Pontiac Reviews

I've just purchaed a 1973 GTO and bought 5 books on the subject. This is by far the best one. The pictures are wonderful and the analysis is both insightful and inspirational in an entrepreneurial sense (getting the GTO done over GM's massive corporate bureaucracy.) A must-read for the true GTO or musclecar fan.

Great book for the goat owner. Learn about your vehicle and it's brothers. Great pictures, great info. Sure brings back memories.

A great read for all muscle car enthusiasts. A well done illustrated history of the GTO and muscle cars in general. There is much more then just pictures of old cars. This book is well laid out and fun to read cover to cover or just browse. Exceptional year by year historical view of the GTO. Many great examples of fully restored GTO's and classic original promotional pictures.

This is Vol. 1 of Francis Parkman's excellent account of the major uprising of the Great Lakes tribes in 1763-1764 whose orchestration is generally attributed to the Ottawa chief Pontiac.

Pontiac's Rebellion, as it is often called, is generally seen as a epilogue to the French and Indian War. At the end of this conflict, France was forced to concede defeat, and to hand over control of all their former forts and settlements to the British. The complex relationship between the Britsh, French, and Indian tribes in the Trans-Alleghany region was in a delicate situation after the fall of New France. The great lakes tribes, allies of the French and tradionally tied to them trough trade and inter-marriage, were fearful and suspicious of the British conquerors. The British were generally eager to establish trade with these new tribes, which had up until now been exclusively partnered with the French. But the view held by some in the upper British echelon, particularly General Jeffery Amherst, the commander-in-chief of all British forces in North America, was extremely biased against the Indians, whom they viewed as dangerous savages.

When the British took control of the Forts in the Great Lakes region, Amherst immediately instituted a harsh trade policy which essentially punished the Indians, preventing them from obtaining gunpowder and ammunition for their muskets needed for hunting. Amherst and his cronies, warm and safe in their lush surroundings in New York, failed to grasp the unique relationship that had evolved between the Indian and the white traders since the early days of European settlement. The Indians could no longer support themselves without the trade goods from the whites, particularly guns and ammo. Amherst also eliminated the traditional giving of "presents" as a diplomatic offering to the Indians, which was seen by them as a major breach of trust and friendship. This proved a recipe for disaster which was forseen by many in-the-know on the Frontier, particularly men like George Croghan and Sir William Johnson, British Superintendent of Indian Affairs and a well-respected figure among the New York Iroqouis. But all their warnings to Amherst and the high command were ignored. The result was one of the largest Indian uprisings in American history.

Parkman's account is an extremely detailed retelling of the uprising from it's beginings at Fort Detroit to it ultimate defeat by British troops at the Battle of Bushy Run and Colonel Henry Bouquet's march into the Ohio Country. Some people may find Parkman difficult to read and his language can be dry at times. Some modern readers will find his 19th century view on the Indians, whom he often refers to as savages, as offensive. However, Parkman was a 19th century American writing at a time when the war to conquer the American continent was still being waged and white animosity and racism toward the Indians had not been tempered. Even so, Parkman does seem to give them more credit than many of his contemporaries.

The war's outcome did not bode well for the Indians and Pontiac's tragic fate seem to foreshadow dark times to come for the native tribes. Even the tribes close with and allied to the English began to realize that their days were numbered and that the attitude toward them was changing for the worse. Soon, the British, who had once been heavily dependant on trade and military alliances with the tribes would no longer need them now that the French had been vanquished. The fears of the Indians, that the whites would soon come to drive them out and take their land, were beginning to be fulfilled. The fallout from this tragic conflict, a despreate attemtpt to cling to the traditional relationship that had existed between the whites and the Indians, would echo down the long years of history. In later years, great Indian leaders like Joseph Brant, Blue Jacket, Little Turtle, and Tecumseh would try to recreate what Pontiac attempted in 1763: To preserve their homes and way of life, a struggle that would ultiamtely prove a failure.

