Here’s how the Pontiac Grand Prix transitioned from luxury to performance
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In this episode I provide the history of the Pontiac Grand Prix, which started in 1962 as a two-door luxury-themed coupe, and was a popular personal luxury coupe during the 70's and 80's. In 1988 it switched from a rear-wheel-drive body-on-frame to front-wheel-drive unibody, and focused more on performance, with several limited-run models, including one with a new turbo from ASC McLaren. The Grand Prix lasted 7 generations, ending in 2007, and was replaced by the Australian-built G8, which itself only lasted 2 model years before the Pontiac brand was discontinued with GM's bankruptcy. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
When I was a kid, like in first or second grade, I wanted to be a car designer when I grew up. I was fascinated by the digital dashboard on my dad's LeBaron GTS, and the 1989 Grand Prix was, to me, the essence of futuristic perfection. I would draw my ideas for instrument clusters full of electronic displays, steering wheels covered in buttons, and stereos with a button for any conceivable function you could want. Of course, I've come to appreciate simplicity and a solid volume knob in middle age, but I'm glad someone at GM agreed with 7-year-old me about the coolness of digital readouts and button-covered steering wheels.
Out of curiosity, what job are you actually working in today? I also wanted to become a car designer as a kid and now I’m the most hated man at Porsche in the marketing department: I do the retail pricing 😅 Cheers from Stuttgart
I also wanted to be a car designer as a kid
@@flori5548 I got a degree in journalism and worked for several years as a newspaper designer, putting together compelling front pages for papers. Now I work as an insurance adjuster, handling claims for cars, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles. So I ended up getting a little bit of design work and a little bit of car work.
I also wanted to be a car designer as a kid, mostly thanks to Pontiac. Then I found out how terrible I was at math...
@@RyanGallager I gave serious consideration in middle and high school to becoming a meteorologist, but I didn't go that route for the same reason.
It’s a good Saturday. Another My Old Car episode 🙂
Best part of my weekend!
Damn, now I miss Pontiac all over again. What an iconic brand. My mom had an 84 Grand Prix, she absolutely loved that car.
That was one of the best models my mom and dad had a 75, 83, 84 and 85 Grand Prix. To this day I’d still like to find one that is fully restored.
There's just something about those early 90s GTP with the gold basketweave wheels that I always loved ever since I was a kid.
I loved my Gran Prix...had 2....91 & a 92. Great cars. Had a 98 Grand Am and a 94 Pontiac Firebird Formula. They did build excitement.
I bought a brand new '04 GTP and drove it for 16 years. One of the best cars I've ever owned. It had it all; Beauty, comfort, luxury, practicality and power!
My sister had a 1970 Grand Prix back when I was only 11 in 1972. Man, that car was fast and had a front end that just kept going. The 1970 and the 1975 models have always been my favorites.
I had a 74 SJ 455 car. That old girl hauled ass...
@@bulldog1961 The 455s were super long stroke stump pullers, even the choked emissions versions of the 70s. I put one in a 1980 Trans Am and the torque from the occasional hard acceleration started warping the C pillars which connected the quarter panels to the roof. Basically it ruined the body.
This video is killer and right up my alley! I have a 93 Grand Prix STE sedan that I'm currently restoring so seeing this video gave me "Pontiac Excitement" right away! Thank you for doing this video!
A few corrections, in 89, you could still get the 282 Getrag 5 speed manual behind a 3.1 and also into the 1990 model year. For 1988, ALL W body's had the 2.8 as the only engine option. In 89, the 2.8 was still available but was soon phased out thru the 89 model year as the 3.1 took over. For the Turbo Grand Prix cars, something like 2,700 were made in 1990. Now this number might also include the TSTE or STE Turbo sedan. Only 1,000 of those were made, 700 in White and 300 in Maroon and only available for one year. Doing the math and ONLY IF that 2,700 number DIDN'T include the STE Turbo, then approximately 1,700 TGP's were made in 1990. The STE Turbo's motor was NOT GM's own design, it was identical to the 89-90 TGP's drivetrain.
The 3.4 DOHC 24 VALVE V6 motor made 200 HP in automatic form, 210 with the 5 speed manual. Starting in 91 and up to 93, (Grand Prix and Lumina Z34), the stronger Getrag 284 was the only 5 speed manual offered, no more Getrag 282. The 2nd gear start option was also available in any GP automatic car equipped with the LQ1 or 3.4 V6, not just the RPE cars.
