Two years before the GTO made history as what some call the “first muscle car” (motor from a full-sized car jammed in a mid-size), full-sized rides like the Grand Prix carried the performance flag for Pontiac. This 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix in Malabar, Florida (south of Daytona) looks super-plain in black, especially with the matte silver bumpers. Blacked-out 8-lug wheels add a menacing look, and the 428 cid V8 and four-speed manual transmission guarantee hostility on demand. Neither running nor driving condition grace the listing here on Craigslist, but the oh-so-scenic parking lot photo shoot suggests it runs. Thanks to reader Matt R. for spotting this all-business bruiser. The asking price of $36,500 demands either a highly functional or a highly original classic. Which do you prefer?
One look at the nondescript 428 reveals that originality is out the window. Not a problem! The fuel-injection style metal filter and pressure gauge suggest a possible aftermarket throttle-body injection system. Is that a return line? If you really want to find out, the seller, Charlie, awaits “happy to answer questions.” While the pictures seem to have been taken with a cell phone from the late ’90s, we don’t need high resolution to know those finned valve covers look great.
Power steering and power brakes ease the driving chores, and few cars brought more style than mid-’60s GMs. Check out that rear styling, how the bumper joins forces with the quarters to frame the rocket-thruster tail lights. The slight forward rake suggests a willingness to throw down hard and disturb the peace.
Acres of chrome announce the Grand Prix’s upscale position. I’m not sure if Pontiac offered this fabric, but you could definitely get an interior with matching material on seats and doors. Aftermarket gauges provide auxiliary telemetry. This big black beauty looks cruise-ready! Speaking of blackness, hopefully air conditioning helps offset the inky sun-absorbing paint on this Sunshine State Poncho. Would you change anything on this (presumably) turn-key classic?
I want! Nice car, 4 speed in a GP is rare (guessing)
14,900 miles on ODO. Give or take, a LOT of 1/4 mile runs…what a sound that mill must make…
29,800 quarter-mile passes, and 29,800 trips back to the burnout box.
Fuel injection? Looks like a basic Holley dual feed 4 barrel carburetor.
Thanks Tony – My eyes are not what they used to be but I thought about that later… the “Double Pumper” would have two inlets. I was recently looking at a comparison of carb-style EFI units so that was on my mind. Happy motoring!
every Holley with dual FEED isn’t necessarily a “double pumper”, many are vacuum secondaries – a MUCH better carb for street use
I guess one needs 2 people to adjust that exterior mirror? – else a lot of trial & error. Could one instead order a mirror on the door itself?
Are the wheel lug nuts supposed to be open ended?
I would think power windows are quite rare with this motor & trans.
The mirror on the fender is a remote mirror. Door mount mirrors were manual. HIDEOUS interior ‘update’!
While this ’62 appears to have the remote mirror option Pontiac didn’t necessarily mount manual mirror(s) on the door. I’ve probably seen just as many early 60s Pontiacs with fender-mounted manual mirror. My very own ’64 Bonnie has its driver side OE manual mirror on its fender (PHS doc’d car + door shows no signs of being welded inside) – while there were holes in the passenger door for a period non-OE mirror that came with it when I got it! 😣
While correct the fender is a goofy place to have a mirror and in my experience binoculars are necessary to observe properly…
The manual mirror was intended for mount on the door. They were often dealer installed (or by the owner) and they COULD have been installed in any location the owner wanted. OSRV mirrors weren’t standard until the 66 model year, except on some high end cars. The use of the dual fender mount mirrors was more common in 59 & 60, not so much from then on. However, Pontiac continued with the fender mount remotes through 64. They also had matching non-remote right mirrors available from 62-64. I owned a 62 GP with the remote and matching right side mirrors and hated them. Impossible to view traffic with any degree of certainty. Somewhat the same as a 64 Imperial I drove, but those were closer and larger. Olds also their remote mirror on the fender in 63/4. Ridiculous location which didn’t help the styling at all either.
It has acorn style closed end lug nut’s. ( OMG- no AC– run away. LOL. ) As other’s have rightfully said, LIGHTEN UP!!! Look’s like a FUN car to me.
Well there’s no way this is, was or could ever be a “highly original classic”. To start with Pontiac didn’t offer the 428 until 1967. In 62 Pontiac’s two available V8’s were the 389 and 421. This car never came with a 428, so I have to wonder if it’s really a factory 4 speed car too?
