Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. Lily Wordsmith is a freelance writer who has had a love affair with the written word for decades. The age of Pontiac was over.

Ad from shop ZICMotorsports Despite various attempts by General Motors to inject some life into the brand, decades of mediocrity had taken their toll. In addition to her freelance career, she is pursuing ebook writing with an ever-growing repertoire of witty ebooks to her name. Enjoy reading about Pontiac?

In 1926 the company was acquired by General Motors and remained after a famous Native American Chief Pontiac. It was officially introduced on the Bonneville grille in 1959, although it appeared in 1956. In 1956, the Native American head design was retired. Couple that with the looming threat of Federal emissions and safety regulations and in very little time, Pontiacs bigger is better philosophy to car making was old hat. During the 1930s, a silver shield subtlety crept into the logo, surrounding the silhouette of a streamlined, less cartoonish Native American.

The only graphical element on the logo was a white four-pointed star, with its horizontal rays elongated. Try contacting them via Messages to find out! From shop ClassicallyDriven, Sale Price $76.49 The Firebird car logo is called Firebird. It incorporated the same shield shape as the Oakland emblem, a fitting tribute as Pontiac absorbed Oakland in the early 1930s. Or how about the Mustang-rivaling 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air III that looks like it should be piloted by The Fonz?, Yes, Pontiac certainly had its glory days, but those days are long gone. (15% off), ad by ZICMotorsports Original Price $7.49 HoardPole From shop TreasureTimeCapsule, ad by LogoCarHouse