I used to clean dozens of the 6th gens every month as a detailer. By far most of them were the GT’s with the 3.8L’s but I also saw a surprising amount of the GTP’s too.
I had a 02 Bonneville. So sad to see Pontiac go so cheap in the 2000s. Thanks GM
So cheap in the 00's? The 2000 Bonneville was a much higher quality car than any Bonne built in the 80's.
I worked for a Pontiac dealership in 1993 and 1994, and absolutely LOVED the Grand Prix coupes. They ran well, and handled well. The only drawback was getting to the rear bank of spark plugs; my service guys found a work around for that by taking off the rubber weather-stripping that the hood sat on, and notched the metal of the firewall, so the sockets went in on less of an angle.
My older brother owned a '72 Grand Prix with a 455 4bbl. That thing would FLY! If you put your foot to the floor, it would push you back in the seat and keep you there! You could also watch the speedometer move to the right and the gas gauge move to the left!
The good ol days
@@samholdsworth420 l
I know some people don't like the cladding Pontiac used on their models, but since they adopted it I have liked it upto today, I find that design idea very attractive.
My father had a 1990 Grand Prix STE with a 5-speed manual transmission. This particular Grand Prix was a four-door with 3.1 V6. The car was before it's time. The car even had switches that could adjust the lumber in the back. This feature had air that would go in or come out to adjust the firmness. On the driver's side door panel was a switch that would adjust the bass level in the car. I sure do miss the '90s long live Pontiac
Do an episode on the Subaru Brat, I love those little trucks!
I was next to one yesterday for the first time seeing one in years. Nice little ride.
You forgot to add that the GP was available with a 5 speed manual from 88 to 92. The Getrag 282 was available with the 2.8, 3.1, and quad 4. The rarest ones were the GTP with the 3.4 DOHC and Getrag 284. The quad 4 282's are also very rare. My 91 Olds Cutlass Supreme International also had the 3.4 and 284 5 speed. One of 109 built.
We need to talk! I currently have a 91 Cutlass Supreme International coupe! It's a 3.4 automatic car though. The GP could also be had with the 5 speed for 93. It was the last year availability for them. So excited to meet another International owner, even if you don't have yours anymore.
1965 Grand Prix....the most beautiful year ever...staggered vertical headlights and beautiful dash and center console (on the bucket seat models) with real wood trim on doors, dash and center console. Coke bottle profile...an absolute STUNNER !!!
My 2006 GXP was one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. Big enough for car seats but fun and comfortable enough for mom and dad. It was dangerous on highways because it never felt “fast”. I’d cruise down the highway then look down and realize I was hitting the 90+ mph without noticing.
I had a 97 GTP loved that vehicle, a boost gauge, the jet engine like sound of the whirling super charger with great passing power and a heads up display.
Those were indeed very nice.
Great retrospective. I had the 88 with the 5spd manual. LOVED it! Everyone used to trip out on the aggressive factory exhaust. GM used to make the best v6 exhaust Niue before the 90's! Near annual clutch change pushed me away. Got the first year GTP and loved it. Heads up display was cool for its time! I was disappointed it had little to no exhaust note for as attractive as it was. Alas water pump issues caused me to trade it on an Intrepid RT then on to a 300M Special which were both faultless during my ownership
Gotta love seeing those 5th gens with the door mounted seat belts buckled in when the seats are unoccupied. I can’t imagine that many people actually left those buckled in when getting in and out since they were a real nuisance. When dual airbags were added for model year 1994, the sedan had the seat belts moved to the B-pillar, but the coupe still had them on the doors until the 1997 redesign.
I had a Geo Metro with those belts. I used them as intended only once just to see if it would work and the lap belt settled across my shins just below my knees(!) so I went back to using it like a normal seat belt.
@@nlpnt I think you were supposed to lift up the lap belt when getting in and out
I still remember the HUD unit that was offered on the GTP - technically way ahead but a distraction in my book - I drove one in Germany one night back when they were new and it was a pretty competent car that ran well on the autobahn - not something guaranteed of American cars - sitting comfortably on its limiter which I think was set at 110 - or i’d pressed a wrong button somewhere and set one accidentally 🤣
Yeah sadly gms have been limited to 110 for a long time. Sounds like an interesting experience though. I didn't think they were sold in Europe
Not as ahead of the times as you would think. In 1989, Nissan offered a digital dash upgrade on their Maxima that came with a Heads Up Display. They're really rare and if you find the parts at the junkyard, they can be sold for like 500-700 dollars
It took till the last commodore to have a HUD in Australia.
@@jacobfleming565 Either my speedometer was off, or my Grand Am didn't have one. It could go to redline (limiter only being RPM based), and the 120MPH speedometer it had was well pegged. (I figured it was doing a good 135-140.) Ah the things one would do when young, stupid, and still in the military and thus having to drive back to base at 0-dark-30 on an empty highway to make the morning muster. The car was an earlier year of the last gen and only a year old when I did that, so who knows what the deal is there.
I think the speed limiter depended on the engine and transmission options.
@@jordiemorrison7391 True but the Cutlass Supreme was the first automaker to offer HUD in 1988. Same HUD unit as the GP cars in both generations of it. From 88-90 and 91-93.
A video on the GTO/G8/Chevy SS Commodores in America would be great. It’d be interesting to see how they went after they left our shores.
I get the impression at least most Americans (now at least) consider them underrated and suffered from poor marketing mainly thanks to Pontiac being wrapped up and GM in general not wanting to put much effort into an Australian made car - but that’s just my impression from the little tid bits I’ve picked up. So a more in-depth video would be awesome.
It was a short history after the Holden cars left US shores, I'm afraid. The Holden Commodore (in sedan, wagon and Ute unibody pickup in AU / NZ) only lasted two more years after the SS left.
The cop-only Chevy Caprice* (Holden Caprice in AU / NZ) was discontinued along with the SS (RWD Holden Commodore) in both US and AU / NZ.
The Commodore name was kept for the FWD-based German-made (by Opel, same we got Stateside as the Buick Regal in hatchback and wagon) model for an additional 2 years, after which Holden closed all of their remaining factories in Australia (a couple of years later GM exited entirely the AU / NZ market, retiring the Holden brand name).
The sales issue was because GM was hamstrung on the sale of all of the Holden-made vehicles. In the early '10s GM had an arrangement with the UAW (The Union) that any vehicle that had projected sales > 100K had to be made in US, Canada or Mexico. To comply with this GM only sold the (Chevy and Pontiac) Holden-made cars with V8's and few options, while they were mostly sold in AU / NZ with V6's.
* there also was the issue that since Caprice was AU-made it was disqualified from many US Police departments, as they mandated by regulation US or Canadian-made units
Oh man those car are very valued after a good decade or more after Pontiac SHUTDOWN. Every gearhead wants a g8 with a 6 spd standard transmission same for the mid 00's gto's because they can be turned into track/drift cars now. These grand prix and pontiacs late models a lotta people want them again. Seriously why couldn't gmc SHUTDOWN instead of Pontiac.
@@brandonplaisted8194- Unfortunately GM shut Pontiac down instead of Buick because the Buick brand was the top selling brand in China. If GM would have kept Pontiac around, we were on track to get a G8 UTE. That essentially would have been the equivalent of a Pontiac El Camino. I own a White 2008 G8 with 77K miles on the clock, & love every minute of owning it.
Hello from Phoenix Arizona!🔥
As a owner of a red 2008 G8 with 129k I agree let's have a video
Gen 5 Camaro shares much with these cars also
The Grand Prix has always been one of my favorite cars. Once again I loved the '86 2+2 and would have loved one of those if I could have afforded it at the time. However, I would have had to be a daily driver and someone buying one of those would have needed to turn it into a garage princess otherwise it would have been a waste.
I worked for General Motors in the early '90's and loved the seats in the Pontiacs. I always thought their bucket seats were the most supportive and comfortable of any of the GM cars at the time.
I also loved the GTP models of the early 90's. They had a unique appearance that look so good.
I am one of those people that wished the personal coupes were still around especially the one ones that were designed that all the controls were focused on the drivers seats. I like driving anything with 4-wheels for the most part including SUV's but give me a coupe any day I would be happy.
Since you showed a picture of one, a story of the El Camino and its twin the GMC version since I owned a 1980 version.
I had a 99 Grand Prix GTP Coupe. It’s still one of my most favorite cars I’ve owned.
I had a 1990 Grand Prix SE, white with the white wheels. That was one of my favorite cars that I ever owned and I still miss it. I put 170,000 miles on it and other than routine maintenance I never had to put any money in it. It was a beautiful, reliable vehicle. I wish GM still built decent cars.
