The Pontiac Banshee: A Concept Car Destined to Remain a Dream​

Perpetual Prototype - Car manufacturers often test their boldest ideas through concept cars before deciding whether to bring them into production. These experimental models showcase innovation, pushing the limits of technology, design, and performance. However, not all concept cars make it to the assembly line, and some remain as one-of-a-kind creations, admired but never mass-produced.

The sketches of Pontiac Banshee concept I and II. (Picture from: Pinterest)

Between 1964 and 1988, Pontiac developed the Banshee Concept Series—a lineup of four distinct prototypes showcasing innovative design and engineering. Despite their significant potential, none of these models progressed to production.​ This outcome is often attributed to concerns within General Motors about internal competition, particularly the fear that the Banshee could overshadow the Corvette in performance and sales.

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1. Pontiac Banshee I

The first of the series, the Pontiac Banshee I, debuted in 1964 as the XP-833. Spearheaded by John DeLorean, the head of Pontiac at the time, this concept was heavily influenced by the Corvair Monza GT.

1964 Pontiac Banshee I XP-833 prototype. (Picture from: MotorAuthority)

It was a sleek two-seater sports car with two versions—one powered by a 326 cubic-inch V8 engine and another with a 230 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine but with a tame one-barrel carburetor. The Banshee I had the potential to be a serious competitor to the Chevrolet Corvette, which was precisely the problem.

Rear three quarter of 1964 Pontiac Banshee I XP-833 prototype. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

Fearing internal competition that could undermine Corvette sales, General Motors executives shut the project down. Fortunately, the two existing prototypes were preserved and now hold immense value among collectors. 

 

2. Pontiac Banshee II

Four years later, in 1968, Pontiac introduced the Banshee II, an open-top sports car with a fiberglass body under a bright orange color paintjob.

1968 Pontiac Banshee II concept. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

This open-top sports car has an aerodynamic body made of fiberglass and sat over Firebird innards, with cut-down glass and low ground clearance. And under the hood pinned a 400ci (6,500cc) V8 engine.

Rear left view of 1968 Pontiac Banshee II concept. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

The car also is known as the Firebird Fiero was given a touch of white paint and graphics in 1969, which was borrowed later on for its own model.

3. Pontiac Banshee III

By 1974, the third iteration, the Banshee III, emerged with an even more aggressive and futuristic look. By design, it looks like a sort of squished Trans-Ams from the front because it was based on the Pontiac Firebird platform with a long sloping front end and more aerodynamic rear styling.

1974 Pontiac Banshee III concept. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

The car's innovative features included covered quartz halogen headlights with a three-beam system (ie low, freeway and high) for improved aerodynamics and the rear was almost similar to Vette. 

Right side view of 1974 Pontiac Banshee III concept. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

The car also featured a soft-face bumper made of urethane over an energy-absorbing foam base. The interior had red leather upholstery. The rear seat folded for additional luggage space and the seat harness system was anchored in the structural seat. 

Rear-left side view of 1974 Pontiac Banshee III concept. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

Under the hood, it housed a powerful 455 cubic-inch Super Duty V8 engine. Although it was updated in 1976 and 1978 with different taillight designs, it remained a concept car, never making it to production.

4. Pontiac Banshee IV

The final model in the series, the Banshee IV, was introduced in 1988, and it looked like something straight out of a science fiction movie. Its radical design included a fiberglass body, a tubular steel frame, flush-mounted glass, and doors that opened via an infrared wristwatch device instead of conventional handles.

1988 Pontiac Banshee IV concept. (Picture from: Carstyling.ru)

Inside, it boasted advanced technology such as a head-up display, steering wheel-mounted controls, television monitors for rearview visibility, and even headrest-mounted radio speakers. Powering this futuristic machine was a 4.0-liter dual overhead cam V8 engine, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. 

Rear-left side view of 1988 Pontiac Banshee IV concept. (Picture from: Coconv on Flickr)

Many of the design and technology elements from the Banshee IV later influenced the fourth-generation Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet Camaro. Despite never reaching production, the Pontiac Banshee series left a lasting mark on the automotive industry.

Each concept pushed the boundaries of design and engineering, and although the models never made it to showroom floors, their innovations shaped future vehicles. The Banshee name may not have become a household staple, but its legacy lives on in the cars that followed. *** [EKA [14042020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FASTMUSCLECARS | CARSTYLING.RU | MOTORAUTHORITY | OLDCONCEPTCARS ]

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