The Pontiac Banshee is a line of concept cars designed by Pontiac, assuming the role previously established by General Motors' Firebirds of the 1950s. Four Banshee "dream cars" were fabricated through 1988 as design exercises intended to establish exterior and interior themes that could be modified for production versions of Pontiac sports and performance cars. Banshee was also the leading candidate for Pontiac's version of the Camaro before being named Firebird in light of any deathly associations of the word Banshee.
Banshee (XP-833)
In 1964 Pontiac developed the XP-833 project, a small two-seater with a long, sweeping hood and a short rear deck. Several different versions were constructed, but only two drivable prototypes were ever built. One was a silver hardtop with a straight six engine and the other is a white convertible with a V-8. A 4-seater version was also developed codenamed XP-851. The Banshee name was retroactively given in 1971 when engineer Bill Collins installed the leftover Banshee badges taken from the later XP-798 project, XP-833 was never referred to as the Banshee during its development.
The styling on these cars is highly reminiscent of what appeared on third-generation Chevrolet Corvettes in 1968, as well as the Opel GT. Another styling cue that made production was the design of the taillights, which are nearly identical to that found on first-generation Pontiac Firebirds. Indeed, the high performance and sensuous styling of the Banshee may have led to its demise. Head of Pontiac John DeLorean called this car the "Mustang Fighter" and rumor has it he fully intended to bring it to production. However, his bosses at GM felt that it would be a threat to the Corvette, cannibalizing its sales, and (if DeLorean had his way) outperforming it as well.
This did not sit well with GM execs who had marketed the Corvette as their top performer; even today, models such as the Camaro and Firebird - even though using the same engine as Corvette - have had those engines de-tuned slightly so they will not have as high a horsepower rating as a Corvette. The Banshee would have had equivalent horsepower, yet weighed less than the Corvette and so would have been a potent package. It was able to reach in second gear. GM executives instructed DeLorean to cease further development in 1964, though a direct successor was developed as XP-858. In a move loaded with irony, a memo to GM's head of design, Bill Mitchell, dated September 10, 1965, instructed Mitchell to have his staff update the XP-833 exterior clay and interior bucks “reflecting a Chevrolet design for the two-passenger version coupe." And so it was that the XP-833 project was revised to become the C3 Corvette against which it had been forbidden from competing.
Banshee (XP-798) Codenamed XP-798, the 1966 Pontiac Banshee was a concept car inspired by European grand tourers, which evolved as a 4-seater version of a Corvette competitor study for Pontiac codenamed XP-778. It had a Pontiac 421 V8, 4-wheel independent suspension and featured sliding hinged doors and hinged roof panels for easier rear seat access. It began development in 1962 and was originally intended to be named the Pontiac Scorpion, a name previously associated with a 1961 Pontiac study codenamed XP-758, but was renamed as the Banshee by Delorean after the fighter plane. A Chevrolet equivalent was also planned in the early stages. It was intended to be displayed at the 1966 New York Auto Show with a press release written, but was pulled from the show at the last minute by James Roche, to the irritation of DeLorean. The Banshee was still worked on for a few years before the project was cancelled and the prototype eventually crushed, though it would donate its badging to the XP-833 prototypes.
Banshee II
Made in 1968, the Banshee II was the second in the Banshee series.
The 1968 Pontiac Banshee II had aerodynamic fiberglass skins over stock Firebird inner panels and a near stock black interior.
In 1969, the Banshee II was modified with white paint and graphics, including a decal on the nose.
It had flush wheel covers, a deep louvered hood, cut down glass, brake cooling vents, minimal ground clearance, and separate headrests for the passengers and the driver. It was powered by a 400 C.I.D. V8 engine.
Banshee III
Made in 1974, the Banshee III was the third in the Banshee series. The front end bears some similarities to the later Trans-Ams.