For a few years, the company used a red and blue shield in a gold frame with the Oakland wordmark, celebrating its location. But GMs luxury division was already filled. From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. Perhaps this is a tribute to Chief Pontiac, after whom the company was named, or a symbol borrowed from Indian art. But what exactly is the Pontiac logo? Choose the options youd like for the order. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. From shop JGWillie, Sale Price $21.67 The arrowhead featured a double black and white outline and a fine white four-pointed star in its upper part. The company was purchased by General Motorsa couple years later. The very first Pontiac logo was an image of the Odawa Native American chief Pontiac, who was most well known for leading his tribe in a war against the British that was named after him. The first logos of the company also featured an Indian leader. $6.74, $7.49 It became more minimalistic and modern, using a thicker and more slanted font. The logo is totally changed and looks like a thin red arrow-head, pointing down. The bold white Pontiac inscription in a smooth italicized typeface is placed above the profile, balancing it and making the whole image more elegant and sleek. Known as the Dart, the downward pointed arrowhead was filled in red and outlined in black. $77.35, $91.00 We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. In 1930 the visual identity changes its concept and Chief Pontiac changes his direction. Before the 1950s, the Pontiac did flaunt many Native American names and iconographyin its lineup. In 2004, it went through one final revision. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. The original logo was that of an American Indian headdress, which was used as a logo until 1956. It was very colorful and bright, but without individuality at all, so the next logo was a breakthrough for the company. NATURALFRAMEDESIGN In 1967, Pontiac launched an automobile, which was designed as a competitor to the Ford Mustang. Together, the trio set about reworking Pontiacs image from the ground up. If you were around in the sixties, names like Grand Prix, Firebird, LeMans, and Bonneville are going to mean something to you. $76.49, $84.99 It is worth noting that the Pontiac emblem was created much earlier and could not be borrowed from the armed forces new division. Ad from shop YourShop66 The Meaning and History Behind the Pontiac Logo, The Best Financial Advice? The brand was named afterPontiac, Grand Chief of the Ottawa Native Americans, who was famous for his rebellion against Fort Detroit (the British) in 1763. Gradients, shadings, and segmented coloring gave the design a metallic sheen. The logo stayed the same for a further two years. In 2004, the logo underwent another set of minor changes. From shop TheGreatMetalShop, Sale Price $19.86 After the brand got its name, the first Pontiac logo was designed. From shop Thepightle, Sale Price $6.74 The American Indian headdress is obviously connected to Chief Pontiac referenced earlier. In an attempt to recover lost ground, Pontiac tried to give it to them. Her real passions are her family, baking desserts and writing science fiction. The original logo was that of an American Indian headdress, which was used as a logo until 1956. Inside is a four-pointed white star. From 1959 to 2010, when the brand ceased to exist, it used an arrow-based logo. The designers have enhanced the metallic sheen by adding more highlights. Good news! Her diversity is boundless, and she has written about everything from astrobotany to zookeepers. Thats why were unveiling thesecrets of Pontiacs origins. And it underwent many changes since the Oakland Motor Car Company (which later became the Pontiac division of GM) opened its doors in 1907. A perfect example of how the historical legacy can be shown in a modern and even futuristic way. Ad from shop JGWillie Pontiacs War took place in the Great Lakes region and spanned from 1763 to 1766. It was a sharp triangular crest with straight lines, scarlet-red background, and a white-and-black outline. The combination looked very elegant and timeless, evoking a sense of confidence and traditional approach and reflecting the values of the company and its desire to make its customers happy. Neither is the name Pontiac. (10% off), ad by HoardPole From shop ezStreetSignsCom, Sale Price $16.80 So until 1926, Oakland used a traditional logo, based on its original naming and simple shapes. The Oakland logo, which the brand used from 1907 to 1926, was an elegant blue and red shield, with its upper part curved and three peaks pointing upwards. However, while the badges on Pontiac cars during this were mostly in black and silver, the company replaced the black with red in print advertising campaigns. From shop allthebestvintage, $19.95 FREE shipping. The symbol in the form of a red arrow is probably associated with the Indian in the first Pontiac logos. Ad from shop HoardPole It became much glossier and more balanced and the wordmark underneath it changed slightly as well. In 1965, Motor Trends Car of the Year honored the entire Pontiac lineup, marking the third year that Pontiac had received such an accolade. Silver is used for a car emblem when red is the main companys color for printed documents and advertising. In order to appeal to youthful consumers looking for affordable performance vehicles, theold-fashioned Native American profile was replaced with a subtler, elegantemblem: a downward-facing, red arrowhead known as the Dart. While traces of the new logo began appearing in 1957, including the stars alongthe Star Chief models body, the badge didnt officially debut onthe Bonnevilles split grille until the 1959 wide track model. But believe it or not, those storied names were once enough to make pistonheads go a little weak at the knees as indeed, were any of Pontiacs other legendary cars. The arrowhead was red with a thin black frame and an elegant white star on its top. Maybe GM just liked red. You might have a dim and distant memory, a faint recollection that Pontiac had something to do with cars, but thats about it. The theme reflected the fact that brand was named after the Native American Chief Pontiac, the leader of an unsuccessful uprising against the British. From shop Just4theArtofit, Sale Price $77.35 The company was named after the town of Pontiac, Michigan, in Oakland County, where Albert G. North and Harry G. Hamilton founded the Pontiac Buggy Company (aka the Pontiac Spring and Wagon Works) in 1893. Franchise agreements for Pontiac dealers expired October 31, 2010, leaving GM to focus on its four remaining North American brands: Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC. TheGreatMetalShop But while Pontiac may be gone, its emblem remains. The earliest Pontiac logo, which was adopted when the company had just started its way to success, depicted a side view of a Native American with a distinctive headdress. From shop Capitalironworksllc, ad by HomeDecorGarageArt In 1930 the Pontiac logo gets another redesign. In 1926, GM introduced acompanion marque to GMs Oakland line: Pontiac. This logo lasted up until 1930 when it underwent some purely aesthetic changes..

