and the Trans Am while also cementing a reputation for devil-may-care experimentation with models like the G8 ST. Love them or hate them, Pontiacs are a cornerstone of American automotive history.

Whether you agree or disagree that the GTO was the first muscle car or that the 1977 Trans Am, despite its heft, looked like the quintessential sports car, it’s impossible to deny Pontiac’s place among the godfathers of American automotive innovation.

To help you better understand the history behind these cars, we've created a guide to the models that made Pontiac a household name.

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What makes an old car great?

There’s a lot more to being the G.O.A.T. than just age. Age has little to do with it. Pontiac has made some legends, like Bonnevilles and GTOs, and some legendary flops like the 2004 GTO revival attempt or Walter White’s

Aztek

from Breaking Bad.

For our list, we’re breaking down everything from dependability to memorability to qualify our 10 best Pontiacs of all time, (in chronological order).

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10. Pontiac Bonneville (1958-1960): a car for the Atomic Age

With space-age options like fuel injection, air suspension, and a four-speed automatic, the First Generation Pontiac

Bonneville

was a testament to engineering innovation. As these options came with a correspondingly Atomic price tag, most first-gen Bonneville’s were options with the Tripower V8 with capacity for developing up to 300 horsepower.

The Second Generation saw the introduction of a four-door hardtop sedan as well as the Safari station wagon to the Bonneville lineup. The 1959-1960 Bonnevilles also ushered in Pontiac’s iconic split grille and Wide Track wheelbase.

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9. GTO (1964): the original muscle car

Car enthusiasts continuously debate over which car first truly epitomized American muscle, and at least half would agree that the 1964 GTO wins that award. Like so many new car models, the GTO began as a trim rather than a full lineup.

The 1964 GTO, then, was an options package for the Pontiac LeMans that included a 389 cu in V8 worthy of 325 horses that could be upgraded to a TriPower engine with capacity for up to 348 horsepower. If that’s not muscle, we don’t know what is.

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8. Pontiac GTO (1969): “Here Come de Judge”

The second-generation Pontiac GTO featured a shortened wheelbase and a more curvaceous profile. Under the hood, the standard engine swelled to produce 350 horsepower. Throughout 1968, Pontiac continued to innovate with the Ram Air engines, developing more horsepower and more torque even as reports claimed output was still within limitations set by GM standards.

Then came The Judge—the name was derived from a comedy routine used on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In and featured advertising slogans like: “The Judge can be bought.” Originally conceived to compete with the stripped-down Plymouth Road Runner, The Judge was more expensive than a standard GTO thanks to options like the Ram Air 400 engine, Rally II wheels, Hurst shifter, decals, and largely useless rear spoiler.

The Judge remained a package option on the GTO through 1971 when it was ultimately ruled out.

MORE: 10 Affordable American Muscle Cars

7. Pontiac Firebird 400 (1969): the other Camaro

As the Plymouth Barracuda ripped through

Camaro

sales, execs at Pontiac realized they’d underestimated the public’s yen for pony cars. It was a mad dash to get the new Firebird released in 1967.

While revisions were already underway in preparation for the second-generation Firebird, updates were also being made as new model years of the first appeared. One of these included the addition of a Ram Air IV option for the 400 cu in the V8 engine.

This car was one of the key reasons people realized engineers were fudging the numbers when it came to potential power in Pontiac’s pony cars. After all, how could the 400 V8 rate only 320 horsepower in the Firebird when the same engine in the GTO rated 365? Regardless of its rating on paper, the 1969 Pontiac Firebird 400 was one of the fastest cars in town and quickly became a beloved street racer.

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6. Firebird Trans Am (1977): the Bandit

The 1977 Firebird Trans Am is a bit of a long shot, but thanks to a starring role in the 1977 film, Smokey and the Bandit, it will always have a place in classic Pontiac lovers’ hearts.

