Pontiac’s Grand Prix certainly had staying power; in production from 1962 to 2008, its mission stayed remarkably consistent for a good portion of its run. It was a personal luxury coupe with an extra helping of sportiness, and buyers (usually) responded. In 1977, the last year of the “big” Grand Prix, 288,430 were sold, including this 28,994-mile “SJ,” which was the most expensive trim level in the Grand Prix line. Barn Finder Curvette is always busy sending us great cars like this Grand Prix, which he found on Hemmings.com in Channahon, Illinois, with an asking price of $22,800.
The story behind the car is this: It was sold new in Waterloo, Iowa, where the original owner (and a family member or two) drove it sparingly before trading it in (!) in 1998. The car has since had several owners, all of whom have kept its mileage low.
The sporty “SJ” variant was the most expensive in the Grand Prix line, with a base price of $5,742. That extra money over the basic $5,108 Grand Prix got the SJ buyer a standard 180-horsepower 400 instead of a 301, a very good upgrade. This example also has the $521 “Custom Air Conditioning” option, in addition to cruise control. Aside from a new alternator and water pump, the engine is original, but it does have “an engine oil leak that drips to [the] floor.” In my opinion, small drips are OK, large ones are not, but it could be something as innocuous as a valve cover gasket. It’s worth a question to the owner.
Pontiac’s interiors were always a step or two above their competition (on the whole); their gauge packages were more complete, their seating a little sportier, their consoles more rakish. The 1977 Grand Prix was no exception, with woodgrain trim, comfy-looking bucket seats, and an angled console that somehow looks just right.
The seller includes a window sticker from Pontiac Historical Services (PHS is a great resource for Pontiac owners), and it shows how its plethora of options bloated the base price of this Grand Prix to $8,115.65 out the door. In addition to the aforementioned options, this car has power windows, a sunroof, landau top, tilt steering wheel, and even “Special Paint.”
The seller says that the special paint is a color called “Carolina Blue,” but from what I can gather, that color was generally ordered by North Carolina dealers to commemorate the University of North Carolina, and that was a long drive from Iowa. Who knows, perhaps the original owner was a UNC alumnus; perhaps a Pontiac-loving reader can fill us in on the color in the comment section.
I point this out regularly, but the paint on this car is clearly (mostly) original (and this has been verified by the seller) because the front clip has faded slightly differently from the rest of the body, which was painted separately at the Fisher Body plant. There have been some touch ups, and there is one small spot of rust on the driver’s quarter panel, but this is a great-looking original that runs and drives well (according to the ad), and if you like the 1973-77 version of the Grand Prix, it’s about as well-optioned as you’ll find.
I thought these were the best looking of the GP’s, I liked the square headlamps which is strange as I liked the round headlamp example better in the Chrysler Córdoba. This thing is gorgeous, and the bucket seats and 400ci V-8 are definite pluses.
I had a 77 triple black, bucket seats and a sunroof. I wonder if it is still on the road? Great color and pricey.
Nice pillowey seats!! compared to todays hard ass seats!!!
In 70s terms, the mechanical malaise was at full boogey by ’77, and it’s the only thing that was wrong with these cars. This example looks especially nice. Since the engine is leaking petroleum anyway (taking its revenge against the EPA), it’s just begging for an LS swap (or even an older 400 if it’ll go) post haste. That’s what I’d do for it .
A 455 will slip right in and no one is the wiser until the loud pedal is actuated. I used to work for the satellite location for the worlds largest (vehicles sold) Pontiac dealership. (While in college) One day in 1974 while transporting cars back and forth between locations. I ended up driving the owner’s Grand Prix. I have no idea what engine was it. And no one would talk about it. So I suspect that it wasn’t smog legal. Because it was a rocket! Faster than any 400HO or 455SD I ever drove! Plus,it handled great! It as a very pleasurable 30 minute drove down the interstate! (usually 45 -60 minutes!) Luckily, it was a light traffic day on the Edens Expressway!
Nice lines on these GPs 👍🏁
Nice clean car. Maybe someone from Chapel Hill will buy it. Now if it were Wolfpack RED…
The only other GM car I’ve seen in this faint lt. blue color are `77 Vettes. It’s beautiful and unusual. Nice clean GP! GLWTA!
in my alternate reality Jim Rockford drives a Grand Prix not a Firebird…
Juat beautiful. I had a silver 77 SJ with 30 options including Hurst Hatches. Never shpukd have sold it.
I had cutlasses, 75, 77 and 79. Looking back I wish I had leased Grand Prixs. GM was good about special paint back then, my 79 was painted bright blue, from pontiac firebird trans ams. Wish I still had my 77 or a 77 Grand Prix.
Gorgeous GP. Unique color. I have no connection to UNC (and also a Duke basketball fan at that), but I admit I like the color. ’76-’77 are the best looking GPs. This is nice example. 400 makes it a great cruiser, not a stoplight brawler of course, as intended. Fair ask, will probably sell for a slight bit less in this market.
Nice Car! Sadly, in 76-77, the SJ no longer included a rear sway bar unless you ordered the F41 suspension (absent on this car), giving a more comfortable but less sporty ride.
Almost 50 years old and still looks better than anything made today!!
Beautiful car! The best of the day 400 V8, the classic long hood styling, the bucket seat interior that complimented the attractive exterior paint job and the Rally II wheels are fantastic features. I owned a 1974 Grand Prix and briefly a 1976 model. Too bad about the oil leak but hopefully someone who is mechanically inclined and willing to spend money will fix it.
NICE!!!!!! The price is in-line for what they are selling for, and in fact a little low. I hope who every buys it will take care of it as it has been. I have owned 3 0f these since 1983, and have one now that’s just had a re-paint in Glacier blue with a new white landau, same interior as this one. This is cheaper than what I have in mine, parts are impossible to fine and outrageous in price. I would surly buy it if not already having one and be to the good on $$$$. JB
i have been watching this for months on Hemmings. nice G/P need the right buyer for this car. maybe a live in person auction would be the place to sell this
OK I’m going to say it. That color does not look right on this car. I know I’m in the minority but it looks like a mistake. Put a crate 350 engine in it too after repainting it something else. That color interior doesn’t look much better.
Fox, I agree with you on the color to me almost any car painted this color looks cheap! Back in 77 I had a 75 triple black one which looked rich next to this!