BMW or Pontiac?

[KevRC4130]

Well, both BMW and Pontiac has the twin grilles in front as sort of a signature design, but who copied who?

 

[codex57]

BMW. They've had it since practically their second car ever made.

I ran a search and a 1960 Pontiac didn't have the Kidney Grills. Probably popped up somewhere in the late 60s cuz a 1970 Pontiac I found had it.

 

[coyotefreek]

BMW was indeed first. I dont think Pontiac's design was a copy though, they still look very different. They do say copying is the highest form of flatterment.

 

[jrt67ss350]

Ah ha - a topic that comes down to my interest in classic American muscle cars! Yeah, the Pontiac twin grille design seemed to have started in 1969 with the Firebird. The front grille redesign was simply an adaptation and revision of the wide 1968 Firebird grille that went the width of the car but was divided in the midline by the trademark (at the time) Pontiac point. They narrowed the grille so that it basically ended up being two large ports. See the picture below.

 

[jrt67ss350]

Then, in 1970, the GTO had a redesign that similarly changed the grille from a a grille that stretched the width of the car in 1969 (and had concealed headlights in the grille) to the dual grille design, as seen below. The GTO made the dual grille design famous for Pontiac and it became a symbol of the brand.

This was by no means an attempt to copy BMW - it was just an evolution of the prior grille designs.

While imitation may be the highest form of flattery, BMW didn't think so. I heard that when the Grand Prix was redesigned for 1997, BMW sued GM over the use of the dual grille design on the car. A little ridiculous, me thinks.

 

[Ghost]

I never even compared the similarities until the Bangle monstrosities. Until now most, if not all, of the BMW kidneys have always been vertical or with a forward slant. If anything I think Bangle copied Pontiac.

 

[codex57]

Yeah, I actually don't consider the two all that similar.

 

[slats]

I can't stand the Pontiac design, I really do think its a huge rip off, even though the two are in completely different leagues and look completely different. Boo American cars.

 

[MyHarley]

I've owned three Grand Prix GTP's, all black, 1999, 2000 and 2002...........loved all three, never any problems, great dealership..............American car manufacturers do employ a lot of Americans......[???1] dont you think??

 

[jrt67ss350]

I've owned three Grand Prix GTP's, all black, 1999, 2000 and 2002...........loved all three, never any problems, great dealership..............American car manufacturers do employ a lot of Americans......[???1] dont you think??

Yeah, it used to be that way, but now they are employing less and less Americans and more and more Canadians and Mexicans. Alot of GM cars are assembled in Canada nowadays, and more companies are moving plants to Mexico (Neons, PTCruisers, etc).

My girlfriend has a 1997 Grand Prix GTP. Love that car - awesome power!