Where Pontiac Came From!

[04GA/GT/SCT]

If anyone is interested in seeing how Pontiac got its start, take a look. The link below is video footage from a show in August where the largest gathering of Oakland cars was held. Comments are welcome!

Oakland 100 Years (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-R4qkjV4pw)

[car audio dave]

well it make sense that there is a "pontiac and Oaklands club"... I always figures as much.

now...was oakland a GM brand? those cars in the vid are from when cars were built one at a time...and there were coach builders. very cool.

[b2089]

The Oakland brand goes back to when each GM brand made an offshoot. It would be like the Geo / Chevrolet thing sort of but the two were tied together more closely. Oakland was the original brand that Pontiac was made to accompany. The other companion brands were disolved but GM choose to keep the Pontiac name making it the only companion to live on, at the expense of it's main brand.

It's hard to explain because I don't understand it completely myself.

[Nighthawk243]

Oakland started off as its own company in the early 1900's but then was acquired by gm not that long after its founding. Pontiac was meant to be a cheaper companion of the Oakland, but the Pontiac gained more sales than the Oakland marque, so GM killed off the Oakland brand in order to put more focus on the Pontiac line. The Pontiac was cheaper, and lighter than the oakland, and had a 6 cyl at the price of the 4 cyl.

[TA^Guy]

Originally posted by Nighthawk243
Oakland started off as its own company in the early 1900's but then was acquired by gm not that long after its founding. Pontiac was meant to be a cheaper companion of the Oakland, but the Pontiac gained more sales than the Oakland marque, so GM killed off the Oakland brand in order to put more focus on the Pontiac line. The Pontiac was cheaper, and lighter than the oakland, and had a 6 cyl at the price of the 4 cyl.
:agree:
Originally posted by car audio dave
now...was oakland a GM brand? those cars in the vid are from when cars were built one at a time...and there were coach builders. very cool.
Wantto talk about coach builders and GM...
I'm sure you are aware of the "Body By Fisher" logos deaces of many GM vehicles. In short, GM contracted coach and carraige builders, the Fisher family to build a few vehicles for them. They ended up with more and more and in turn later taking over the company.

I love GM automotive history. :)

[Big Joe]

Originally posted by car audio dave
well it make sense that there is a "pontiac and Oaklands club"... I always figures as much.

Im not sure what club that is in the picture but there is a nation wide club Named POCI. Stands for Pontiac Oakland Club International. I go to alot of there shows every summer they have everything there from these early 1900 Oakland's all the way up to the 5th Gen Grand Am's. Well usually we're the only people at the show with grand ams but whatever :lol: