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A Pontiac Requiem.

My condolences to you on the impending demise of One Pontiac Plaza.

To True Believers, it is more than just a building. It was the Pontiac Motor Division Headquarters spanking new circa 1969. Rendered in a bland, monotonous almost Soviet inspired style by Argonaut Realty (GM’s cost saving in-house real estate and architectural arm), in stark contrast to the Sarinen magnificence of the Tech Center, the facility lacked any redeeming visual appeal. Looking at the Pontiac building, it was hard to believe that a “We build excitement” crowd inhabited the place. You probably, pitched, proposed, pissed off and placated and many people within those gulag walls. If it had survived, Pontiac’s tag line today would honestly be “We build affordable excitement”. Ironic, but in many markets Pontiac dealers were dualed and prospered with a GMC truck franchise that was an enviable oxygen supply by today’s metrics. Sadly, the Grand Transition says that today’s markets aren’t born of yesterdays. “Honey, shall we take the Denali this Sunday afternoon?”

Nonetheless the place managed to birth the second-generation GTOs and Firebirds, the Fiero, Aztec, Sunbird/Sunfire, the later Grand Prixs, the last big B-body Bonnevilles, the beautiful Solstice, and the last hurrah G8. I won’t dwell on the desperate Korean collaborations.

Pontiac was always a very special flavor of GM. Hard to describe, but you tasted it when you saw and drove it. Somehow, I can’t abide Homerich demolition behemoths being dragged up Wide Track Blvd. on lowboys to demolish the site. But hey, PMD headquarters outlived the Silverdome. We did too for a new ICE age.

Dr. John
Phoenix, Arizona



Something like that.

If I may so bold as to distill today's excellent rant for those of short attention span, I believe what you are saying is "Some somebodies are going to be caught with their automotive pants down... likely sooner than later."

DJV
Wilmington, North Carolina



Detroit's future.

I think your comparison of Detroit to the Britain that was is realistic and fear that the outcome may be the same. Possibly sooner than you expect. The British did have the small advantage of overseas dominions that continued to absorb some of their production. As things stand, there are fewer parts of the world that are really interested in the vehicles offered to the American consumer and the car companies don't seem interested in catering for foreign needs. A quick look at gas prices might give a clue.

At $8 to $12 a gallon, huge trucks have a very limited appeal. Much of the Middle East isn't exactly fond of the USA at present either, so who's left?

Maybe it will require some executives with the vision of where their company ought to be looking, rather than plotting a route to the corner office on the floor where the bigwigs hang out. It will also need the True Believers to get suitable vehicles to market in spite of them.

John Meachen
Norwich, Connecticut