It looks a like a put together car to me, with rattle can silver bumpers, and rattle can black 8 bolt wheels, likely because it costs a lot to rechrome those. The 62 Pontiacs had a really attractive interior, which is reproduced, yet this car has a cheap ugly replacement interior. What are the chances it’s had a quick scuff and shoot resale paint job too? I don’t see any sign of air conditioning, and as Tony Primo pointed out, that’s just your run off the mill Holley.
I love early 60’s Pontiac and Chevrolet big cars, but for the asking price, there are nicer cars out there.
i agee would have come wit 389 or 421 only two options in 1962
Yep. I had an original ’62 GP, 389 Tripower, Slimjim automatic. This car is VERY not original.
Thanks for you comment and knowledge! (My granny had one of these in gold.) To be able to learn more about the cars by those who know the facts is always appreciated.
You are correct! I was trying to recall the 428 it was 421 for Pontiac and they did have a 4 speed tranny. Myfriend had a 60 Bonnie with a 389 4 speed from the factory.
gbvette62 said it all.
gbvette62, my thoughts exactly! You beat me to the punch on everything. Not that it is a bad thing, but the master cylinder was upgraded from the original “single” master. I think the fuzzy pictures are on purpose to hide the flaws. Yes, it looks great in the photos, (and at 50 feet and 50 MPH) but I suspect it was “refurbished” on the cheap. As evidenced by what JoeNYWF64 said about the lug nuts. (Rattle can painted bumpers, 8 lug wheels painted, (Come on at least polish the outer rims!) Low rise (stock?) intake, and various other “cheapie” items are not worth the price. Is it a cool looking cruiser? Yes! Would it fun to drive? Yes! (even if it is a stock 428) Would it gather attention at the next cars and coffee? YES! Is it worth the kind of money asking NO! My impression is that the seller found a factory 4 speed and and 1967 Executive and merged the 2. That’s ok, I may have done the same thing. But I don’t believe that the builder/seller knows anything about Pontiacs OR is counting on a buyer that knows nothing about Pontiacs. (If I built the car, I would not be advertising the fact that it has a 428 since they never came in that car.)
50 feet or 50 mph? I have an image of this puppy circling the high banks and blasting the front straight at nearby Daytona International Speedway.
When did Pontiac install a 428 c.i. Engine the largest that this one can remember them ever advertising was a 421 c.i., but maybe I was asleep at some point and missed that upgrade ??
Also, no wires to the electric choke can be seen in the picture.
i agee would have come wit 389 or 421 only two options in 1962
OLGYRENE, As gbvette, pointed out, 428 did not exist until1967. The only other engine option of 1962 (besides the 389) was the 421. Which I believe only came as the SD (Super Duty) spec. Since we are in a Pontiac history discussion. A Catalina 421SD were very rare. Built for drag racing the cars came with aluminum fenders, hoods and doors(?). They even came with aluminum exhaust manifolds. (Since strictly for drag racing these would hold up for short bursts of full power) The 421 came out in 1962, but I seem to remember the SD was a different animal. If you are a Pontiac nut and want to see several factory 4 speed “B” body Pontiacs, make a trip to BILL’s BACKYARD CLASSICS in Amarillo Texas. He has a nice car museum there where they only offer guided tours. (By very knowledgeable people. Being an old Pontiac guy, I kept asking the guide/kid many questions trying to confuse or have him screw up. He never made a mistake, and I was impressed.) All the cars there are registered and driven at least one a month. Bill is a 1961 Catalina 4 speed guy, and I did not know that so many 4 speed, 8 lug wheel Catalina’s ever existed. There are many other cars there also, so worth the trip. BUT,to a Pontiac guy, it’s a real treat.
A 4 barrel 421 non-SD version was available ’62 but they seem to be rare too – I found a source claiming only 67 GPs came so equipped.
Now, even though this obviously isn’t an OE spec GP IMHO it seems to be an extremely fun to own Pontiac of one of the division’s prettiest B-bodies – I’m tempted to claim it’s GM’s prettiest ’62 design. Always been a massive fan of those ‘opposed Cs/ boomerangs / bananas’ tail lights
Not fuel injected, that’s a holley carb. I bet it thunders
36.5K for a built from parts street rod is a bit stiff for me. Like the car and agree it could be fun but not as it is now. Painted 8 lug wheels…..?
