Editing Pontiac (automobile) (section)

==Style trademarks and logo==
[[File:Red Pontiac at Power Big Meet 2005.jpg|thumb|right|Split grille and arrowhead logo in a 1966 Pontiac GTO]]
[[File:1952 Pontiac Fleetleader four-door sedan, front.jpg|thumb|American Indian headdress and silver streak in a 1952 Pontiac Chieftain]]
A [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] headdress was used as a logo until 1956. This was updated to the Native American red arrowhead design for 1957 for the remainder of the brand's run in all usage except the high-beam indicator lamp, which retained the original logo through 1970. The arrowhead logo is also known as the Dart.

Besides the logo, another identifying feature of Pontiacs was their "Silver Streaks"—one or more narrow strips of stainless steel which extended from the grille down the center of the hood. Eventually, they extended from the rear window to the rear bumper as well, and finally; along the tops of the fins. Although initially a single band, this stylistic trademark doubled to two for 1955 and 1956. The Streaks were discontinued the same year as the Indian Head emblems (1957).

[[File:Pontiac Zero Defects tie tack.jpg|thumb|right|Pontiac Motors Division, Zero Defects tie tack (mid-1960s)]]
One long-familiar styling element was the split-grille design which was introduced in 1959 to complement the make's new "wide track" stance. The 1960 models, however, reverted to the full-width grille styling. The split grille then returned for the 1961 model year and would remain as the marque's trademark. Other styling cues were the pointed "arrowhead" nose (in the 1960s and 1970s), and "grilled-over" (in the 1960s), or multiple horizontal-striped taillights. This later feature originated with the 1963 [[Pontiac Grand Prix|Grand Prix]], and although the 1962 Grand Prix also had rear grillework, the taillight lenses were not behind it. Less longstanding but equally memorable is the "cladding" common on the doors and fenders of Pontiacs produced in the 1990s and 2000s. Rather than minimizing the side bumper, Pontiac designers put two troughs going along the length. Bumpers with this appearance were found on nearly all Pontiacs until the arrival of the G6. From 2004 onwards, new Pontiacs had cleaner, more premium styling, but retained the traditional split grille.

===Name controversy===
The name "[[Pontiac (Odawa leader)|Pontiac]]" had come from the [[Odawa]] leader who had fought against the British for [[Fort Detroit]] in the 18th century. As mentioned above, GM would incorporate Native American imagery into Pontiac and would use Native American names for its cars on the brand. However, there was never controversy during the brand's lifespan.

Although GM had already discontinued the Pontiac brand, the fact that GM had used the name gained some controversy in 2021 when the [[Cherokee Nation]] asked [[Jeep]] to rename its popular [[Jeep Cherokee]] and [[Jeep Grand Cherokee|Grand Cherokee]] vehicles. In its statement, the Cherokee Nation cited GM's use of Pontiac as well as the [[Recreational vehicle|RV]] manufacturer [[Winnebago Industries]] as other examples of Native American names being used on vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.entrepreneur.com/amphtml/365954 |title=Cherokee Chief Asks Jeep to Remove His Tribe's Name From Its Off-Road Vehicles |website=entrepreneur.com}}</ref>