Concept Car Of The Day: 1964 Pontiac Banshee XP-833 - AllCarIndex
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The Pontiac Banshee XP-833 is one of the most intriguing concept cars in American automotive history. Conceived in 1964 under the leadership of John DeLorean, then head of Pontiac, the XP-833 was a bold attempt to challenge conventional thinking and push the boundaries of car design. DeLorean’s vision was to create a sleek, high-performance two-seat sports car that could compete with the Ford Mustang and other rising stars in the sports car market. With its long, sweeping hood, short rear deck, and aggressive styling, the Banshee was poised to make a dramatic impact. However, its potential was never fully realized, as General Motors executives saw it as a threat to their flagship sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette.
Only two fully drivable prototypes of the XP-833 were ever produced: a silver hardtop coupe and a white convertible. Both cars survive today and are preserved by private collectors. The hardtop, with its sleek gray body and red interior, featured a Pontiac Overhead Cam inline-six engine, while the convertible was powered by a V-8. These cars were lightweight, with the hardtop weighing just 2,200 pounds, and featured a solid-body construction made of fiberglass and a steel underbody. This innovative design gave the Banshee an excellent power-to-weight ratio, and it was capable of impressive performance, with reports indicating that it could hit 60 mph in second gear.
The Banshee’s styling was highly influential, leaving a lasting mark on GM’s future designs. The third-generation Corvette, introduced in 1968, bore a striking resemblance to the Banshee’s elongated hood and sporty lines. Additionally, the second-generation Pontiac Firebird borrowed heavily from the Banshee’s tail light design. Though the XP-833 was never mass-produced, its influence on these iconic models is undeniable.
One of the key reasons the Banshee never reached production was its perceived competition with the Corvette. DeLorean’s intent was for the Banshee to be a “Mustang fighter,” a fast and nimble sports car that could take on the growing popularity of Ford’s pony car. However, GM executives feared that the Banshee would not only steal sales from the Corvette but could potentially outshine it in terms of performance. With its lightweight design and potent engine options, the Banshee had the potential to outperform the heavier Corvette. This posed a dilemma for GM, which had long marketed the Corvette as its premier high-performance sports car. As a result, the decision was made to halt the Banshee project in 1966, despite DeLorean’s ambitions.
While the Banshee never made it to the production line, the two surviving prototypes have become valuable pieces of automotive history. The silver hardtop is currently housed at Napoli Indoor Auto in Milford, Connecticut, while the convertible is also in private hands. These cars are a testament to what might have been, had the Banshee been allowed to reach its full potential. In 2001, the silver hardtop was invited to be displayed at the prestigious Meadow Brook Hall Concours d'Elegance, further solidifying its place in automotive lore.
The Pontiac Banshee XP-833 remains an intriguing "what if" in the world of classic cars. Its sleek design, innovative engineering, and the story of its untimely demise have cemented its legacy as one of the great concept cars of the 1960s. While it never saw mass production, the Banshee's influence on future GM models and its enduring appeal to collectors ensure its place in automotive history.
