The Grand Prix was a hot seller for Pontiac beginning in 1962. But the “Colonnade” redesign of 1973 would turn into a gold mine – with 288,000 copies sold in 1977 alone, the car’s best year to date. The machines would get downsized the following season as rising gas prices were changing the complexity of the automotive market. The seller has three Grand Prix’s, all from the same model year (’77). The theory is you might be able to make one good car out of these three forgotten examples.
Though the fourth generation of the Grand Prix wound down in 1977, Pontiac still gave it a minor facelift on both ends. The lineup remained the same with J, LJ, or SJ identification (we don’t know which applies to the seller’s trio of projects). The base J model got a 301 cubic inch V8 as standard equipment, which was woefully underpowered for a vehicle its size. 350 and 400 V8 engines were available as options, raising the horsepower to as much as 180 SAE net. These engines were approved for use in 49 of the 50 states, but California required Pontiac to look to Oldsmobile for powerplants for registration there.
As the story goes, all three Pontiacs once belonged to the seller’s mother. How they came to be together and in the shape they’re in today probably has a story that the buyer will have to inquire about. We’re told there is at least one good engine and transmission in the bunch. Maybe you could cannibalize one of these Pontiacs to create one viable automobile but is it worth it?
Certainly, the seller has no visions of grandeur as $1,000 will take all three vehicles ($333 per car). Located in Brunswick, Georgia, these Ponchos are available here on Facebook Marketplace. Bring more than one trailer or plan to make multiple trips.
Oh, I wish…
The white one pictured is a 76 not 77
Lots of moonshine went into that kustom flame job. Looks like momma rode ’em hard, and put ’em away wet.
Sad – why even bother …
Well $1,000 for all three is over scrap value but if you have the time and the place to store them you might be able to double or triple your money in parts sales or have some demolition derby cars for next year
Sad. Sold my near perfect 30 option 77 SJ in 2006 fir $4,500. Dumb I know. Flew to North Carolina one way in 2005, drove it home t tops out 850 carefree miles. No rust never hit silver beauty.
Three times the headaches. Three times the money pit.
I bought a new one back in the day. Great GP!
What a shame. Thank God I don’t live anywhere near there!
Imagine if Pontiac put the 1961 XP-758 Scorpion
or the 1966 Banshee XP-798
or the 1977 Phantom
into production.