wookie (11/12/82)
All you people looking for a fun little performance sports car might want
to wait for the introduction of the new Pontiac P car next year! As yet
they have no name for it but the assembly line has been geared up to produce
this two seat, fiberglass, mid-engine sports car. It looks to be similar
to the Fiat X19 and will start with the 2.5 liter iron duke four cylinder
with a later option of an aluminum V6. There is also talk at Pontiac of
a Super Duty 2.5 engine (a la the old early '60s SD421.
An important note about this new Pontiac is that it is truely a Pontiac
design, not one of the GM corporate cars (X,J etc) with Pontiac skin!
This means there will be some concern for performance and handling.
Incidently, Pontiac has been trying to get out a 2 seat Fiberglass car
since l965. Seems they had a prototype car designed to compete with
the Mustang as GM was caught with their pants down by Ford. Both Chevy
and Pontiac were asked to come up with an answer and Pontiacs was the
2 seat Fiberglass car in which they were going to offer the 421 V8 with
tri-power (3 2barrel carburetors for you younger folks who haven't seen
these once common items!) This car was truely a Corvette beater and Chevy
new it and campaigned heavily against it and thus the Camaro was selected
as the Chevy and Pontiac answer to the Mustang. Too bad isn't it?
Imagine if the Pontiac two seater had gotten the development the Firebird
and Trans Am received!
Well maybe we can get back aty them now. I am hoping this car will prove
to be a good one (dream on) as I would consider racing one of these when
my old Sunbeam Tiger tires out!
Keith Bauer
Bell Labs Murray Hill
White Tiger Racing