I have owned a 70-72 Grand Prix nearly continuously since 1982 (I still have one). It started when, in 1980, I loaned my younger brother some money to get a 72 Model J 400/TH400. It was triple black with non-metallic gold on the hood and trunk (ala Hurst SSJ). It impressed me with its performance and handling. He eventually wrecked it running from the cops and hit a bridge railing at, what he said was, 115mph (no injuries). I bought MY 1st GP in Florida in 1982. It too, was a 72 J with 400/TH400. It was in great shape and was copper with a cream and olive interior with a rare bench seat. I painted it black and gold and put some Keystone Klassic wheels with the rare gold spokes and inserts. I bought it for $700, painted it for $500, drove it for two years and then sold it for $2800 to a shipmate in the Navy. My buddy later traded his 70 Challenger R/T SE 383 4-speed straight across to become the owner of it. I heard from him later that the new Challenger owner wanted to trade back. My buddy did not. My next Grand Prix was a Triple black 71 J 400/TH400 California car this time with bucket seats and console. I also painted this one black and metallic gold. I had the seats recovered in black velour which felt better than the vinyl. After moving back to Nebraska, I later got a rusty white 72 SJ work beater with the 455. I drove it one winter then pulled and rebuilt the 455 engine to put into my black and gold 72 J. Shortly after this my brother bought a rusted out, triple black, 72 J with RED carpet from the factory. He sold to me for $50 because it quit running. I fixed it by adjusting the points on a sloppy distributor. IT became my winter beater for 2-3 years. My black and gold 71 J (now 455) was pampered and enjoyed for 9 years. One day, while driving in Seattle, the fuel line came loose and started an engine fire. I had to watch the whole car burn to the ground. With the insurance money I went hunting for another one. I bought a 70 J that was pretty rough for $600. I used it as a work beater for 4-5 years. I eventually sold it for $900 with a wounded engine. During this time I found a freshly repainted copper 72 SJ (455) with a mint Saddle interior. I got it for $2400. It was a really nice car but not the triple black that I desired. I later found an Argent Silver 72 J with a 455 that had a black vinyl top and black bucket interior. This was around '98-'99 in Washington. However, it was at a body shop getting a minor repair and was not listed for sale. 5 months later I drive by the shop and it is now shiny black! Now, I GOT to have it! Long story short, I got it (more like stole it) for $3000. The car did not even have 100K on it by that point. Since it had yet to be clear coated, the body shop painted the metallic gold on for me for $200. This was the only period where I got to own 3 GPs at the same time. I have kept it garaged and take it out for any excuse I can as long as the streets are dry. Along the way I put a killer stereo in it including Four 10" subs in the back window. At this point it has only 128K on it and after 51 years, is still running the original engine. I love taking it to local car shows and am always the ONLY Grand Prix of ANY year there. I get compliments on it ALL the time. I have no intention of selling it.
I’m a diehard Ford guy but had I been alive back then I think I would have been a Pontiac buyer. Absolutely stunning designs, great engineering, and overall muscle image. Keep up the great work on the wonderful videos.
You have hit upon my all time favorite car. I can still remember seeing my first new 1969 Grand Prix on the showroom floor of John Lynch Chevrolet Pontiac in Burlington, Wisconsin. It was triple black and as a 12 year old I was in love. Everyone remembers their first love and this was mine!
In 1984 my first car was a 1972 model J Grand Prix with the 455 cu.in. engine, black with black vinyl top and black interior, and a/c. Mine had the honeycomb wheels...they were silver but I painted them black for a time and then finally gold. A lot of car for a 16 year old. I absolutely loved that car and wish I had it now. Sold it two years later when I went into the Air Force.
The 1964 Grand Prix, with those oblong carriage light turn signals "floating" in the front grill and the non-Frenched stacked quad headlights, is the one that still sets my heart a-flutter. The authentic walnut trim on the dash was a luxurious, restrained touch for a car from the division that traditionally had been one step up from Chevrolet.
The 1969 Grand Prix is a personal favorite of mine. It looks both elegant and muscular. You could customize it however you liked by checking off the proper options. The 428 HO with a 4 speed for instance could turn this large car into a Muscle Car. Add a hood tach for good measure. Just a beautiful car!
When I was in college my roommate bought a 1969 Grand Prix used which was in excellent condition. It was the model SJ with all leather interior, 428 H.0. engine, and had just about every option available. It was a very fast car for that period and he had very little problems with it, but just never seemed to like it very much and sold it after a relatively short period of time and bought a Datsun Z car which he seemed to be much happier with. I never understood that, but that's what makes the world go around.
My father was a devoted Pontiac buyer starting in 1955. Every two years or so he would treat his family with a new one. When he saw the 63 GP, that was it. Dark blue metallic with just as much chrome inside as outside. Next was the 65,67 and finally the 12th one off the assembly line the '69 SJ 428. Eventually I acquired it and kept it alive for some years then sold to a friend for cheap.
Much of the interior/driver styling and exterior body/front end styling found it's way into Pontiacs other models. Making them among the finest looking cars ever made in my eyes.
Adam, This is your Magnum Opus post in my humble opinion. I've previously shared, the '69 GP indelibly connections my heart to my late mother's new SPO '69 Deep Water Blue and Parchment Model J and that special summer of '69. A triple white '69 Model J I eventually bought, and planned to paint that same color, held memories so clear of the perfection a drunk driver stole when he totaled ours, after just 6 days of ownership, that I couldn't do it. I sold mine to a friend's sister. Admittedly our GP did what it ultimately was designed and engineered to do. Provide transportation and protect us from injury/death. Conversely it was a bitter pill for my young car lovers heart. Each night my mother walked my 5 y/o self to our driveway and let me sit in our new GP. I moved the power drivers seat, tilted the wheel and operated the power windows. I wasn't allowed to insert the key to make the windows move. The only thing that disappointed me was that the steering wheel locked when the car was turned off, but I'd remove my slippers, tuck my feet under myself and tilt the wheel down so I could see over that 6 foot hood. To me it looked like a body of water. She was 35 and had sold our '65 Crocus Yellow w/Black interior Corvair Monza Sport Sedan to buy our GP. Her Heavenly Birthday was June 21st. Mine is June 22nd. Thank you so very much. This post brought me bitter sweet memories.
I've owned 20 of these '69 to '72 GP's over the past 42 years. They are fantastic driving cars, very comfortable and have lots of power and torque. The '69 428HO with a 4-speed was the most fun to drive of the bunch.
One of the best riding cars was the 1972 Grand Prix SJ. It was medium blue with darker blue hard top and leather interior. I remembered riding to the ranch. There was no better handling, riding car.
They were beautiful cars, my Grandpa had a 69 SJ Gold with Black vinyl top and rally wheels. Sadly grandma sold it when he passed, I was too young to have a say so in the early 80's. Some day I hope to find one similar.
The 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix hit my hometown like a neutron bomb! The local newspaper ran a two-page spread that many of my friends put on the walls of their rooms. The local Pontiac dealership was mobbed by everyone wanting to see the car with the longest hood in the industry. The 1969 Grand Prix proved the Ford engineers correct - take a mid-sized coupe, add a formal roofline, then stretch the hood. The result is the 1972 Mercury Montego MX transformed into the 1972 Continental Mark IV. Thank you, Pontiac and John DeLorean.
I always loved the Grand Prix. My favorite years are the 76-77 models. I owned an 84 Grand Prix that I bought new for over a decade. I miss that car. I LOVED the way the dash wrapped around you.
Growing up I had a friend of mine’s older brother that was really into the 1969 Grand Prix. In the ‘80’s, his family all drove them, I think they had a total of 7. He would buy them cheap out of a “swapper” type weekly for sale paper. He would fix them mechanically and cosmetically. He had also “parted out” many ‘69-‘70 Grand Prix as well. He had SO many spare parts that he had them all cataloged in his parent’s basement & back yard. Great driving cars and very fast. You could drive a Grand Prix well past the speed limit and never get a second glance from law enforcement. If you drove the exact same way in a similar GTO, you were having a conversation with the police.
