Sometimes you end up with a car that you mostly like but you keep thinking, “What if it had just that one additional item that it doesn’t, then it would be perfect!” Most people suck it up and move on but some enterprising souls actually decide to have it their way and just add or convert, whatever is missing. And that’s exactly what happened with this ’67 Pontiac Grand Prix, which is located Bradford, Pennsylvania and available here on eBay for a current bid of $16,811, reserve not yet met.
The Grand Prix started out as Pontiac’s go-to performance car in 1962 when a full-size platform was where the action was. Similar in nature to the Impala SS or the Ford XL 500, the GP only came with a high-performance engine, no entry-level motors needed to apply. The Grand Prix presented an amalgam of performance, sportiness, and luxury. And as such, the Grand Prix utilized only a two-door hardtop body style, except for 1967, when a convertible was offered and 5,800 buyers said “yes”. After 1968, the Grand Prix shrunk as it moved from the full-size “B” platform to a stretched “A” platform.
Being a performance-oriented car, the Grand Prix offered a four-speed manual transmission from inception through mid-1971. Nevertheless, in spite of the Grand Prix’s muscular presentation, most purchasers opted for an automatic transmission. And that was the case with this ’67 GP convertible until the seller decided that a four-speed manual would be way more fun. So, he converted it, it’s that simple, right? He built what he wanted. But think about that for a minute, he had to acquire a flywheel, bell housing with yoke, throw-out bearing, clutch assembly, Z-bar and linkage, a transmission, a shifter, a manual transmission center console, probably a longer driveshaft, a clutch pedal assembly and more than likely, some other parts too. What a task! The job performed, from the interior perspective, shows as a factory installation. For power, the original 350 HP, 400 CI V8 is in place but it has undergone modification with twin four-barrel carburetors. The seller says that he has the parts to restore the engine back to its original configuration. The seller adds, “The engine runs like new and very powerful! The dual quads perform flawlessly! Both carbs are 600 CFM carter competition N.O.S.! NEW!!! NEVER REBUILT!!!” Adding the four-speed manual transmission to a one year only convertible body-style makes this Grand Prix pretty special.
The seller is pretty open about the exterior of his Grand Prix, “Not a trailer queen! But It still shines with most of its original lacquer paint. There are dings and touch up paint marks on this car. The quarters do have a little filler work done”. Perhaps so but the accompanying images depict a very straight and clean exterior with a deep finish. The convertible top, as best as can be spied, looks like new, no signs of splits or tears and it does have a glass backlight. Finally, the “428” fender badges are a misnomer; there was a plan to install a 428 engine but it never materialized.
The interior is in impeccable condition. The seller states, “Now, the interior is like brand new and smells it! No cracks in the steering wheel or anywhere! No wear! Just incredible for 53 years old! New carpet, floor mats and the convertible top just to name a few things”. It is definitely one of the nicest mid-late ’60s GM interiors that I have reviewed. Finally, the seller does admit that the gas gauge, radio, and reverse lights are inoperative – small items in the scheme of things (the manual transmission requires a wiring harness and switch that attaches to the driver’s side of the Muncie four-speed gearbox, as opposed to a switch that works off of the gear selector in automatic transmission applications).
Maybe this GP isn’t perfect but it is spectacular. The fact that the transmission isn’t original is of little concern, especially considering how well the conversion was implemented. The chances of finding another so equipped Grand Prix, original or modified, and a convertible to boot, are slim to non-existent, don’t you think.
Guess it was too far and hard to pull the car all the way out of the garage, which amounts to another 4 or 5 feet. Wow.😩
Swap the wire wheel covers for a set of Rallye II’s w/ chrome trim rings, fix gauges and lights, and CRUISE! GLWTA!! :-)
and hope you never have a minor fender bender. An insurance company will quickly render this a total loss after it investigates availability of replacement parts. Other than that, definitely a cool car, but not one that I would “drive”….
Thays not if you have proper insurance. There are several reputable insurance companies that only cover collectable cars.
Steve R
You must get high off lawn clippings man, I’d drive that drop top all day long!
Look around and you can find “agreed value” policies that let you drive as much as you like.
Or Pontiac 8 bolt turbine wheels…the ultimate look. Looks correct on all full-size Ponchos from 1960 to 1964.
Drove a 68 2+2 drop top with a 4 gear many moons ago. Yep 428 was a hard pulling motor in a big convertible, performance was really nice, think I was maybe 18 and yeah I could row the gears. This is sweet.
Are you sure about the model year? There was no 1968 2+2 in the US. There was a Canadian 2+2, but it would have had a Chevrolet engine.
