The Pontiac Grand Prix by itself may not be the world’s most collectible car, but with the right options, it can be an intriguing entry into “luxury couch” ownership. These are comfortable cars built for cruising if nothing else; back in the day, my mother drove one as her everyday transportation. Our family’s was nothing like the one shown here on eBay which is loaded up with a variety of rare and desirable factory upgrades.
The original owner of this Grand Prix had to have special-ordered this very uniquely-equipped Grand Prix. Given this was a model that most people – like my mother – ordered just as a basic means of transportation, checking the boxes for a variety of “sporting” options likely didn’t happen all that often. In addition to the LJ trim, this Grand Prix is one of 6,000 equipped with the optional four-barrel V8 engine.
Mileage is just under 70,000 and the listing indicates it has been looked after since new. Even in the years when it wasn’t used very much, the Grand Prix has been kept in heated indoor storage. Washington State, where the Pontiac is located, has historically been a very kind region to vintage tin, so it’s not much of a surprise that this rare Grand Prix still looks as good as it does. That interior is quite eye-catching, and I am digging those inserts in the door panels.
It’s amazing how a set of wheels can transform a car, and this Grand Prix is equipped with a rare set of optional OEM cast aluminum honeycomb wheels. Paired with the burnt orange exterior, these gold-painted accessory rollers look fantastic and transform the Grand Prix from stodgy to sporting. The bidding has reached $8,000 and there’s no reserve; my guess is it will clear $10,000 before the end of the auction.
I remember all the guys at work wanted these in ’78
I think the first stop the new owner should make is at a tire store, since I don’t think Michelin has made that tire for about twenty years.
Still got a 301. But nice car78 gp
Noticing how much it looks like a Dat. cardboard copy of the previous generation. That front is squared off and flat like the designer left his of her French curve at home that day. That said, I still love it.
I had a ’78 Grand Prix. My first car that I financed. A beautiful piece of junk. The 301 couldn’t get out of it’s own way. But I did learn how GM cut corners to get every penny out of their sales.
My dad had a new one in ‘78 and loved that Pontiac.
A high school buddy’s mom drove one of these. I always liked the brushed aluminum gauge faces and was intrigued by the new (at the time), and super-soft foam-backed knit headliner. Of course after having to redo several of them, I’ve grown to despise those headliners.
It’s a beautiful surviving example of a 1978 Pontiac Gran Prix. I like it. Some people really liked them while some people felt let down, they were just too small. The new 1978 mid sized cars had mixed reviews. I think the Oldsmobile Cutlass, Buick Regal and Chevy Malibu had the best success with the new designs. The Gran Prix and Chevy Monte Carlo not as much. But – the Pontiac Gran Prix had the BEST dashboard design. This Gran Prix should sell for a nice price, it’s a great car. Not many left. Good luck to the new owner! Nice article too.
We had a VERY nice LJ with the gauges. For all those that said these cars were “all the same” as comparison to that crappy Monte Carlo dash that looked like the instrument cluster was a bolted on afterthought, the Grand Prix was superb. Plus the power window switches placed in the armrest like the previous models, rather than slapped on the door panel, just stiff like that. That SJ with those camel colored leather buckets, the honeycomb wheels and that sport 3 spike brushed aluminum steering wheel was…. gorgeous compared to the MC, Cutlass and Regal.
Plus those cornering lights weren’t very common, almost rare, and a nice added touch. Very functional if you don’t live in an urban area too. All cars should have them.
Didn’t this more boxy downsized family of GM cars & also the downsized boxy family of big cars, like the impala for the later 70’s actually have more room inside than their bulbous ’73-’78/’77 predecessors?
I had a ‘79 SJ, black with red velour bucket seat interior, T tops, Tach and gauges, 301 4 barrel, handling package with posi, snowflake wheels, absolutely loaded. It was well used when I bought it, but still looked good and was about as cool as it got in the late ‘70s – early ‘80s. When I put it up for sale I had people practicality fighting over it
These cars were the vehicle to have in the late 70’s. They looked especially appealing in late evening with all lights blazing. The instrument panels are works of industrial art. I purchased my sisters car that her ex special ordered for her. It was silver with blue interior and garnered compliments everywhere it went. I enjoyed it so much it wore out and was driven to auto junk yard. Wish I had kept it.
