My dad was working at the GMC truck and van Div. in Flint, MI during the 1971 Strike. That strike really set all of GM back. A lot of the redesigns were set back, especially for the A-body, G-body cars and the Chevy/GMC trucks.
I bought a 71 in 1974 when I was junior in high school. Black with white interior, no vinyl top. It was so nice I got away with parking in the teachers lot right outside the front door.
I bought my 1970 Grand Prix SJ 400 gold hard top with a beige interior from my father in 1978. I was 18 years old for a special price of $75...& this car was the best car i ever had.💚
I still have a full set of 4 of the "honeycomb" wheels that I have been holding on to for 25 years or so. I owned both a 72 and a 74 GP starting in 84 going to about 2001. I did my first complete engine rebuild on the 74, so I kept it for over 10 years, and it was much more fun to drive after changing heads, a little cam etc. I had to drive my motorcycle 40 min. to work every day (3rd shift) during the Kansas winter while I was getting pats as I could afford them. I learned about the importance of directionality layering your clothing during breathtakingly cold evenings. Lol. The car was black on black with some Craiger S/S 5 spoke wheels that really looked good on that car. But I did save the Honeycomb wheels. Lol.
The 69 is by far the best Grand Prix, so many one year only options, the hidden squeeze type door handles on the inside, the o ky year with the solid clear front park lamp lenses, plus the horizontal grill, the 69 Grand Prix has the wire mesh style cowl cover where the 70-72 has the plastics snap in ones, I like the 5 bar louvers on the sail panel of the 69, but one thing I do like about the 70 which I did the conversion on my 69 Grand Prix was the quarter extension lights, where 69 only had the reflector, also the quarter extension light lenses are about a 1/4 of a inch wider then the 69 so in order to use the 69 lenses on the 70 you would have to take some plastics and glue it on to cover the gap, the 69/70 Grand Prix has always been my all time favorite car so I know every nut and bolt on these cars.
I like the '69-'70 but prefer the '71-'72 myself, the single headlights and boat tail rear gave it a really unique look at the time - but would be happy as hell to have either one to tell the truth! My favorite GP is the '77 before the awful downsize of '78!
Thank you for the video. The 1969 set the trend and the other GM brands wanted in and got in. They followed and it hurt Pontiac. The 1969-1970 was nice looking. I was not a fan of the front end of the 1971-1972. I was not a fan again until 1976 when the quad headlight design arrived. The numbers did change in the years ahead.
I've always wondered- How and Why did 72 sales go up so much over 71? I own and collect Pontiacs of the era and know them very well. just do not understand why the 72s sold so well- 4th year of production, 2nd year minor changes, etc. anyone know for sure?
@Beyondthelensproductions I tried to get my mom to buy a 72. She liked the Cutlass Supreme better. She didn't like the nose on a Pontiac. My first car 76 Pontiac Grand Le Man's. Had the Grand Prix dashboard. I sure wish I had kept it. I will find a 69 or 70 one day. Our neighbors had a 69. 428 SJ. I was 9. He let me sit in it all the time. It seemed a simple time then. We had the best neighborhood. I have a question. Why on a GM car the ignition switch on a tilt column. The switch on the column had Like an extension on it. My 76 Grand Le Man's had tilt wheel. It was also one of the early GM car, when they moved the highbeam switch to the turn signal. I thought that was so cool. I also had the factory 8 track. White, Firethorne red interior. Console. Thanks Pontiac for the memories.
The Grand Prix was always a beautiful car. The 69 was my favorite and I also liked the 70. My father had a 77. If I would return to the USA, I would buy a fully restored Grand Prix as my driver as it would fit the full family....otherwise a 70-73 Trans Am would get the nod.
It just comes down to personal preference. Depending on the color combination and wheels, I prefer the look of the RWL tires. That's why my current 72 has B.F. Goodrich Radial TA's. My triple white 72 had white wall tires. Now a triple black car with Rallye II wheels. I am a big fan of those cars with redline tires. Again, it's all a matter of personal preference.
My dad was working at the GMC truck and van Div. in Flint, MI during the 1971 Strike.
That strike really set all of GM back. A lot of the redesigns were set back, especially for the A-body, G-body cars and the Chevy/GMC trucks.
That was definitely a tough time for a lot of the workers back then...
The 1969-1972 Grand Prix was my all time favorite car. The 1971-1972 were nice but oh that 1969-1970!
Definitely was a nice generation.
I bought a 71 in 1974 when I was junior in high school. Black with white interior, no vinyl top. It was so nice I got away with parking in the teachers lot right outside the front door.
Sneaky! hahaha
Dad bought a slightly used 71 455 gp for cheap (just like the blue one at 6:20) during the gas crisis, sorry I let it get away. What a machine !
I think every man has that one car he wishes he didn't let get away.
Thanks for this one, Beyond the Lens.. We're always up for more classic Pontiac content.
Glad you liked it.
Love those GP, s
Nice video, I have a grand prix sj model in my garage that runs great!
