A Walk About the 1964 Pontiac Banshee XP 833

Check out the very influential Pontiac prototype, the Banshee, XP-833 as seen at the 2018 GTO Association of America national convention. For more photos, videos and your regional calendar of events, visit www.NortheastWheelsEvents.com

[@Gambantein]

Pontiac ahead of Chevrolet as this looks like a '68 Corvette... Beautiful car!

[@carshowreporter]

Think Opel GT!!!

[@squarebodyjesus6138]

It reminded me of newer vettes too. I thought it was a later 70s model. Very cool

[@salty_cracker69]

Yeah Chevrolet had to have stolen this design for the cheetah and the later vet

[@drfred1203]

@@carshowreporter Yes~! The Opel GT combined with a 1970 firebird trans am rear end! :)

[@Joshua-eb3fz]

Its pretty much confirmed that GM killed the Banshee and gave rhe styling to corvette. Company politics.

[@ernestoclaudodip9671]

The back of this car was used on the Oldsmobile Toronado 1968/69

[@ace1usmc]

Looks like a large Opel GT. Gorgeous car! I had never heard of these until this popped up in my feed!

[@carshowreporter]

I agree with you, Ace!! I took a little time this morning and did some more research and came across this excellent, Motor Trend article ( except the need to flip through 20 screens!! ) www.motortrend.com/features/pontiac-banshee-xp-833/?slide=1 Evidently, Opel used some elements, but it was not a direct decentant. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@MrGaryGG48]

@@carshowreporter Thanks for all that research effort! I drove several Opel GTs when they were new, at the local Buick dealers. Unfortunately, the smog crap was well underway by that time and they throttle response was pitiful. It looked much like a miniature '68 Vette but out of six cars that I drove, some in Seattle and the rest in California, they all had the throttles set to hang for a second or five after you lifted your foot to shift. I drove another several years later, that the owner had "tweaked" and it drove like a whole different car.

[@retawdee]

I was thinking the same thing. Especially the front end.

[@timmack2415]

My all-time dream car. It's such a shame that GM pulled the plug on it.

[@carshowreporter]

I know what you mean, Tim. The Opel GT was a close second...... Have you seen these GM dream cars?? The Cadillac Cyclone kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6jcaoGeZ7NqhqM and the Buick LaSabre kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6m9ZWh-qLR0iqM

[@MrEasye2504]

What a beautiful car. I wish it would have gone into production.

[@carshowreporter]

In a way, it had in the guise of the Opel GT and on steroids in the '68 Corvette! Like you say, If it came out in '64 it would have been a revolution!! Please check out the other, more interesting cars on my channel, MrEasye. Thanks for watching!

[@SearchfortheMeaning]

Stunning!

[@carshowreporter]

Isn't it a shame they did not produce it??!! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@vargasjohnson540]

I know that a lot of folks believe Chevy stole Pontiac design, but if you look at the 62 and 63 Corvair Monza GT, and Corvair SS, you will see the genesis of the C3s pontoon fenders. So it could be argued that the Corvair concepts were the inspiration for both the Pontiac Banshee and C3 Corvette.

[@carshowreporter]

Great point, vargasjohnson!!!! Many designs are drawn from previous concepts. It is really interesting to see the evolution and the final execution. Happy and healthy 2024 !!

[@briefman49]

Sure looks a lot like a 68 Vette, the haunches and the pointed v-front end.

[@carshowreporter]

Yes, and some Opel GT, and Trans Am ( tail lights ) too!! Thanks for commenting.

[@captainmorgan5449]

Actually...the 68 Vette looks like the 64 Banshee. Banshee came 1st.

[@plastiksurgeon9129]

A few weeks ago, I 3D printed the body of this car in 1:25 scale. 👍🏾 Literally just a few hours ago, I was revising the files to print the body again later on as the first one came out a bit too thin.

[@playtimehulot7383]

0:50 Reminds me of the first Lamborghini 350 GTV. released one year earlier in 1963 styled by Touring in Italy!!!

[@carshowreporter]

The " slope nose " was the style of the era. I had to google the GTV and see the resemblance. 😃 Thanks for watching and please check out the rest of my channel.

[@chemicalspore]

Lets not forget the Opel GT which is another brand that was owned by GM.

[@carshowreporter]

Oh yes!!! The Opel GT looks like a direct descendant of the Banshee!!!

[@AvroBellow]

More of GM's Chevrolet-Centricness. They took Pontiac's Banshee Concept and gave it to Chevrolet. It's so obvious that this is what became the '68 Stingray II.

[@carshowreporter]

... as well as the Opel GT!! Style usually is an evolution. Thanks for watching and commenting Avro Arrow, Please check out my other videos, including the GM show cars.

[@kayakuprising5914]

What a car! Imagine a 421 SD under the hood :)

[@carshowreporter]

That would be insane!!!!!!!!!!! Even just the 1962 - 63, Olds aluminum 215, V8, with turbo, of course, would be a real screamer!!!!! Thanks for watching and commenting, Kayak. Please check out my other videos of more unusual cars.

[@bunk-bn9eo]

Think 303 RA V

[@MrGaryGG48]

I saw one at a local car club show several years later, with a Mazda 13B Rotary and 5 speed. The owner said it was way faster than original and very well balanced. The V8s would certainly be fast but the balance would be a problem in most of them.

[@NarrowPathFarm707]

Wow... years before the C-3!

[@carshowreporter]

Yes, although it shared the lines of Corvair concepts. Also look at the Opel GT! Thanks for watching, NarrowPathFarm. Please check out my other videos like this AMX 3 concept: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kH6amJerZbN2jbs

[@NarrowPathFarm707]

@@carshowreporter We used to call the Opel GT, the "Poor Man's Corvette" back in the day. I haven't seen one for a long, long time now.

[@carshowreporter]

They quietly rusted away......

[@seeburgm100a]

That is a bad assed car.. I've always been a Pontiac fan.. I'd rather have this than a Corvette anyday..

[@carshowreporter]

The closest GM came to this was the Opel GT. Could you imagine if this was put in production in '65?? It would compete against the Monza and may have effected the introduction of the Firebird. Hummmmm

[@jasonfarnsworth5880]

Wow that is a nice ride

[@carshowreporter]

You said it, Jason.... what if....

[@ronkrauter1888]

Cool, it looks like a Corvette with a Firebird rear bumper.❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉😂😢😊😮😅

[@carshowreporter]

You now see the missing linkin GM concepts!!!! Thanks for watching and commenting Ron. You may like this AMX 3 concept: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kH6amJerZbN2jbs

[@flagcityparts]

looks like we now know where the opel gt design comes from

[@carshowreporter]

It would have been interesting if GM produced this as well as giving Pontic the Opel GT.

[@sheeznutz2254]

Or the Corvette Sting Ray

[@yamahaguy1732]

Looks much better than the corvette. What was gm thinking?……they likely weren’t.

[@carshowreporter]

Maybe Chevy stole, I mean used a few lines from the Banshee, It does look like the predecessor to the Opel GT. Any who, GM thinking???!!!!! Well, in the '60s, they did have their finger on the pulse of America,

[@bunk-bn9eo]

Of the two made - one had a straight 6 the other had the 326 V8.

[@carshowreporter]

Imagine such a small car with a 326 V8??!!! No wonder GM and Chevy ( Corvette ) nixed the project!!! This is the 6 cylinder XP 833. Thanks, bunk2471. Pontiac finally got their sports car in the shape of the Fiero. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZXTYY2jqtGkiLc

[@w41duvernay]

Imagine this with a 428.

[@w41duvernay]

Imagine this with a 428.

[@frankschwartz7405]

@@w41duvernay >>Imagine this with a 428.

[@tedcabana]

The beaut that eventualy became the 69 stingray corvette.

[@carshowreporter]

You mean the '68 'Vette, and, of course, the Opel GT!!! Thanks for watching and your comments, Ted.

[@tedcabana]

Love to get my mitts on one of them. Maybe there is a company out there selling replicas. Tip me up if you know of one.

[@carshowreporter]

@@tedcabana Hey, Acme, Beck, Factory Five or Mosler, ya hear?? !!!

[@cptnsolo77]

This came out one year BEFORE the 1965 Mako shark II concept. The Mako shark II was the definative influence for the C3 vette....SOOOO....was the Banshee the original inspiration for the C3 ? Make you wonder. Who stole whos design ?

[@carshowreporter]

Ahh, evolution!! Thanks for the great insight, cptnsolo77

[@cptnsolo77]

@@carshowreporterThank you. The banshee also resembles the final design of the C3 more than the mako II does...and this is 4 years before the C3 was released.

[@carshowreporter]

@@cptnsolo77 Check out the '64 XP-819 and you will get another insight into GM sports car styling and direction. autowise.com/7-mid-engine-corvette-prototypes-that-never-made-it-to-production/

[@cptnsolo77]

@@carshowreporter Thanks for the link ! I thought I seen all the vette concepts cars. The XP-819 is one I never seen before. I have to walk back my previous statement. The XP-819 has quite a few stlying cues that are very close to the final C3 design.

[@carshowreporter]

@@cptnsolo77 Isn't it so annoying when GM does not check i with us on these designs??!!!

[@rubberducky6411]

Nice zoom in...I was hoping to get a glimpse of the interior...thanks!

[@carshowreporter]

I could not find the owner to go beyond the ropes. Thanks for commenting, rubber ducky.

[@mark9531]

@@carshowreporter Didn't the originals start out with that tall Pontiac 230 overhead cam 6 cylinder. Thus the need for that hump on the hood?

[@michaeldean5878]

Allegedly GM took this from Pontiac and used its design for the next corvette

[@carshowreporter]

Probably, Michael, as well as the Opel GT. Thanks for watching and commenting! Please check out my other videos of more interesting cars.

[@davemcguigan218]

Pontiac's Corvette, I'll bet Chevrolet was not happy to have the competition from within GM. Pam you have great taste! Opel GT headlights. Looks like a plastic body car, not steel.

[@carshowreporter]

You are right about the Vette. It was THE GM sports car although Corvair metamorphosed into a sports car, but they did not know it! Anyhow, in '63 Chevy sold 21,500 Vettes and did not want another, low production car. For comparison, the '63 MGB sold about 23,400 copies. One of the important factors in the success of the 'Stang was it could seat 4 if necessary. Yes, the headlights were used on the Opel GT, the tail lights were stolen by the Trans Am and even the C3 lifted a few lines...note the doors. This was a real treat to see in the metal!!!!!! Now, when are you going to deliver it to me so will know when to pick up that dark blue, '63 Pontiac for you.

[@averagecarguy420]

I went and saw it in person at the Kia dealership in Milford CT a few years ago

[@carshowreporter]

Oh, did someone trade it in for an Accent??? 😉😂😄😂 It looks so good in person, doesn't it, Phastphill8107??!!!!

[@ToneMaestro]

This reminds me of the Australian Cheetah!

[@carshowreporter]

The Cheetah was long hood, short, or, in the case of the Cheetah, no rear deck!!! The Cheetah was introduced in '63. Maybe GM was influenced by Bill Thomas' Cobra killer??!!!! Thanks for putting in your 2 cents!!!

[@tedvasquez2074]

That car is sweet

[@carshowreporter]

Another GM " What if...." Thanks for commenting Ted.

[@JamesJimmaHarding]

Aha, so "Silver Banshee" isn't just a villain from DC comics ;)

[@carshowreporter]

Maybe this is the car for the heroine side of her??!!!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Michael-mj1bz]

Looks like a mash up between an Opel, Daytona Cobra, and GT40 style lines.... Not surprised Corvette ripped Pontiac off

[@carshowreporter]

These lines were the style of the era and GM used them in the Opel GT and, oh, yes, the Corvette!! Thanks for watching and commenting Michael. Please check out my other videos of just a little different cars.

[@judasplow25]

How did they not make this car??!!

[@carshowreporter]

To much competition for the Corvette, yet, fast forward to 1968 ... both the Corvette and the Opel GT used many styling cues from the Banshee.

[@bruceburns1672]

I have memories of some brilliant GM and Ford concept vehicles over the years , non were built , why , nobody knows , then they produce plain Jane Lemons that don't sell , hence American cars are virtually non existent in their own backyard.

[@carshowreporter]

The various Cadillac show cars from the past decade or two proves out your point, Bruce!! The Banshee may have been the basis of the Opel GT. There are about the same size. The '68 Corvette shares some lines with this concept, too. Thanks for watching and your insight, Bruce. Please check out some more, interesting cars on my channel.

[@Piggypong367]

Recessed outer door handles look like 69 Grand Prix.

[@carshowreporter]

Good observation, Piggypong! There are so many features on the Banshee which were used on later, GM cars. Thanks for commenting! Check out this other GM concept car, the '60 Cadillac Cyclone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3KpgIF-gNd4idU

[@Swanlord05]

I'll take the 88 model

[@carshowreporter]

Another sweet, Pontiac dream car!!

[@davidstansell3463]

I see a few Buick Rivera styles in it

[@carshowreporter]

I know you are referring to the boattail, but...... anyone else want to put their two cents in on this??