Pontiac should have thrown all of the 301s into these and kept them out of the T/A.
Too bad the T-Tops or sunroof wasn’t added to the options list
exactly
These were well known for rear frame rail rot, as were all of the mid size metric chassis GM cars , but this cars location probably means this cars frame escaped that .
I dont know if it was a special ordered car , a dealership would likely have a few loaded cars in their line, just to show off how great the new downsized cars were. This one could have easily been in the dealerships showroom !
Gear boxes would rot off the frame in my salt climate.Saw it more then once.
Guy next door to our repair shop who worked at the foundry had a dark blue one with a tan vinyl 1/2 top with Pontiac mags and 301 with one of those quadra jets that was the same size as a q-jet but the secondaries were cast over by Rochester.So essentially it was a 2bbl.He had intermittent dieing out until it finally wouldn’t start.Was a broken wire inside the distributor on the pick up under the rotor that would rotate with engine load via vacume advance .Cool car I always liked the body style.301 not so much but still wasn’t a bad engine. Ahh memories of 35 +years ago .
Bought one new off showroom in 78. It started falling apart on way home. Showed 45 on freeway while in fast lane passing everything. Speedo was 45 mph slow. Dealer rebuilt engine at 7,000 miles due to no oil pressure. Got it back Friday and traded in Saturday. My short ownership was just “new day, new problem.”
As a teenager working at a Wendys, one of my favorite managers bought a ’79 new , the 2nd in that body style and it was all black, interior and exterior with a beautiful styled factory wheel that set off the look. I got a kick out of driving it sometimes. My father had owned beautiful early to mid 60’s models of Grand Prix’s when I was growing up. Fond memories
Oh yes those are the good looking ones!
Saw a 78 GP at a supermarket parking lot. T-tops and a stick on the floor. The base was a small V-6 with a 3-speed floor shift. don’t think this would have been a V-6 as it had the windows and locks. ugly gold color. I always thought the honeycomb wheels were “color keyed” to body color. Saw a T/A in black with black on the honeycombed wheels. “Bandit” model owner restyled? I do know that from 78-80 you could get a 4-speed with a 350 in a Camaro, since they came down the same line, why couldn’t somebody order a t/A w/ 350 & 4-speed option? I did new car make ready and used car detail at a Chevy dealer in Edmond Okla. back about ’80, before moving to Austin, Tx. had several new Camaros’ come in with the optional T/A seats, can’t think of the name but had it embroidered in the headrest. Had to set them to the side, and wait on seats to come in, wrong seats went in the dumpster.
I had a burgundy ’78 Grand Prix in high school and I kept it for 2 years. It rode like a big car but it was small enough to maneuver much easier than my mom’s ’76 Bonneville. The 301 V-8 in mine wasn’t built very well and the lifters ticked and I had rod knock. Heavy 20w50 oil cured that problem and kept it quiet. Mine had the column shift like this car and it had to be in just the right place in drive or it wouldn’t shift into 3rd gear. I had it repainted and sold it because I needed the money for college. Although it wasn’t the best built car I’ve had, it sure was a joy to drive!
By the time these were 8 to 10 years old we couldn’t scrap them fast enough. In an old photo right next to the office is a sky blue t top one. None of these did much for me. If your a 20 something rocking a 59 Impala convertible or a 70s Eldorado convertible these were crap. Parts sold well as do most newer things in the bone business. Once the 90s hit. These and every other 70s and 80s car had pressing engagements. The dashes were unique in these as Pontiac held its 60s roots. Tough times for cars, plastics that turned to power, vacuum hose monsters underhood but creature comfy velours that still look good and wear like nails on the survivors today.
Fond memories of my first car. Just graduated from high school, Daddy helped with the loan, $3000. Nobody wanted it the salesman said so I got it. Little did I know what was under the hood until many many years later. A big old ’66 Pontiac Catalina 2 Dr coupe. The surprise? 389 4 bbl. This baby lasted me 17 years until time chain went. Now I drive a pathetic 2011 Hyundai. 14 recalls so far.
I bought a 78 grand prix with a blown 301 in it . Put a 400 in it with a 400 trany behind it , with a new back axel that could handle the tork . She was fun to drive for alot of years . This one is in nice shape . I hope the new owner enjoys it .