I have a love for history as it happened, and this book was as good as it gets with regard to "telling it like it is" and the explanation about the environment and the character of the people involved. I understand more about the Indian people and the French and the British (at that period of time) than I knew before reading the book. As to the book it shows how the French lost most of America and Canada, when they were better positioned (they had made friends with the Indians) to take over than the British. The author of the book lived in a period where he could visit and speak to persons who were affected by the French and Indian wars (which period is almost forgotten). It also explained who was "Pontiac", an Indian chief of amazing leadership(& who is not a car). I had heard his of his name in a movie and I was curious to what he represented. I had read the "Lewis and Clark expedition" book before this one and both books complemented each other very much. A movie, regarding the Indian assault on a desperate Fort Denver should be made (I believe there is one with Gary Cooper and a young Lloyd Bridges, but it is not completely - historically speaking - reliable).

I used this manual to make practical repairs to a 1983 Cavalier. It gave detailed and very comprehensive information, with lots of photos and drawings to guide me through every step of maintenance, repair, or overhaul. A shop manual is a reference. You want to be able to find information fast. This Clymer book, is designed with such use in mind!

I read the book and just want to make a review of certain car that I'm planning to buy and make the maintenance after

Great book. Nice overview and history of each year. Refreshing to see a book with NEW photos of the great GTO!

I found this book to be an excellent source of information for any GTO enthusiast. It has a great combination of numerical facts and figures, little known facts and restoration information, and plenty of photos of GTO's from the common driven restored cars right up to the rarest nut and bolt restored examples. It does a good job of pointing out some of the differences in correct original restorations and driver quality restorations. I have a number of GTO books, and this one has the best balance of just about all of them, and it covers all years thoroughly. If you are doing a full restoration on a car, this book will not give you the extensive detail of the GTO Restoration Guide, but it does contain a lot of great information that you won't find in some of the other GTO books available, and it's presented in a very polished format.

This is a nice overview of Pontiacs of 50's 60's and early 70's. A lot of nice full color pictures and several nice facts in an easy to read format. Many of the cars are "real" and not picture perfect collectors, this adds a nice touch. A good book for light reading and to see different models and options of Pontiacs!

This book gives you a high level overview of most of Pontiac's performance cars. It is not all inclusive but is very good for people who don't need extensive detail on every fast Pontiac ever built. The text is accompanied by several nice color pictures.

this is the book for people who want to get their hands dirty! You will know more about your 72' than even the dealer!

Thanks, Pontiac, for having your 75th anniversary the same year that my brother bought one! This was a fun gift that he displays in his living room along with his driving trophies.

I RECENTLY GOT AN 88 CUTLASS, AND I MISTAKENLY GOT A HAYNES BOOK INSTEAD OF CHILTONS. THE HAYNES WASN'T AS SIMPLEY PUT AND EFFICIENT AS CHILTON'S WAS. IT ISN'T BIG ENOUGH TO BE IN THE WAY, YET NOT SMALL ENOUGH TO GET LOST! I RECCOMEND THIS TO ALL BEGGINERS AT FIXING UP CARS!

Hi there, I would just like to say a few words. I have a 1982 Grand Le Mans, and I am still driving the car, because of this book. With the help of the book, I recked my whole car apart, and then I re built it. I love my Grand Le Mans, and I would not change the car for any thing in the world. thanks for listening.

I don't know what the wiring is for an 1988 Buick Century. I also don't have a manuel. I was going to put a cd player in it and I needed to know the wiring fir it.

I need to know that is the maximum voltage from alternator buick century 1991 year.

With lots of pictures, this manual is something I wish I had bought long ago. It helps first-timers do things like change the oil, and hardcore pros overhaul engines and transaxles. It shows how to take apart consoles and such which almost look inpermeable at first. Power antenna on the fritz? It's in here. Need new brakes? It really is not hard, and if fully detailed and illustrated in this book. This is just a really essential tool for you, and is just as valuable as your ratchet wrench.