The Grand Prix was a car that was designed to cruise between 70 and 100 mph easily with responsive acceleration and with predictable road feel. It was a car for the times and a great time to be alive.
My dad had a 1972 Model J with the 400 c.i.d. engine from November 1971 until the Spring of 1984. It had about 270,000 miles on the odometer with original engine and transmission.
Hey Adam, I have always liked this generation Grand Prix!!! When I was a kid,one of our neighbors got a new 70 Grand Prix, it was green with rally wheels. A few months later another neighbor was so impressed that he bought a new 70 Grand Prix, it was brown with a tan vinyl top. I thought that they were great cars, still do!!! Thanks for sharing another exciting video!!! Happy 4th of July!!! 👍👍🇺🇲
I remember when my next-door neighbor showed up with a new '69 GP in the fall of 1968. It looked so much more expensive than it was, especially with those pop-out door handles, the long hood, cockpit dashboard and a vinyl roof that almost made me think there might be a way to retract it. Even at 7, I knew that most of these things were more gimmick than greatness, and I even suspected that the door handles might be a little annoying after the novelty wore off, but the car had a certain mystique nonetheless. My neighbor's son even went so far as to call the door handles "groovy" one of the only times I've ever heard anyone use that word without intending any irony. The car screamed "look at me" and people looked at it.
My Dad had a 1970 GP that was white with a black vinyl top. My brother detailed it weekly. My Dad replaced it in 1978 for a Honda Accord LX 5 speed. My Dad sold it for $600 in perfect California condition thinking cars were only good to 100k miles back then.
I had 2-- one was black on black- with custom padded racing steering wheel- and more.. LOVED IT--- I'd give anything to have that back.. That was back when gas crunch hit and I had to drive 70 miles for work every day and it was taking everything I had.. ha. Right now I'd LOVE to have it back... I converted mine to electronic ignition/fuel injections and LOVED it..
My comment from "Old Car Memories'" presentation of this Fabulous car: The Chassis of this car and all of the Grand Prix produced from '69-'72 was unique to the car, the wheelbase being 118 inches; the A Body four door chassis was 116, so the frame was actually shared by no other GM car and was called the G-Body or Special A-Body. Additionally the perimeter chassis frame of the Grand Prix was fully boxed like a convertible A-Body or as the Buick Gran Sport Coupe. The four door A-Body chassis was not fully boxed. Chevrolet's Monte Carlo of '70-72 was on the 116 inch unboxed chassis. The extra length of the Grand Prix was in the front frame horns forward of the cowl, behind the cowl it was convertible A-Body. The longer nose allowed the engine to be mounted a bit further back in the chassis for better weight distribution. These aspects of the chassis, its extra length, its greater rigidity, made the '69-'72 Grand Prix an exceptionally fine riding and handling automobile. I had a neighbor who had a '72 J, Dark Green over Black with a Black Vinyl Roof, the car was a smooth Dream Ship, it covered the road beautifully, and gave its passengers a nice sense of smoothness and security. The SJ was also equipped with rear auto leveling air shocks and front cornering lamps. In '71 variable ratio power steering became standard on the car. This Is among the best cars of the era. In '73 the Grand Prix was diminished and went to the 116 inch unboxed Chassis, yet continued to be a very strong seller for Pontiac throughout the mid 1970s. Being such a fine car It makes me question Adam's Taste in that he doesn't have one.
I helped my dad pick out his '70, 75 and 77 in my car days as a youth that could identify the car by the exhaust sound driving by our house at 16/Harper area.
The 1968 was such a uniquely attractive automobile. Loved the hidden headlights. With that said this generation was a home-run in styling and the dash/instruments was fantastic. Even though they got heavier/bigger with successive generations they were still attractive with wonderful dashes. Love the vid.
Thank you Adam for doing a video about this wonderful Pontiac. My brother owned a 1969 GP when I was a kid it was the prettiest Blue I have ever seen with a split black top and my brother and I have always been about Speed and this was the first Car I ever rode to 140 mph+ in thankfully he let out because we ran out of Real estate Quickly. It's one of the strongest car's I have ever encountered, And Beautiful!!!!
These model years were my favorite Grand Prix. I also liked the '63 and '64 Grand Prix. Both were beautiful designs. I'm jaded towards the '64. I had a 1964 Catalina 2+2 when I was 18. Not as nice but still a great car.
I saw that gran Prix when it debut at the new York Auto show with my dad I was just a kid and I was very impressed especially with the dashboard that wrapped around the driver also cool door handles
Good timing on this video, I saw a beautiful light green 72 Grand Prix on my way home from Mid-Ohio this afternoon. My dad also owned a two-tone 77 GP with the smooth 301 and quarter vinyl top.
I was in high school, and loved this car. But--for a change I really preferred the design of that first Monte Carlo. The pre-69 GP had gotten so bloated and silly looking. I never liked hidden headlights much and I'm so glad they resisted putting them on this beautiful car.
In the early to mid 1970's my older Sister had a Mayfair Maize '69 G.P. model J with a 400 4v and Th400. (traded for a Pacer X) My Older brother had a loaded Ascot Silver ''70 G.P. model SJ with 455ho and a Th400. (Traded for a Ford pickup.) My sister used to do one wheeled burnouts in front of the house at my request when leaving. My Brother would tell me stories of racing his friends '70 Buick GS 455 Stage One up to 130 or so... Our neighbor across the street had a Verdero Green '68 that I had to stare at that hideous rear end for years. I have always loved the '69-70 model years, but have never snagged one myself. Thanks for the Video. 😊
My step-dad was an AMC head. He had a jeep cj 7 and a gremlin x. Both were brown. When I turned 16 he asked if I wanted the x. I wanted something else,that I didn't get. It was a 40 ford truck with a 350 chevy auto with a 12 bolt posi. I didn't know what the x was. Now I think the x would have been better than the rust bucket t bird that I ended up with.
I love those first A-specials! They were Chevy's and Pontiac's counterparts to the Buick Riviera, Olds Toronado, and the Cadillac Eldorado. Those Grand Prixs were like 'The Accountant's GTO...' And I love that you showed a 4 speed equipped Grand Prix. I remember seeing one on a network expose of shady mechanics, and when they confronted one guy, he jumped into a '69 or '70 Grand Prix with some sort of floor-shifted manual transmission, and made his getaway.
I do like the first gen Monte but I do concede, you are correct. Put next to one of these you can see the loss of design details, the Monte Carlo looks cheap, wish I could put it another way.
If it wasnt for the new for 69 redesigned GP there wouldn't have been a Monte Carlo in 70 . GM divisions were allowed to keep their new designs for the 1st yr . After that the other divisions could adopt them and add their own look .
While I am a huge Ford fan, specifically the Torino, Montego Cyclone line, I can think of few GM's that get me as excited as the '69 GP. I might even call it "perfect". As I age into my 50's, the Pontiacs are tempting me more and more. No doubt my Dad is largely responsible; he bought a '65 Lemans brand new and it was the family car until 1976 when he traded it for....for.....ugh....a '73 Pinto S/W. Thanks Adam for yet again a great video that keeps us "licking our chops". Yours are THE finest docu-motive vids on the net!!!
Passionate-Poncho at his finest! The 1969-1972 Pontiac Grand Prix had the longest hood in the industry! The Pontiac Catalina spawned many new models after its inception in 1959. We all remember the formidable Catalina '421-CID Super-Duty'! The 1962 model year was the birth of The Grand Prix which was a completely unique 'class' of American muscle. And, lest we forget - the Pontiac 2+2 that started out as a Catalina trim level but became its own stand-alone series. The Catalina also spawned the Ventura, a full-sized, civilized-beast of a performance car. ****Poncho is sadly missed - **** I have a 1959 Bonneville 4-door hardtop with the Vista-Roof aka 'flat-top'. The 1959 model year was the birth of "Wide-Tracking!" The '59 Pontiacs were the widest cars on the road in America. "Pontiaction" also includes: The GTO aka "Goat"; Firebird & Firebird Trans Am, LeMans, Grand Am, Grand Ville, and Star Chief.
