It was intended to be displayed at the 1966 New York Auto Show with a press release written, but was pulled from the show at the last minute by James Roche, to the irritation of DeLorean. A Chevrolet equivalent was also planned in the early stages. It began development in 1962 and was originally intended to be named the Pontiac Scorpion, a name previously associated with a 1961 Pontiac study codenamed XP-758, but was renamed as the Banshee by Delorean after the fighter plane. It had a Pontiac 421 V8, 4-wheel independent suspension and featured sliding hinged doors and hinged roof panels for easier rear seat access. Ĭodenamed XP-798, the 1966 Pontiac Banshee was a concept car inspired by European grand tourers, which evolved as a 4-seater version of a Corvette competitor study for Pontiac codenamed XP-778.
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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." And so it was that the XP-833 project was revised to become the C3 Corvette against which it had been forbidden from competing. GM executives instructed DeLorean to cease further development in 1964, though a direct successor was developed as XP-858. It was able to reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in second gear. The Banshee would have had equivalent horsepower, yet weighed 500 lb (227 kg) less than the Corvette and so would have been a potent package. This did not sit well with GM execs who had marketed the Corvette as their top performer even today, models such as the Camaro and Firebird - even though using the same engine as Corvette - have had those engines de-tuned slightly so they will not have as high a horsepower rating as a Corvette. However, his bosses at GM felt that it would be a threat to the Corvette, cannibalizing its sales, and (if DeLorean had his way) outperforming it as well. Head of Pontiac John DeLorean called this car the "Mustang Fighter" and rumor has it he fully intended to bring it to production. Indeed, the high performance and sensuous styling of the Banshee may have led to its demise. Another styling cue that made production was the design of the taillights, which are nearly identical to that found on first-generation Pontiac Firebirds. The styling on these cars is highly reminiscent of what appeared on third-generation Chevrolet Corvettes in 1968, as well as the Opel GT.
The Banshee name was retroactively given in 1971 when engineer Bill Collins installed the leftover Banshee badges taken from the later XP-798 project, XP-833 was never referred to as the Banshee during its development.
A 4-seater version was also developed codenamed XP-851. One was a silver hardtop with a straight six engine and the other is a white convertible with a V-8. Several different versions were constructed, but only two drivable prototypes were ever built. In 1964 Pontiac developed the XP-833 project, a small two-seater with a long, sweeping hood and a short rear deck.
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