The Pontiac Motor Division was an unfortunate casualty of General Motors recent corporate restructuring. But at one time it was touted as GM’s performance division. Pontiacs were known for their raw power, split-grilles and wide-track stance. Many authorities even credit the legendary Tempest GTO of 1964 as the world’s first musclecar.

More recently, as time was winding down on Pontiac, they attempted to recapture some of that old magic with another incarnation of the GTO. A concept was shown at auto shows in 1999 and received good reviews. When the production car finally appeared in 2004 it did not sell as well as expected and was discontinued after only three years, mainly because it lacked the distinctive looks and feel of the original. Then right when it seemed over for the company that once advertised, “We build excitement,” they came out with a truly fun car; the Solstice.

The Solstice debuted as a concept in 2002 as one of the first projects championed by an enthusiastic newly-appointed GM Vice Chairman of Global Product Development, Bob Lutz. The new model received rave reviews and lots of public interest and as a result was fast-tracked into production by mid-2005 for the 2006 model year.

The Solstice, and later its companion the Saturn Sky, was different than anything coming out of Detroit at the time and necessitated an entirely new compact rear-wheel drive sports car framework which became GM’s Kappa platform. It was powered by a hopped-up version of the Eco-tech four-cylinder engine that developed 177 horsepower. In reality the Solstice was more Miata than a musclecar, but it certainly brought some genuine excitement back to Pontiac when it surely needed some. It served to reinvigorate and redefine the sporting nature of the brand.

The design of the Solstice is an American take on the classic sports roadster. It has a curvaceous, yet tightly wrapped body with extremely short overhangs. The car incorporates tall wheels, twin headrest fairings and Pontiac’s signature twin-grilles. Although it was not enough to rescue its division amidst GM’s financial woes, the Solstice was one last memorable car built by a once proud Pontiac.

The car offered is a low mileage (less than 900 miles) single owner example. It has always been started and lightly driven, and was until recently licensed and registered. It has never had any damage, and has spent its entire life in the owner’s garage when not being driven. It generous list of options include air conditioning, a five-speed transmission, XM Radio, leather and power windows.

The Solstice has become collectible, and this might be one a few chances you will have to set the clock back ten years and purchase an extreme low mileage, one adult owner example.