Well the Death of Pontiac was a gut punch that I am still feeling, the notion that the Firebird Trans Am is lost to the people of this Continent angers and dismays me.
@@RootsandTendrils - I know how you feel! I grew up with the Pontiac brand. Dad bought my mom Pontiac Bonnevilles. My favorites were the 1959 Bonneville 4-door hardtop/flattop which was Castle Blue and her 1965 Bonneville 4-door in Night Watch Blue. It literally ripped the heart out of me when I heard the rumors in advance of the brand's demise. You know how the rumor-mill works over time, so I wrote it off as a joke in extremely bad taste. I felt something bad was coming when they introduced that God awful Aztek! Then, those "G" cars were just hideously-awful! They weren't Passionate-Poncho by far! Pontiac died because they were a performance car industry. Pontiac, like Oldsmobile - fell because they simply couldn't make a fake car! The "Rocket-Olds V8" and Pontiac's "Super-Duty" smoked the competition blowing the doors off their rivals! I'll never forget the 3-dinky models Oldsmobile offered when they were exiting the spot light...they were all finished in that one depressing shade of dark red/maroon color. We as enthusiasts will never get to see those cars again. This is why we keep their spirit alive! The "Coke-Bottle" body 1965 Pontiac Bonneville and the "Wide-Track" 1959 Pontiac Bonneville will always live on in my heart!!
@@rolls-royceowner1108 Yes Rolls the '65 Bonneville is a Work of Art that was introduced to me by Adam and his friend Mark here on this channel. For myself The final years of the Firebird, '98-'02 are cars I have come to greatly admire, as dynamic vehicles they are highly enjoyable to own; including the cars equipped with the Series II 3.8 V6 when they are equipped with the G80 Torsen Limited Slip and the GU6 3.42 final drive. For most of those years that equipment came with the Y87 3800 Performance Enhancement Group, which also added the faster ratio steering rack from the V8 cars. However for the 2000 Model year most automatic V6 Firebirds were built with G80 and GU6, these were Y81 Base Firebirds. All other model years during this period required Y87 to receive this performance equipment. The V6 cars are very nearly Front-Mid-Engine and are well balanced fine riding and handling cars that are very satisfying to pilot, and if equipped as above will Jump off the line and power through corners. I owned a 2000 W68 Arctic White/Ebony Leather Bird and currently have my sights on a 2002 Collector Edition Trans Am. Here is a good piece of reference information about Pontiac's last great effort: www.transamworld.com/1998-2002-firebird-production-no-breakdowns-new.pdf Why doesn't Adam have a Grand Prix, too expensive?
@@RootsandTendrils - One of my favorite cars is my 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix convertible with 22,000 original miles. I collect fine automobiles. They don't make the kind of cars I like anymore! I have a cherry 1993 Lincoln MARK VIII and a 1979 Continental Collector's Series sedan. I also collect exotic European saloons. I have a very nice Rolls-Royce collection that includes a 1966 Silver Cloud III that's never been in inclement weather! Two very nice Silver Wraith II saloons - a 1978 with 35,500 on its clock and a 1980 with only 12,000 miles. I'm just a car nut. I'm restoring a 1959 Bonneville convertible. I just have to put it all back together, she's a Doll too. I have a vicious 1962 Catalina 421 Super-Duty my cousin hand-built in 1962 with those performance parts that came in the trunk when you ordered that package! I am sorry that I sold a 1979 Trans Am that was a drop-dead-gorgeous black with a flawless gold bird on the hood with custom factory gold scrollwork pinstriping. I had no idea they would become so valuable! It just felt like driving the Batmobile! I like bigger, gas-thirsty automobiles! The way this political nightmare is going, I'm thinking seriously about finding myself a quiet little sanitarium in the English countryside as long as they allow me bring my classic automobile collection with me! That's all I really want, I'll let the vultures fight over everything else!
When 17 as junior in HS worked as stock boy part time for local Rose's dept store. Store mgr . coincidentally lived down street from us. He had a silver 1972 GP SJ. Ever since I have dreamed on having one....harder and harder to find one in average condition at best.
Adam, my friend you do an amazing job of the highlights & history of each & every vehicle you are representing with actual TRUE FAX about everyone of them.RIGHT ON, BIG GUY!! YOU ROCK MY FRIEND.😉😁😎😎
Adam, I worked for a PONTIAC dealer in N.Y. 68 through 71. When the 69 GP was released, The old guys hated it. called it a TEMPEST !! Chaise was extended in the front about 6 inches from the A body, hence the radiator shroud had a 6 in. extension so the fan was in that extension for cooling. Trans cross member reinforced as well as the chaise. Driveshaft the same as A body with M 40, turbo 400 trans.EXACT engine and trans as the GTO.the 70 chaise was modified , motor mount brackets, so 69 back engines will NOT bolt in without an adapter kit. Besides owning 64- 71 GTO's, have 69, 70 GP's with 4 speeds. 71 and 72 no longer had the 6 in. frame extension. My 71 GP is a great driver, 400, M40 auto runs fine on unleaded pump gas. 69-70 GP's with manual trans are bringing Unbelievable money. A few 71's were maid with a manual, I've seen 1 in my life..
Glenn sadly I parted out 1 of 52 ....1971 Grand Prix 4 Speeds in 1993. It was rear-ended and lived its Life Near the Beach in Delaware. I have the Hand written Order Sheet ordered in Dover Delaware. I still have all the Parts to convert my 69 428 Grand Prix.
The doors on my 1976 Grand Prix were so rusted out I could peel the bottom of the door apart and reach my arm up to manually unlock the mechanism when I locked my keys inside.
The 63 and 65 Grand Prixs are my favorite Pontiacs. The 64, 66, and 68 are also really nice. As far as the 69 and 70s, they're super nice, but I've always thought the switch to single headlights for 71 and 72 was a styling mistake, especially given the excellent rear end treatment they adopted for those years.
Goodday Adam, What a great informative video. After this video I appreciate these Grand Prix & this body shape. Look great especially the cockpit layout. Your number 1 Fan in Australia Louis Kats from Melbourne Australia ☺ 👍 ❤
"Wait What' At 4:00 is that a four speed???? Always liked GP's, they were just a bit different from other Pontiacs. Thanks to Adam for posting his fine work.....
For me, the '66 was GP's best look with curved rear glass, 1 year only finned aluminum rocker panels + GTO looking front end.. 🍒Thanks for all the great videos! 👍 💯🙏 [edit] oh yes and those super cool tail lights! ❤
Dad had a 71 mod j 455. What a car, sorry I ever let him sell it. Far surpassed the beautiful white/red 65 TBird I hung on to. Should have kept the Gp. I loved that rig. Live and learn...🤠 God bless America
I remember the '69-72 Grand Prix but what I remember more vividly were the 1973-77 GP and it's companion cars, the Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe, and Chevy Monte Carlo. Those coupes with their then stylish opera window were absolutely everywhere. They sold well even in a world of relatively high gas prices and inflation.
when I was in jr high we had a 64 GP silver/black. I always liked the 69 GP. Never had one but did have a 71 Monte Carlo and a 75 Monte Carlo. loved them all.
Ours was a '69 SJ in Expresso Brown with a dark fawn top, 370 HP 428, auto, 3.23 Safety-Track, everything but the optional 8 track player. Sticker was $6,300 and change. Miss that car terribly. BTW, Leather (saddle in ours) was $199.00 on the sticker. At the dealer leather was priced by the square inch, fabric by the yard.