This is my favorite Poncho, hidden headlights, finned turn signals, 4 spd, convertible, but I don’t care for the fender skirts. I love this car, I am a big guy and would love the room and the sound of this vehicle. If I had the dough it would be mine. Good luck to whoever buys it.
With ya on the skirts Vance, I can’t stand them. Otherwise, a neat car, love the added 4 speed, and that motor is gorgeous.
The skirts make it more of a sleeper. I like to call them “Manly Kilts” (Joking of course)
This same car was featured in May, 2019. Different photos, but they’re the same odd, half-out-of-the-garage style.
https://barnfinds.com/one-year-only-1967-grand-prix-convertible/
A legit 4-speed GP convertible was featured in February, 2019.
https://barnfinds.com/1-of-205-1967-pontiac-grand-prix-convertible/
I want another ’67 Grand Prix, but not a convertible.
Hopefully one day I will have another.
For the record, I love the fender skirts and the wire hub caps, just as it came from the factory.
This was not a little boys racer car, it was a mans luxury racer.
I guess the “little boys” racer cars was my 67 GTO convertible which outsold these cool GP convertibles by a significant number.
We didn’t want to drive our mothers or are fathers cars.
God, what great ride ! ! ! I love it. Later………………………..JIMMY
My late FIL had one in the late ’80s but
his was pretty ragged out when he got
it though. His car was similar to this one
with the respect that somewhere in its
life, his car was converted from a 4-speed to a T400 auto instead. That fire
breathing 428 was there, but all the fun
was gone when some misguided owner
swapped the M-22 for the auto before
Pop bought the car. He wanted to keep
it, but the cost of repairing it himself was too high. He wound up trading it for
a van in ’87 and I never saw it again. Sure wished I could’ve bought it.
They didn’t come with M-22’s…but sounds like a cool car, nonetheless. They came with a Muncie M-20.
Pontiac nailed it with those slat style tail lights on many models.
To a Pontiac man, 428 is like the ultimate, so it’s not, and I’d need that motor and Power Windows and a/c to have the car I want, so just get me a 69 Bonneville on convertible same colors w all the options and a 428, w automatic and that’s my dream car
Why Are the nice ones always white. I would want to switch the top to a black top although the existing one appears to be good shape so knowing me I would probably learn to live with it. Really like this year.
Picking a few nits, Jim, the big, top dog Ford was the 500 XL, not the other way around. Late in the Sixties, it was called just a XL. As far as “Similar in nature to the Impala SS… the GP only came with a high-performance engine…”, you could get an SS with a 250 six cylinder. Don’t think Ford ever stooped that low.
Yet another person who thinks they have something so good that they cannot even take good pictures of it and pull it out of the garage and park it somewhere nice to get good pictures of it! New meaning of “garage kept” What are you hiding’?
It’s cool for sure! But I can’t for the life of me figure out who, when at the dealership, would choose this over a GTO. I know. Different strokes for different folks. History backs me up though.
Full-size performance models preceded the mid-sized muscle car by several years. So there was still a market for them in 1967, albeit a quickly declining one. The Oldsmobile Starfire vanished after 1966. The Grand Prix became a mid-sized personal luxury car after 1968. The Impala SS made it through 1969 but did not continue into the ’70s. The Buick Wildcat soldiered on through 1970, when it became the Centurion, which was more luxury than sport.
I hear what you’re saying, but not everyone could afford payments AND insurance on a GTO.
Let me tell you, I was a kid in 1969, New York, The Beatles and the Stones were on the radio, GTOs were everywhere, but the guys who were just a little older, had a few more dollars, and still listened to the 4 seasons had Luxury on they’re minds, alas my neighbors fiancée who’s family owned a big Sunoco station in Queens, he had the insight to order a fully loaded 69 428 Bonneville with every option known to man, a/c tilt power windows factory 8 track on the floor, car was a 390 hp luxury cruiser that could smoke its both rear Pontiac wheels for a block, and even with its girth, put away quite a few muscle cars of the day, and when he was done, he would close his 4 power windows, put his a/c on, and have his girl sit real close on that beautiful black vinyl bench seat, I never owned anything but luxury muscle in my life, not to go 2 seconds faster and sweat
The GM full-size performance variants getting some love. We’ve had a Prix and several ‘Cats. Where are the Starfires?
The ONLY fender skirts I like are ones that have legs attached!🥳
These cars are one of the most beautiful looking to ever roll off an assembly line. It’s like a big brother GTO. With a 428 and a manual transmission, fender skirts, great color combination and one year only convertible, It’s a shame that Pontiac is no longer with us.
Agreed