[@WilliamBHickock-kj4yy]

It looks an awful lot like a C-3 Corvette??? I wonder if John Delorean got any credit in designing the C-3?

[@carshowreporter]

Remember, William, GM design was under Bill Mitchell, who did use the XP833 as a starting point for the C3. It was also an influence to the Opel GT. Note the future Firebird taillights, too!!!

[@eliezervargas2959]

BABY corvette

[@carshowreporter]

Oh yes!!

[@Allegronaut]

It was canceled because it would've cut into Corvette sales because of it's obvious styling parity & much lower cost.

[@carshowreporter]

Well, very true, Allegronaut, but look at the Opel GT. OK, the German " version " did not encroach upon the Corvette performance due to the 1.1 or 1.9ltr engines. With hindsight, it is interesting to look at these concepts.

[@markatr6]

this coulda, shoulda existed side by side with corvette, THIS one way better to ME. better looking, a miata before the miata, i hope the executives are STILL kicking themselves for letting this one go by.

[@carshowreporter]

The closest GM offering to the Banshee was the Opel GT but it had only a 1.1 or 1.9ltr 4 cylinder. A nice car, but...... In the '60's, GM still commanded about 50% of the US market, so a niche segment like the one the Banshee would occupy, would not be a make or break decision. To bad!!!!!!!!! Thanks for watching and your incites into the Banshee, Mark.

[@johnnyparker2128]

C3 in disguise

[@carshowreporter]

It may be the other way around, Johnny! Also, Opel GT.

[@rumaabba8875]

How the heck they hide this car from publicity this hole time ??? Danggn!

[@carshowreporter]

Great question, Ruma, but it has had a very interesting history of popping up from time to time...for sale!!! Check out this M/T article from 2020: www.motortrend.com/vehicle-genres/1964-pontiac-xp833-banshee-coupe-sale/ Thanks for watching and commenting, ruma. If you like concepts, Check out the Cyclone: detailed look: studio.kzbin.info9wy9Nh2N7PA/edit?o=U driving: studio.kzbin.infojfcvldoB4sw/edit?o=U

[@JohnnyGlaze7]

We have this car in milford ct, napoli indoor kia

[@carshowreporter]

Can you get some interior and under the hood photos??? I would love to see them. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@MACHINA]

@@carshowreporter Nice vid :) A nice article with great photos (inside and engine): www.deansgarage.com/2014/1965-pontiac-banshee-the-story-of-the-xp-833/ and if you want to hear the 230 OHC, I've got the exact same engine in my 66 Pontiac Tempest: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHy9pIqknMmZpJY

[@motorcitymanman7711]

0-60 in 9 seconds with that 6 cylinder is painfully slow now days!! My 4 cylinder Honda Civic is faster!! U should throw a turbo on it!

[@JohnnyGlaze7]

Motorcityman Man it’s not meant to be the fastest. This car is a one of one concept with only one other somewhat identical brother. It’s for a collection

[@motorcitymanman7711]

@@JohnnyGlaze7 For 3/4 Million it should be fast too!!!

[@jamesveach6918]

Just another car the GM would have made a ton of money off of if they would have just built the damn thing now it being the only one is worth 1.3 million dollars

[@carshowreporter]

Let's use the Opel GT as an example. GM sold 103,373 world wide with 70,000 sold here in the 5 years of production. That means a tick over 20,000/yr globally and 14,000/yr stateside. One problem was the planned, limited, production. According to this article, the 240Z stole a lot of sales. The GT was priced at $3,395 and the Z was $3,626. Other competition was the 1970 MGB $2,817, 1970 Karmann Ghia $2,399, 1970 Camaro ( base ) $2,839 Your opinion that GM would sell a ton of them is relative. For an American car, it would be low production, maybe 20,000/year. For a sports car sales, it would have been a home run. Thanks for watching and commenting, James. This was fun!

[@bunk-bn9eo]

Better than the Vette.

[@carshowreporter]

That is what Chevy and GM was afraid of.... but, then, look at the '68 'Vette!!! 😉😄

[@motorcitymanman7711]

They never mass produced it because it would have hurt Vette sales.

[@carshowreporter]

Interesting. Is this your opinion or from research??

[@motorcitymanman7711]

@@carshowreporter Thought it was common knowledge.....it looks too much like a Vette......u can bet the Chevy executives were screaming that it would hurt Vette sales....don't u think??