The transition from '67 to '68 was a surprise. The '68 roofline became more curvaceous and with the fender skirts the overall look was more bloated and soft. Always a young styling visionary I imagined the '69 would be even curvier. So when I saw the '69 for the first time I was shocked! No more curves, coke-bottle, fender skirts or hidden headlamps. The GP had transitioned from "Marilyn Monroe" to "Mr. Universe". After the initial shock I realized I loved it...and still do 50 some odd years later. It truly is automotive "lightning in a bottle".
Great video with a lot of detailed information as always . I didn't know that the ' 63 Pontiac Grand Prix was the first car to have vertical stacked headlights . I always thought that the ' 65 Ford Galaxie was the car that started that trend for a while in the sixties .
I was hoping that you would review this unique car and here it is! Interesting backstory to the design and you always do great research. It always baffled me as to why this car didn't receive hideaway headlamps which were quite trendy at the time, especially considering the '68 had them.
The '69 GP was one of GM's many great ones, IMO. As was the 1st gen Monte Carlo. A friend had a '69 or '70 GP and I recall it driving very nicely. I'm also partial to the early ones from the start to '66. '67 and especially '68, not so much. Those years looked too heavy and were overly refreshed versions of their predecessor. I had no idea J & SJ were Dusenburg themes, but it certainly makes sense.
Very interesting part about the nose of the Grand Prix was inspired by the Miller race cars. I can see it, for sure now that you brought it up. Very cool!
If you have a vid please Show the Gran Prix with Swivel Seats and the Six Way Steering Column it was Great I think mine was a 72 maroon interior and exterior 👏👍🙌
My parents had a beautiful 1970 dark green Grand Prix SJ with the 455 V8. My mom usually drove it. One winter day out on the interstate she hit a spot of black ice and the Grand Prix fish tailed and went into a ditch and came to rest against a lap post. That was the end of our beautiful Grand Prix. Happy 4th of July everyone.
Oh God what a shame, one winter day with my dad behind the wheel, our '72 Dark Green Old Cutlass Supreme lost traction around a bend and slid off the road, luckily no damage. One of my neighbors had a 72 GP, and I rode with him to high school in it, what a lovely car, Dark Green, Black Top, Black interior, it was a J, and it was enchanting.
@@RootsandTendrils My Mom walked away without a scratch or a scrape. She felt really bad for a long time. My Dad replaced the GP with a Lemans Sport Couple which was a nice car but nowhere near as nice as the GP.
@@RootsandTendrils Indeed. The first time I climbed into the cabin of the cabin it just said luxury. From the real wood African crossfire Mahagony and the leather seats. It was the first car we had with A/C and power windows. LUX
Have to say, I prefer the 1965 over the 1969. Love the stacked headlight design. And interior of the 65 over the 69. I will admit that I was looking for a 70- 72 Monte Carlo when at 17 going into my senior year of H S. I found a 1969 Chevelle Malibu for $1500. Pretty solid body, after 38 years, I still have it.! Would have loved to find a Grand Prix, or a Monte Carlo of 70. But, ever since Barrett jackson auctions came to public. They're out of my price range. Lol
Our family got a 69 when I was in high school. Freaked out late one night at 17 & I decided to make sure that the 140MPH speedometer was telling the truth on a two lane rural road. It was.
The Grand Prix and the 454 SS Monte Carlo are two are the neatest and best driving cars. Stock car guys got the Colonade Monte Carlo frames and put Chevelle bodies and set the engines back so far that they made a rule for the engine relationship to the A- arm because they were beasts of the corners.
The front end styling was a logical choice considering Pontiac themes and GM wrap around bumpers and wanting a classical style as evidenced by the 71 to 72 boattail. Not a Miller race car.
The downsized Gran Prix was the right size car at the right time. By 1969 the Ford Thunderbird, which was the original personal luxury coupe, had become a boat mobile. Thankfully for Ford that platform was rescued by the introduction of the Lincoln Mark III. What DeLorean's team was able to pull off with a modified GM A body still looks great today.
The 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix still used the same doors, windshield, and cowl as the '67. The '69 Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Firebird used the same trunk lid, windshield, and cowl as the previous two model years. The '63 Pontiac Tempest/LeMans, Olds F-85/Cutlass, and Buick Special/Skylark used the same rooflines as the previous two model years despite looking drastically different and being longer in length. Planned obsolescence in model year design was the prevalent mentality back then and that was easier to execute when there were fewer body platforms to work with and fewer federal safety regulations to factor into design considerations.
I have owned a 70-72 Grand Prix nearly continuously since 1982 (I still have one). It started when, in 1980, I loaned my younger brother some money to get a 72 Model J 400/TH400. It was triple black with non-metallic gold on the hood and trunk (ala Hurst SSJ). It impressed me with its performance and handling. He eventually wrecked it running from the cops and hit a bridge railing at, what he said was, 115mph (no injuries).
I bought MY 1st GP in Florida in 1982. It too, was a 72 J with 400/TH400. It was in great shape and was copper with a cream and olive interior with a rare bench seat. I painted it black and gold and put some Keystone Klassic wheels with the rare gold spokes and inserts. I bought it for $700, painted it for $500, drove it for two years and then sold it for $2800 to a shipmate in the Navy. My buddy later traded his 70 Challenger R/T SE 383 4-speed straight across to become the owner of it. I heard from him later that the new Challenger owner wanted to trade back. My buddy did not.
My next Grand Prix was a Triple black 71 J 400/TH400 California car this time with bucket seats and console. I also painted this one black and metallic gold. I had the seats recovered in black velour which felt better than the vinyl. After moving back to Nebraska, I later got a rusty white 72 SJ work beater with the 455. I drove it one winter then pulled and rebuilt the 455 engine to put into my black and gold 72 J. Shortly after this my brother bought a rusted out, triple black, 72 J with RED carpet from the factory. He sold to me for $50 because it quit running. I fixed it by adjusting the points on a sloppy distributor. IT became my winter beater for 2-3 years.
My black and gold 71 J (now 455) was pampered and enjoyed for 9 years. One day, while driving in Seattle, the fuel line came loose and started an engine fire. I had to watch the whole car burn to the ground.
With the insurance money I went hunting for another one. I bought a 70 J that was pretty rough for $600. I used it as a work beater for 4-5 years. I eventually sold it for $900 with a wounded engine. During this time I found a freshly repainted copper 72 SJ (455) with a mint Saddle interior. I got it for $2400. It was a really nice car but not the triple black that I desired. I later found an Argent Silver 72 J with a 455 that had a black vinyl top and black bucket interior. This was around '98-'99 in Washington. However, it was at a body shop getting a minor repair and was not listed for sale. 5 months later I drive by the shop and it is now shiny black! Now, I GOT to have it! Long story short, I got it (more like stole it) for $3000. The car did not even have 100K on it by that point. Since it had yet to be clear coated, the body shop painted the metallic gold on for me for $200. This was the only period where I got to own 3 GPs at the same time. I have kept it garaged and take it out for any excuse I can as long as the streets are dry. Along the way I put a killer stereo in it including Four 10" subs in the back window. At this point it has only 128K on it and after 51 years, is still running the original engine. I love taking it to local car shows and am always the ONLY Grand Prix of ANY year there. I get compliments on it ALL the time. I have no intention of selling it.
I’m a diehard Ford guy but had I been alive back then I think I would have been a Pontiac buyer. Absolutely stunning designs, great engineering, and overall muscle image. Keep up the great work on the wonderful videos.
The styling of the 71 is the best! Just gorgeous
You have hit upon my all time favorite car. I can still remember seeing my first new 1969 Grand Prix on the showroom floor of John Lynch Chevrolet Pontiac in Burlington, Wisconsin. It was triple black and as a 12 year old I was in love. Everyone remembers their first love and this was mine!
