By Robert Tate, Award-Winning Automotive Historian and Researcher
Images Courtesy of General Motors Media Archives and SuperCars.Net
Published 12.4.2024
A design model of the Pontiac XP-833 show car (General Motors Media Archives)
The 1964 Pontiac Banshee show car was developed under the direction of John DeLorean, general manager of the General Motors division at the time. Unfortunately, this great-looking concept was never put into production because its design too closely resembled the Chevrolet Corvette, and GM executives thought it would become a threat to Corvette sales.
A prototype of the Pontiac XP-833 show car (General Motors Media Archives)
The Pontiac Banshee XP-833 concept was developed and designed to compete with the hot-selling Ford Mustang. The two show cars were designed by several great GM designers, including Jack Humbert, Ned Nickles, Paul Gillan and Chuck Jordan, along with William T. Collins Jr., who was the assistant Pontiac chief engineer.
The front end of the 1964 Pontiac Banshee concept (SuperCars.net)
During early design development, the XP-833 concept’s illustrated difference in size was compared to the new Mustang. Design work started in August 1963, with Pontiac design leadership hoping to meet the Mustang challenge not with a four-seater pony car but with the two-seater Banshee XP-833 sports car. DeLorean tried everything to gather as many votes as possible for the concept to get approval to move into the production stage.
A side angle view of 1964 Pontiac Banshee show car (SuperCars.net)
The concept had a two-seater fiberglass body with sporty styling that enthusiasts enjoyed and offered a Grey metallic exterior with a red interior. It was powered by a six-cylinder engine for added performance.
A side view of the 1964 Pontiac Banshee concept (SuperCars.net)
Two prototypes were built as a coupe or a roadster design. Automotive historians reported that the concept was used in the design development stages for the next generation 1968 Corvette models, which became a sales leader during the 1968 model year. It has been noted that the Corvair Monza GT show car of 1963 had a huge design influence on the Pontiac XP-833 two-seat sports car design team proposal.
The 1964 Pontiac Banshee show car (SuperCars.net)
DeLorean approved funding for the design and construction of the Pontiac Banshee XP-833 show car. In 1965, DeLorean and the Pontiac team had the model ready for design review. It was ready for production, but GM Chairman James Roche said no to any further development for the Pontiac XP-833 program. After that decision, the two show cars were put in storage until 1973.
A rear view of the 1964 Pontiac Banshee show car (SuperCars.net)
In conclusion, GM could not afford a Corvette competitor to the market at the time, especially one that would sell for $1,000 less. DeLorean and his team accepted that decision and looked toward the future with other Pontiac designs. The two Pontiac XP-833 models were later sold to collectors and are still around today.
A front view of the 1964 Pontiac Banshee concept (SuperCars.net)
Bibliography
Lamm, Michael. “The Fabulous Firebird.” Lamm-Morada Publishing Company. Stockton, California, 1979.
Magnante, Steve. “The Story of the Pontiac Banshee: Was It the Poor Man’s Vette?” Haggerty Presents Hot Rod, May 14, 2023.
Silodrome Gasoline Culture. “The Original 1964 Pontiac Banshee Prototype XP-833 is For Sale.”
Magnante, Steve. “1965 Pontiac Banshee: The Story of the XP-833.” Dean’s Garage. January 8, 2014.