1971-1976 Pontiac

The 1971 - 1976Pontiacswere full - sizecarsaffected by interior and international pressures on the auto diligence . As the 1960s lesion down , Pontiac found itself at the ending of a very successful era . Though the " Wide Track Division " had crusade its fashion to third position in home sale for much of the vary decennium , many difficult changes loomed and " business as usual " was no longer go to work .

Pontiac Image Gallery

Pontiac ’s report as a operation - oriented carmaker , though severely - clear and well - deserved , was no longer the surefire path to sales agreement succeeder it had once been .

A new mess of politics mandate discharge regulations , pressure from consumer and safety advocacy group , as well as the retaliation of the policy companies toward mellow - performance cars cut into Pontiac sales . Sales of 1970 GTOs , for example , were less than half that of 1966 , and Firebird sales were also stand .

Seeing that sales were slew from their 1968 high gear and sensing the increased competitor from sis divisions , especially in the lower - price section , new general coach F. James McDonald instituted the addition of new decontented versions of existing models .

Vehicles like the LeMans - based T-37 and GT-37 , which featured taxi cab - similar DoI , dropped basis prices , but they did nothing to help reinforce Pontiac ’s blade range of a function . Further hurting Pontiac was its want of a competitory little railroad car . The introduction of theChev­ro­letNova - ground Ventura II in 1971 did footling to found a presence in the progressively of import small - car market .

Despite the emerging market trends favoring cheaper and small gondola , it was withal true that Pontiac still drew more sales bulk from its traditional full - sized auto than from any of its other model stemma as the 1970s began .

The 1970 " standard " Pontiacs were facelifted update of the 1969 models , but an all - new swelled - car serial was wait in the wings for 1971 . It was based on a new B - soundbox platform share with Chev­rolet , Olds­mo­bile , and Buick . A new chassis was develop for this new generation of Pontiacs . As before , it was a perimeter intent , though quite dissimilar in layout to fit the new body .

The front suspension was also new , and was actually shared with the second - generation Firebird released the previous February . It featured revise mounting points and improved geometry for cornering , ride , and handling enhancement .

similarly , the rear suspension was also re - orchestrate to complement the novel front death . place beach wagon used leafage springs , while other models used a new four - data link design with spiral springs . Three wheelbase were offer . Catalinas have a 123.5 - inch wheelbase , the higher - end railroad car ride on a 126 - inch weapons platform , and station wagon stretched 127 inches between the bicycle centers .

To learn more about the 1971 Pontiac , see the next page .

For more information about cars , see :

1971 Pontiac

The styling of the full - sized 1971Pontiacswas establish on the then - popular " fuselage " concept that sought to envelope occupants in isolated comfort . This tendency was pioneered in 1969 byChryslerCorporation for its four full - sizedcarlines . Unlike the Mopars , Pontiac ’s interpretation did n’t use as high of a beltline , and it did n’t have the same " trilled fort " looking at .

Up front , the beaklike nose was dominated by a massive split - grille designing with vertical center sections linked to low horizontal extensions that ran out below the quad headlamps to the border of the gondola .

lean horizontal bar fill these grille cavity , though the mid- and top - trim series sported vertical Browning automatic rifle , too . The front bumper dipped in the centre to give more deepness to the protruding central grille plane section . The thug was sculpture with a rear " ironing display panel " treatment and nerve centre costa , which tied in with the grille design .

The leading edges of the bladed front fender were strictly upright and further accentuated the massive face of the front end . As they course back , the fenders and doors really pick up the fuselage shape , which made for large , elongate , front and rearwheelwells . The bladed contour of the front fenders was recapitulate in the trailing bound of the rear stern , albeit with a small bit of a forward ca nt .

The deck featured two rows of louvre that were atmosphere separator for a new pressurize ventilation organization found on a numeral of General Motors cars . The decklid go down to the bumper , a good theme for easy trunk loading . However , the portion of the eyelid that made it all the agency down was quite minute , crowd together as it was by grown horizontal taillight Lens .

Interiors were also completely redesign , the most notable divergence being the new " cockpit " dash design . It was similar in layout to that of the personal - luxury Grand Prix hardtop coupe and curve before the driver like the control panel of a jet- fighter aircraft airplane .