[@carshowreporter]

@@motorcitymanman7711 No, because the C3 was 5 years away ( this was designed in '63 so the '68 Vette was 5 years away ) and, look at the Opel GT. This would have been a competitor of the MG, Triumph, Sunbeam and Karmann Ghia, not the fire breathing Corvette. Can you imagine the Pontiac salesperson... " Yes, we have the GTO or, this small coupe... " Just like the Chevy dealer with the Corvair Monza. Thanks so much for your input and conversation, Motorcityman.

[@bigstuntnsp]

@@carshowreporter u honestly don't think people considering a vette wouldn't consider this?

[@Fuji086]

Plus it was (somehow) faster than the Corvette C2. GM had already billed the Vette as the "top dog" performer of GM. Thus they found it cheaper to veto the Banshee's production than rework the Corvette.

[@darrellsaunders4267]

Pontiac would have sold millions of these....

[@carshowreporter]

As sexy as the Banshee is, America, and especially GM, just do not do that well with 2 seaters. Look at the Solstice. Sold from 2005 - 2010 ( 2005 were sold as 2006 and 2010 was cut short ) the top year was 2007 ( 24,018 ) and the total was 65,724. Even with Saturn Sky ( total 34,413 ) and Opel GT ( total 7,519 ) plus a handful of Daewoo . For comparison, Pontiac sold 82,560 Firebirds in 1967 and 107,112 in '68. Add Camaro sales, 1967: 220,906, 1968: 235,147, and 1969: 243,085 Add to the equation, would it eat into the sales of the pride and joy of GM, the Corvette? To bad, like you, I love sexy 2 seaters!!!

[@shaadydog1]

I see an oversized opel gt...

[@carshowreporter]

Ah. The family resemblance is unmistakable.

[@jerryware1970]

I think corvette stole the design.

[@carshowreporter]

This was an evolutionary design. The Corvair concepts shared some of the lines and yes, the Corvette used many aspects ... as did the Opel GT. Remember, both cars were in early developement when this was built.

[@ONTHEEDGEFRED]

It would have been nice to at least give a mention to what might have been under the hood!!

[@carshowreporter]

This one had the Pontiac OHC 6 under the hood, noted at 3:15.

[@ONTHEEDGEFRED]

​@Pamela Hirschhorn Thanks. Yeah you had to be watching closely there at the end to catch that.

[@solsunson262]

the pontiac banshee beat the c1/c2 Chevy Corvettes

[@carshowreporter]

That may be part of reason GM did not produce it. Thanks for watching and commenting Solsunson.

[@Nobody-sk3hw]

I bet you a dollar a V8 under the hood

[@carshowreporter]

Sorry, as stated in the video, it is powered by the OHC straight 6 ...pay up, Nobody!!

[@Nobody-sk3hw]

@@carshowreporter I guess I was guessing that it had a V8 because they said it was the mustang killer

[@carshowreporter]

Any sporty car from the era aimed at the number 1 target, the Mustang. Delorean also was behind the " exotic " OHC 6.

[@Nobody-sk3hw]

@@carshowreporter the DeLorean tried to chase the mustang that's ludicrous lol

[@bobbrinkerhoff3592]

@@Nobody-sk3hw nobody said Anything about a Delorean going after the Mustang. The Banshee was designed by John Delorean to compete against the new for 1964 Ford Mustang .

[@dennishale6174]

What about the 2dr Pontiac Banshee shortened cars James Garner off-road raced in events like the Baha1000 ? Different chassis than this prototype, that's for sure. I have now heard two different engines allegedly were outfitted in this allegedly, legendary GM vehicle. Easy as it is to fake something that may have existed 1964,I have my doubts this prototype is or is not the" real deal ".Just ask our current president, we seem to have quite a few people in this country today who believe in faries,witches,and ghosts. Yet these same people deny God is real, America was the agressor in WW2, by nuking Japan. I wouldn't be surprised if these Shumer worms & Pelosi appendages started rumors we started WW2 anytime now. Maybe one of them will buy this historical vehicle that may or may not be real,like thwm.

[@carshowreporter]

Garner's Banshee was a shortened Olds Cutlass. ormhof.org/james-garner/ One or 2 clicks would have answered your question. In regards to the authenticity of this prototype, well GM and the rest of the world knows this is the real deal, but you can have your own opinion.

[@robertdavis5714]

Cross between a Corvette and Opel.

[@carshowreporter]

The shape of sweet things to come, Robert!! Love these GM concept cars so we can get a glimpse of the future! Check out this '60 Cadi concept and see how many features showed up later: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3KpgIF-gNd4idU

[@kxngearner698]

toyota is GARBAGE