Search the Community

Source: General Motors First shown as a concept at the 2002 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the Solstice immediately gained a huge following, both inside and outside of General Motors. Designed from the ground up in less than four months, the 2002 Solstice concept car promised thrilling, open-air driving freedom in the spirit of the great roadsters of the past. Built on GM

Depending on when and where you grew up, the name David Hasselhoff likely conjures up images of Knight Rider, Baywatch, pop singer, or possibly a washed-up TV actor, but one thing that can never be taken away from The Hoff is his connection to one of the greatest automotive icons in pop culture. The Knight Industries Two Thousand, usually shortened to simply KITT, was the real star of Knight Rider for many fans. Based on a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, the car combined snarky quips for comedy relief and stunts to provide much of the show's actions. Now, Julien's Auctions is selling Hasselhoff's own replica as part of a larger sale of the actor's personal memorabilia collection. This recreation is based on a 1986 Firebird and comes with all of the tech on the inside that now seems hilariously outdated, like the yoke steering wheel and plethora of buttons. The interior also thoughtfully includes a voice box with over 4,000 sound clips from the show. With a 5.0-liter V8 and an automatic transmission, performance is likely adequate and period correct. According to the listing, this car was created by fans and given to the Hoff. Sadly, the replica doesn't convert to Super Pursuit Mode like KITT could in later seasons, and we most associate KITT with conventional front-hinged doors to go with the power t-tops and ejector seats. Bidding currently sits $27,500 with eight bids, since starting at $15,000. Julien's predicts it will sell for between $30,000 and $50,000. If there is some nostalgia for KITT in your heart, there is still plenty of time to bid.

[extract] When someone mentions the term 'stretched limousine', you would normally think or imagine a sedan based - stretched out model. Yet, there have been examples of a stretched Ferrari or some that were based on a Hummer. But in this case it's based on a late 1960s Pontiac Catalina station wagon. The car was recently put up for sale on eBay and according to the seller the car was found in an airport hangar. Initially not much was known about the car but now, more information about the car