You have to give it to Trans Am—it looked like it could run. But at nearly 4,000 pounds, it was lucky to clear 60 mph in under 10 seconds. Granted, it wasn’t all Pontiac’s fault. Stringent emissions regulations required the manufacturer to equip the weighty monster with a 6.6 L V8 capable of only 200 horsepower.

Regardless, the black-and-gold bird was cemented as a classic thanks in no small part to Burt Reynolds.

5. Bonneville SE (1987): The Yuppiemobile

It’s odd with today’s cars’ angular profiles or sumptuous curves to look at just about any car from the 1980s with anything other than embarrassment. While the 1987 Bonneville may look like it should run on Aquanet rather than gas, its 150-hp V6 and slick handling led to comparisons with the

Audi

5000.

The first model year for the eighth-generation Bonneville, the 1987 SE was one of the first American performance sedans to feature front-wheel-drive and was constructed on the new H Body platform. In addition to superior handling, the eighth-generation Bonneville SE also offered a variety of convenience and comfort options that nearly placed it in the luxury category.

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4. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6 (2001-2002): the first supercar

2001 marked Pontiac’s 75th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of the Trans Am. To celebrate the occasion, the marque offered a white anniversary edition Trans Am WS6 available as a coupe or convertible that incorporated a power and performance package that led some to call this an early supercar.

From the 5.7L Ram Air V8 under the hood to the Monsoon 500 watt peak power and 10-speaker premium sound system in the cabin—this beast was built to perform.

In 2002, for the Firebird’s final year, Pontiac offered a collector’s edition of the Trans Am WS6 that offered all the perks of the 2001 anniversary edition but with a unique appearance package. The collector’s edition was a bright yellow convertible or T-top coupe with twin black stripes running hood-to-tail. Complimenting the racing stripes, Pontiac blacked out the windows and back glass and traded the A-mold alloy wheels for 17-inch, black-painted, five-spoke wheels.

3. Pontiac Solstice GXP (2007): reinventing sexy

It may have shared a platform with the

Saturn Sky

, Opel GT, and Daewoo G2X, but the similarities between Pontiac’s two-seater

Solstice

and other

GM Kappa

models end there.

When it debuted in 2006, the GXP version of the Solstice took the auto world by storm. Equipped with a 2.0L I4 Ecotec engine with a dual-scroll turbocharger, the GXP was capable of churning out 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque—the highest specific output of any GM engine up to that point. It could also achieve 0 to 60 mph in under 5.5 seconds.

It’s not just the GXP’s engine that makes it special, though. It also featured a host of performance features like Stabilitrak traction control, a limited-slip differential, and standard anti-lock brakes. For those who just want to be sure what’s under the hood is tuned to perfection, buyers could choose a dealer-installed, modified computer package with two new sensors that increased output to 290 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque.

2. G8 GXP (2008): the four-door Corvette

Despite the epic sales performance of the Solstice in 2008, Pontiac was on its last leg when it crawled back to the top with an offering that would seal its legacy and ensure it would be missed:

the G8 GXP

The G8 GXP handles like a

BMW

but at a fraction of the cost. The G8 GXP came equipped with a Corvette-derived 415-horsepower 6.2L LS3 V8 engine. In what may have been a last dig at the auto industry, the engine’s Active Fuel Management program was left off, leaving the engine to develop its full potential rather than reigning in 20 or 30 horses.

With just a little tech-work, governors on the skip-shift system could be removed to unleash the GXP’s ability to clear 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The only downside to the G8 GXP? It came too late.

1. Pontiac G8 ST (2010): the el-Camino reboot that never was

In mid-2008, Pontiac announced it would call its G8-based sport truck, well, the G8 Sport Truck: G8 ST. Creative, huh? Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Shortly before production was set to begin for the 2010 model year, things got delayed, and GM announced that it would be trimming its profile to focus on its core models.

While the news came as no surprise, enthusiasts still hold out hope that Chevy or GM will pivot back to the idea of reviving the old car and truck combo.

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Pontiac took its last gasp with the 2010 model year, but its legacy lives on in muscle cars and late-model sports coupes. Whether you’re looking for

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