Whenever someone claims that manufacturers don’t make enough “fun” cars, pointing out that vehicles like this turbocharged 1990 Pontiac Grand Prix ASC McLaren actually exist is a good counterpoint. While it doesn’t make a ton of sense as to why Pontiac made this car, it’s at least solid evidence that manufacturers will, on occasion, build something that makes little sense other than stoking the coals of our cold, gearhead hearts. This particular ASC-modified Grand Prix is still fairly new in the wrapper with just over 3,000 miles from new. Find it here on Facebook Marketplace for $18,500.
The sixth-generation Grand Prix was already a significant car in Pontiac’s lineup for this wild combination of brands and features came to life. The design was one of the more compelling creations to come out of GM’s design studio, and truly established Pontiac as the division capable of combining performance and luxury. The 80s and 90s-era styling cues were on full display here with the grid-style, smoked taillights, gold-painted mesh wheels, exaggerated exhaust finishers, and monochromatic exterior. The ASC team worked their magic with the already attractive exterior, adding generous fender flares and a unique body kit.
But it wasn’t just ASC that was involved here; McLaren was also involved, hence the ASC/McLaren moniker. While ASC handled the aerodynamics, McLaren added a turbocharger to the larger 3.1L V6, churning out 205 horsepower routed through the front wheels via a 4-speed automatic transmission. No manual was offered, which would have made this car infinitely cooler, but it’s still pretty incredible even with the slushbox. Now, it was capable of reaching 60 miles per hour in about 7 seconds and would run out to a top speed of just under 130 miles per hour.
Mechanically-speaking, the ASC cars also benefited from a revised suspension that was firmed up for sportier handling. The interior were wild, featuring four bucket seats, often in some version of camel/tan leather set off by ridiculously generous side bolsters. The Grand Prix also had the iconic “button bonanza” steering wheel with all sorts of controls jammed right under the driver’s nose via the horn pad. This is a very trick piece of 1980s/90s engineering, and if the Buick GNX is too hard to find or simply out of the budget, this rare Grand Prix ASC/McLaren is a worthy stand-in. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the tip.
A manual was offered in both 89 and 90. I had an ’89 and my mother had the ’90. The McLaren may not have offered it which is a shame.
I have a 89 ASC/Turbo with 50 thousand miles. I question some parts of the 3000 miles on this one. First there are no full pictures of the front seats, what we do see is of the drivers seat is cracked/wore out. I have zero cracks on mine, also look how dirty the drivers carpet is. The picture of the undercarriage/cradle area show a lot more than 3000 miles. The package tray is completely faded, the headlights have been replaced in one picture but not another, the fog lights are too cloudy…etc. I could go one but I’m sure you all don’t want me on a tangent. The paint and wheels do show well.
Why not the 3800 Turbo motor? The fact this had the 3.1 and an automatic, sort of defeats the “performance” purpose. At least it looks the part. And 3k miles? Ummmm..by the looks of the driver’s seat, it doesn’t have a whole lot of miles, but certainly a lot more than 3k.
3800 was not available until the next generation starting in ’97, and could be had with a supercharger, not a turbo. This iteration’s top motor would be the 3.4 liter DOHC available in the GTP trim.
Well why not the 3.8 then in turbo-charged form? Buick GNX gear? GM was long-since cross-platforming engines. That car only has two-thirds of the performance its looks say it should have.
Likely because it was not configured for or certified for the front wheel drive W-platform at the time (W1). The 3.8 SFI turbo motor was only ever used in longitudinal RWD applications and there probably would’ve been a lot of reengineering to get the turbo and intercooler set up right in this transversal FWD car. And I can’t even imagine what the torque steer would have been like on that!
Pontiac would go on to make a few more performance cars like the reborn GTO and the G8, but this was peak Pontiac in the 90s. I liked these FWD or not, they had smart proportions and a low stance. I wonder if those steering wheels were prone to breaking buttons though. The body kit and hood louvers are dare I say, tasteful, compared to what else Pontiac was doing at the time, like the Aztec.
I think if the Aztec had been offered with a turbo-charged or even super-charged motor, people would have different things to say about it.
Which reminds me of these renderings of an Aztek done up in Bandit Trans Am style, screaming chicken on the hood and all:
https://www.motortrend.com/news/pontiac-aztek-firebird-trans-am-mashup-render
I was a young guy when these came out. I always admired the job GM did in the design studio making the Buick Regal, Olds Cutlass, and Pontiac Grand Prix look different. I think the Grand Prix is my favorite. This one looks great. I’m not sure about the mileage claim, anyone would have to look in person, the exterior looks phenomenal from what I can tell, and I always liked the rear bucket seats, making this a true 2+2. As far as why not for the 3.8 turbo? I don’t think GM had a front drive trans setup that could hold up to all of that power. But that’s just my opinion.
I have owned a couple of these era Grand Prix’s. The first was an ’88 that was a great car. Reliable as an anvil, great gas mileage and a comfortable cruiser.
The only drawback the the ungodly torque-steer. When you had your foot nailed to the floor from a dead stop, the shift between 1st and 2nd gear would make the car, for lack of a better description, corkscrew HARD. It wouldn’t cause you to lose control but if you weren’t expecting it, it was bad.
The next was a ’91 or ’92 I think, and it had the same 3.1 as the 88 but Pontiac had largely figured out the torque steer issue. It was still there, but not nearly as violent.