I have two 69 gps at 25 years old, I wish I go back and experience that in which you did for myself
The shorter 69 was one of my favorite cars. It's size and lines were perfect!
In 1984 my first car was a 1972 model J Grand Prix with the 455 cu.in. engine, black with black vinyl top and black interior, and a/c. Mine had the honeycomb wheels...they were silver but I painted them black for a time and then finally gold. A lot of car for a 16 year old. I absolutely loved that car and wish I had it now. Sold it two years later when I went into the Air Force.
The 1964 Grand Prix, with those oblong carriage light turn signals "floating" in the front grill and the non-Frenched stacked quad headlights, is the one that still sets my heart a-flutter. The authentic walnut trim on the dash was a luxurious, restrained touch for a car from the division that traditionally had been one step up from Chevrolet.
Your channel deserves a A-Plus rating. Top quality video.
The 1969 Grand Prix is a personal favorite of mine. It looks both elegant and muscular. You could customize it however you liked by checking off the proper options. The 428 HO with a 4 speed for instance could turn this large car into a Muscle Car. Add a hood tach for good measure. Just a beautiful car!
When I was in college my roommate bought a 1969 Grand Prix used which was in excellent condition. It was the model SJ with all leather interior, 428 H.0. engine, and had just about every option available. It was a very fast car for that period and he had very little problems with it, but just never seemed to like it very much and sold it after a relatively short period of time and bought a Datsun Z car which he seemed to be much happier with. I never understood that, but that's what makes the world go around.
I would give my left testicle to have that car today. Please do not say it was a four speed car; I will not be able to stop salivating. 😁
@@eddiestanley135
And your right testicle you would give away for...?
@@eddiestanley135 it was an automatic.
My father was a devoted Pontiac buyer starting in 1955. Every two years or so he would treat his family with a new one. When he saw the 63 GP, that was it. Dark blue metallic with just as much chrome inside as outside. Next was the 65,67 and finally the 12th one off the assembly line the '69 SJ 428. Eventually I acquired it and kept it alive for some years then sold to a friend for cheap.
Much of the interior/driver styling and exterior body/front end styling found it's way into Pontiacs other models. Making them among the finest looking cars ever made in my eyes.
Adam,
This is your Magnum Opus post in my humble opinion.
I've previously shared, the '69 GP indelibly connections my heart to my late mother's new SPO '69 Deep Water Blue and Parchment Model J and that special summer of '69.
A triple white '69 Model J I eventually bought, and planned to paint that same color, held memories so clear of the perfection a drunk driver stole when he totaled ours, after just 6 days of ownership, that I couldn't do it. I sold mine to a friend's sister. Admittedly our GP did what it ultimately was designed and engineered to do. Provide transportation and protect us from injury/death. Conversely it was a bitter pill for my young car lovers heart.
Each night my mother walked my 5 y/o self to our driveway and let me sit in our new GP. I moved the power drivers seat, tilted the wheel and operated the power windows. I wasn't allowed to insert the key to make the windows move. The only thing that disappointed me was that the steering wheel locked when the car was turned off, but I'd remove my slippers, tuck my feet under myself and tilt the wheel down so I could see over that 6 foot hood. To me it looked like a body of water.
She was 35 and had sold our '65 Crocus Yellow w/Black interior Corvair Monza Sport Sedan to buy our GP.
Her Heavenly Birthday was June 21st. Mine is June 22nd.
Thank you so very much. This post brought me bitter sweet memories.
I've owned 20 of these '69 to '72 GP's over the past 42 years. They are fantastic driving cars, very comfortable and have lots of power and torque. The '69 428HO with a 4-speed was the most fun to drive of the bunch.
One of the best riding cars was the 1972 Grand Prix SJ. It was medium blue with darker blue hard top and leather interior. I remembered riding to the ranch. There was no better handling, riding car.
They were beautiful cars, my Grandpa had a 69 SJ Gold with Black vinyl top and rally wheels. Sadly grandma sold it when he passed, I was too young to have a say so in the early 80's. Some day I hope to find one similar.
The 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix hit my hometown like a neutron bomb! The local newspaper ran a two-page spread that many of my friends put on the walls of their rooms. The local Pontiac dealership was mobbed by everyone wanting to see the car with the longest hood in the industry. The 1969 Grand Prix proved the Ford engineers correct - take a mid-sized coupe, add a formal roofline, then stretch the hood. The result is the 1972 Mercury Montego MX transformed into the 1972 Continental Mark IV. Thank you, Pontiac and John DeLorean.
My very first car was a 69 Grand Prix. My second, a 73. Several years later, I had a pea soup colored 68. Miss them all for various reasons.
The 1971-72 Pontiac Grand Prix’s are one of my favorite cars ever produced.
My uncle Jim had a 72 model in orange. I absolutely loved that car!
I always loved the Grand Prix. My favorite years are the 76-77 models. I owned an 84 Grand Prix that I bought new for over a decade. I miss that car. I LOVED the way the dash wrapped around you.
Growing up I had a friend of mine’s older brother that was really into the 1969 Grand Prix. In the ‘80’s, his family all drove them, I think they had a total of 7. He would buy them cheap out of a “swapper” type weekly for sale paper. He would fix them mechanically and cosmetically. He had also “parted out” many ‘69-‘70 Grand Prix as well. He had SO many spare parts that he had them all cataloged in his parent’s basement & back yard. Great driving cars and very fast. You could drive a Grand Prix well past the speed limit and never get a second glance from law enforcement. If you drove the exact same way in a similar GTO, you were having a conversation with the police.
The Grand Prix was a car that was designed to cruise between 70 and 100 mph easily with responsive acceleration and with predictable road feel. It was a car for the times and a great time to be alive.
My big brother owned several 1970 Grand Prix. It was his favorite car through the 70s.
My dad had a 1972 Model J with the 400 c.i.d. engine from November 1971 until the Spring of 1984. It had about 270,000 miles on the odometer with original engine and transmission.
Hey Adam, I have always liked this generation Grand Prix!!! When I was a kid,one of our neighbors got a new 70 Grand Prix, it was green with rally wheels. A few months later another neighbor was so impressed that he bought a new 70 Grand Prix, it was brown with a tan vinyl top. I thought that they were great cars, still do!!! Thanks for sharing another exciting video!!!
Happy 4th of July!!! 👍👍🇺🇲
I remember when my next-door neighbor showed up with a new '69 GP in the fall of 1968. It looked so much more expensive than it was, especially with those pop-out door handles, the long hood, cockpit dashboard and a vinyl roof that almost made me think there might be a way to retract it. Even at 7, I knew that most of these things were more gimmick than greatness, and I even suspected that the door handles might be a little annoying after the novelty wore off, but the car had a certain mystique nonetheless. My neighbor's son even went so far as to call the door handles "groovy" one of the only times I've ever heard anyone use that word without intending any irony. The car screamed "look at me" and people looked at it.
My Dad had a 1970 GP that was white with a black vinyl top. My brother detailed it weekly. My Dad replaced it in 1978 for a Honda Accord LX 5 speed. My Dad sold it for $600 in perfect California condition thinking cars were only good to 100k miles back then.
@@ericanderson1691 Huhhhhhh……….
Nice video! I'm currently restoring my first car, a 1972 Grand Prix- with a 1970 455 HO engine!
Sweet, document it with a TH-cam Channel.
A nice synopsis of one of our favorite Pontiacs. Cheers!
I had 2-- one was black on black- with custom padded racing steering wheel- and more.. LOVED IT--- I'd give anything to have that back.. That was back when gas crunch hit and I had to drive 70 miles for work every day and it was taking everything I had.. ha. Right now I'd LOVE to have it back... I converted mine to electronic ignition/fuel injections and LOVED it..
I owned a triple black 72 SJ. A great looking, very fast, and very luxurious car. I wish I still owned it.
