Some enthusiasts are forced to search far and wide for the classic of their dreams, but that wasn’t the case with the seller and this 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix SE. They merely vaulted the fence, purchasing the car from their neighbor, who was its first owner. They have enjoyed this beauty and the luxury that it offers, doing a sterling job of preserving this classic. The time has come for the Grand Prix to head to greener pastures, with the seller listing it here on eBay in Mentor, Ohio. They set their BIN at $9,500 with the option to make an offer.
The Grand Prix formed part of the backbone of Pontiac’s model range from 1962 until 2008, with the company unveiling eight generations before production ended. Our feature Sixth Generation example left the factory in 1996, with the first owner electing to cloak its exterior in Code 41 Black. It appears to have led a sheltered existence because its paint shines like a mirror, and there is no history of repairs or restoration. The panels are laser-straight, and the plastic looks excellent. The seller doesn’t mention the presence of rust, and I can’t spot anything in the supplied images to suggest that there might be hidden surprises. The polished 16″ wheels are free from stains and physical damage, and the tinted glass is crystal clear.
The first owner emphasized the luxurious feel of this classic’s interior by selecting some desirable options. Standard equipment included a pair of airbags, air conditioning, power windows, and power locks. To this list, they added a leather-wrap option for the tilt wheel and shifter, cruise control, and the range-topping Delco AM/FM radio/CD player with a graphic equalizer and eight speakers. The driver’s seat exhibits slight wear and stretching, but that’s as bad as the news gets inside this beauty. The remaining trim is excellent, the dash and pad are spotless, and there are no aftermarket additions.
The original Grand Prix had been V8-only territory, but much had changed by the time this SE left the factory in 1996. Its engine bay houses a 3.1-liter V6 that sends its power to the front wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission. Power assistance for the steering and brakes was standard fare, and although the power and torque figures of 160hp and 185 ft/lbs might sound relatively modest, the Grand Prix proved capable of performing competently under most circumstances. The seller confirms that this SE has a genuine 35,500 miles showing on its odometer, and the known history means that the figure may be verifiable. It recently received new brakes and tires. The car was sitting on its original tires until the change was made, and this was prompted more by their age than their wear level. It was a safety call, but the seller will include the originals if the buyer wants them. Otherwise, this Pontiac is ready to hit the road with a new owner behind the wheel.
This 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix SE is a stunning vehicle, and the seller’s decision to preserve this classic allows it to stand out in any crowd. There is little that warrants criticism, although some readers may view the BIN figure as its greatest weakness. It is well above the market average, but it is worth noting that the price isn’t unprecedented. The Listing View and Watch List tallies are fairly modest, suggesting that it hasn’t struck a chord with potential buyers. However, it only takes one person for this Grand Prix to find a new home. Do you believe it will happen, or will compromise need to form part of the current owner’s sales strategy?
Bring your old case of favorite cds 💿 , turn up the Delco stereo 🎚🎛🎶 put the air conditioning on, and head out on the highway 🌞
Quote of the day “The tinted glass is crystal clear”. Seriously this is a nice Pontiac and if it was an SSEI Bonneville I might jump on it.
Low miles but this car is like a disposable Bic lighter.
I had a 1998 GTP same color scheme, great car I drove to around 150,000 miles.
A “classic”, really? This car is in excellent shape considering that it’s nearly 30 years old, but I remember these as being dime-a-dozen BMW substitutes.
Son had a couple of these back in the days. If I remember correctly these had a plastic intake manifold that we fought with. Other than that it was like mentioned by Dave it was like a disposable Bic lighter later on.
That was the 3.8 Buick motor, this is the Chevy. Still leaked, though!
Looks very sharp in black. Wish I had one today.
I had a dark green ’96 GTP with the 3.4 DOHC engine and all the bells and whistles including the HUD. Loved that car. Was very reliable until the timing belt snapped on I-95 one night on my way home. Long (LONG!!) story short, the kid driving the flat-bed tow truck failed to block the wheels and I watched in horror as it rolled off the back and came crashing down, putting a very obvious bend in the roof.
I might give about $4k for this but beyond that it’s a disposable car even if it is in good shape!
I had a 94 GP that we bought brand new. Best car I ever owned, we had no real trouble with it at all until we started having problems with the power window on the driver’s side. We replaced everything but the glass, still had problems with it going up and down in the Winter. Finally sold it with 265,000 miles on it. That car definitely paid for itself and then some.
My brother had a red car very similar to this,although once these type and or types of cars get a lot mileage the seem to wear out pretty bad as he had to sell his beloved car because it was harder to upgrade and or repair because once he got few miles on it if was more costly in repairs than he could afford.
I had a 2000 Grand Prix GTP. It had the 3.8 supercharged motor in it. It was very reliable and fun to drive. I got 338,000 miles out of it and the cam shaft broke in two. I than bought a 2002 Bonneville GTP. It wasn’t nearly the car the Grand Prix was. The supercharger snout bearing went out. I had a heck of a time finding some one to fix it. After it was fixed it was never the same car so I sold it.
I bought a new 96 black on black with the polished wheels. Loved the look it ended up being bought back on the lemon law because of the antilock brakes. I drove it 35000 miles and it only cost me 1500 dollars. I’d love another one but not at that price