In term of body style availableness , the base Catalina was the only series that had all styles available : two - door hardtop and convertible , four - doorway sedan and hardtop , and six- and nine - passenger Safari station wagons .

All full - sized 1971 Pontiac station Wain featured GM ’s unexampled " clamshell " tailgate . The power - operated rear window draw in into the ceiling , while the manual tailgate ( power was optional ) pull back into the floor . It was a very innovative system , but was quite complex and expensive to repair .

The increased rival from within the corporation had Pontiac product planners scrambling with young models to not only meet the challenge from out - of - house rival like Dodge and Mercury , but also from other GM divisions . They also sought to close up perceived gaps between good example in the Pontiac lineup .

alas , the scheme did little more than confuse buyers and water system down the hard - earned fairness that Pontiac ’s nameplate , particularly the Bonneville , had give over the years .

For an explanation of the unlike case of Pontiac mannikin , see the next varlet .

Different Types of Pontiac

The Bonneville was next up the run , though it had been pick apart down a fleck in the pecking monastic order . While it rode the premium 126 - inch - wheelbase platform , it was no longer the top - of - the - line series . That honor would be reserved for the Modern Grand Ville , which replace the Bon­neville Brougham . ( The Executive series was also dropped for 1971 . )

Bonne­villes came as two- and four - door hardtop , plus a four - door saloon . They were identified outwardly by wide full - length lower - body clipping with a louvered detail just behind the front steering wheel opening .

The Grand Ville – offered inconvertibleand two- and four - door hardtop styles – represented a new philosophy at Pontiac that sought to " out - Bonneville " the Bonneville . Rather than go within the constraints of the nameplate and improve that framework , it was determine that something above the Bon­neville would engender novel sake in the section and in Pontiac in cosmopolitan .

The Grand Ville was the closest that Pon­tiac would ever get to having GM ’s prestigious light speed - body return to its card . The last clock time the air division had such a car was the 1940 - 1941 Custom Torpedo . While the Grand Ville was base on the same " barn " bodyshell as the Catalina and Bonneville , it featured a formal hardtop roofline take over from the novel C - body Cadillac , Buick Electra , and Oldsmobile Ninety - Eight . This hybrid devote Pontiac a premium series without unmanageable monetary value .

A petty bit of make also went on with attentiveness to the upper - degree wagons . There were no Bonneville or Grand Ville place wagons as such . Rather , there was the Grand Safari , which used Bonneville theme powertrains Grand Ville clip item . ( Pontiac ’s simulation numbering organisation put the Grand Safari among Bonne­villes in 1971 - 1972 and 1975 - 1976 , but with the Grand Villes in 1973 - 1974 . ) Simulated wood­grain trimness was optional on all wagon .

utter of powertrains , some important revision to the intact Pontiac V-8 engine family were instituted for the 1971 mannikin year . Like all other General Motors makes , Pontiac lowered railway locomotive compaction across the panel for compliance with the 1970 Clean Air Act , as well as compatibility with the newfangled generation of low - lead and unleaded fuels . The 350- , 400- , and 455 - cid V-8s all returned , though with less HP . Combined with the big curb weights of the Modern cars , execution suffered .

The standard locomotive for base Catalinas was a two - bbl - carburet 350 . With a 3.88 - inch bore , 3.75 - in stroke , and a compaction proportion of 8.0:1 , it was rated at 250 bhp at 4,400 rpm and 350 pound - foot of torsion at 2,400 rpm .

Catalina Safaris and Broughams come received with a two - barrel 400 , which was uncommitted as an choice for the other Catalinas . With a 4.12 - column inch bore , 3.75 - inch shot , and 8.2:1 power play , it made 265 bhp at 4,400 revolutions per minute , with 400 lb - metrical unit of torque at 2,400 revolutions per minute . An optional four - drum version of the 400 allow for an extra 35 HP .

Bonnevilles received a 455 - cube engine as standard equipment . Though based on the same canonical block pattern , the 455 featured a 4.15 - in bore , 4.21 - inch stroke , and 3.25 - inch main journal diameter . Equipped with a two - tummy carb , the 8.2:1 - compression - ratio V-8 develop 280 bhp at 4,400 rpm and 455 pound - pes of torque at 2,000 . politic and flexible with an abundance of torque , this engine was ideally suit to the heavy Pontiacs . It was also useable in Catalinas at supernumerary price .

The Grand Ville received the four - cask version of the 455 ( an available pick for all other full - sized models ) . It was good for 325 bhp at 4,400 rpm and 455 pound - feet of torsion at 3,200 rpm .

An interesting side note from the 1971 theoretical account year was the former handiness of a manual transmission . Though very easy - selling , believe the fantabulous repute of the available Turbo Hydra - Maticautomatic , there were some full - sized Pontiacs built with a synchromesh three - speed , which was view stock equipment .

Factory record book show 144 Catalina coupe and sedan chair , 30 Catalina Wagon , six brougham , four Bonne­villes , and a twain of Grand Villes were foregather with manuals , oddities to be sure . The window for ordering a stick - shift B - body Pontiac close in March 1971 , never to return . The Turbo Hydra - Matic then became standard equipment , a change that was accompanied by an increase in base prices .

output of the 1971 B - physical structure Pontiacs came to 261,282 cars . That was a celebrated drop from 1970 , but a strike early in the modelling year slowed up yield of General Motors vehicle . Thus , as a group , the full - sizers continue the most pop Pontiacs .

keep on to the next page to get a line about the 1972 Pontiac .

1972 Pontiac

The 1972Pontiacfull - sized exemplar welcome only small-scale changes . A revised frontal design have larger turn - signal lamp built into the fender caps . The " classical " grille misplace its horizontal annexe and both headlight pair were grouped in partake lustrous bezels rather of being mount severally of each other , as in 1971 .

Grille bars on Bonnevilles and Grand Villes now had a prominent vertical pattern over subtler horizontal bars . Bonnevilles give up the louver pattern on their rocker trim . A heavier - looking bumper with a fatal rub strip was also added , anticipating the upcoming federal bumper regulations . The rear bumpers also received the rub cartoon strip .

A alteration in the ventilation system system did away with the decklid / tailboard louvers . Beyond this and some update paint and interior appointments , thing remain largely as they were the year before .

One area of significance under the hood was in the wayhorsepowerwas measured . Beginning with the 1972 simulation year , all General Motors divisions began rank engine output using the Society of Automotive Engineers ( SAE ) net method .

Power was measure at the contagion tailshaft with all power accessories put in and with factory strain - cleanser and fumes systems . The SAE net frame were more representative of the power level that theengineswere actually generating when instal in the chassis . The true statement is , there was not any significant deviation in power output or performance between the 1971 and 1972 Pontiacs .

The 350 was rerated from 250 to 160 bhp ( 175 with double exhaust system ) at 4,400 . The 400 two - barrel went from 265 to 175 ( 200 with dual exhaust ) at 4,000 rpm ; and the four - barrel version , previously rated at 300 horses , received a net valuation of 200 at 4,000 revolutions per minute ( 250 with duals ) .

Among 455s , the two - bbl go from 280 to 185 at 4,000 revolutions per minute ( 200 with duals ) . The four - gun barrel chance variable was still the top dog of the Pontiac B - car lineup , though it was now rated at 220 bhp at 3,600 rpm ; dual exhaust upped that valuation to 250 .

The 1971 - 1972 full - sized General Motors machine were the field of a recall that involved the steering system . It had been determined by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration that stones or other little debris could become trapped in thesteering - spear coupling , do a possible loss of steering control . carapace were append to the recalled cars . A redesign of the pairing alleviated the job in time for the 1973 model class .

yield tallies for 1972 start by 31 percent , outgo 342,000 . With 228,262 meeting place , Catalina production alone almost match entire 1971 full - sizing Pontiac demand . Bonneville and , especially , Grand Ville experience increase , too .

To learn about the 1973 Pontiac , see the next page .

1973 Pontiac

The 1973Pontiacmodel yr map the beginning of significant changes to the full full - size melody . Many of these changes were made to comply with ever - increasing federal emission and base hit ordinance .

The 1975 Pontiac sport greater fuel efficiency .

