The first rule of showbiz is to keep the audience wanting more. End on a high and don’t overstay your welcome. This isn’t always the case — “The Godfather Part III” and Led Zeppelin’s “Coda” come to mind — but, every once in a while, a product ends on a high and never comes back for consumption. When this happens, I tend to maintain positive, nostalgic vibes and wish for a return from the vapors of finality.
Those wishes for a revival can be crushed when the manufacturer goes belly up and leaves its fans with nothing more to hold on to than dreams that are always in an ephemeral state. Pontiac closed its doors and turned off the lights in 2010 but I guess the marque that Bunkie built followed the tenets of showbiz to its core in its final sports car offering.
The Pick of the Day is a 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Wichita Falls, Texas. (Click the link to view the listing)
Pontiac manufactured just 1,266 Solstice Coupes, which breaks down to 102 pre-production 2009 models, 1,152 regular-production 2009 models and a dozen 2010 pre-production models. To put those numbers into context, Porsche produced 1,270 Carrera GTs. I’m not comparing a Pontiac to a Porsche, but I wanted to convey the limited amount of Solstice Coupes floating around out there.
Simply put, the Solstice Coupe is a Solstice Roadster with a removable targa roof that can’t be stored in the vehicle when one is inclined for open-air motoring. That’s an oversimplification, but it conveys the message. As such, the Solstice Coupe has the same engine options as its convertible brethren.
This Solstice Coupe is powered by a 2.4-liter inline-four DOHC 16V engine that produced a factory-rated 173 bhp when new. The engine is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. Tipping the scales at 2,952 lbs, the Solstice Coupe can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds.
Finished in black over a black leather interior, the pictures from the listing show a car that is in excellent shape throughout. The Solstice’s superior condition is probably due to the simple fact that it has 21,182 miles.
Alas, this GM brand is long gone, but Pontiac left the automotive world on a high note with the Pontiac Solstice Coupe.
The dealer is asking $32,900 for this 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Source: www.classiccars.com