Maybe sports cars aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Pontiac,” but they should be. Pontiac has been producing sports cars since the 1960s that have outsold their more family-friendly models.

Curious about the other sports models Pontiac has released? Want to learn more about these iconic cars?

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Does Pontiac make sports cars?

Depending on your age, you might never have even heard of Pontiac, which was discontinued in 2009. Pontiac used to be one of the leading automakers in the US, topping best-of lists and winning awards for its dynamic designs. Pontiac was known for making sportier options for coupes and sedans and was a popular brand with sports car enthusiasts.

Want to learn more about the best sports cars released by Pontiac? Let’s take a look.

2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP

One of the most recent model years you can buy, the 2007 Pontiac

Solstice

GXP was one of the sleekest, sexiest sports coupes on the market. It’s favored among collectors thanks to its irresistible curb appeal and drive quality.

The Solstice GXP impressed the US market and outsold the

Mazda MX-5 Miata

in the first six months of its release. That’s thanks to Pontiac’s first gasoline-direct-injection 2.0-liter turbocharged engine which packs 260 horsepower and goes from 0 to 60 in 5.6 seconds. That’s impressive even by modern standards!

Affordable upon its release at an MSRP of $25,995, the Solstice GXP has largely retained its value and you can find one in good condition at an average price of $18,484 today.

1987 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am GTA

If you’re looking for a vintage sports car that’s suitable for any budget (average price of $10,500 today), the 1987

Pontiac Firebird

Trans Am GTA is the answer. This classic car was a much-coveted status symbol in the late 1980s and was the blueprint for many modern sports cars.

The Firebird Trans Am GTA seriously delivered on performance in the 1980s. This car marked Pontiac’s abandonment of four-cylinder engines for Firebirds, with this model year offering a 5.0-liter V8 engine. The V8 offered 210 ponies and a 0 to 60 time of 6.8 seconds. That time might seem drawn out compared to today’s standards, but in its day the Firebird Trans Am GTA was setting records.

You might recognize this iconic car as the daily driver of paper salesman Dwight Schrute from the television show The Office!

1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air III

No, the GTO Judge Ram Air III is not the fastest sports car ever released by Pontiac, but yes, it delivers on fun. This classic muscle car is well worth the money if you can find one today. They go anywhere from $40,000 to over $200,000 depending on the car’s condition.

One of the chief competitors to the

Ford Mustang

in the 1960s, the GTO Judge Ram Air III’s V8 engine packed a whopping 370 horsepower and 445 ft-lbs torque. That’s a considerable amount of power! To add to its sportiness, the Judge came standard with a rear spoiler, body stripes, and rally wheels.

The 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air III was one of the last great muscle cars ever produced—stricter emissions regulations punished poor fuel efficiency and coupled with rising gas prices, muscle cars couldn’t cut it. The 1970s saw the death of muscle cars, but muscle culture persists today thanks to well-preserved cars like the Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air III.

MORE:

Should I buy a sports car?

A history of the Pontiac sports car

The Solstice, Firebird, and GTO are just a few entries in the book of Pontiac sports car history, which stretches back to the 1930s. Jerry has a timeline of the biggest impacts Pontiac had on sports car history below.

1933: Pontiac debuts the least expensive eight-cylinder car on the market detailed with sporty stylings, like a trademark silver streak running up the hood from the grille to the windshield. Pontiac would later capitalize on this “torpedo” styling by modeling its performance after the design.

1945-1960: Pontiac continues to refine styling and introduces a sporty V8 engine. Sports cars as they are known today haven’t yet been introduced, but Pontiac is getting closer.

1962: Pontiac begins to focus on muscle cars and introduces the Grand Prix, a competitor to the

Ford Thunderbird

, which encompassed what middle America was all about at the time: drive-in movies, Americana foods like burgers and shakes, and forgoing the mechanic to work on your car yourself.

1964: The first true muscle car, the

GTO

, is introduced to wide acclaim. Pontiac initially anticipated 5,000 sales but ended up selling 32,450 units. The GTO (which stands for Gran Turismo Omologato, a nod to Ferrari) surpassed everyone’s wildest expectations and ushered in one of the greatest eras in American automotive history.

1976: The year of the true death of the classic muscle car. Pontiac underwent some serious design changes, both in performance and aesthetic, and streamlined its vehicle line to be more compact and fuel-efficient.

1980s: Pontiac experiences revitalized sales thanks to the popularity of its Firebird, now offered with a turbocharged V8 and featured on the popular television show Knight Rider. The median age of Pontiac buyers drops due to an increase in young people purchasing sportier models like the Firebird and Fiero.

1994: Pontiac moves away from producing true sports cars and focuses on manufacturing sportier sedans and coupes, blending the best of both models. The

Grand Prix

gets a facelift and a V6 engine.

2005: The death knell for Pontiac begins to toll despite Pontiac’s best efforts to keep the brand relevant and exciting. Pontiac releases the

, commonly called the “poor man’s

BMW M5

.” Despite promising sales, the brand continues to suffer and the decision is made to shutter Pontiac by 2008.

MORE:

The best-selling sports cars in the U.S.

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How to save money on Pontiac insurance

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a vintage muscle car or a contemporary Pontiac—you’re going to need amazing car insurance for your ride. Experts recommend shopping for a new policy around every six months to get the best rate, but it’s possible that updating your policy has fallen by the wayside.

If updating your car insurance sounds like a real drag (and not the fun kind, like drag racing), you’re not alone. There’s a simple solution, though—the

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Review your rates and choose the one that’s most likely to save you the average of $800 per year that other Jerry users save. It all takes place in the app, and you never have to get on the phone.

“As a young person who owns a sports car and a high-end sedan, I couldn’t find quotes below a certain threshold. By using
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