While the Grand Prix was introduced as the sporty full-size Pontiac with bucket seats in 1962, many collectors feel that it really hit its stride in 1963, when Pontiac’s designers under studio chief Jack Humbert released a clean-sided stunner that, although it was based on the Catalina, looked almost completely unique. It would be impossible to say that the subsequent ’64 models topped those landmark ’63s, but they weren’t far off the mark, as the gorgeous profile of the Grand Prix above attests. In addition to being a clean example of a coveted full-size Poncho, it’s also a highly optioned one. Barn Finds reader Curvette found it on craigslist in Salem, Oregon, and it’s being listed with an asking price of $26,000 because the “car sits too much.” I’m sure a lot of people reading Barn Finds could find a way to fix that problem.
So how well-optioned is this Grand Prix? According to the seller, and corroborated by the picture above to some extent, it has the following extra-cost features:
- Air conditioning
- Power steering
- Power brakes
- Tilt steering
- Power windows
- Eight-lug wheels
- Automatic transmission (yes, it’s the Roto Hydra-Matic, the one that I’ve never heard anything good about)
The carpet has been replaced, but the seller thinks that most of the interior is original, although it does have a new radio and power antenna. While someone in the comments will likely point out that this car is not “fully loaded,” and they’re right (the options list was extensive), nobody can say that this doesn’t have more convenience options than the average ’60s Pontiac.
Although there are no pictures of the engine compartment, an important omission considering that not inconsiderable asking price, we can safely assume that this Grand Prix has the standard 303-horsepower 389 four barrel. The Grand Prix came standard with a dual exhaust system, so it was a little more lively than a Catalina or a Bonneville, at least stock-for-stock. Regarding the styling, I’ve come to begrudgingly regard the ’64s tail as equal to or better than that of the lovely ’63.
And the roofline from the ’63 remained, that unique concave backlite and (dare I say) Thunderbird-like C-pillar. With those gently swelling quarter-panels and comparative lack of trim, the ’63 and ’64 Grands Prix were beautiful. The seller says that this car came from Boise, Idaho, where “the climate is dry and they don’t salt the roads.” It has had a new paint job in the original Cameo Ivory at some point in its life, but the finish still looks good and the bumpers have been rechromed (a gigantic expense in itself). It’s all tuned up with a new electronic ignition, a new coil, and new plug wires, so it should be ready for those extra miles that some lucky reader would be more than happy to add to the odometer. Pontiac sold 63,810 GPs in 1964, a really good number in the personal luxury coupe realm. One look and it’s easy to see why.
Pontiac really had their stuff together in the sixties.
Be still my beating heart. One of the first American Pontiacs that got my elementary school brain engaged in the car world. I had an AMT model of a 63 GP. As close as I came to owning one.
Aaron, once again you hit the nail of the head… ( Oh, wait…. Nailhead, can’t use that here thats a line for a Buick lol). I completely agree with you about the ’63 and ’64 Grand Prix. Very elegant minimal chrome, beautifully styled. I am also a huge fan of the ’65 and ’66 with the coke bottle lines as well. Pontiac had some of the nicest looking cars back the the 60’s actually all of GM did. If I had a gorgeous ’63 Riviera, I’d absolutely want to have this Grand Prix parked next to it in my dream garage. Everything about this one looks spot on!!! Curvette… once again, you have a great find here, and Aaron, loved your write up too.
-Dave
Oh, I’d love a dark blue ’63 GP parked next to my Riviera and my ’63 T-Bird. It’s actually a little too long to fit in the garage the way I have to stagger cars though. Time to move!
Aaron, it sounds like you can use a 6 car garage, with a house attatched lol. Those would all look classy together.
What a beautiful Gran Prix! I would love to have this. Being a Mopar guy i would put this next to my Hemi Jeep and be proud! Over 100,000 miles you would never know it. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
Beautiful, IMO the word that best describes this Pontiac is… Elegant!
My unofficial brother (almost bro-in-law)
bought a brand new 63 Catalina that had been super dutied drilled frame aluminum hood and fenders.421 with 3 deuces with progressive throttle linkage, first thing that they changed.came with
4 speed that had shifter changed as soon as possible to early Hurst shifter.
All this was doneso he could drag race it.Did pretty well until he blew motor,Pontiac wouldn’t warranty it, had it rebuilt with guy who raced a Pontiac powered dragster, was definitely faster afterwards.He traded it in for a Corvette, and some guy ran it in super stock for awhile then disappeared, probably still setting in somebody’s garage, or barn,would love to find it again.
Owned one in 1969, copper color with white interior, very nice car. The reason I owned it was not as nice. Had a 1966 Satellite with a 426 hemi. with a few various tickets. Sold the hemi, bought a new 69 Mustang GT fastback. Collision insurance cancelled (financed) so sold the Mustang and paid cash for the Pontiac. Lucky for me they have to sell you liability insurance. I’m grown up now, not so much back then.
What a beautiful car! Many years ago I had an opportunity to buy a white 64 Catalina in great shape for a great price. But that auto trans shift pattern was too messed up for me, I was sure I would blow up either the engine or the transmission by going too far with the lever. PNDSLR (IIRC) just never made any sense to me and seemed like a recipe for disaster.
very nice poncho. seems fairly priced for its condition. i do prefer the 65 cat though. get in this and go to cars and coffee and have fun
Nicely equipped indeed. GM was early to move air conditioning from the trunk to be integrated into the dashboard. This was also the first year for comfort tilt steering column. FM radio was relatively new but not mentioned here. Sure, it looks like a Thunderbird. GM was scrambling to catch up. Sweet looking second year Grand Prix.
The clear taillight lenses on the Grand Prix were ultimate style. I still remember the first time I saw them in action. It was a subtle change, but made this model really stand out.
Hi, Pontiac/ GM what was in family for as I can remember. I still have GM/Pontiac parts,…as the $ are stupid. I had a 400 68′ bird…wow!. I bought a 67′ bird…not impressed, going to sell the bird….been looking for long time. NO more dealers!… the $ are not going down, sell it for what I paid. + some parts I’ve had. I’m to old to do what I know! It’s so hard believe anything.i still