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General Motors has called for an end to all things Pontiac & Saturn by Dec 31st 2009. These brands are just two in a line of auto makers who have been slashed thanks to a poor economy and bad money management. Not even 83 years of business under GM could save Pontiac…producing vehicles that were a bit more original, and could go beyond 50,000 without needing a new transmission, also might have helped. But there’s a proud (and sometimes sordid) history behind the many deceased car companies of these Unites States. From 70′s muscle to cocaine cowboys – each has a story to tell.

AMC – 1954 – 1987

We’re not sure what this French woman’s rear end has to do with American Motor Company’s 1975 Pacer. Maybe they’re going with the whole “attractive women will date me if I buy this car” gimmick. And really, who wouldn’t want to sleep with someone rocking an AMC Gremlin or  Eagle Wagon? Those cars scream sex-machine! AMC began as its own company and merged with Renault during the 1970′s. AMC sales started to dwindle, and Renault was having some financial troubles of its own. To top it off, Renault’s chairman Georges Besse was assassinated in 1986 by a French Militant Group. You know times are tough when an auto exec takes one in the head. These factors lead to AMC’s sale to Chrysler in 1987.

DMC – 1975 – 1982

By now most people know the story of John DeLorean – mastermind behind one of America’s most noticeable cars, the gull-wing doored DeLorean DMC-12 – best known from Back to the Future. Well, the FBI and cocaine dealers got the better of Johnny. All he wanted was some cold hard cash to fund his aluminum coupe STAINLESS STEEL coupe (as my well informed and very polite / un-sarcastic readers reminded me), but no government or business would go in for mass production. So why not sell a little coke…doesn’t make you a bad person! Well, apparently when the DEA finds out, it does. He was arrested in October 1982 and charged with conspiring to smuggle $24 million worth of cocaine into the US. The key element of evidence for the prosecution was a videotape showing DeLorean discussing the drugs deal with undercover FBI agents. Doh! If only Mr. DeLorean could go back in time and give his younger self a sports almanac to place a couple horse racing bets with…

Plymouth – 1928 – 2001

Plymouth is one of many to have a Chrysler/Daimler connection – and is responsible for not only the Minivan but the K-car. Now you know who to blame. Plymouth was a champion of the struggling commuter. During and after the Great Depression it made low cost cars for those who needed a ride to work but couldn’t handle the $500 price tag of a new Cadillac. Plymouth came back again in the early 1980′s by producing the K-model, which lead way to one of their high-selling/cheap to make vehicles – The Reliant K. But as more designs made their way to the Chrysler/Dodge logos, Plymouth disappeared into automotive oblivion. The make was dissolved in 2001.

Oldsmobile – 1897 – 2004

Not even a run as the official vehicle from “The X-Files” movie could help GM brand Oldsmobile. After 107 years as an American-born/American-died car company we guess one can’t complain. Olds made some of the most memorable muscle cars during the late 60′s and early 70′s – including the 442. It’s also well known for the Cutlass and Cutlass Supreme models. In the late 90′s GM turned many Olds designs into Pontiac’s and Buick’s, leaving the aged make in the dust. By 2000, the company stated it would phase out, and go softly into that good night. According to Wikipedia: The final 500 Aleros, Auroras, Bravadas and Intrigues produced received special Oldsmobile heritage emblems and markings which signified ‘Final 500′. All featured a unique Dark Cherry Metallic paint scheme. Auroras and Intrigues would be accompanied by special Final 500 literature.

Saturn – 1985 – 2009

Saturn – Built by Americans, in America, for Americans. With an assembly line in Tennessee, Saturn brought the suicide door back to us in the form of its S-Series coupe and later the Ion coupe. Their cars were compared to Lego toys by some, since sections of a vehicle could be easily removed and replaced if damaged in an accident. Both Ion and S-Series had a successful run, but as financial doom crawled over GM in 2008 and earlier this year, the giant announced Saturn would be no more by 2010.

Pontiac – 1926 – 2009

Bonneville, GTO, Firebird, Fiero, Trans Am. These are classic automobiles and muscle cars every enthusiast wishes they could own, but only a handful have had the pleasure of driving in. Pontiac’s 83 years of service in the auto industry gave its public some of the fastest, toughest and most comfortable rides this nation has ever seen. The Firebird logo is synonymous with late 70′s – early 80′s cool (if there is such a thing). Ok, we’re getting a bit too nostalgic here, back to reality…in the late 90′s and early 2000′s Pontiac designs became bland, performance was dulled, and models were merely re-branded Chevrolet’s. Sales disappeared and much like Saturn, General Motors decided to put an stop to its eight-decade run by the end of 20o9. Gone, but thanks to reruns of Knight Rider on Hulu, never forgotten.

Dis-honorable Mention – Isuzu – 1937 – 2005

Yes, Isuzu is a Japanese Auto Company, but it’s deletion from America’s psyche is undeniable – mostly because of Joe Isuzu and his car-dealing wit, which is now gone from our airwaves. Sales in the US began to decline in the early 2000′s, when the popular Rodeo Sport was discontinued. by the middle of 2004, sales in North America slow to just 27,188. It was all down hill from there; the company sold only 7,098 cars in 2007. By 2008 Isuzu executives announced they will cease production and sales of all Isuzu vehicles in America effective January 31st 2009. Here’s to you, Joe Isuzu!

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Tags: amc pacer, auto industry obituary, dead car companies, dmc motors, Features, isuzu autos, oldsmobile, plymouth, pontiac, saturn corp