FACES & PLACES
AROUND TOWN
JULY/ AUGUST 2010

New Hope Automobile Show

With an advertising tagline proclaiming “We Build Excitement,” it is fair to say that Pontiac has been responsible for many of General Motors most interesting and exciting cars, from the Star Chief, to the GTO, the Firebird Trans Am and most recently, the Solstice. With the Pontiac brand no longer in production, The New Hope Automobile Show will pay a special tribute to the classic Pontiac marque at this year’s show which will be held on Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of New Hope-Solebury High School.

The Pontiac brand was introduced by General Motors in 1926 at the New York Auto Show as the companion marque to GM's Oakland Motor Car line. The 'Chief of the Sixes', a 6-cylinder car was conceived to compete with more inexpensive four cylinder models and within months of its introduction, Pontiac outsold Oakland. Priced at $825, Pontiac sold 76,742 cars in its first year on the market and in 1932, as Pontiac's sales rose and Oakland's sales began to decline, Oakland ceased production and the Pontiac Motor Division was established.

In the early years, Pontiac made coupes, sedans and wagons in the low-to-mid price ranges and shared much of the same styling as the Chevrolet with the exception of taillight styling, front grille work differences, and for its liberal use of chrome known as ‘Silver Streak’ that ran up over the length of the hood to the base of the windshield.

The Pontiac brand truly came into its own, in 1964, with the introduction of the first muscle car, the GTO, this year’s show car. In 1965, the entire Pontiac lineup was honored as Motor Trend’s Car of the Year, the third time that Pontiac received such honors, due to the division’s efforts to create salable cars for the mass market, along with niche models such as the Firebird, Firebird Trans Am and Grand Prix.

Pontiac sales had diminished in recent years, from its peak in 1884 when it sold almost 850,000 vehicles. Still, Pontiac won praise for the powerful, rear-wheel-drive, G8 sedan and had been lauded for the eye-catching design of the Solstice coupe.

A legendary brand that lasted close to a century and helped define one on the brightest eras in automotive history may have hit the road but Pontiac enthusiasts can roar at this year’s New Hope Auto Show where more than 400 classic and antique cars and motorcycles will be on display with an entirely different roster of cars each day. Saturday will feature domestic cars, like Pontiac, from the 1920s to the '70s, antique trucks, GTOs, Corvettes, fire engines, Model As and Model Ts, Studebakers, Shelbys, race cars, and Mustangs. BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Porsche, and Triumph are just some of the featured cars on Sunday, along with antique motorcycles up to 1965.

Admission to the show is $5.00 per person, $3.00 for Senior Citizens 62 and over, children under 12 accompanied by an adult are free. And like last year, the New Hope Automobile Show is extending a special invitation to service members and their families to enjoy the show free of charge. Convenient, on-site parking is available for $5.

Created in 1957 to benefit the New Hope-Solebury High School, the auto show has continued to support the school through student scholarships. Over the years, the show has raised tens of thousands of dollars to assist students in their pursuit of further education.

New this year is a ROAD RALLY on Sunday, August 8, 2010. The rally will take place throughout the New Hope-Solebury area and will end at a local restaurant (not revealing the location as it will be part of the rally!). ANY car can participate.   Drivers should arrive at the New Hope Solebury High Schooll by 9 AM.  Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 finishers and placement/winning is NOT based on time. The winner will be invited to drive thru Victory Lane at the New Hope Auto Show.

For more information and to purchase advanced tickets, please visit www.newhopeautoshow.com or call 215.862.5665.