My comment from "Old Car Memories'" presentation of this Fabulous car: The Chassis of this car and all of the Grand Prix produced from '69-'72 was unique to the car, the wheelbase being 118 inches; the A Body four door chassis was 116, so the frame was actually shared by no other GM car and was called the G-Body or Special A-Body. Additionally the perimeter chassis frame of the Grand Prix was fully boxed like a convertible A-Body or as the Buick Gran Sport Coupe. The four door A-Body chassis was not fully boxed. Chevrolet's Monte Carlo of '70-72 was on the 116 inch unboxed chassis. The extra length of the Grand Prix was in the front frame horns forward of the cowl, behind the cowl it was convertible A-Body. The longer nose allowed the engine to be mounted a bit further back in the chassis for better weight distribution. These aspects of the chassis, its extra length, its greater rigidity, made the '69-'72 Grand Prix an exceptionally fine riding and handling automobile. I had a neighbor who had a '72 J, Dark Green over Black with a Black Vinyl Roof, the car was a smooth Dream Ship, it covered the road beautifully, and gave its passengers a nice sense of smoothness and security. The SJ was also equipped with rear auto leveling air shocks and front cornering lamps. In '71 variable ratio power steering became standard on the car. This Is among the best cars of the era. In '73 the Grand Prix was diminished and went to the 116 inch unboxed Chassis, yet continued to be a very strong seller for Pontiac throughout the mid 1970s.
Being such a fine car It makes me question Adam's Taste in that he doesn't have one.
I helped my dad pick out his '70, 75 and 77 in my car days as a youth that could identify the car by the exhaust sound driving by our house at 16/Harper area.
The 1968 was such a uniquely attractive automobile. Loved the hidden headlights. With that said this generation was a home-run in styling and the dash/instruments was fantastic. Even though they got heavier/bigger with successive generations they were still attractive with wonderful dashes. Love the vid.
I always thought the 65-68 looked too much like a Bonneville fender skirts and all. I think the 67 didn't have fender skirts
Thank you Adam for doing a video about this wonderful Pontiac. My brother owned a 1969 GP when I was a kid it was the prettiest Blue I have ever seen with a split black top and my brother and I have always been about Speed and this was the first Car I ever rode to 140 mph+ in thankfully he let out because we ran out of Real estate Quickly. It's one of the strongest car's I have ever encountered, And Beautiful!!!!
These model years were my favorite Grand Prix. I also liked the '63 and '64 Grand Prix. Both were beautiful designs. I'm jaded towards the '64. I had a 1964 Catalina 2+2 when I was 18. Not as nice but still a great car.
I saw that gran Prix when it debut at the new York Auto show with my dad
I was just a kid and I was very impressed especially with the dashboard that wrapped around the driver also cool door handles
Those 1960's auto shows were very close to a sexual experience
@@billolsen4360 especially with the hot women demonstrating them
@@joemazzola7387 Yes indeed, sir!
@@billolsen4360
Sex sells...obviously.
Yes right the door handles were cool, what a nice touch, such a thing would be Impossible today.
A great overview of these beautiful cars- well done, sir!
Good timing on this video, I saw a beautiful light green 72 Grand Prix on my way home from Mid-Ohio this afternoon. My dad also owned a two-tone 77 GP with the smooth 301 and quarter vinyl top.
I was in high school, and loved this car. But--for a change I really preferred the design of that first Monte Carlo. The pre-69 GP had gotten so bloated and silly looking. I never liked hidden headlights much and I'm so glad they resisted putting them on this beautiful car.
Thank you for making this video LOVE IT! I own a 69 GP 455 stroker “Right Hand Drive” here in Western Australia 🇦🇺👍🏻
Wow that is interesting, does the Firebird Trans Am have any following Down Under?
In the early to mid 1970's my older Sister had a Mayfair Maize '69 G.P. model J with a 400 4v and Th400. (traded for a Pacer X) My Older brother had a loaded Ascot Silver ''70 G.P. model SJ with 455ho and a Th400. (Traded for a Ford pickup.) My sister used to do one wheeled burnouts in front of the house at my request when leaving.
My Brother would tell me stories of racing his friends '70 Buick GS 455 Stage One up to 130 or so... Our neighbor across the street had a Verdero Green '68 that I had to stare at that hideous rear end for years. I have always loved the '69-70 model years, but have never snagged one myself. Thanks for the Video. 😊
My step-dad was an AMC head. He had a jeep cj 7 and a gremlin x. Both were brown. When I turned 16 he asked if I wanted the x. I wanted something else,that I didn't get. It was a 40 ford truck with a 350 chevy auto with a 12 bolt posi. I didn't know what the x was. Now I think the x would have been better than the rust bucket t bird that I ended up with.
There was a black 1970 near my school in the late '70's, thought it was a great balance of sport/luxury.
Great cars from an era gone by. Was lucky enough to be the second owner of a beautiful 1963 GP back in the mid 1980's, regret selling it.
I love those first A-specials! They were Chevy's and Pontiac's counterparts to the Buick Riviera, Olds Toronado, and the Cadillac Eldorado.
Those Grand Prixs were like 'The Accountant's GTO...'
And I love that you showed a 4 speed equipped Grand Prix. I remember seeing one on a network expose of shady mechanics, and when they confronted one guy, he jumped into a '69 or '70 Grand Prix with some sort of floor-shifted manual transmission, and made his getaway.
Yummy. Love the driver-centric layout. Thanks for the look!
Those Grand Prix's were better looking than the Monte Carlo.
I do like the first gen Monte but I do concede, you are correct. Put next to one of these you can see the loss of design details, the Monte Carlo looks cheap, wish I could put it another way.
I'm not a chevy guy, but I do like the first generation Monte Carlo. The Gran Prix does out class it in every way though.
Absolutely!
If it wasnt for the new for 69 redesigned GP there wouldn't have been a Monte Carlo in 70 . GM divisions were allowed to keep their new designs for the 1st yr . After that the other divisions could adopt them and add their own look .
I disagree with you but I respect your opinion.
While I am a huge Ford fan, specifically the Torino, Montego Cyclone line, I can think of few GM's that get me as excited as the '69 GP. I might even call it "perfect". As I age into my 50's, the Pontiacs are tempting me more and more. No doubt my Dad is largely responsible; he bought a '65 Lemans brand new and it was the family car until 1976 when he traded it for....for.....ugh....a '73 Pinto S/W. Thanks Adam for yet again a great video that keeps us "licking our chops". Yours are THE finest docu-motive vids on the net!!!
Way to go Adam! One of my favorite cars. I think that the Miller reference is Spot On!
The 69 and 70 Grand Prix models were great looking cars. I would love to have one in my collection.
A ‘69 Grand Prix with a 428 and 4 speed is one of my dream cars… 👍
Passionate-Poncho at his finest! The 1969-1972 Pontiac Grand Prix had the longest hood in the industry! The Pontiac Catalina spawned many new models after its inception in 1959. We all remember the formidable Catalina '421-CID Super-Duty'! The 1962 model year was the birth of The Grand Prix which was a completely unique 'class' of American muscle.
And, lest we forget - the Pontiac 2+2 that started out as a Catalina trim level but became its own stand-alone series. The Catalina also spawned the Ventura, a full-sized, civilized-beast of a performance car. ****Poncho is sadly missed - **** I have a 1959 Bonneville 4-door hardtop with the Vista-Roof aka 'flat-top'. The 1959 model year was the birth of "Wide-Tracking!" The '59 Pontiacs were the widest cars on the road in America.
"Pontiaction" also includes: The GTO aka "Goat"; Firebird & Firebird Trans Am, LeMans, Grand Am, Grand Ville, and Star Chief.
Well the Death of Pontiac was a gut punch that I am still feeling, the notion that the Firebird Trans Am is lost to the people of this Continent angers and dismays me.
