Starting with a Grand Prix SJ, the Edinburgh featured Scotch-plaid seat inserts in red, white, and black; red carpeting, and a black exterior with red striping. Shades of white defined the Casa Blanca-a Grand Ville four-door hardtop with pearlescent exterior, a white vinyl top, and an elaborate, needlepoint-accented interior. Pontiac was pushing its new Luxury LeMans series for 1972, and to show it off, the Valencia two-door hardtop featured pearlescent orange paint, a white vinyl top, and a white/gold interior with a bench front seat.
February 24-March 4, 1973
Federal safety standards were making themselves known by the time the '73 models rolled around, and the all-new Pontiac Tempest/Grand Am intermediates proved the point. Convertibles were gone as were true hardtops. "Colonnade" hardtops replaced the latter, and, despite frameless door glass, there were fat B-pillars across the board. New bumper standards added a heavier look to lots of cars that year, but with their body-colored urethane plastic noses, Grand Ams fared better than most in the styling department. Pontiac showed off its new offerings on elevated turntables.
 In the foreground of this...  In the foreground of this '74 Chicago Auto Show scene is the Grand Am All American show car. It would influence the '77 Can Am option that reached production. |  In 1975, we were told convertibles...  In 1975, we were told convertibles would soon be a thing of the past, and on hand in the Chicago display was the new Grand Ville Brougham ragtop. |  Pontiacs as far as the eye...  Pontiacs as far as the eye could see graced this '76 view of the Chicago Auto Show display. The Division held down a front corner of the show for many years, and this was among the first displays the spectators saw when they entered the main floor at McCormick Place. Here is the Blue Bird show car that influenced the '77 Sky Bird. |
 This was a preview of a production...  This was a preview of a production option for the Firebird Esprit to be released a year later; the Red Bird show car got a platform of its own at the '77 Chicago Auto Show. |  For 1978, the Gold Edition...  For 1978, the Gold Edition SE Trans Am was the featured attraction. Highlights were the gold paint, 8-inch-wide snowflake wheels, Fisher T-tops, and a redesigned hood Bird. |  It was an honor for the '81...  It was an honor for the '81 Firebird to be chosen as the official pace car for the NASCAR Daytona 500 the year after it was the Indianapolis 500 pace car. Performance was not a buzzword at the time, but Pontiac kept its irons in the fire, even if it was pacing the race cars. |
February 23-March 3, 1974
Pontiac's fascination with the Banshee name for its show/concept cars continued at the '74 Chicago Auto show with latest Banshee, based on a Firebird platform with sleek nonproduction bodywork. A Super-Duty 455-cid V-8 was openly bragged about in the middle of the nation's first so-called "energy crisis." Banshees would return to the show a few more times.
Also at that show was the Ventura-based GTO for 1974-a less bold move in tough times. On the visual side, crowds saw the All-American Edition Grand Am show car with a rear spoiler, quarter-window slats, and special paint and striping.
February 22-March 2, 1975
Reacting to demands for economy cars, Pontiac displayed its new Astre hatchback and wagon at Chicago for 1975. Based on Chevrolet's Vega, which started as a '71 model, Astre put U.S. Pontiac dealers into the subcompact field for the first time since dealers sold British Vauxhalls in the late '50s and early '60s. Astre had been available in Canada for some time.
Not satisfied with just a hand-me-down, Pontiac showed a "Li'l Wide Track"-modified Astre. A series of options for both the hatchback and wagon from Motortown Corp. of Wyandotte, Michigan, featured a front air dam, rear spoiler, quarter-window trim, striping, and special cast-aluminum wheels. Literature on it was available at the show.
February 21-29, 1976
With ponycar competitors falling from production status in bunches, Pontiac openly promoted its Firebirds at the '76 show. The limited-edition Trans Am Black Bird, in black with gold trim and roof hatches, was a star of the show. At the time, you could still get the 455 V-8. Firebird sales were up nearly 49 percent, and Trans Am was drawing better than 35 percent of the orders.
Also shown was an early Blue Bird, based on the Esprit model. Celebrating Pontiac's golden anniversary since its introduction in 1926, a 50th Anniversary Grand Prix LJ with removable roof panels dazzled the folks at the show.
February 26-March 6, 1977
Near the sunset of intermediate performance cars, Pontiac displayed the midyear Can Am option for the LeMans Sport Coupe at the '77 Chicago Auto show. It featured lots of good engine and suspension components, given the era, and was strong on visuals. Tri-color stripes, name decals, hoodscoop, window slats, spoilers, black-out grille, body-color sport mirrors, and Rally II wheels were backed up by a 200-horse W72 400-cid V-8, RTS suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, and steel-belted radials.
Color info sheets on the Can Am were given out at the display, which were the only widely circulated literature printed on the car. The LeMans line was in the last year before downsizing, and thanks to the Can Am, it went out in a style that recalled the GTOs and Judges of the past.