During its long and distinguished run, the Pontiac Grand Prix was only offered as a convertible one time. That was during the 1967 model year. These were beautiful cars, but perhaps the sales numbers weren’t strong enough for Pontiac to continue (less than 6,000 units in ’67). This edition has had the same owner for nearly two decades and is unique because tailfins from a 1961 Caddy were grafted on it. Love it or not, this beautiful one-of-a-kind Poncho is in Largo, Florida, and is available here on craigslist for $39,750. “Rogue1” is the source of this way-out tip!
The Grand Prix debuted in 1962 as a personal luxury car with a twist of performance. It would remain a Pontiac fixture for the next 46 years. The gurus at GM decided to try their hands at a convertible version of the auto in ’67, but some 32,000 buyers preferred the hardtop for some reason. A 400 cubic inch V8 was standard (replacing the 389 from before), and the one in the seller’s car is original, though it’s been tweaked here and there.
Since we’re told the black paint on this car is 10 years old, we’re guessing that’s when its transformation into “Bat Rod” (its name) took place. The changes aren’t meant to resemble the Batmobile from the 1960s TV show but certainly lean that way a little. The fins are 85 inches in length and were applied professionally, according to the seller. Gone are the Pontiac taillights, replaced by LED lights in the fins that do the same job (but maybe better). Along the way, the seller has accumulated a huge folder of all the work done on this car during his watch.
Newer stuff includes the hideaway headlights, a rebuild of the engine to north of 400 hp, and the TH-400 automatic transmission had been tuned up, too. Add to this the radiator, ignition, carburetor, disc brakes, alternator, and the list goes on and on. The upholstery was redone in factory materials with red piping to go with the rest of the Bat Rod look. At this stage, the Pontiac only needs a bit of TLC, so don’t expect a pristine show car, but one that may impress car people in any crowd.
At first. I didn’t want to like it. I truly love Cadillacs and Pontiacs from the 60’s. But the more I looked, the more I liked it. It looks like they did a good job grafting the ’60 Cadillac tailfins on. I totally get the Batman theme too. It actually does look like Batman and Robin could be seen crusing in this thing. I wonder why they did away with the Grand Prix tailights? It would have looked good with the fin lights. Overall I like it.
Is it still considered abuse by whapping someone behind the head with a rolled up newspaper? ( what’s a newspaper, gramps?) Normally, I have no biznezz condemning anyones “creations”, I have a tough time making a BM, but a ’67 GP ragtop,,,sigh, it’s hideous. That’s right, you heard me, what on our parched earth was this person thinking? Influence of immoral means? Perhaps, but to take a beautiful car like this, and butcher it with Cadillac fins, known for being the most outrageous of them all, ruins what this car was. If Jack Humbert( the designer) wanted fins, he surely could have plastered them on. I don’t see any correlation to Batman either. Am I that far out of it? Are my gripes legit here? We’ll see,,,
I agree. I love the creativeness, but a Poncho? Ruined
I have no idea how the original plan to Make America Great Again was conceived, but I think whapping someone behind the head with a rolled up newspaper is a good strategy. Where’s the line? Let’s get started…
I usually err on the side of, Well, you do you. But as many hours as went into this, it’s still a butchered rare car
For me, it comes across better than what I would have thought if you simply said “graft 1961 Cadillac fins onto a Grand Prix.” Excellent ad. If you want something different, here you go; as the seller says, the world already has enough red Camaros.
Another person with more money than brains. What a hideous thing.
The Grand Prix lineage on a car this modified probably doesn’t count for much. It’s very personalized, which limits the buying pool, $39,750 will be a tough sell, there is a lot of competition around that price, best of luck to him.
Steve R
All I can say is, it’s a good thing they didn’t try to graft the ’59 Cadillac’s fins on. Good grief! Too bad they didn’t do something about the front. That part of the ’67 full size never looked right. ’67 GP’s had hidden headlights too.
POS
I have seen this car in person,, it’s huge and beautiful, it’s like a muscle car meets luxury and Batman too.
Not for me I think they destroyed a good Grand prix!!!!