I looked at the CL ad and the seller doesn’t say or imply that the engine or transmission are original to the car, he simply states the facts, it’s got a 428 and a 4-speed, that’s what a prospective buyer would want to know, no need to read more into it than that, just the facts…
He could have been forthcoming with the admission that the drivetrain was not original.
Why does it seem that everyone has become a Columbo/police editor ?? It seems like a contest here to point out the smallest of details that do not fit the commenting persons fancy. Lighten up and enjoy the cars.
The “murdered out” look does not work on ’60s GM cars.
I have a 63 4 speed GP 389 tri power that now has a 455/462. The 389 is sitting on a engine stand to go with it if i ever decided to sale. Mild custom…
As Gary just said: “Lighten up and enjoy the cars”
The rims usually had a trim ring and those are acorn lug nuts on it. Guy never claims drivetrain is original. It’s a nice build and I owned a 428 poncho they rev quick, same stroke as the 421. I am sure this thing will put a smile on your face rowing through the gears. Come on people, someone put together a nice ride. Yeah asking all the peanuts but try and duplicate it for less.
I agree, the seller never claims the drive train is original. In my earlier post I quoted the Barnfinds writer, who indicated this car may be a “highly original classic”, which the car is not, and is why I quoted the writer at the beginning of the post.
My issue is not with the seller, who was careful not to make too many claims about the car, or include a lot of info in their ad, but instead with the Barnfinds writer who appears to know nothing about 62 Pontiac’s. This was just another example of a writer on this website who writes all kinds of wonderful prose about a car, without having any idea what they’re talking about. I’m far from an expert on early Pontiac’s, my area of expertise is Corvettes and El Camino’s and to a lesser degree first gen Camaro’s, and early 60’s big Chevy’s, but I knew immediately that this car couldn’t be a “highly original classic” when it has a later 428 under the hood.
Fun to money ratio very high on this one buy it flog it , repeat !!😁🤑
Looking at those painted 8 lug wheels makes me want to cry. The 62 Grand Prix is one of my favorite classics. Definitely NOT original, 428 was not available in 62. I believe 67-68, but definitely not 62. I don’t mind a non-original, street built classic GP, but the price is a bit steep on this one IMO. That said, I could really have some fun with this in a straight line.
Rust free body, decent paint and clean ugly upholstery alone is worth at least $15k. Throw in a good running 428 Pontiac and a 4 speed adds an easy $5k conservatively. 8 lug Pontiac wheels, painted or not, are way cool and worth at least $2k just for the conversation. This is just the kind of oddball ripper I like. I’d say this is a $20k ride all day long, original or not, but not $36,500.
Looks like a Holley 4 barrel double inlet carby, I’ve got Holley sniper injection on my 307 SBC and I don’t see any return lines and that filter is an ordinary low pressure item the filters on EFI are mounted on either side of the pump near the fuel tank
I like this car but agree it’s been put together at least in part from various yrs/sources. Other than the price, it’s still something I’d own as it’s super cool part of Pontiac history.
Of course, would require a really good inspection to see things close up. It’s been mentioned in above comments about it being non original but note that no where in his ad does it say the car is original, just that it’s straight and a SW car.
It’s actually sorta close to me (~50 miles), but wouldn’t want to waste the seller’s time when I know it can’t come home with me.
All the nits mentioned notwithstanding, I like it. It may be priced a little aggressively as even with the BF exposure, it’s still listed. Market talks, wishful thinking walks…
I agree, I like it too. Complete originality isn’t a huge concern in this case. It is done in the spirit of what a Pontiac in the period would be. I guess could nit pick the interior styling but could live with that too until research of original repop materials from SMS or similar.
Other than the price, there’s a lot to like with this car. It would be super cool at the vintage shows/drive ins and fun drags on powertour.
Note I am not a GM guy altho I tend to like the non Chevrolet offerings more and this is one of them. Unique and something you just don’t see often. And, no LS/BBC/SBC in it. Find another one.
Dammit, I need a bigger garage!
yes early 1960s big chevys im a lover of chevy 348 from 1958 to 1961 had a 1958 348 factory 3 speed great car
Al, so did my girlfriend during high school. It was the car replaced by the insurance company when “the original” purchased by her father new and then stolen after it had had won a street race from the wrong guys. 9 years later “the original” was uncovered by police as it had been used in several bank jobs. (Many bullet holes across the back!) “The original was FREAKY FAST and the replacement, aaa, not so much!