Do you remember the Sixties? During that time, social and fashion customs were dominated by a beach theme; muscle cars were also big. The GTO and Firebird models anchor the Pontiac line of Vintage 1960s muscle cars, which are among the largest and most powerful muscle cars to travel on the road.
The Models: Let's start with the Pontiac Bonneville. This was the largest of the classic Pontiacs of the 1960s, and a family could be the envy of their neighborhood if one of these were parked in the driveway. Drivers had the choice of a convertible or hardtop version, and it featured a Tri-Power carburetor, which offered 348 horsepower.
The Catalina
Although it may not be remembered as such, the Catalina was a powerful Pontiac in the 1960s. The car was know for its size and its engine: a 421-inch, V-8 variety that allowed the Catalina to go up to 95 miles per hour in the 2 + 2 model of 1964-1967.
The Firebird
The Firebird became a quick favorite. This was Pontiac's version of the Chevy Camaro, and its lower sticker price made it a hit with younger drivers. Manufactured from 1967-1969, versions of both six and V-8 were available, with up to 250 horsepower.
The Grand Prix
Although the Grand Prix was one of the biggest models for Pontiac, the smaller high-performance cars like the GTO, took much away from its sales.
The GTO
Among all of the popular Pontiac cars from the 1960s, the GTO still has the reputation as the best vintage muscle cars. Though smaller than most muscle cars, it packed a 421-cubic inch engine, while topping out at 130 mph. It still maintains its aura of magic and power to this day.
The Tempest
Compact cars were just coming of age in the early 1960s, and Pontiac jumped on the bandwagon with The Tempest. The doomed Chevy Corvair provided the framework for the Tempest; but, as a rear engine car, the Corvair proved to be one of Chevy's biggest busts ever. The features that differentiated the Tempest from the Corvair, like its styling and front-mounted engine, made it much easier to sell. John Z. DeLorean helped develop the four cylinder engine, which was considered very avant garde at the time.
The Ventura
The only two years where the Ventura was manufactured were 1960 and 1961, after which the model was blended into the Grand Prix line. It was built on the foundation of the Catalina body and frame, but by 1961, the Ventura had become obsolete.
So, how much did a Pontiac cost you years ago?
* In 1961, you would only have to shell out a little more than $3,000 for a Pontiac Bonneville, but eight years later, the same car would cost you nearly $5,000.
* Taking into account the performance and power available in the Pontiac Catalina, its 1964 price of approximately $3,149 was a steal!
* The highly sought after Pontiac Firebird was offered at only $2,667 in 1967, and this was probably why it sold so well.
* The 1968 version of the Pontiac GTO, which was considered quite a bargain for its engine power at the time, cost around $3,200.
* In 1963, families that spent a lot of leisure time in their car were encouraged to purchase the compact Pontiac Tempest, which was an affordable $2,400.