There are stories in automotive history that sound like a suspenseful economic thriller. One of them is the story of the 1964 Pontiac Banshee XP-833. When you stand in front of this low, silver coupe today, you inevitably ask yourself: why was this car never put into series production?
The answer lies deep in the complex politics of General Motors, and it represents one of the most fascinating “what if” stories in American automotive history. Behind it all is none other than John Z. DeLorean, the man who would later achieve global fame (and make headlines) with his DMC-12 gullwing car.
But DeLorean was still the man at Pontiac in the mid-60s. Together with Pete Estes, he wanted to radically strengthen the brand's sporty image. His goal: a compact, lightweight two-seater that would position itself as a cheaper but still powerful alternative between the Corvette and the later Camaro.
The XP-833 project was not just a show car, but a fully running prototype that was seen as an indirect response to the growing wave of "pony cars" around the Ford Mustang. DeLorean and his team opted for a fiberglass body mounted on a completely redesigned chassis derived from the GM A-Body architecture. With an extremely short wheelbase of just 2.286 millimeters (90 inches) and an empty weight of just under 1.000 kilograms, the Banshee was a true lightweight.
Under the endlessly long bonnet beat a heart that was almost exotic for American conditions at the time: a 3,7-litre straight-six with overhead camshaft (OHC-6). While this engine was limited to around 155 to 165 hp in the prototype for internal political reasons, the concept already envisaged versions with up to 215 hp. At the same time, a white convertible was also created, which, with its 5,3-litre V8 (326 cubic inches) and around 250 hp, showed how much power was actually hidden in this platform.
The design, heavily influenced by Jack Humbert, was far ahead of its time. The flowing Coke-bottle silhouette, the distinctively shaped fenders and the retractable headlights seemed almost science fiction in 1964. But if you look closely, you'll notice: the design language of the Corvette C3 (Stingray), which only debuted in 1968, was defined years in advance.
Inside, Pontiac also showed the courage to innovate: to reduce weight and maintain an extremely low ride height, the seats were firmly attached to the body. Instead of moving the seat, it was possible to adjust the pedals and steering column – a technical trick that we know today mainly from modern supercars.
But it was this brilliance that was fatal for the Banshee. GM executives, especially those at Chevrolet, were terrified. They were worried that the cheaper Pontiac could steal the attention—and especially the customers—from the prestigious Corvette. Chevrolet executives viewed the XP-833 as a direct threat to their sanctum.
The decision from the headquarters of the concern was devastating: the project was stopped. Pontiac was officially instructed to focus on the market of four- and five-seater cars. However: the spirit of this project was later reflected in the Firebird model, but the dream of a pure two-seater was shattered.
Usually, such prototypes end up in the scrapyard. The fact that we can still admire the Banshee today is thanks to the brave employees who literally hid the vehicles in private garages until they could officially buy them back.
Today, the silver Banshee XP-833 is not only a collector's item worth millions, but also a moving monument to John DeLorean's innovative spirit. It remains a "ghost" that probably haunted the Corvette developers in their dreams for a long time to come - as the best car Pontiac never got to make.