The name was taken from Chief Pontiac, an American Indian chief who led an unsuccessful uprising against the British shortly after the French and Indian War. After 2004, the P and A in the logo were open instead of closed. FREE shipping, ad by Capitalironworksllc Dont see this option? The arrowhead was simply an extension of that. Custom Westmoreland Grocery Company Vintage Style Wooden Sign, Guinness Cola Vintage Tin Metal Sign 20x30cm Pop Decor Home Bar Pub Man Cave Nostalgia Advertisement Poster Art Wall|Plaques & Signs - 10446 / 20x30cm, Pontiac Service Dealership Sign, 16 x 24 Cutout Metal Sign, Available New OR Aged Style, retro gas oil garage art wall decor RG 8915S. With powerful tools and services, along with expert support and education, we help creative entrepreneurs start, manage, and scale their businesses. From shop HomeDecorGarageArt, $49.95 Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Ad from shop WSfineartphoto Free of the deadweight around its neck, GM was now free to focus its attention on its few remaining US brands. According to some sources, the reason was that both the star and the red color were often used in Native American art. Over the next two years, all manufacturing and marking of vehicles were phased out, with the last ever Pontiac-badged cars rolling off the production line in December 2009. Its a shame the defunct Pontiac brand didnt make it out of the Great Recession. The redesign of 1926 introduced a new badge for Pontiac. Ad from shop LogoCarHouse FrogandtheBandit Both the brand and the city it was created and located in were named after the Native American rebellion leader, Chief Pontiac. View cart for details. Fill out the requested information. It becomes more stylized and modern, with bolder and wider lines. Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. Use of the logo here does not imply endorsement of the organization by this site. The old chief was promptly dropped from the logo and replaced with a very new, very pointed arrowhead. Ad from shop VenusAnMars Learning the meaning behind the Pontiac emblem begins with the brands name. The Pontiac logo is iconic. The legendary Firebirds were created to compete with the Ford Mustang, and they did a pretty good job of that. The same Indian Head emblemwas also used as a hood ornament. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. The star was placed over a Ted background in the upper part of the crest. The designers depicted the profile of an Indian wearing a traditional feather headdress. The red picture was placed in a circle frame of the same color, yet part of the headdress was left outside the frame. FREE shipping, ad by NATURALFRAMEDESIGN The brand was focused on the design and manufacturing of middle-priced vehicles and was pretty popular across North America.

Capitalironworksllc The red shield with the arch disappeared. The Firebird logo was meant to reflect the name of the brand as well as the sporting prowess of the cars, and so they made a design incorporating an intimidating bird breathing fire. In 1956, the Native American head design was retired. It was white and gray and was inside a red triangular shield, which intersected at the top with an arched rectangle. The glossy surface and modernized shape of the logo made it look chic and classy.

As for the four-pointed star, its meaning is not known for certain. The frame was shaded, in order to gain more volume and strength. Does shopping on Etsy help support small businesses? In 2010, the brand ceased to exist. Pontiac logo becomes more stylizedPhoto: John Lloyd via CC. 1 Road Car. It has a red center and a wide border painted in two colors: white and silver with a gradient. We also created 2.6 million jobs in the U.S.enough to employ the entire city of Houston, TX! Under Add your personalization, the text box will tell you what the seller needs to know. General Motors got rid of the Pontiac brand due to serious financial problems. The silver, red and white color scheme with black lettering is a traditional and timeless reflection of elegance, passion, and power, and that is what the brand was giving to their customers with every vehicle produced. The emblem is more balanced and glossy now. FREE shipping, ad by ezStreetSignsCom Pontiac was named after Pontiac, the Grand Chief of the Ottawa Native Americans who made his name after leading an uprising against the British at Fort Detroit in 1763. And then the 1970s happened. The Pontiac automobile brand was established in 1926 as a companion make for GM's more expensive line of Oakland automobiles.

The American headdress is connected to the name of brand "Pontiac" which was the name that was taken from Chief Pontiac, an American Indian chief who led an unsuccessful uprising against the British shortly after the French

  United States   |   English (US)   |   $ (USD). In 2020 alone, purchases on Etsy generated nearly $4 billion in income for small businesses. The white image of a Native American man was now set in flat color, with the head turned to the right and placed on a solid black circle, accompanied by a bold italicized Pontiac lettering in a title case of an elegant yet stable sans-serif font. After the redesign, the head of the Native American was completely white and turned to the right. Antiqueswithmore The closest font to the one, used in this insignia is, probably, Vast XXXL Medium, but with some contours modified. The frame of the logo got thinner and gained a glossier silver surface, with the body of the crest getting glossy too, but its bright red color was muted. and Indian War. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address.

