Yesterday, I covered this 1985 Pontiac Grand Prix Brougham, or “Bro-ham” as they are often called, and today I’m going to move forward one year and review this 1986 Grand Prix 2+2 Aerocoupe – so similar, but oh so different! This GP, residing in East Freetown, Massachusetts, is one of only 1,225 “homologation” specials offered up by the Tin Indian in ’86. Yes, it has issues, but it’s still worth a looksee. Here on craigslist is where you can find it, and it’s available for $2,500. Zen gets credit for this discovery!
As the story goes, back in the eighties, Pontiac and Chevrolet were seeing a lot of Thunderbird rear ends on NASCAR tracks because the Grand Prix and Monte Carlo’s formal roofline with its nearly vertical rear window didn’t provide enough down force to compete with the ‘Bird. Sooo, a sloped rear window was created to help with the aero effects, and while it would work on the high banks of Talladega and Daytona, it was not allowed unless it was an actual production piece – in other words, homologated by being available on actual production cars. Enter the Aerocoupe; Pontiac’s version was produced only for the ’86 model year, while Chevrolet’s Monte Carlo continued the availability into ’87. Besides the first-gen Barracuda-styled rear window, the Grand Prix’s trunk lid and fiberglass package tray were modified to accommodate the new glass as well as to integrate into the reduced drag coefficient design. Beyond that, the GP’s nose piece was “enhanced” as well to help with the svelteness and to support the revised backlight treatment.
Admittedly, this example doesn’t illustrate the Aerocoupe in its best light. The seller tells us, “Rear Window intact, rear trunk lid in excellent condition, and roof, etc. in very good condition… The front bumper cover was cracked recently, but wasn’t a year ago- it wasn’t hit or backed into, and the rest of the nose supports / special 2+2 parts are all there…The rear frame rails are rotted out, and the bumper is hanging down.” That frame business is gonna be a problem, and the included images show that the deterioration has crept into the floors. As far as the finish is concerned, and it’s significantly deteriorated, all Aerocoupes were produced in “silver, with charcoal-colored lower body trim accented by a red stripe,” according to Motor Trend.
Always a mistake, there’s no image of the engine included in the listing. All the seller has to say about the Chevrolet-sourced 165 net HP, 305 CI V8 engine is, “The rest of the engine/drivetrain is all there and in stock form, although the engine was supposedly rebuilt or replaced.” The transmission is a four-speed automatic O/D, likely a Turbo-Hydramatic 200-4R unit, not one of GM’s more stellar units.
The interior’s representation is limited to one image, and it’s not very telling. The seller, however, states, “The interior is unaltered but in bad condition, but maybe could be cleaned up,” whatever “cleaned up” means. The odometer reads 120K miles, so that tells you a bit more about how long this Poncho was run hard before it was put away wet.
I find it interesting that GM was still interested in homologation specials this late in the game – apparently, that NASCAR adage of “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” still resonated within the depths of the Pontiac and Chevrolet marketing departments. But, this Aerocoupe isn’t like a ’68 Charger 500, or a Dodge Daytona/Plymouth Superbird. Yeah, it has a unique look, as ungainly as it is, but it’s really just an aesthetically modified Grand Prix. Still, I give kudos to Pontiac for taking on the modifications – it had to be expensive all in all, when you count up only 1,225 copies. So, what to do? I’d pass on this example and look for something better. Even the seller suggests, “It could be restored with a bunch of work and a rust-free G Body parts car…” That’s my thought, what’s yours?
I’d forgotten ( or maybe forgot altogether) that Pontiac had this when Chevy had their Monte Carlo Aerocoupe SS. It’s truly a shame this was allowed to become as deteriorated as it has become. It may not be a Superbird, TalladegaTorino or something as recognizably similar but it’s still very unique especially to NASCAR fans.
What this needs, as Robert Plant once sang, is “a whole lotta love”.
Shame it’s only 20 min from me .
Floors are done
Crusty spent frame
It’s a parts car at best
You reach a point of no return with some cars
Yes while rare , not one to restore . You would be out a lot of money doing this one .
They were not particularly quick at all.
The glass, possibly nose if repairable , rear lid with spoiler – rest is spent , cashed out and done .