I am the proud owner of the last year of the Grand Prix. Kind of unusual for someone that spent 23 years working as a mechanic at a Ford dealership.
My wife was tired of me pouring money into my 1993 Ford Explorer that had spent the last few years on life support. A friend of my wife was looking to sell her 2008 Grand Prix so she could buy a Tesla; without telling me, my wife bought the Pontiac as a replacement for my Explorer.
After 3 years as the proud owner of the last Grand Prix, I can truly say its a very nice car. Its the base model with a 3.8 liter V6, and a few options. It suits me well. I have only had to replace the tires and a thermostat. Not bad for a 14 year old car with 149K miles on it. I don't know too much about Pontiacs since I spent much of my career working on Fords; but, if all Pontiacs were this nice and reliable, GM should be kicking themselves for dumping that line of cars.
I agree, the model with set back headlights like that of a Camaro was the coolest model. Friend of mine did a drivetrain swap and converted his to rear wheel drive. Scary powerful it was.
The '97-'03 models are always the ones that come to mind for me when I think about the Grand Prix. I loathed the look of the base-model ones with the twin grills lower on the bumper and the lack of a rear spoiler though! Good cars and still very common today (especially with the 3800 😉).
💩💩💩
Yes these were epic vehicles I once had a 97 GTP and only have fond memories of that vehicle.
My dad had blue on blue ‘78. I always remember that one
Great review ! My favorite GP were the 70s and 80s G body style .
1979 Dodge Omni 024. Not the boxy "Rabbit" looking one, but the one with two doors and big glass hatch back. By the time I bought this car when I was 15 years old, it was 10 years old, had been repainted twice by a "Macco" of some kind that looked horrible and could never shine, and it had a blown head gasket. Abandoned in front of my house, I tracked down the owner, paid $200 for the car, and spent about $2000 to get it running. Lots of things were bad. It ran fine, but due to overheating had a 0-60 mph in 30 seconds. Slow, ugly, cost to much to fix, but I loved it and have plenty of speeding tickets that I had to work hard to get. It taught me how to work on cars, and I'm still working on cars today.
1979 Dodge Omni 024. Do that one.
I love these retro car commercials. Those were the days.
I still remember hearing the noise from the wheel covers on old Pontiac Grand Prix
Although not a fan of GM in my younger years, I did admire the styling of the GP and GrandAm. So this was a great video to showcase the history of a great car.
Patrick, I absolutely love you videos and binge watch them all the time. You, Big Car and Ed’s Auto Reviews are my favorite channels about cars.
Ed is awesome !!!!
PONTIAC DRIVING EXCITEMENT!.. I've been waiting a long time for this one!!!! Thank you!!!
Knew I find you here lol
@@classicwefi I watched it in my grand prix and cried🤣🤣🤣
LMF AOI didn't realize it said Pontiac Chinese excitement
The STE sedan flew under my radar, never knew it was offered in turbo form like the coupe. So rare I can't find a video of one on TH-cam. Add on top of that the availability of a manual transmission. Wow.
Yes sir. Only 1,000 STE Turbo's or TSTE's were made for 1990 only. Seven hundred in White and 300 in Maroon. They shared the identical drivetrain as the 89-90 TGP's. They are actually more rare. For whatever reason, no STE Turbo's were made with HUD unlike the 89-90 TGP cars which had HUD as standard equipment. The 1990 TGP cars were the only ones to get HUD. Both the STE Turbo and TGP were automatic only.
@@jiggity76 I thought it mentioned available 5spd in video.
@@BogattheMoon Maybe this will help! For the regular 88-90 coupes, only the Getrag 282/5 speed was offered. For the 89-90 Turbo Grand Prix coupes (TGP), all were automatics. For the 1990 only STE Turbo sedan, again, all were automatics as they shared the identical drivetrain as the 89-90 TGP. Starting in 1991 and when the LQ1 debuted, the stronger Getrag 284/5 speed took over, no more Getrag 282/5 speed. The Getrag 284/5 speed was therefor the only manual offered from 91-93 for the Lumina Z34 and Grand Prix. For the Cutlass Supreme, from 91-92. This also included the sedan variants during these years. Among the W body sedans, only the Grand Prix and Cutlass Supreme could be ordered with the LQ1/5 speed combo. The Regal and Lumina Euro 3.4 sedans were all automatic only.
