There is no denying the nostalgia and excitement tied to the Pontiac Trans Am. It is a legendary nameplate that still carries weight with enthusiasts. However, bringing back Pontiac as a brand is far more complicated than simply dusting off the Trans Am badge. For General Motors, the smarter move is to continue the Camaro story rather than starting from ground zero with a brand that has been dormant for over a decade.

Reviving Pontiac would require a complete restart. That means new branding, new dealer network structures, new design language, and marketing campaigns built from scratch. Developing a car on top of all that would carry staggering costs, and those costs would be difficult to justify for a nameplate that has not existed since 2010. The Camaro, by contrast, already has deep roots in GM’s lineup. It is a performance icon with built-in brand equity, and bringing it back would be far less expensive than reinventing Pontiac.

Missed Opportunities With The 6th Gen

The sixth-generation Camaro was a success in terms of performance, yet General Motors left significant opportunities on the table. Chief among them was the absence of a production Z/28. Fans had been waiting for its return, especially after the incredible 5th-gen Z/28 set a benchmark for track capability. A 6th-gen version, with modern aero and chassis technology, could have rivaled anything on the market. That gap remains unfilled, and it represents a chance for GM to build excitement without needing to create an entirely new brand.

Another missed opportunity came with the Panther name. Long tied to Camaro history, enthusiasts were thrilled when GM finally used it, but the execution was limited to only a handful of special editions. For decades, people waited for Panther to headline the Camaro lineup. A mass-produced Panther Camaro could deliver exactly what loyal fans have been asking for while honoring the heritage that is uniquely Chevrolet’s.

GM’s Commitment To The V8

Recently, GM announced an $888 million investment in U.S. plants dedicated to next-generation V8 production. That level of investment makes it clear that V8 power is not going away, at least not anytime soon. The Corvette and full-size trucks will not be the only beneficiaries. The Camaro, with its performance legacy and loyal following, is the perfect platform to carry GM’s V8 forward in a way that excites buyers and keeps muscle car tradition alive.

A Better Way Forward

While the Trans Am is beloved, bringing Pontiac back would be a massive gamble. The Camaro, however, still has plenty of untapped potential. Whether it is a reimagined 6th-gen look, a long-overdue Z/28, or a mass-market Panther edition, Chevrolet has opportunities waiting to be explored. The Camaro’s story is not finished, and with the right moves, it could continue to thrive without the burden of reviving an entire brand from scratch.