@@RootsandTendrils - I know how you feel! I grew up with the Pontiac brand. Dad bought my mom Pontiac Bonnevilles. My favorites were the 1959 Bonneville 4-door hardtop/flattop which was Castle Blue and her 1965 Bonneville 4-door in Night Watch Blue.
It literally ripped the heart out of me when I heard the rumors in advance of the brand's demise. You know how the rumor-mill works over time, so I wrote it off as a joke in extremely bad taste.
I felt something bad was coming when they introduced that God awful Aztek! Then, those "G" cars were just hideously-awful! They weren't Passionate-Poncho by far!
Pontiac died because they were a performance car industry. Pontiac, like Oldsmobile - fell because they simply couldn't make a fake car!
The "Rocket-Olds V8" and Pontiac's "Super-Duty" smoked the competition blowing the doors off their rivals! I'll never forget the 3-dinky models Oldsmobile offered when they were exiting the spot light...they were all finished in that one depressing shade of dark red/maroon color.
We as enthusiasts will never get to see those cars again. This is why we keep their spirit alive! The "Coke-Bottle" body 1965 Pontiac Bonneville and the "Wide-Track" 1959 Pontiac Bonneville will always live on in my heart!!
@@rolls-royceowner1108 Yes Rolls the '65 Bonneville is a Work of Art that was introduced to me by Adam and his friend Mark here on this channel. For myself The final years of the Firebird, '98-'02 are cars I have come to greatly admire, as dynamic vehicles they are highly enjoyable to own; including the cars equipped with the Series II 3.8 V6 when they are equipped with the G80 Torsen Limited Slip and the GU6 3.42 final drive. For most of those years that equipment came with the Y87 3800 Performance Enhancement Group, which also added the faster ratio steering rack from the V8 cars. However for the 2000 Model year most automatic V6 Firebirds were built with G80 and GU6, these were Y81 Base Firebirds. All other model years during this period required Y87 to receive this performance equipment. The V6 cars are very nearly Front-Mid-Engine and are well balanced fine riding and handling cars that are very satisfying to pilot, and if equipped as above will Jump off the line and power through corners. I owned a 2000 W68 Arctic White/Ebony Leather Bird and currently have my sights on a 2002 Collector Edition Trans Am. Here is a good piece of reference information about Pontiac's last great effort: www.transamworld.com/1998-2002-firebird-production-no-breakdowns-new.pdf
Why doesn't Adam have a Grand Prix, too expensive?
@@RootsandTendrils - One of my favorite cars is my 1967 Pontiac Grand Prix convertible with 22,000 original miles. I collect fine automobiles. They don't make the kind of cars I like anymore! I have a cherry 1993 Lincoln MARK VIII and a 1979 Continental Collector's Series sedan.
I also collect exotic European saloons. I have a very nice Rolls-Royce collection that includes a 1966 Silver Cloud III that's never been in inclement weather! Two very nice Silver Wraith II saloons - a 1978 with 35,500 on its clock and a 1980 with only 12,000 miles.
I'm just a car nut. I'm restoring a 1959 Bonneville convertible. I just have to put it all back together, she's a Doll too.
I have a vicious 1962 Catalina 421 Super-Duty my cousin hand-built in 1962 with those performance parts that came in the trunk when you ordered that package!
I am sorry that I sold a 1979 Trans Am that was a drop-dead-gorgeous black with a flawless gold bird on the hood with custom factory gold scrollwork pinstriping. I had no idea they would become so valuable! It just felt like driving the Batmobile! I like bigger, gas-thirsty automobiles!
The way this political nightmare is going,
I'm thinking seriously about finding myself a quiet little sanitarium in the English countryside as long as they allow me bring my classic automobile collection with me! That's all I really want, I'll let the vultures fight over everything else!
That is one good looking car, from a guy here who owns a 1991 ZR-1 and a 71 Riviera boat tail...
I always thought the '69 to '72 Grand Prix's were the best looking personal luxury cars from GM, '69 SJ especially.
When 17 as junior in HS worked as stock boy part time for local Rose's dept store. Store mgr . coincidentally lived down street from us. He had a silver 1972 GP SJ. Ever since I have dreamed on having one....harder and harder to find one in average condition at best.
Adam, my friend you do an amazing job of the highlights & history of each & every vehicle you are representing with actual TRUE FAX about everyone of them.RIGHT ON, BIG GUY!! YOU ROCK MY FRIEND.😉😁😎😎
Once again you have provided a great review. Thank you Adam.
My math tutor in highschool was a gm engineer who worked with John. He told me some crazy stories. He told me he was very smart but a bit crazy.
Yes well he had a vision and created one of GM's best cars ever.
Adam, I worked for a PONTIAC dealer in N.Y. 68 through 71. When the 69 GP was released, The old guys hated it. called it a TEMPEST !! Chaise was extended in the front about 6 inches from the A body, hence the radiator shroud had a 6 in. extension so the fan was in that extension for cooling. Trans cross member reinforced as well as the chaise. Driveshaft the same as A body with M 40, turbo 400 trans.EXACT engine and trans as the GTO.the 70 chaise was modified , motor mount brackets, so 69 back engines will NOT bolt in without an adapter kit. Besides owning 64- 71 GTO's, have 69, 70 GP's with 4 speeds. 71 and 72 no longer had the 6 in. frame extension. My 71 GP is a great driver, 400, M40 auto runs fine on unleaded pump gas. 69-70 GP's with manual trans are bringing Unbelievable money. A few 71's were maid with a manual, I've seen 1 in my life..
Glenn sadly I parted out 1 of 52 ....1971 Grand Prix 4 Speeds in 1993. It was rear-ended and lived its Life Near the Beach in Delaware. I have the Hand written Order Sheet ordered in Dover Delaware. I still have all the Parts to convert my 69 428 Grand Prix.
@@4speedgp DO IT !!!
Beautiful cars. Love the driver centered wrap around cockpit, absolutely hated the heavy doors in the later years that sagged to ridiculous levels.
Keep the door pins changed and don't let people lean on the door when it's opened.
@@The_R-n-I_Guy Shouldn’t need to replace door pins. The doors on my original ‘61 Olds Super 88 close perfect to this Day. Bad design
The doors on my 1976 Grand Prix were so rusted out I could peel the bottom of the door apart and reach my arm up to manually unlock the mechanism when I locked my keys inside.
@@jeffrobodine8579 😂😂
The 63 and 65 Grand Prixs are my favorite Pontiacs. The 64, 66, and 68 are also really nice. As far as the 69 and 70s, they're super nice, but I've always thought the switch to single headlights for 71 and 72 was a styling mistake, especially given the excellent rear end treatment they adopted for those years.
I always loved the '69 GP. Seemed sorta like a GTO in a suit.
Back in the day it was known as the gentleman's hot rod!
I've been in love with the 69-70 Grand Prix since they were new.
Goodday Adam,
What a great informative video. After this video I appreciate these
Grand Prix & this body shape.
Look great especially the cockpit layout.
Your number 1 Fan in Australia
Louis Kats from Melbourne Australia ☺ 👍 ❤
"Wait What' At 4:00 is that a four speed???? Always liked GP's, they were just a bit different from other Pontiacs. Thanks to Adam for posting his fine work.....
You could get a floor-mounted 3-speed or 4-speed in 1969
@@billolsen4360 Learn something new everyday, thought they were dropped in 68...
@@jetsons101 You can usually view or even download original sales brochures on line
@@billolsen4360 Thanks......
For me, the '66 was GP's best look with curved rear glass, 1 year only finned aluminum rocker panels + GTO looking front end.. 🍒Thanks for all the great videos! 👍 💯🙏 [edit] oh yes and those super cool tail lights! ❤
The 69 was always my favorite, yet having owned a 65 GTO it would have been my next choice.