@@jiggity76 interesting. I wonder if anyone did the turbo 5spd or the DOHC V-6 5spd swap in the Fiero like they've done with the supercharged 3800?
@@BogattheMoon I bet so. I think I've even seen a twin turbo setup.
The Grand Prix was a car i wanted for my own when i was shopping for my first car. The 3800 Series i heard was the most reliable V6 you can buy and i still say it looks so cool today. Because of its high horsepower and the fact that Pontiac is gone, i got intimidated to buy it and looked elsewhere. If Pontiac was still around, i would've buy one for my own today.
Absolutely one of my favorite car channels keep up the good work!
5th and 6th gen Grand Prixs have always been my favorites. I actually had a 2001 Grand Prix GT sedan with the "special edition" package which had two tone black/gray leather, hood scoops, the "Nascar" inspired spoiler,HUD and Special Edition badges on the door panels. It was by far one of my favorite cars iv owned. Had allot of fun with it.
Thank you for this video. I appreciate the effort put into this video on the Pontiac Grand Prix. There were different model years I enjoyed. I liked the detail you put into this video.
My parents had a last-gen Grand Prix. I don’t think it had the V8 but the V6 was pretty potent. Very easy to spin the tires if you were a little too heavy on the gas
Yup by the time gm finally perfected the 3800 v6's they discontinued them. Because they were bulletproof and they couldn't make money at the dealerships with them.
@@brandonplaisted8194 the what I'm saying they claimed they couldn't meet emissions standards so they replaced it with 3600. But my theory is that the 3800 reached perfection so they crushed it. I don't own a grand prix but my buick has the series 3 and she's at rn 320k miles she's burns maybe half a quart every oil change granted I had to replace the trans at 260k but as far as the engine goes she doesn't even tick
My first car was a 79 GP LJ with the 301V8 drove that thing for just over 300k miles, also owned a 91. Now I just own a 67 GTO.
I got a brand new ‘95 Pontiac Grand Prix SE coupe with the aero package as a graduation gift from my parents! Loved that car
My godparents had a 68 and I loved it. (I was 11). Was mortified when they got a 72, but came around to love it, perhaps because I got to drive it on many occasions - especially my 1975 senior prom! (Didn't hate the new 73 version but when the taillights went vertical afterwards, I never looked back).
Loving the page I’ve been watching all day stuck home with Covid
Thanks for doing this review. I owned a 2004 Grand Prix GT. I loved that car, purchased it brand new. I kept it for 10 years and then sold it to one of my friends who owns it still this very day. I'm was very sad when GM shutdown Pontiac when the company reorganized in 2010. Cars aren't built like that anymore. Thanks again for this review.
I really did like the 90s versions of the Grand Prix. The body styling looked awesome. The “we build excitement“ commercials I did love back in the day. With the guy singing “Drive Pontiac Drive“ when the G8 came out, it was an awesome platform, especially with the GTP trim. I have always been a Pontiac guy. Starting off with my 88 Lemans AeroCoupe, my 92 Sunfire SE coupe, 96 Sunbird sedan and 2002 Grand Am GT sedan.
Always loved the "smile guage" in the supercharged versions :)
I owned a Black 2006 GXP. It was mint condition from Phoenix. Loved that car. I sold it to buy a 2006 GTO. Which I love even more.
I owned a '91 and an '07. I still have very fond memories of that '91 and that bright red dash at night!
Great episode once again - you answered the question about the connection of Grand Prix to g8. G8 had potential that ended way too early. And yes I remember the Grand Prix more of the late 80s to early 90s look, a friend of mine owned one
This video came at a good time. A week ago I just picked up a ‘92 GTP with the 3.4 DOHC and manual transmission
Hello, I think we might know each other! If yours is that beautiful Bright Red car with Light Beige interior.
@@jiggity76 lol yep that’s me!
@@transamphoenix Nice. Well hello!
I had a 81 and a 90. Loved them both. Wish they still made coupes like that
Topher, you seriously have one of the best channels, thank you. It takes me back to my childhood in a great way because I've alway been a car lover. Today I drive a 1994 Lincoln Towncar, 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 4 Matic and 2018 Ranger Rover Sport.
For me, the Grand Prix will always be known as the go-to affordable car that would last you forever. It amuses me that despite being dead for over a decade, I still today see as many or more old Pontiacs (mostly Grand Prix) on the road as/than new or old Subarus or Mazdas. Also more old Pontiacs than old Toyotas or Hondas.. And that doesn't even include the comparable Buicks of which there are nearly as many on the road! That, to me, is a testament to what must have been a great family of cars (never owned one, but really wanted an Intrigue for my first car).
