Flashback: Pontiac killed on April 27, 2009

It was precisely two years ago today--April 27, 2009--that Pontiac met its demise. In hindsight, the decision made a lot of sense for General Motors, which six weeks later would file for bankruptcy.

But at the time, many enthusiasts were more than a bit upset that 80 years of Pontiac--once the third-best-selling brand in the United States--was set for the scrap yard.

The announcement, made by then-GM chief executive Fritz Henderson--GM has had two more CEOs since--was especially bitter for car guys, as Pontiac finally seemed to find its way with the rear-wheel-powered G8 and the trendy Solstice coupe and roadster.

Hindsight, especially two years later, is always clearer. And GM's stunning comeback clearly casts the tough decisions of 2009 in a better light. Still, the end of Pontiac for GM remains a loss for enthusiasts.

Read our full story from 2009 here.

By Greg Migliore