Pontiac’s automotive history began with the Oakland Motor Car Co. in 1907, which later became a GM brand. Introduced in 1926, Pontiac offered exceptional value and innovative engineering compared to competitors. Following the stock market crash of 1929, Pontiac was retained while Oakland was discontinued. By the late 1950s, Pontiac's marketing shifted focus towards lifestyle branding and performance, leading to the 'We Build Excitement' campaign. The brand's identity evolved over time, particularly in the 1960s and 70s, reinforcing its status as GM's performance division despite shared designs with other GM models.
Pontiac was introduced as a companion brand to the more expensive Oakland brand, quickly finding success with a competitive inline six-cylinder engine.
Starting in 1959, Pontiac was promoted on the lifestyle the car promised rather than the features of the car itself, signifying the start of the Wide Track design.
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