I grew up in a Pontiac/Oldsmobile family. We had more Oldsmobiles, but the Pontiacs were most often the more luxurious cars we owned. I remember the second generation of Grand Prix (65-68) more than the first, but mostly for their unique taillights. I was a little kid when they came out and they were rare. When the 69 Grand Prix came out, though, it was a game changer. There was no other car on the road like it, and it was beautiful. By the mid 70s, Pontiac sort of over did itself and I lost interest. But, when it came time for my first car that was all my own (not the family station wagon), I chose a 1981 Grand Prix Brougham. It was beautiful. It was also a pretty awful car. The driver's seat always leaned toward the center. The paint oxidized. The engine had no pickup (and it was a V8). But I loved it just the same. My second car would be a much different experience - a 1991 Grand Prix 4dr sedan. It was a fantastic car. Great build quality. Great engine. Great handling. To this day, I would say it's the second best car I ever owned. I sold it in 1998 because I wanted something new. Grand Prixs were not available at that time due to a GM strike, so I got an Oldsmobile Intrigue. It had issues and, eventually, I left GM for good. But I will always love Pontiac ... and Grand Prix. Lots of great memories.
Just found this channel… Awesome content, subscribed🇺🇸👍
Great video much appreciated 👍👍
Great videos on this channel 👍
Here's insight into the G8: it was a rebadged Holden Commordore. When Pontiac ended production, that same car came to the states as the Chevy SS. The GTO that appeared in the 2000s was a rebadged Holden Monaro. Maybe you should do an entire episode of Holden, GM's Australian subsidiary.
Great video! Thanks.
'06 GXP driver. Bought it in '09 and it's my daily driver to this day. Love the growl when you tickle the go pedal!
The 94-96 Coupes were such good looking cars.
Voice overs/cameo appearances with Jeremy Clarkson, John Davis and Patrick Stewart that were seamlessly tied to the Grand Prix? I think that can show the historical impact the car had over the years.
Grand Prix brings to mind the 2 generations I grew up with, the '76 and '81. Looks wise it's the '81 I loved.
The GP that I think about is a 73 that my brother in laws friend had. It was a 455 LJ. I think he still has it
This guy I went to school with had an old late 70s GP. It was freaking huuuuuuuuuuuge. It had a monster motor, the whole front end lifted anytime he touched the gas even tho he had a modern suspension setup.
Great episode, had a 96 SE, 99 GT and a 01 GT, Loved them all. 3.8 V6 was a fantastic engine.
Great episode! I LOVE my 07 GP! You should do The Acura Legend or Vigor!
I have had my 08 GP GXP and have loved it the whole time. Really fun car with lots of value for its price
Awesome video, always hyped to see more.
Would you do a video on the Volkswagen Fox too?
I had an 82 Grand Prix with a C4 trans...and a 4.9 Liter V8...from Ford. I didnt put it in there, but somebody did. That was such a cool car though. The interior had blue velour, the wood dash and that cool rotary damper ashtray cover...To me, it felt so luxury!
Great video. My first car was a 1980 Grand Prix with the 3.8 V6, it was very worn out by the time I got it (2008) and the V6 was on it's last legs. I replaced it a few years later with a 1979 Grand Prix that had the same V6. I ultimately pulled that engine and the auto trans out in favor of a Chevy 350 and a 4 speed. Growing up I very much remember the late 80s and 90s GPs being everywhere, but since having an '80 and a'79 (which I still own), I will always be partial to the '78-80 the most.
You hit the nail on head. I myself think of the GP in the late 80’s when this model name comes up. My boss and a two door couple for almost a decade in the 80s and loved that car. There was a lot of good info in this video, thank you. For a suggestion- please do the Nissan Maxima, thanks again!
Nice video about the 70s downsized Grand Prix with definitely was my favorite everyone around me had one and I had an old beater of one in the 80s
My parents bought a new '88 Grand Prix LE, and my sister called it The Spaceship because of the digital dash. It was the car I learned how to drive in. In 2005 they gave it to my cousin who needed a car to get to his job and he even thought it looked futuristic all those years later.
My first car was an 89 Grand Prix LE. I loved and miss that car. I don't if it was because it was my first or because it was my only coupe but it has a special place in my mind.