Thank you for taking a moment to leave a comment. Glad to hear you’re keeping your SJ going!
Their mistake took place in 78!
Agreed - those were not GP's in my mind, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when seeing the '78 Monte Carlo/Grand Prix/Cutlass for the first time.
As a kid I always wondered how the outside door handles worked on the Grand Prix. I always thought you just pressed them and the doors opened.
It's funny the things we think when we're kids.
They're not much different from Tesla door handles..
I bought my 1970 Grand Prix SJ 400 gold hard top with a beige interior from my father in 1978. I was 18 years old for a special price of $75...& this car was the best car i ever had.💚
Nice! I always like hearing stories like this.
I still have a full set of 4 of the "honeycomb" wheels that I have been holding on to for 25 years or so.
I owned both a 72 and a 74 GP starting in 84 going to about 2001.
I did my first complete engine rebuild on the 74, so I kept it for over 10 years, and it was much more fun to drive after changing heads, a little cam etc.
I had to drive my motorcycle 40 min. to work every day (3rd shift) during the Kansas winter while I was getting pats as I could afford them.
I learned about the importance of directionality layering your clothing during breathtakingly cold evenings. Lol.
The car was black on black with some Craiger S/S 5 spoke wheels that really looked good on that car.
But I did save the Honeycomb wheels. Lol.
It’s amazing the sacrifices we will make for our car lol Since you have the wheels maybe it’s time to go find a car to put them on. :)
The 69 is by far the best Grand Prix, so many one year only options, the hidden squeeze type door handles on the inside, the o ky year with the solid clear front park lamp lenses, plus the horizontal grill, the 69 Grand Prix has the wire mesh style cowl cover where the 70-72 has the plastics snap in ones, I like the 5 bar louvers on the sail panel of the 69, but one thing I do like about the 70 which I did the conversion on my 69 Grand Prix was the quarter extension lights, where 69 only had the reflector, also the quarter extension light lenses are about a 1/4 of a inch wider then the 69 so in order to use the 69 lenses on the 70 you would have to take some plastics and glue it on to cover the gap, the 69/70 Grand Prix has always been my all time favorite car so I know every nut and bolt on these cars.
I agree, the 69 is a great car and it's good to see someone who knows these cars well!
My first car! A 69 370 gp light green with a dark green interior , Pw pb ps air
Nice!
I like the '69-'70 but prefer the '71-'72 myself, the single headlights and boat tail rear gave it a really unique look at the time - but would be happy as hell to have either one to tell the truth! My favorite GP is the '77 before the awful downsize of '78!
For sure! They would ask be cool to roll up in at a car show. 😁
My parents had a 1967 Grand Prix. It reminded me of a fighter bomber..... big, heavy and fast. It kinda floated at 120mph.
Sounds very accurate!
Thank you for the video. The 1969 set the trend and the other GM brands wanted in and got in. They followed and it hurt Pontiac. The 1969-1970 was nice looking. I was not a fan of the front end of the 1971-1972. I was not a fan again until 1976 when the quad headlight design arrived. The numbers did change in the years ahead.
I agree with you on the quad headlight design.
I've always wondered- How and Why did 72 sales go up so much over 71? I own and collect Pontiacs of the era and know them very well. just do not understand why the 72s sold so well- 4th year of production, 2nd year minor changes, etc. anyone know for sure?
I'm not sure to be honest but I would be very interested if there's someone out there that could provide some insight.
@Beyondthelensproductions I tried to get my mom to buy a 72. She liked the Cutlass Supreme better. She didn't like the nose on a Pontiac. My first car 76 Pontiac Grand Le Man's. Had the Grand Prix dashboard. I sure wish I had kept it. I will find a 69 or 70 one day. Our neighbors had a 69. 428 SJ. I was 9. He let me sit in it all the time. It seemed a simple time then. We had the best neighborhood. I have a question. Why on a GM car the ignition switch on a tilt column. The switch on the column had Like an extension on it. My 76 Grand Le Man's had tilt wheel. It was also one of the early GM car, when they moved the highbeam switch to the turn signal. I thought that was so cool. I also had the factory 8 track. White, Firethorne red interior. Console. Thanks Pontiac for the memories.
The front end is too long
The Grand Prix was always a beautiful car. The 69 was my favorite and I also liked the 70. My father had a 77. If I would return to the USA, I would buy a fully restored Grand Prix as my driver as it would fit the full family....otherwise a 70-73 Trans Am would get the nod.
That would be a tough choice as they were both really nice cars.
They look really dumb with raised white letter tires. Leave those for the goats.
You wouldn't have liked my old truck then lol
@@Beyondthelensproductions Au contraire! I love old trucks.
It just comes down to personal preference. Depending on the color combination and wheels, I prefer the look of the RWL tires. That's why my current 72 has B.F. Goodrich Radial TA's. My triple white 72 had white wall tires. Now a triple black car with Rallye II wheels. I am a big fan of those cars with redline tires. Again, it's all a matter of personal preference.
I would say sales fell in 71 because of the hideous front end restyle job
Quite possible