Pontiac Banshee

[1] In 1964 Pontiac developed the XP-833 project, a small two-seater with a long, sweeping hood and a short rear deck.

[3][4] The styling on these cars is highly reminiscent of what appeared on third-generation Chevrolet Corvettes in 1968, as well as the Opel GT.

[5] Another styling cue that made production was the design of the taillights, which are nearly identical to that found on first-generation Pontiac Firebirds.

Head of Pontiac John DeLorean called this car the "Mustang Fighter" and rumor has it he fully intended to bring it to production.

[1] 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."

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.

The front was a smooth blend of bumper sheet metal and covered headlamps for improved aerodynamics.

A heads-up display system (HUD) projected information about speed, engine RPM, and fuel level on the windshield in the driver's field of vision.

The dashboard featured video displays and numerous buttons; the steering wheel alone contained about twenty.

Like its predecessors, it was intended to establish exterior and interior design themes that would be modified for the production version of the Pontiac Firebird.

The silver hardtop version of the Banshee was last seen in the classic car section of Napoli Indoor Auto, In Milford, CT, until 2020.