Many of us know what a muscle car is. But do we really know the factors that place a certain car in the muscle car category? Initially I thought that I knew so much about muscle cars but after reading a certain book about these cars, I became more knowledgeable and some of the so called facts that I previously thought were true are actually not. And now I would like to share them with you. 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible There are many varying opinions on what qualifies as a muscle car but before I touch on that let us see what does not qualify as a muscle car. First of all, it is not a piece of Italian exotic, Ferrari, Lamborghini, etc, nor it is a German performance car (Porsche, etc.). Even a British make sports car would not fit the bill (although there were muscle cars from other countries later on). All the abovementioned cars are too complex, specialised or efficient. Sports cars are not really considered as a muscle car. So, what really qualifies as a muscle car? It is essentially a North American phenomenon; in other words, in the beginning, it should be American made. The basic concept of a muscle car is taking a mid-sized American 2-door car and put in a large displacement V8 engine. The car itself should not be complex, upmarket or fancy. And usually, it should have a rear seating arrangement. 1966 Dodge Charger The muscle car concept is as simple as that. Furthermore in the beginning, the people who are interested in muscle cars are usually young and men. They are not interested in technical sophistication, excellent handling and even top speed. 1970 Dodge Challenger To the American youth of that time who were raised on drag racing, traffic lights street racing and hot-rodding, the most important factors to them were the size of the engine, horsepower and acceleration. In other words, all that they care about is straight line speed. 1958 Ford Thunderbird And when the big 3 American car manufacturers realised about this increasing trend among the youth, the companies started a power race to offer big engine displacements, huge horsepower and lesser seconds over the standing quarter. 1957 Chrysler 300C Before the era of muscle cars, the usage of V8 engines was already pretty rife during the 1950s. Companies like Ford and Chrysler all had their cars fitted with their V8 engines, for example the Ford Thunderbird and Chrysler 300. Their size were too big to place them in the muscle car category. Anyway, at that time the term muscle car has not been known or created. 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Although at that time these cars were not considered as muscle cars but they had one thing in common; they were built for powerful performance and this is one of the factors that the American youth of that time desired for a mid-sized, lighter-shelled car with big, powerful engines. 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Conventionally, many would say or argue that the 1965 Pontiac GTO (top most picture) was the first true muscle car. 2-door mid-sized American car, huge V8 engine and it sits four people; all fits into the muscle car category. It also began a new car class that offered an affordable and stunning performance package. 1964 Ford Mustang The plan and idea for the GTO nearly did not happen. It came about when in 1963, General Motors would not produce overtly sporty cars and Pontiac was restricted with a standard 300 cu inch (4.8 litre) engine for their intermediate sized cars. And this upset some of their managers and engineers as Pontiac has always been a performance car marque and these same people are also fans of fast cars. 1968 Ford Torino GT FastBack These same people (one of them was John DeLorean who founded the DeLorean company) also felt that the only way to sell cars was by producing image-building cars and eventually the GTO plan went ahead. Before I continue, let me add that GM made all sorts of parts (engine, chassis, etc.) for NASCAR racing and they were road legal at that time. These parts were, at times, used for their production models. Pontiac fitted a 6.375 litre V8 engine together with a mix-and-match of existing parts and assembled them on the production line. This resulted in the GTO, made for truly affordable performance and the GTO fits into the muscle car concept, huge V8 engine in a smaller-sized car and it also started the trend. Other automakers soon followed with their own versions of this new car trend. Ford had its Mustang and Torino models, Dodge came out with the Charger and Challenger and Chevy had its Camaro and Chevelle models. Some people would argue that some of the models I mentioned above are in the pony car category but some of the pony car models are qualified to be in the muscle car category due to the dealer options available for those pony cars (huge V8 engines, etc.). As long as it fits the muscle car bill, many would regard it as one. 1968 Holden Monaro Earlier on I did mention about muscle cars manufactured outside of America. Cars like the Australian Ford Falcon and Holden Monaro fits the muscle category. But sadly, some muscle car purists do not consider these cars to be a muscle car due to them not being American made. 1972 Ford Falcon XA GT After the decline of the muscle car era during the 1970s (due to the oil crisis) there have been a resurgence in the muscle car category. Models like the Mustang, Charger and Camaro still remains till today and as long as the demand is there, we will get to see more of these cars. Photo credit: Car Gurus, Net Car Show, wallpapersweb.com and chromjuwelen.com

[extract] Let us continue in this second instalment of iconic vehicles from the movies and TV shows. Herbie VW Beetle from The Love Bug Herbie is an anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle that was featured in the Love Bug movie franchise. The character has a mind of its own and basically it can do anything it wants, for example driving on its own. The romantic comedy is about a struggling race car driver who, after a racing crash, went out to look for a replacement race car. He eventually bought a white VW Beetle after visiting a showroom and at one point of the movie; he was convinced that the car had a mind of its own. The rest of the movie tells the adventures of the driver and his companions

[extract] Pontiac is no more. After 84 years of producing Pontiacs, General Motors have ceased producing the brand famed for the GTO, Trans Am and the Firebird. It joins other GM brands like Geo, Saturn, Oldsmobile and Hummer in automobile heaven. Or hell, depending on how you think of the brand. I especially like the 1970s Trans Am or Firebird, complete with that Firebird that looks like a flaming chicken. Very 70

Courtesy of a fellow in BITOG.

