Aerodynamics has been an important component of automotive styling and performance for decades, going way back to 1899 at least if not longer. That’s even before my time. The seller has this aerodynamic 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 listed here on eBay in an area that knows a thing or two about racing: Alexandria, Alabama. There is no reserve and the current bid price is $11,400.
Aerodynamics is even more important today because of the need to squeeze more MPG out of vehicles but that wasn’t the reason for this 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2, sometimes referred to as an Aerocoupe. The Prius doesn’t have the shape that it does out of some designer’s whim, it’s because it’s an incredibly efficient, wind-cheating shape. The same with this Grand Prix Aerocoupe.
Pontiac had a company called Auto Fab, Inc. do the Aerocoupe conversions and King Richard Petty himself suggested to GM that they needed to come up with a similar sloping rear glass design that other cars had in order to cut down on lifting of the rear end at 200 mph during NASCAR races. Ford’s Thunderbird design was reportedly the kick that GM needed to come up with their homologation version for Pontiac. Chevrolet also had an Aerocoupe version for their Monte Carlo SS.
Pontiac made just 1,225 Grand Prix 2+2s for 1986 and the seller says that this example has 62,566 miles on it. The gray cloth seats are fairly typical for GM and at least the driver’s seat appears to have some wear, which it should after 62,000 miles. The back seat looks good but it’s hard to tell the condition with photos taken from inside that building. There is a console floor shifter for the Turbo-Hydramatic 200 R-4 four-speed automatic.
The engine and engine bay almost look like new and that should be a 305 cubic-inch V8 which sadly wasn’t quite up to racing standards with only 165 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque. A 10.5-second 0-to-60 time won’t cause many checkered flags to wave but you’ll be sure to have an eye-catching ride in this GP 2+2. Have any of you owned one or even seen one in person? If so, what are your thoughts?
I saw a few of these back the 80’s. Wasn’t a fan of the way it looked and the smaller trunk opening. When I bought my 87 Monte SS the Aero option was only $400 but didn’t like the look. There weren’t many of them around.
Looks like that car from Robocop.
These were a low point in performance history and most Vegas and Pinto’s were just as fast as these cars. Looks were cool but a engine swap was the only way to have any kind of fun with them. Too bad they did not put the GN motor in them.
Lol. Not a stock Pinto or Vega.
Not to say these GP’s were fast, they were only adequate power-wise. But stock Pintos and Vegas would not keep up with them.
I had a lot of drag racing under my belt back in those days and a stick shift vega or pinto was a fun car and of course that type of hard launch and power shifting hurt the cars longevity greatly but I did beat a lot of V8 cars with both my Vega and later my Pinto. Like I said you could not do this for long with them. I had my GTO back then and these cars were for winter so did not keep them longer then 6 months. I had other cars that were faster like my 66 225ci dart and my Ford Maverick both three on the tree cars and very respectable runners. Notice my lack of the auto trans with these cars. I whole lot more power to the ground. The good old days were fun
You do know that Vega’s and Pinto’s were long gone by the time this was made LOL. Last Vega was in 1977 so 11 years before.
OH yes . My winter rides were cheap throw away cars. most were taken to the scrap yard to be crushed.
“…they needed to come up with a similar sloping rear glass design that other cars had in order to cut down on lifting of the rear end at 200 mph during NASCAR races.”
Would the (non-sloped) cars be subject to Bernoulli’s principle and the sloped glass was the solution? Or if not, why would the rear end of a car start to lift up at 200 mph? These are the things that keep me up at night… along w/ gas prices.
I think with the non-sloped window, the air flow just missed the rear spoiler so there was no down force.
No HO (L69) in this one. The LG4 was, if anything, an unpolished turd of an engine.
LS Swap? Yes Please
Yes that would be perfect. Something with around 450 HP should help the go factor greatly
I always liked this body style, it’s a shame it wasn’t properly production-engineered with a hatchback and offered as a regular model in a variety of colors.
SOLD for $13,199.
Thanks, PRA4SNW!
The only reason they were made was for the King.
For the 13k it would be worth the effort to put some hosspower in this one.
Rusty Wallace too
A rear glass window will cost you a small fortune…if you can find one. So be careful.