In the involvement of simplify the mathematical product channel , the Catalinaconvertibleand the entire Catalina Brougham serial publication were dropped . Also , all nonwagon B - body Pontiacs now devolve on on a vulgar 124 - inch wheelbase . ( Station wagon retained their 127 - inch stretch . )

A new front - remnant purpose was characterize by a truly monolithic energy - absorbing bumper that protrude from the new full - width grille . As before , the Catalina meet a horizontal grille - taproom design , while the other series used an " eggcrate " plan .

Grand Ville hardtops and convertibles now came with stock rearward fender dame . Taillight designs were also redone again , with the Grand Ville have an ensemble that was different from the other line of business .

More changes were also made under the hood to conform to more - tight emission banner . All Pontiac V-8s receive a new genesis of discharge - controller machine , include an " exhaust gas recirculation " system , which cut production of oxides of nitrogen by inject a small amount of exhaust fumes petrol back into the cylinder to cut down burning tem­perature .

Allenginesreturned for 1973 with the exception of the 455 two - barrel , though most lose some power in the outgrowth . The matching - pot 400 - cid locomotive engine became the new monetary standard Bonneville powerplant .

Riding a phonograph recording sales year for the diligence at large , Pontiac had its best twelvemonth ever in 1973 . entire exemplary - year product for the division hit 919,872 - -a gain of 281,000 from the yr before .

The full - sizing line contributed 32,089 to that increase as production of Catalinas , Bon­nevilles , and Grand Villes go up 375,000 units . There would be no chance for a repetition , though .

That October , just weeks after the 1974s went on sale , the outbreak of war in the Middle East spurred an rock oil trade embargo by Arab manufacturer nations . With gasolene supply pinch for months , Ameri­cans ' traditional taste for big V-8 - powered mob cars acidify – as did a national economy that had relied on cheap muscularity . The next couple of days would be roughshod on Detroit .

For more on the 1974 Pontiac , see the next Thomas Nelson Page .

1974 Pontiac

­The push to gather Union rollover - clangoring standards think of more changes for 1974Pontiac . Catalina and Bonneville two - threshold hardtops received a Modern " colonnade " roof with large rear - twenty-five percent windowpane . The design basically give the railroad car a B - pillar , though little roll - down window just aft of the door remain for a true pillarless look .

New front styling included a income tax return to a cardinal radiator – a invention with definite Mercedes - Benz overtones . A airstrip of parking - lamp / turn - signal lens fill the gap between the bumper and headlight bezel . With new , more damage - insubordinate bumpers in back , the permission plate holder was moved up into the rear fascia , fill an area that had previously been part of the trunk opening .

The 350 - cidenginewas dropped from the full - size line , forget the 400 two - barrel as the radix railway locomotive for the Catalina and Bonneville . The 455 four - gun barrel was standard in the Grand Ville ( with three-fold exhaust as an alternative ) . The big engine could be ordered in Catalinas and Bonne­villes , as could the four - bbl reading of the 400 .

With just a few six - cylinder models to proffer suddenly mpg - consciouscarbuyers , output of 1974 Pontiacs get wise to around 560,000 cars . The full - size mountain chain felt the infliction bad than some of the others : With 175,766 build , it shear off virtually 200,000 units from 1973 – and things would get forged before they would get better .

Continue on to the next page to determine about the 1975 Pontiac .

1975 Pontiac

The 1975Pontiacmodel year turn out to be important for a few reasons . It mark the addition ofcatalytic convertersin most models to further reduce exhaust emission . The improver of these Modern gadget required the use of leadless fuel to prevent damage to their internal components .

The 1975 Pontiac was the last year for thefull - size convertible .

Also , the convertible body manner made its last stand at Pontiac – for a decade , at least . With a declining market for droptops having gradually reduced their numbers in America , a business case for theconvertiblecould no longer be made .

Additionally , the Bonneville four - door saloon and Catalina four - threshold hardtop were overlook from the card . Also , Radial TunedSuspensionbecame standard on all full - sized models .

raw rooflines were instituted through­out . Bonneville and Grand Ville Brougham ( a new name ) coupes received large fix quarter window and B - posts that run all the way of life to the doorway glass , while four - door hardtop bring small " opera house window " in their rearward pillars . A ready - position vent windowpane tot up more glass area in the rearward doors of Catalina sedans .

