1969 Pontiac Grand Prix

1969 Pontiac Grand Prix Model J Hardtop

For consignment, an original California car that retains its matching numbers drivetrain which has been rebuilt and has 96,060 title verified actual miles. Aside from the myriad of features the car came with, an important upgrade or two has been added to bring the car into the 21stcentury. These may not fall into the \"muscle car\" category but enjoy an enthusiast following from those who know that \"personal luxury\" can be powerful too. This car is a stunning snapshot of late-60\'s and early-70\'s styling that was once common...and is now classic.

Exterior
We\'re greeted by the striking chrome grille, coming to a point Pontiac-style, flanked by a substantial chrome bumper that conforms to the shape of the car. And what a shape! A long, tapered hood flows to a roof that dips fastback-style to the short trunk and abrupt rear end. Castilian Bronze Metallic blankets the car offset by the black vinyl roof and rear pillars. The rear bumper is low slung and straight and houses the simple, horizontal tail lights. Below that, two conventional tailpipes peak out. A few notable design features are here; the front marker lights are sharply angular meaning they can be seen from the side or front. The \"Grand Prix\" emblem is low on the front fenders and includes the trim package designation. The door handles are low profile before low profile was a thing. Five metal bars appear on the vinyl-covered pillar...why? Because...bold design choice that just works. Four headlights in individual bezels that don\'t connect. Rally II wheels that are 14-inches dress the corners for an extra touch of class. Finally, we note two areas near the bottom of the car showing some small rust bubbles, some scuffs on the chrome bumper, and one other paint touch up. Minor stuff for a car of this vintage.

Interior
Black vinyl door cards house electric window controls, (driver\'s side), mirror adjustment rod, and armrest with built-in pull handle. The driver\'s door shows some cracking vinyl on the horizontal edge where it meets the A-pillar. Moving on to the bucket seats which also wears black vinyl and contoured headrests. The bank bench is belted for three more occupants who have ashtrays and window controls within reach. The automatic shifter has a wood knob and resides in the center console which is canted towards the driver for a sporty feel and is accompanied by a storage bin. Some patina on the shift indicator and surrounding plastic but nothing major. And if you forget the trim package you chose, a Model J emblem is mounted on the center console. The stock Pontiac steering wheel has a tilt feature and frames the triple round gauges in the dash, which is encased in a padded, black vinyl frame. Wood applique on the canted dashboard lends itself to the \"luxury\" slant promoted by Pontiac. An upgraded \"vintage\" radio is present along with upgraded speakers on the rear deck and an amplifier mounted in the otherwise original-looking trunk with a full-sized spare tire. The headliner has some hints of sag but is in nice shape and is where the shoulder belts are clipped.

Drivetrain
The rebuilt and numbers matching 400cipowerplant has never strayed far from home and is topped by a single 4-barrel carburetor. Power is sent to the rear wheels via the matching numbers transmission, (also rebuilt), that is a TH400 3-speed automatic and a 10 bolt rear axle puts the power to the pavement. An aluminum radiator replaces the original. Power brakes were standard with disc up front and drum out back. Exhaust is routed through a true dual exhaust quieted by Flowmaster mufflers.

Undercarriage
Suspension, frame, driveshaft, rear axle...all showing some advanced surface rust, (some pitting), but otherwise things are structurally sound. The gas tank looks good as do the exhaust and mufflers. Minor seepage is noted on the oil pan, not unexpected for a driver from 1970. Coils on the independent suspension up front and a four link with coils in rear with stock-style shock absorbers.

Drivability
We were at first wow\'d by the power and sound of the 400 cubes which roared to life with a push of the gas and a turn of the key. The car tracked nicely with only a hint of steering \"slop\" so common in stock-configured GM\'s of the period. It is a smooth runner and we love the comfortable sitting position and ergonomics. Now for a few notes for things that we found inoperable: the wiper high speed function, the passenger front power window, the radio, the A/C, (which has been converted to R12), and the reverse lights.

Somewhere between an all-out luxury sedan and a single-purpose muscle car, sits the Grand Prix. When engines were still big and being shared across model lines, the Grand Prix benefited from a selection and the 400 is a proven winner. Drive this car as is, (with safety features fixed), or consider a full restoration. This Pontiac palette o

Read More

Read Less