Agreed
Pontiac was at the top of their game in the 60's
Dad had a 71 mod j 455. What a car, sorry I ever let him sell it. Far surpassed the beautiful white/red 65 TBird I hung on to. Should have kept the Gp. I loved that rig. Live and learn...🤠 God bless America
71 or 72 GrandPrix my favorite years of the famed GP SJ I believe that is the sporty one
I remember the '69-72 Grand Prix but what I remember more vividly were the 1973-77 GP and it's companion cars, the Buick Regal, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme coupe, and Chevy Monte Carlo. Those coupes with their then stylish opera window were absolutely everywhere. They sold well even in a world of relatively high gas prices and inflation.
when I was in jr high we had a 64 GP silver/black. I always liked the 69 GP. Never had one but did have a 71 Monte Carlo and a
75 Monte Carlo. loved them all.
I’ve always thought that my light blue 69 Grand Prix was the prettiest car I’ve owned.
My 70 had that light blue color with a white vinyl top, wish I had kept that car!
@@jaya.0069 Agree. Loved the long hood and wrap around dash. Beautiful car.
That 4 headlight front end looks so much nicer than the later 2 headlight style.
Very nice condensation of info. Fills in many voids. Thank you
Ours was a '69 SJ in Expresso Brown with a dark fawn top, 370 HP 428, auto, 3.23 Safety-Track, everything but the optional 8 track player. Sticker was $6,300 and change. Miss that car terribly. BTW, Leather (saddle in ours) was $199.00 on the sticker. At the dealer leather was priced by the square inch, fabric by the yard.
If only John DeLorean were around today -oh the stories he could share!
One magnificent design front to rear
The transition from '67 to '68 was a surprise. The '68 roofline became more curvaceous and with the fender skirts the overall look was more bloated and soft. Always a young styling visionary I imagined the '69 would be even curvier. So when I saw the '69 for the first time I was shocked! No more curves, coke-bottle, fender skirts or hidden headlamps. The GP had transitioned from "Marilyn Monroe" to "Mr. Universe". After the initial shock I realized I loved it...and still do 50 some odd years later. It truly is automotive "lightning in a bottle".
So nice to hear a "human" narrator. Well done.
Very nice cars.
What they became after the late 80s - one of the reasons Pontiac is referred to in the past tense.
I went to the auto auction and bought an 88 GP after my Bird got totaled. It was ho-hum but reliable transportation.
Great video with a lot of detailed information as always . I didn't know that the ' 63 Pontiac Grand Prix was the first car to have vertical stacked headlights . I always thought that the ' 65 Ford Galaxie was the car that started that trend for a while in the sixties .
The big 65 to 68 Plymouths had stacked headlights
@@timothykeith1367 That's right , they did too .
Pontiac had very skilled stylists back in the day, starting with those who worked the 59 model year.
@@billolsen4360 Pontiac was considered to be a style leader in the 1960s.
I was hoping that you would review this unique car and here it is! Interesting backstory to the design and you always do great research. It always baffled me as to why this car didn't receive hideaway headlamps which were quite trendy at the time, especially considering the '68 had them.
Dursenberg was a design reference and no Duesenberg ever had hidden headlights. That was a Cord thing.
Headlights seemed way too big to me. Almost "bug-eyed". The car looked front heavy.
@@msmeyersmd8 True, especially the larger single lamps per side on the '71 model.
The '69 GP was one of GM's many great ones, IMO. As was the 1st gen Monte Carlo. A friend had a '69 or '70 GP and I recall it driving very nicely. I'm also partial to the early ones from the start to '66. '67 and especially '68, not so much. Those years looked too heavy and were overly refreshed versions of their predecessor. I had no idea J & SJ were Dusenburg themes, but it certainly makes sense.
Very interesting part about the nose of the Grand Prix was inspired by the Miller race cars. I can see it, for sure now that you brought it up. Very cool!
If you have a vid please Show the Gran Prix with Swivel Seats and the Six Way Steering Column it was Great I think mine was a 72 maroon interior and exterior 👏👍🙌
My 1970 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ was the best car. indeed!
My parents had a beautiful 1970 dark green Grand Prix SJ with the 455 V8. My mom usually drove it. One winter day out on the interstate she hit a spot of black ice and the Grand Prix fish tailed and went into a ditch and came to rest against a lap post. That was the end of our beautiful Grand Prix. Happy 4th of July everyone.
Oh God what a shame, one winter day with my dad behind the wheel, our '72 Dark Green Old Cutlass Supreme lost traction around a bend and slid off the road, luckily no damage. One of my neighbors had a 72 GP, and I rode with him to high school in it, what a lovely car, Dark Green, Black Top, Black interior, it was a J, and it was enchanting.
@@RootsandTendrils My Mom walked away without a scratch or a scrape. She felt really bad for a long time. My Dad replaced the GP with a Lemans Sport Couple which was a nice car but nowhere near as nice as the GP.
@@deanberg4033 I still feel bad, the loss of a '70 SJ hurts to the core!
@@RootsandTendrils
@@RootsandTendrils Indeed. The first time I climbed into the cabin of the cabin it just said luxury. From the real wood African crossfire Mahagony and the leather seats. It was the first car we had with A/C and power windows. LUX
My dad had the 69 Grand Prix @ the 1:25 mark,,,Same color, wheels. and top
Always loved the Grand Prix.
Have to say, I prefer the 1965 over the 1969. Love the stacked headlight design. And interior of the 65 over the 69. I will admit that I was looking for a 70- 72 Monte Carlo when at 17 going into my senior year of H S. I found a 1969 Chevelle Malibu for $1500. Pretty solid body, after 38 years, I still have it.! Would have loved to find a Grand Prix, or a Monte Carlo of 70. But, ever since Barrett jackson auctions came to public. They're out of my price range. Lol
The factory 8-track player location was on the rear seat transmission hump facing forward.
My father had a 69 that I was allowed to drive while I was in highschool. I loved that car. Unfortunately a drunk driver hit it and it was totaled
Our family got a 69 when I was in high school. Freaked out late one night at 17 & I decided to make sure that the 140MPH speedometer was telling the truth on a two lane rural road. It was.
The comparisons of the nose grill was very interesting and insightful.
The Grand Prix and the 454 SS Monte Carlo are two are the neatest and best driving cars. Stock car guys got the Colonade Monte Carlo frames and put Chevelle bodies and set the engines back so far that they made a rule for the engine relationship to the A- arm because they were beasts of the corners.
Love this group of GPs they were the absolute coolest luxury sports cars ever made. The 69 and 70 Really are the Top of the bunch.
The front end styling was a logical choice considering Pontiac themes and GM wrap around bumpers and wanting a classical style as evidenced by the 71 to 72 boattail. Not a Miller race car.
These were beautiful cars to look at and drive for sure.
The downsized Gran Prix was the right size car at the right time. By 1969 the Ford Thunderbird, which was the original personal luxury coupe, had become a boat mobile. Thankfully for Ford that platform was rescued by the introduction of the Lincoln Mark III. What DeLorean's team was able to pull off with a modified GM A body still looks great today.
The 68 you had a photo of is beautiful. How did GM afford one year models like it and the 69 Camaro.
Simply because they made more money than all 10 Gods would be my guess!
They found more ways to flush themselves down the drain. Not to mention Roger Smith.
The 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix still used the same doors, windshield, and cowl as the '67. The '69 Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Firebird used the same trunk lid, windshield, and cowl as the previous two model years. The '63 Pontiac Tempest/LeMans, Olds F-85/Cutlass, and Buick Special/Skylark used the same rooflines as the previous two model years despite looking drastically different and being longer in length. Planned obsolescence in model year design was the prevalent mentality back then and that was easier to execute when there were fewer body platforms to work with and fewer federal safety regulations to factor into design considerations.
I always liked these cars, my sisters boyfriend at the time had a green one with a 400 and it had tons of power )
The 69-72 GP is my favorite Grand Prix, after the 63