Land Yacht: 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville Convertible

Few things say mid-1970s Detroit quite like a full-size convertible with the top down and nearly 19 feet of car stretching out in front of you. This 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville Brougham convertible is finished in light blue and rides on wire wheel covers with whitewall tires. It is offered by Putnam Auto Sales in Carmel, New York, and the asking price is $19,999. The car has been listed for about seven weeks, and you can find it here on Facebook Marketplace. Zen found this listing and we appreciate him sending it to us. This example is sporting a nice dent in the passenger door.

Pontiac introduced the Grand Ville for 1971 as its top-of-the-line full-size car, and it was offered as a sedan, hardtop coupe and convertible, with a wagon added in 1973. From 1973 through 1975, the Grand Ville was Pontiac’s only full-size convertible. For 1975, the car became the Grand Ville Brougham and gained more standard equipment, including power windows and a carpeted trunk. Convertible production never topped 5,000 cars in any year, and 1975 was the most plentiful year with 4,519 built because buyers knew it was the last. Pontiac built 27,652 Grand Ville Broughams in all for 1975. The Grand Ville name was dropped after 1975, and it would be several years before Pontiac offered another convertible.

Standard power in 1975 came from a 400 cubic inch V8 with a four-barrel rated at 185 horsepower, and buyers could step up to a 455 rated at 200 horsepower. Both were backed by a Turbo Hydramatic automatic. The convertible rode on a 123.4-inch wheelbase and stretched 226 inches long. Paint choices included Starlight Black and a range of blues, greens and earth tones popular in the mid 1970s, and convertible buyers could choose a white or black power top.

This Grand Ville is finished in light blue and appears to have a white top that is folded down in the photos. The listing describes the interior as white, and the car has power windows. The dealer says it runs well with no issues and has a clean title. The listing shows 76,000 miles, but the dealer’s business page mentions 116,000 miles, so a buyer will want to check the odometer and ask for the VIN. The listing does not say whether it has the 400 or the 455. From the photos, the body looks straight, and the chrome bumpers and trim look to be in good shape. The big Pontiac convertibles of the 1970s were built for cruising, not racing, and they still turn heads at any car show. Would you rather cruise in this Grand Ville or a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible?