Pontiac’s 1970 Model Lineup

In 1970, Pontiac’s U.S. lineup comprised full-size Catalina, Executive, and Bonneville; midsize Tempest (including the mid-year T‑37), LeMans, and GTO (with The Judge option); the all-new second-generation Firebird range (Base, Esprit, Formula 400, Trans Am); and the Grand Prix (Model J and SJ). Station wagons were sold under each series’ banner and badged “Safari.” Below is a breakdown by segment with key submodels and notes.

Full-size (B-body): Catalina, Executive, Bonneville

Pontiac’s full-size cars formed the brand’s mainstream in 1970, offering spacious sedans, hardtops, convertibles, and wagons. The wagons carried the historic “Safari” badging aligned to each series’ trim level.

• Catalina — entry full-size line (sedans, hardtops, convertible; Catalina Safari wagon)
• Executive — midline full-size (sedans, hardtops; Executive Safari wagon)
• Bonneville — premium full-size (sedans, hardtops, convertible; Bonneville Safari wagon)

The Catalina anchored value, Executive bridged to premium, and Bonneville topped the full-size range. Notably, 1970 was the final model year for the Executive before Pontiac reshuffled its big-car lineup for 1971.

Midsize (A-body): Tempest, LeMans, GTO

In the midsize segment, Pontiac balanced volume and performance. The Tempest served as the base line, LeMans provided the step-up trims, and the GTO continued as its own high-performance series. A low-price T‑37 subseries arrived mid-year, including a GT‑37 value-performance package.

• Tempest — base midsize series (two- and four-door body styles)
• T‑37 — mid‑1970 low-price subseries within the Tempest line (initially a two-door pillared coupe); GT‑37 performance appearance/handling package introduced mid-year
• LeMans — up-level trims (including LeMans Sport and LeMans Sport Convertible)
• GTO — standalone performance line (with The Judge option package available)

This was the last model year to use the Tempest name broadly; Pontiac transitioned its midsize naming for 1971. The GT‑37 offered stripes, badges, and go-fast visuals without the GTO’s cost, while The Judge remained the GTO’s headline performance package.

Pony car (F-body): Firebird lineup

1970 marked the debut of the second-generation Firebird, arriving during the model year with a more aerodynamic design and a tiered lineup to span comfort and performance.

• Firebird (Base) — entry model
• Firebird Esprit — upscale trim with luxury emphasis
• Firebird Formula 400 — performance model with dual-scoop hood and 400 V8 power
• Firebird Trans Am — top performance variant with chassis, aero, and engine upgrades

The 1970 Firebird family launched in early 1970 and quickly established a clear ladder from comfort-focused Esprit to track-bred Trans Am, with the Formula 400 as the balanced performance choice.

Personal luxury: Grand Prix

Pontiac’s personal-luxury offering continued strong in 1970, combining sporty proportions with upscale features in a two-door hardtop.

• Grand Prix Model J — core model
• Grand Prix Model SJ — up-level performance/luxury specification

The SJ package emphasized higher output and amenities, while the Model J delivered the Grand Prix look and feel at a lower entry point.

Additional notes and context

Wagons across the full-size lines wore “Safari” badging tied to their respective series (Catalina, Executive, Bonneville). In mid-1970, Pontiac introduced the T‑37 and GT‑37 within the midsize lineup as value-focused and value-performance offerings. The GTO’s The Judge option continued for 1970. The Executive nameplate ended after 1970, and broader lineup changes—including Grand Ville and Ventura II—arrived for 1971. Canadian-market Pontiacs used different full-size nameplates (such as Parisienne and Laurentian), which are not covered here.

Summary

For 1970, Pontiac’s model roster featured: full-size Catalina, Executive, and Bonneville (with Safari wagons); midsize Tempest (including mid-year T‑37/GT‑37), LeMans, and GTO (with The Judge); the second-generation Firebird range (Base, Esprit, Formula 400, Trans Am); and the Grand Prix (Model J and SJ). This lineup spanned value, luxury, and high performance during a pivotal year of design and naming transitions.

What cars did Pontiac make in 1974?

The main 1974 Pontiac models were the Bonneville, Catalina, Firebird (which included the Espri, Formula, and top-tier Trans Am models), Grand Am, Grand Prix, Grand Ville, GTO, LeMans, Safari (station wagons), and Ventura. The Firebird lineup was particularly diverse, with its base model, the luxury-focused Espri, the sporty Formula, and the highly desirable Trans Am.
 
Here’s a breakdown of some key 1974 Pontiac lines:

• Luxury/Full-Size Cars 
  • Bonneville: A classic full-size model in the Pontiac lineup. 
  • Catalina: A full-size car offered with or without the Safari station wagon variant. 
  • Grand Ville: A larger, more luxurious option, sometimes offered with an additional station wagon body style. 
  • Grand Am: A distinct model positioned within the lineup. 
  • Grand Prix: Pontiac’s classic luxury sport coupe. 
• Sports/Performance Cars
  • Firebird: The sporty car from Pontiac, offered in several variants: 
    • Firebird: The base model. 
    • Espri: A luxury-oriented version of the Firebird. 
    • Formula: A step up from the Espri, offering more performance. 
    • Trans Am: The top performance model, available with potent V8 engines. 
  • GTO: A specific performance model available as a separate option or package. 
  • Ventura: The compact car available in this year, which could be optioned into the GTO. 
• Station Wagons
  • Safari: The designation for station wagon versions of other models, such as the Catalina. 

What cars did Pontiac make in 1976?

Select a 1976 Pontiac Model

• 1976 Astre.
• 1976 Bonneville.
• 1976 Bonneville Brougham.
• 1976 Catalina.
• 1976 Catalina Safari.
• 1976 Firebird.
• 1976 Grand Lemans.
• 1976 Grand Prix.

What was the lineup of the Pontiac in the 70s?

Pontiac’s 1970 lineup included the GTO, Firebird, LeMans, Grand Prix, Catalina, Bonneville, and Tempest. What was Pontiac’s muscle car? The Pontiac GTO was its most famous muscle car, often credited with starting the muscle car era in the 1960s and continuing strong into the 1970s.

What models did Pontiac make in 1972?

The main 1972 Pontiac models were the Bonneville, Catalina, Firebird, Grand Prix, Grand Safari, Grand Ville, LeMans, and the high-performance GTO. The lineup included full-size, intermediate, and pony car models, with the LeMans series encompassing various sub-trims like the Luxury Le Mans, Le Mans Sport, and the new Le Mans GT package.
 
Here’s a breakdown of the key 1972 Pontiac models:

• Full-Size Cars:
  • Bonneville: A well-appointed full-size model. 
  • Catalina: The base model in the full-size lineup. 
  • Grand Safari: A large, station wagon model. 
  • Grand Ville: The premium full-size model. 
  • Grand Prix: A sporty, personal luxury coupe. 
• Intermediate Cars (LeMans Line):
  • LeMans: The base model for Pontiac’s intermediate-sized cars. 
  • Luxury Le Mans: An upgraded version of the Le Mans with better interiors. 
  • Le Mans Sport: A performance-oriented intermediate with features from the Luxury Le Mans. 
  • GTO: The iconic performance option, now a distinct model based on the Le Mans platform. 
  • Le Mans GT: A new performance package, replacing the former GT-37 option, available on various Le Mans bodies. 
• Pony Car:
  • Firebird: Pontiac’s popular pony car.