BigPontiac

First off, I really liked your letter to Mr. Lutz...well thought out and concise. And I am very surprised the Ute isn't going to be a Chevy El Camino... BUT, moving past the history and emotion and trying to view this as a business decision -- if it's not going to Chevy, then my vote is for Pontiac. As Northstar pointed it, the Ute is still a CAR with a bed. And I'm also assuming the Ute would be imported in limited volumes from Australia, much like the plan for the G8. So RWD performance car sold in limited quantities, combined with leveraging the existing $100MM investment in turning the Commodore into the G8 and Pontiac makes the best business case sense. It combines the service training with the G8 service program as well. And Pontiac desperately needs the product...and might get the Ute in lieu of a Firebird. And best of all, NO BADGE ENGINEERING within the North American market! Chevrolet will have the Camaro soon and could turn the 427 concept into a Silverado SS (may even be in plan). Not ideal if you've been wishing for an El Camino, but not too bad if you're looking to maximize your investment while providing differentiated products to your various brands. Let's not forget the GMC Caballero Conquista edition! Also, Pontiac did build an engineering prototype of a Grand Am pickup using a GMC Caballero between 1978-1980. It's featured in the Aug 2007 edition of Smoke Signals magazine and resides in the GM Heritage Collection. So it's not exactly a new idea. Cue Regfootball rant about RWD with no AWD option...

Making it a Pontiac eliminates the badge engineering factor. Pontiac is about RWD excitement, GMC is about "Professional Grade". Chevy already had the SSR...how'd that work out? Change the nose, but the cars would still look very related.

Actually, I believe the quote was "In the end, there can be only one."

From a business perspective, I'd say Pontiac. They can use the product and the cosmetics from the G8 can be carried over maximizing GM investment. Sadly some GM marketing shmoe is likely cooking up a Pontiac "G8 Series" like the G6 stupidity. I don't see the Ute fitting with GMC all that well, particularly if only the higher line models are targeted for North American like they did with the G8.

Maybe GM should kill Opel and roll it into Chevrolet since Opel isn't a "global brand".

Interesting how there is no mention of the "adjusted market value" the Pontiac dealers were adding to the price of a Solstice at launch.

Try CarMax. Quick and painless process...offer valid for like 7 days. My friend had good luck with them when he needed to liquidate his CTS.

I like this show as well and did notice the CTS's debut last night...looked good.

GM Blogs posted some additional pictures on Flicker

This car continues to grow on me...I think I like it better than the new CTS actually. As for the window switch placement -- that's exactly where they are in my BMW. Same place in my '99 Miata too. No big deal.

There is more info up on Chevy.com, but no specifics on exterior colors just that "six" will be available. They do give more info on the interior color options. I kind of like it. I'd like to see that front air dam in person to see if it really looks like a shelf. Also wish is had dual exhaust. Make mine a panel!

I happen to like owning a GMC Sierra...I don't want a Chevy Silverado. I like that everybody and their brother isn't driving a Sierra. In a fragmented North American vehicle market, consumers like choices. Continued differentiation between Chevy and GMC can only help sales. I personally have been waiting on buying a new Sierra and many of my reasons are due to the way GM rolled out the new trucks. I looked in the fall and test drove a new Sierra Crew Cab when they came out. I liked it. But I want an extended cab...those didn't hit dealer lots in my area until March. Then, the dealers order Z71s for the most part -- I want Z85. I'm thinking I'd probably also like the MAX package -- again, rarely stocked by dealers. SO, I'll likely have to custom order -- which is fine -- but shoots the reliability of any rebates for the most part. Then add that I'd really like the 6 speed auto instead of the 4 speed and I'm SOL for a 1500. So, based on launch decisions around model mix, etc they won't be getting my money for a while. My personal observations for my own area show that more new bodystyle Chevy and GMCs started to appear when the X-Cabs became available. The past month when the incentives started also seem to have spurred sales a bit. As for the Tundra, I'm curious to test drive one. But I hate the "baby crew cab" configuration, the huge peices of metal under the seat in the back of the cab are deal breakers as are the huge bed bolts that stick up from the floor.

I had a '70 Chrysler New Yorker -- 440/4bbl -- loved that car! Particularly that I paid $50 for it!

A ton of the '67 Grand Prix convertibles seemed to have survived. I rarely run into another '68 Bonneville conv at an all Pontiac show...but usually see several '67 GP convertibles.

http://www.classicalpontiac.com http://www.poci.org

Al Gore's Son Held In Drug Arrest After Freeway Stop, Al Gore III Arrested On Suspicion Of Possessing Marijuana, Prescription Drugs LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif., July 4, 2007 (CBS) Al Gore's son was arrested early Wednesday on suspicion of possessing marijuana and prescription drugs after deputies pulled him over for speeding, authorities said. Al Gore III, 24, was driving a blue Toyota Prius about 100 mph on the San Diego Freeway when he was pulled over at about 2:15 a.m., Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino said. Article continued

CT State Police are now using Chargers as unmarked...just as they use Impalas. They still have a few Camaros kicking around too from what I've seen.

It appears to look a lot better in the video. Watch the video

How 'bout the "Buick-Opel"? Or are you lumping that in with Kadett (Kadett C by Isuzu)... My dad's first Buick...1978 Buick Opel...beige, 4-door, automatic. He traded his 1976 Plymouth Volare Coupe with a 318 and 4-speed manual for it...

More from Autoblog. Article

More from KOTV. Article

Look it's already restored! Oh wait, it's just the practice car...

Sealed concrete vault. article

KOTV website says concrete vault with car on steel skids.

I wish the car had held up instead of the time capsule... Maybe they should have welded a sealed steel box around the car!