After a brief merger with Oakland Motor Co., the company became part of the American corporation General Motors. Instead of stripes, the white profile of Chief Pontiac was placed on the shield and the nameplate was now arched and placed above his portrait. For a brief time in history, Pontiacs flame burned bright. By the 1960s, Pontiac was known as the performance division of General Motors, producing fast, powerful cars that tied perfectly into the demands of the market. Pontiac is the subdivision of the famous GM Company, established in 1926 and withdrawn in 2010. Saying no will not stop you from seeing Etsy ads or impact Etsy's own personalization technologies, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive. Once one of the top-selling automotive marques in the United States, the Pontiac badge got discontinued by General Motors in April 2009 because their management team was unable to keep up with the times. The brand stayed loyal to its roots and heritage until the very end of its existence. ad by Just4theArtofit Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wik/Pontiac, More Car Logos One of the reasons why Pontiac got rid of the previous badge was that the company wanted to address the younger audience. It was created in 1899 as the Pontiac Spring and Wagon Works and produced carriages in the early years. By 2010, it was all over. Ad from shop HomeDecorGarageArt No one had any interest in Pontiac anymore, and no one had any interest in buying its budget-priced cars either. The shield featured a striped pattern and had a wide diagonal plate with the Oakland lettering on it.

Its logotype reflected the cars name. 1 product ratings - 1954 PONTIAC HOOD ORNAMENT-ORIGINAL FLYING CHIEFTAIN INDIAN 517658. From shop Slomotions, $74.95 The Pontiac logo from 1926 featured a detailed profile of the Native American man, executed in white with a gold contour, placed on a bright red shield. The Pontiac logo which retired in 2010Photo: Tom Magliery via CC. Ad from shop Just4theArtofit It was a glossy vertically stretched crest in a thick silver outline, with the body diagonally divided by a white banner with the black Oakland lettering into two parts the striped red and black on top, and blue and black at the bottom. In 1959 Pontiac starts its new era. Original Price $25.49 It has been part of General Motors since 1926. General Motors in 1909 purchased Oakland. Now the white profile of the man, looking to the right, is placed inside a black circle with a thin white outline. All images are the property of their respective owners. The bold and modern sans-serif logotype from the last Pontiac badge was executed in a custom font with stable letters and thick clean lines. On April 27, 2009, amid ongoing financial problems and restructuring efforts, GM announced that it would phase out the Pontiac brand by the end of 2010 and focus on four core brands in the U.S.: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC. This was updated to the currently used American Indian red arrowhead design for 1957. After developing a hundred-year legacy of stylish, affordable vehicles, the automakers doors were closed by General Motors in 2010. Over the next few years, ever more powerful and ever more stylish cars followed.

In order to appeal to youthful consumers looking for affordable performance vehicles, the old-fashioned Native American profile was replaced with a subtler, elegant emblem: a downward-facing, red arrowhead known as the Dart.. Before getting its iconic name, the label from Michigan was known as the Oakland company, named after the city it was founded in. The red arrow facing down was nicknamed the Dart. The logo was officially introduced in 1959 on the split grille of the wide track model.

As to why Pontiac decided on the colors it did (red and silver) well, no one knows for sure. Original Price $91.00 While theres no official explanation what the star means (apart from paying homage to the Star Chief) or why the logo is red, many speculate its a nod to symbols prevalent in Native American art. The Oakland Motor Company and Pontiac Spring & Wagon Works Company merged in November 1908 under the name of the Oakland Motor Car Company. While the bird itself was black, the feathers were colored gold and brown to resemble fire flames and thus prove the word Firebird., 55 Car Logos With Animals: The Complete List, 26+ Car Logos With Wings: The Complete List. Please. Yes! The profile of the great man became an iconic image, which is widely known and loved even after the discontinuation of the brand. Suddenly, people started to do the math in a way they hadnt before. Ad from shop ClassicallyDriven They came with a 230-cubic-inch inline-six that was capable of making 165 horsepower, which was fairly impressive for a base model in 1967. ZICMotorsports Click Buy it now or Add to cart and proceed to checkout. In 2002, the Pontiac logo got a little bit thicker and the thin black border was replaced by a thick, three-dimensional silver one. It combines all the main values of the company quality, design, trustworthiness, and professionalism, and was instantly recognizable all over the world.

The arrowhead concept hasnt changed, but the color palette was switched to a rich burgundy shade in a light silver-gray, with the star, repeating the color of the outline.

BzHouseofCool The Pontiac symbol looks like a downward pointing arrowhead. Ad from shop Slomotions When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Up Your Bucks: Car cleaning ideas to improve resale value, News Source: Dinesh, autoevolution, & CarLogos.org.