There are many Pontiac GP’s out there but there is only one “Bat Rod”. I love most Yank Tanks, (not Chevs) especially drop tops but this one, not so much. Each to his own, I say. This Poncho reminds me of the Studebaker Silver Hawk when viewed from the side looking back from the windscreen to the tail lights.
I was a little shocked when I saw it… But, I think it’s unusual, and cool. A little pricey, but, find another one… Lol
Here we have an answer to a question that was never asked.
id give him 5k and hed have to cut the god ugly fins off….it cost the rest of the asking price to fix it…
Florida. It figures.
I want to like it more, but to delete the cool original tail lights? Wonder why he didn’t just add the caddy tail lights and have them all working.
You REALLY don’t want to hear my opinion on this as BF staff would delete it for it’s profanity. Let’s just say I agree with Driveinstile and Howard (hi Howie). I can’t wrap my head around taking a rare CONVERTIBLE and altering it so badly.
Pontillac De Prix?
The prix were the people that modified it !
Ya can’t fix fugly.
Look up the definition of “grotesque” in the dictionary and there will be a picture of this car.
You kinda have to ask what was involved in this creation. Co-conspirators? It looks well done but somewhere, something’s fried.
to have done his to a 1 year only G/P convert is a real shame not to mention the caddy that was sacrificed as well. seller just shut down the buyer potential by 90% with his mess. he may have a lot longer than he thinks.
SMH…
May as well add GTO hood scoops
Someone will love it, tho
Hold my beer… No, pass the 5th
Sacrilege.
It is different (strange?) but it appears to be well done. Nearly 40K for a cartoon car seems like a stretch, but it won’t surprise be if someone bites.
This should make the “Only In Florida” page for sure. Now Angel, before you beat the living
daylights out of the fool that effed up a perfectly good GP, you
need to know that this monstrosity was assembled with
too much alcohol and not enough
common sense. Reminds me of
a guy that ran a custom wheel and tire shop in Elouise, Florida,
not far from where we lived in Winter Haven. His name was David Speiker who owned Speiker’s 4-wheel Drive shop when we moved to Winter Haven
in 1986. The phrase “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should” fit that man perfectly.
He built some of the wildest cars
and trucks I’d ever seen. Now I want you folks to imagine 2 1967
Cadillacs. Both painted a vivid hot pink. One a sedan DeVille and the other a hearse that stood
as tall as Bigfoot. And he REALLY did drive them on the street! But all his craziness came
to an end when FDLE and the feds raided his shop and nailed him for tax evasion and dealing drugs out of his business. And
now for our seller here, Mark
Harmon should find him and give
this guy the mother of all head slaps! If Mark Harmon won’t do it, the Angel can give him the Joisey version instead along with
all the profanity she can muster.
Good thing I didn’t have a snack
tonight. After seeing this thing, I
would’ve had nightmares. Well folks, the sand man is calling my
name. Night Angel 💋. Night all
Unlike most of the commenters I really like this creation. Not 40k worth of like it though. I’m not a purest on every vehicle. Lots of people but all I’ll say is….Cool for you 👍It’s looks like the craftsmanship was done to a high standard. I’m not as much of convertible person as I used to be but I would still daily drive this proudly. I know it would be well received around where I live.
It’s gonna be a sad day for the next owner when the bondo starts cracking on this one.
Creativeness=5
Look =0
IMO this is a hideous abomination. Pontiac got it right the first time but to each their own. As someone said earlier I like the Cadillacs and the Pontiacs of the 1960s because they oozed class but separately not something like this.
It’s a tight custom in a world of cookie-cutter ‘classics’. I doubt the owner cares much about all the pursuits whining.
Few things are cooler than tail fins – and this is well done.
Several years ago, Barn Finds advertised the Benzillac which was a 1994 Mercedes Benz SL320 with 1960 Cadillac rear fenders and fins. This can be viewed on Google by typing in “Benzillac.” The seller”s price was $7,400 and I purchased it for that amount. The paint was and is excellent and being a Mercedes it is an excellent driving vehicle. The car has been our touring car for several years. After seeing the Benzillac on Google, compare the $7,400 price I paid to $39,750. At this price it is out of my range. Good luck.
Well , reading the comments in the ad, i would conclude that you overpaid
Another prime example of “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”.
Another prime example of “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”.
This poor car certainly has gotten a lot of hate.