Saw the Toyota Voltz at Holland Village today...nice. Read about it, apparently a rebadged Pontiac Vibe. Not bad though..

http://www.supercars.net/PicFetch?pic=2004_pontiac_gto-1.jpg http://www.supercars.net/PicFetch?pic=2004_pontiac_gto-2.jpg http://www.supercars.net/PicFetch?pic=2004_pontiac_gto-3.jpg An Import GTO Unlike when the GTO was introduced in 1964, the 2004 GTO is based on a car that has been a long running model in Australia. This Australian GTO, being built at Holden's Elizabeth Plant, is a familar car if you live down under. America's GTO is a re-badged and subtly restyled Holden Monaro CV8. That said, the GTO is the only way to acquire the well-developed and well-raced Holden Monaro in the USA. For those unfamiliar with the Holden brand, they are one of Australia's leading car manufacturers. As early as the 1920's, Holden bodies were being build for GM chassis and engines. To this day, Holden are still manufacturing GM-based cars, most of which could be can be upgraded by a smaller company called Holden Special Vehicles (HSV). For the last 15 years, HSV have been successfully tuning and racing Holden's line of cars. GTO Press Release GTO. No other name in automotive history says muscle car like those three letters. When the GTO was introduced in 1964, its performance list included words like tri-power, four on the floor and a 389 cubic-inch V-8, and the car virtually defined true street performance. Now the legend is back. Pontiac's 2004 GTO is a modern-day incarnation of classic street performance. When you turn the key and hear the throaty dual exhausts announcing the 5.7L V-8, you'll know you have your hands full. Compared to its '60s namesake, the new GTO sports a suspension that is tighter, an engine that's more powerful and a four-on-the-floor manual transmission that now boasts two additional gears. The car will hit 60 mph (97 km/h) in about five-and-a-half seconds, and run the quarter mile in under 14 seconds. The completely new GTO isn't just about horsepower, of course. Its unique personality includes impressive cornering abilities, a smooth ride and surprising comfort. But the heart of the GTO is indeed a truly awesome 5.7L LS1 V-8 engine, also known as the base powerplant for the Chevrolet Corvette. The LS1 produces an estimated 350 horsepower (261kw) at 5200 rpm and with 365 lb.-ft. (495 Nm) of torque, it has no problem leaving a stop with purpose. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels and performance tires are matched to a fully independent, performance-tuned suspension featuring direct-acting stabilizing bars and power rack-and-pinion steering. Traction control and a limited slip differential also come standard. And, today's GTO revs through six forward speeds with the close-ratio manual transmission, or you can choose a four-speed Hydra-Matic. Both come with a 3.46:1 final drive ratio. The GTO is, first and foremost, a driver's car. Every detail, from the satin-finish steering wheel to the race-inspired metallic pedals, gives the driver a sense of performance from the moment the car is entered. The standard feature list starts off with leather 2+2 bucket seats, in black or color-coordinated with the vehicle's exterior color. The high-tech seats provide lateral support, wrapping around the driver and front passenger and complementing the great handling characteristics of the chassis. Also standard is a six-disc CD-changer with premium 10-speaker sound system, cruise control, a multi-function driver information center, keyless entry system and a host of other features to enhance the driving experience. Rather than create an imitation of the original legend, the 2004 GTO provides a contemporary interpretation of the classic Pontiac sports coupe. The distinctive, tautly stretched exterior, aggressive lowered stance and sleek, simple form all help express the clean, athletic styling direction of Pontiac. Add this to the obvious performance of the vehicle and you have a rear-wheel-drive V-8-powered premium sports coupe wrapped in a seamless, modern design. Bringing the GTO to a safe stop is accomplished through standard four-wheel disc brakes (ventilated front, solid rear), part of a four-channel anti-lock braking system. Other standard safety features include dual front air bags, three-point safety belts for all occupants and an Emergency Mode that automatically shuts down the engine, turns off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors and turns on the dome light any time the air-bag system is deployed. Production of the 2004 Pontiac GTO will begin in September 2003 at Holden's award-winning Elizabeth plant in Australia using the latest techniques to ensure both measurable and perceived quality. Projected annual production will be 18,000 vehicles. Story by General Motors Corporation & Supercars.net

Folks the new GTO from Pontiac is about to be launch. Imagine a all aluminium 5.7l V8 engine with 350 horses and with 365 lb ft of troque. They are claiming a 0 to 60 mph timre of mid 5 seconds!