I love watching your videos. You should make an episode on the Kia Sephia. I’m not old enough to remember seeing first Gen Sephias on the road, and I only saw a few second Gen sephias in my life. You should also cover the Kia Spectra too.
My future wife's dad owned a late 90's / early 00's Grand Prix and it was super fun to drive it also had a heads up display that projected your speed and other info onto the windshield while you drove. I alwasy thought it was super cool, and surpised you don't see it on more cars.
You can make the G8 video work by talking about the history of GM Holden division, the car they used to turn into the Pontiac version and how the Chevrolet SS was a dubious attempt to continue it.
I loved the dash layout and all the buttons on the 89 models. A friend had one when I was in college and I had the Barretta GT and I always thought I was ripped off because of the lack of buttons.
I remember my Step dad and myself went to San Francisco for a Karate convention and this was the car we rented Grand Prix GTP. It was amazing.
I thought those clips looked familiar, they're my old Grand Prixs! I love these cars, I'm on my 9th one... a white 1989 SE that I rescued from a Copart salvage auction.
I instantly remembered that was your old car, LOL!
Dad replaced his 1954 Oldsmobile 98 with a 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix in that very deep dark blue. That extraordinarily beautiful car afforded a skinny twelve year with the most significant bump in proxy street cred that I ever experienced. Dad never explained why that car stayed with us for only two years, but I suspect that the arrival of my baby sister (fourth and final child) in 1964 prompted him to accept full bourgeois adulthood. The Grand Prix’s replacement, a 1965 Buick Electra 225 four-door sedan in kitchen appliance white, provided steady mature service for the next two decades.
I credit the supercharged 3800 w bodies like the gtp and regal gs for starting the horsepower war in fwd 4 door sedans that went until the mid 2010s. 2002 altima 240 hp, 07 camry v6 260 hp, 2012 w body impala 300hp, my 2015 accord v6 280 hp! I used to call these fwd v6 muscle cars lol.
I'm A True Pontiac Grand Prix Fan, Love That Car! Happy Valentine's Day to You, My Old Car!!!
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Like you when I think of a Grand Prix I tend to think of the early 90’s body style. I always thought they looked really cool and still do. Great episode!
I remember being 8 or 9 riding my bike down the road shifting thru all 5 of my gears, singing the pontiac "Driving Excitement" song.. That was 1989..
Thanks for including and fulfilling my request! Can you do the Chevy Lumina next?
In September 2021 I bought a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT Coupe with 41,435 miles. It was a trade in at my dealership that I knew I just had to have. For many years I have planned to make a "new" Oldsmobile 442 out of a Grand Prix coupe and Intrigue front and rear ends. All the parts would come from suitably wrecked cars at Copart auctions.This car is so perfect, with the flashy Bronze Mist paint, that I will leave it the way it is. I purchased it for $875.
I had a 90 TGP with the McClaren engine and intercooler turbo. My parents bought it for me for my 16th birthday in 2002. I burned a new set of back tires off of it in 6 months. It had 110,xxx miles on it and was riddled with issues but it was amazing when it came out, amazing when I had it, and is still amazing now. I loved that car!
Pontiacs were the best! Im 35 and had 3 grand prixs when I was younger. I still have that dream of getting a red grand prix gtp!
We Build Excitement! A Pontiac video! This is great!
thanks for this
The Colonnade and G Body Grand Prixs were my favorites. I didn't care for what they did in 1988. 76-77 and 81-87 Models will alway be the Grand Prix for me
The GP commercial at 9:44 I matted the storyboard as an intern at DMB&B ad agency in Bloomfield Hills, Mi. It was a thrill to see it air on television back then, I also thought the car was cool.
My absolute favorite W body was the 94 ish SSEI with the 3800 supercharged engine. I was only 12 but that car in hunter green with those gold cross lace wheels. My god! Watching the boost gauge from the back seat was the best part of a road trip! Plus the fact my dad drove it like he stole it. I'd love to find a mint condition to maybe purchase.
I had a GTP in green with tan leather, and it was a great touring car that I cherished for six great years.
Nice! I started and ran ClubGP (Club Grand Prix) in 1998 when I had my 1997 Grand Prix GTP. A fun time building some great and long lasting relationships between the Club the online Forum, the Grand Prix Gathering we used to have at the GM factory in Kansas, etc.