boat storage facility, and along the right edge was a Chevrolet Sportvan or GMC Rally from the 1981-1991 era.
A lady wearing a white top over blue jeans was standing by a matching 1972 Firebird coupe with a 1974 issue Missouri license plate. It was equipped with a 350 cubic inch V8, Cordova vinyl roof, body-colored outside mirrors, and Rally II wheels. Someone was waiting patiently in the passenger seat. Down the street, all I can ID is the closest one parked at the curb, which was a 1972 Ford full-size.
The Colonnade pillared hardtop style was introduced for the GM intermediates for 1973, and this Grand Prix SJ wore it well. The SJ Option included a 455 cubic inch V8 and body-colored outside mirrors along with other goodies. This one also had a white Cordova top, cornering lights, and honeycomb wheels.
The 1975 Bonneville on the left looked tired, and since it was blocked in by the Christmas tree, it may have been retired. The silver paint looked dead, but it had a red interior. To the right was a 1980-1984 Buick Electra.
We opened today with a fast one, so here is another one to close: a 1979-1981 Firebird Trans Am equipped with Rally II wheels. It was likely this young man’s car. On the other side of it looks like a 1969-1971 Chrysler 4 door hardtop.
Thanks for joining us, and have a Wide Track day!
Looking at these beautiful cars I wonder why GM allowed the PMD to wither and die on the vine .
-Nate
The Asotin county car probably isn’t in Asotin, a sparsely settled town without much suburbia. Most likely in nearby Lewiston or Clarkston.