We all know how pace cars show up at the dealership: a few stickers, maybe some special wheels, and an upholstery job. That’s it in most cases, and you’re left wondering why you just paid a $15,000 markup on a run-of-the-mill muscle car that isn’t any faster than your neighbor’s 5.0 with fewer stickers. Well, this is a rare opportunity to get into a pace car that actually has the upgrades under the hood that made it capable of leading the pack at the actual race which in this instance, was the Daytona 500. Not only that, this isn’t a hot rod muscle car – it’s a two-door Pontiac Grand Prix with a 5-speed manual! Talk about rare. Find it here on eBay with bids to just under $8,000 and the reserve unmet.
The seller claims this is a true one-of-one as it’s the only Grand Prix pace car ever built. I’m inclined to believe that, as I’m shocked they even made a pace car out of this model in the first place. The pace car thing reminds me of Motor Trend’s car of the year award – it’s a marketing ploy more than anything else, and in the case of a traditional muscle car, it makes sense. I just can’t see too many of the traditional buyers of a car like a sixth-generation Grand Prix being swayed by its road-holding abilities on the banking at Daytona International Speedway. Still, there’s no denying this thing is a looker with its pace car graphics, light bar, and oh-so-80s color-coordinated wheels. I always loved the tinted taillights on these cars.
Oh, those seats. The Grand Prix of this era was something else, especially with its multi-multi-function steering wheel and deeply contoured bucket seats that looked like a La-Z-Boy that needs to cut back on its whey intake. The 5-speed really rocks your senses as you’re just not prepared to see three pedals in a car like this. I can only imagine getting the call to lead the pack at the ’88 Daytona 500 and you’re handed the keys to a Grand Prix. Can’t you just see the guy who raced touring cars in Europe a few weeks back stomping his feet and demanding a race official drag the Fiero with the roof-top induction out of mothballs? That was another epic Pontiac pace car.
Now, in this Grand Prix’s defense, it benefits from the same type of performance-enhancing supplements that even Barry Bonds can appreciate. According to the seller, “….GM engineers fitted it with a more powerful, specially modified 3.1L fuel injected V6 engine that NASCAR required for sustained high-speed race performance, and was specifically tuned to run without a catalytic converter which was deleted at the factory.” I’d love more details on how the engine was modified for greater power, but I also fully believe this was done at the factory to ensure it didn’t get stomped by the snarling pack of seething NASCAR competitors behind it. A very cool car but one I find exceedingly hard to value, other than what a GM or NASCAR history buff is willing to pay for it.
It’s pretty tough to comment on a ’72 Grand Prix, and try and be civil here. Oh, this was sporty, in true Pontiac form, but a mere shred of the ’72. To be honest, these were really good cars, for a changing automotive scene. I knew an older gal that had a G6, I think, and it was a really nice car. That was another car, you had to set the cruise, because 40 didn’t seem any different than 70. You can take a hair dryer to the hoaky graphics, I doubt anyone actually cares, but not a bad car otherwise.
A turn-key escort vehicle for wide load tractor trailers.
It would have been illegal for GM to sell this car with a 3.1L V6 (not introduced in the Grand Prix until 1990) and no catalytic converter. GM may have sanctioned the modifications, but it’s highly likely that this car was built as a standard, 2.8L Grand Prix SE and delivered to a third party for modification.
There is a picture of the exempt emissions label that must be removed prior to sale. With the label there and no new emissions label shown you could not register it for the street. Not sure how it was sold, but would be an interesting story.
The 3.1 was available in 89.
By the time these FWD Gran Prixs hit showrooms, they had been reduced to nothing more than a variant of Chevy’s Lumina. Pedestrian, dull performance, and the (then) darling of the rental lots. (yawn………)
I’m assuming that this is not smog legal,& could not be
licensed for the street in many states.Also no mention on how
fast it is with these modifications.Also no documentation on this.
And what would you do with it if you bought it?
It’d be cool to put it on a dyno and see what power looks like.
It would be interesting to see all the documentation that says this is a real pace car. First off if it is the real thing and was done by GM, it was most likely sold on a bill of sale and has no title. Most cars sold from the GM collection don’t have VINs or have one indicating it is experimental, thus they cannot be registered or street driven. People that have bought those have tried to title them and the answer hell no! Secondly, if it was modified by an outside source, not GM, then they are responsible for it and the car should be carrying a sticker that indicates that it does meet MVSS or emissions.
Whoops! That last sentence should read: “does NOT meet MVSS or emissions”.
Howard Wrong thread?
This is an 88 GP not the green 72 GP
Saw you posting on Hemings also
So, being “1 of 1”, it isn’t too tough to search the history of this one.
In 2014, one was sold at B.J. for $4,400. It did not have a VIN or title and there are a lot of disclaimers stating that it is not intended for use. https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1988-PONTIAC-GRAND-PRIX-DAYTONA-500-PACE-CAR-170180
In 2021, the B.J. car was sold at a Truck and Trailer Equipment auction for $10,500. In one of the pictures, there is a shot of the same VIN as in the current EBay auction. It is a label maker label on the driver’s door jamb. Mileage is stated to be 5,719. https://www.proxibid.com/1988-PONTIAC-GRAND-PRIX-PACE-CAR-VERIFIABLE-DAYTONA-500-PACE-CAR-5719-MIL/lotinformation/65539227
Now, it’s listed with a whole bunch of hype and LESS miles. That VIN sticker has now been moved to the normal VIN location. The included Vehicle History Report does show that it was registered and title issued in 2014.
As stated earlier, be VERY careful with this one.
If you look at the other pictures where it was listed the mileage @5700 was in kilometers not miles, these units had a dash switch that allowed you to go back and forth.Also car had never sold at those sales and was placed in a storage warehouse for some time where it was retrieved and serviced for sale by and estate, and yes it has a vin and clean, clear title.