With NASCAR competition set to undergo some of its most radical changes for the 2022 season, now seems an appropriate time for this 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 to arrive on our desks here at Barn Finds. The company produced a mere 1,225 examples of the 2+2, but our feature car takes this rarity to a new level. The owner claims that it is 1-of-200 Richard Petty Edition vehicles produced, and this one is in excellent condition. It is set to go to a new home, and increasing the temptation factor is the owner’s decision to offer it with No Reserve. It is located in New Baltimore, Michigan, and is listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $12,800, and with No Reserve in play, a new home is only days away for this classic Pontiac.

Whenever a vehicle manufacturer becomes involved in motorsport, it will tend to push the rules to the absolute limit. In this context, the 1980s saw turbocharged 1.5-liter Formula One engines churning out 1,500hp. In NASCAR it saw the advent of legendary vehicles like the Superbird a decade or more earlier. With tighter engine restrictions slowly reducing available power, manufacturers turned to aerodynamics to gain an advantage in NASCAR competition. A production bodyshell is possibly the worst vehicle to use in motorsport because its overall shape and design mean that these cars produce aerodynamic lift as speeds increase. That’s no problem when you’re cruising down the highway at 70mph, but when you charge into turn one at Daytona or Talladega at 200, you want your car firmly planted on the ground. Ford’s Thunderbird proved effective on these super speedways, but offerings from General Motors were less so. Chevrolet’s answer was the Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe, while Pontiac produced the Grand Prix 2+2. The Grand Prix featured a more aerodynamic nose and a bubble-back rear window that effectively directed air to a large rear spoiler. As a race car, it was an improvement over its predecessor. However, it did have its limitations as a road car. The enormous back window is fixed, meaning that the trunk lid is not much larger than a letterbox slot. Owners found it impossible to fit larger objects into the trunk, so the back seat was the only other option available in such cases. Our feature car is in excellent condition. Its two-tone Silver and Charcoal paint shows no evidence of issues or problems, while the distinctive red pinstripes are in good condition. The panels are laser straight, and the exterior and underside shots reveal that this classic is completely rust-free. It rolls on a set of spotless Rally II wheels, and the overall impression that this classic gives is highly positive. The owner claims that this Grand Prix is 1-of-200 Richard Petty Edition vehicles built for that model year. Finding information on this option is difficult, and it appears that it may have been a regional special. Limited data on the internet suggests that it was sold through dealerships in the southeast section of North America and equated to little more than some exterior decals to commemorate the legendary racer’s time behind the wheel of a Grand Prix. Of course, I am willing to be corrected on this if our readers have more information. I would welcome your input, as I’m always ready to learn.

While considered to fall under the banner of a muscle car, the Grand Prix 2+2 underwhelmed many potential owners. Its 305ci V8 engine produced a mere 165hp that found its way to the rear wheels via a 200-4R automatic transmission. This combination allowed the Grand Prix to cover the ¼ mile in 17 seconds. That figure was a long way from muscle car territory, but it is about what buyers tended to expect from a V8 during the 1980s. Our feature car appears to be in sound mechanical health. The owner says that the engine starts easily and feels powerful. The transmission shifts smoothly, and the Grand Prix tracks straight and true on the road. With brakes that feel strong, it appears that the car needs no mechanical attention. He indicates that it has a genuine 33,000 miles on the clock, but not whether he holds verifying information. The overall condition of this Pontiac seems to suggest that this claim could be plausible.

This Pontiac’s interior presents as nicely as the rest of the vehicle, but it does cause me to scratch my head slightly. Faults appear limited to some dirty marks on the carpet under the driver’s feet and some discoloring of the faux woodgrain above the glove compartment. The seats and other upholstered surfaces show no evidence of wear or physical damage, while the dash and leather-wrapped wheel appear perfect. There are no cracks or evidence of deterioration in the plastic trim. Although it may not be considered showroom fresh, this interior presents exceptionally well for a vehicle of this age. It is the combination of options that makes this car interesting. It features air conditioning, power windows, power locks, cruise control, and a tilt wheel. These options endow the Grand Prix with an air of luxury, so the original owner’s decision to make this a radio delete classic is unusual. I’m unsure what the logic was in this case, but I have seen one online resource that suggests that this may have been a standard practice with Richard Petty Edition vehicles. I have found no other evidence to clarify this, so it is an area where I may need to seek further input from our knowledgeable readers.

For many years, the 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 remained largely ignored in the classic market. However, times have changed, and values are climbing as a result. Our feature car presents exceptionally well, and has already attracted an impressive thirty-eight bids. There is time left on the listing, so there is scope for this to climb further. I won’t be surprised if it soars beyond $15,000, and if two or more people are seriously intent on this one, that figure could push past $20,000. This auction is worth watching closely. Of course, you may wish to take that a step further by submitting a bid.