R.I.P. Pontiac

It's difficult for me to continue to watch the slow, painful death of General Motors. A couple of new developments today almost make it cruel.

First, the announcement that the Pontiac division is going to be the first one sacrificed in a seemingly futile attempt to revive the patient. Pontiac has always had my favorite line-up of vehicles, from the 50's Safari wagon up to the 70's Firebirds that I owned, and every Bonneville, Catalina, GTO and Grand Prix in between. "Wide-Track" was it. "Pontiac builds excitement" was something I always believed in.

Another part of it though, has to do with where I come from. I was born in Pontiac. I spent my formative years in Pontiac. My grandfather and uncle worked for the Pontiac Motor Division for their entire working lives, along with countless dads and neighbors up and down the streets where I grew up. It certainly was a different America then. Our neighborhoods built Pontiacs, and they drove Pontiacs.

GM is also apparently killing off the Saturn brand also, but this means nothing in comparison to Pontiac, which like Oldsmobile a few years ago, seems like the heart is being cut out.

The second item announced today is that Obama's plan for "rescue" under his socialist and labor agenda, is for his government to take control of the company and also help the UAW take some controlling interest in the carcass that is to be funded by taxpayers. I guess that this is the part for me that fuels the anger side. The decision on Pontiac is just one very sad part of it.

"Little GTO, you're really lookin' fine
Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389
Listen to her tachin' up now, listen to her why-ee-eye-ine
C'mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO"
- "GTO" by Ronnie and the Daytonas. #4 on the charts, June 1964.

The American dream wrapped in some gorgeous metal. Maybe they haven't been there for a few years, but the memories live on in the nameplate. Now that is going away. R.I.P. Pontiac.