Rectangular quadriceps femoris headlamps , a young vogue for upper - level GM cars , were found on Bonnevilles and Grand Villes , which also shared a revise grille and taillamps that freshly wind around the buffer edge . A newfangled six - element grille embellish the front of Catalinas . Wheel­base for all model but wagons was nudged back to 123.4 inches .

Due to tighter emissions regulations , powertrain offerings got a spot confusing . The 400 with matching - throat carb was still the basis powerplant for nonwagon Cata­linas and Bonnevilles sell everywhere but California . The 400 four - barrel came received in all California - bound Cata­linas and Bonne­villes , " 49 - state " post wagons , and all Grand Villes . The 455 was standard for all wagons sold in California and was optional in all full - sized model . The compressing ratio of all locomotive engine was scaled back to 7.6:1 .

To learn about the 1976 Pontiac models , carry on on to the next pageboy .

1976 Pontiac

The 1976Pontiacmodel twelvemonth – Pontiac ’s aureate day of remembrance – would be the destruction of the channel for both the ace - sized atomic number 5 - bodies and the 455 - cid V-8 . For this last class before drastically downsized 1977 model go far , Pontiac again shuffled things around in an attempt to increase gross revenue .

visual aspect - wise , little had change . With the freshening up the billet received the year before and the newcarwaiting in the flank , there was little gunpoint to making any major changes .

Perhaps the most significant change was the retreat of the Grand Ville name . At some point , Pontiac ’s selling and ware planner must have realized that the equity built up in the Bonneville over the age was being waste on an unproven nameplate that , in the end , was n’t getting the job done .

The resolution was to fetch the Bonneville Brougham moniker off the bench and put it on the top - level B - body Pontiac . Slightly change grille design were use across the line , and Catalinas could be ordered with a Custom package that included orthogonal headlights , additional exterior trimming , and interior upgrade . Powertrain options were essentially the same as the late year .

Total Pontiac output was up by more than 200,000 gondola for the model year as the U.S. saving began improving and consumers were getting over their fuel - cost jitters . Orders for full - sized Pontiacs , which had fallen off to 126,555 in 1975 , bounced back to 137,216 units in 1976 . However , that was n’t enough to keep the atomic number 5 - dead body cars from being overtaken – easy – by the serial of Grand Prix personal coupes .

While the 1971 - 1976 full - sized Pontiacs were stylish and luxurious machines , they were really not the correct car for the meter . They were expectant , heavier , more complex , and more expensive to bring out than the cars they replaced .

In an age when fuel economy and low operating costs were becoming more authoritative , GM introduced the largest , high-priced , and thirsty motorcar in its story . It also did n’t have a sufficiently enough front in the heavyset and subcompact car food market .

Plus , GM was saddled with a collective structure that allow product - line changes only in concert with other divisions . That slowed down procession and made it backbreaking to clock raw production to take on changing market weather . The result was a loss of market part to foreign challenger , a trend that has yet to reverse itself .

To get more information about the 1971 - 1976 Pontiacs , include models , prices , and yield , see the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .

1971-1976 Pontiac Models, Prices, Production

The 1971 - 1976Pontiacmodels marked the end of the full - size of it gasolene - guzzle era . They had all the style of their day , but in the end were made obsolete by tightening Union fuel standards and skyrocketing gas prices . Here are the specifications of the 1971 - 1976 Pontiac :

1971 Pontiac Catalina Vehicle Specifications

1972 Pontiac Catalina Vehicle Specifications

1972 Pontiac Bonneville Vehicle Specifications

1973 Pontiac Catalina Vehicle Specifications

1973 Pontiac Bonneville Vehicle Specifications

1973 Pontiac Grand Ville Vehicle Specifications

1974 Pontiac Catalina Vehicle Specifications

1974 Pontiac Bonneville Vehicle Specifications

1974 Pontiac Grand Ville Vehicle Specifications

1975 Pontiac Bonneville Vehicle Specifications

1975 Pontiac Grand Ville Brougham Vehicle Specifications

1976 Pontiac Bonneville Vehicle Specifications

1976 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham Vehicle Specifications