The personal luxury coupe was one of the most deeply entrenched automotive styles in recent history, and will likely be looked at in history books similar to how we view the current obsession with SUVs. While it has been dormant for a few decades now, it was a mainstay for any consumer of a certain age who walked into any one of the Big 3 dealerships in the 70s and 80s. The fourth-generation Pontiac Grand Prix was yet another example of this bodystyle and trim offering, combining a long hood with a short decklid and plenty of comfort-oriented touches inside. Find this very clean Pontiac Grand Prix Brougham listed here on craigslist for $12,000.
My own mother had a Grand Prix like this, preceded by her Plymouth Duster. When I look back on this, it always gives me pause because my mom has been a devoted Honda driver for most of my life. However, like so many other car shoppers in the 1980s, a Grand Prix seemed like the model to own if you wanted an American-made vehicle that was known to be a standard-bearer of sorts. After all, the nameplate had been around for decades, and it was synonymous with good power, plenty of features, and a respectable amount of style. The Grand Prix shown here has just 61,000 miles on the clock and its prior owner(s) clearly looked after it.
And while the Grand Prix’s competitors enjoyed an association with motorsports given the Monte Carlo and Laguna were both familiar NASCAR bodies, the Grand Prix was more focused on being seen as a comfortable commuter. The interiors were plush and helped isolate drivers from the road abrasions. Heavily boosted steering made it feasible to move the wheel with a light touch, while Pontiac’s trademark wide track helped provide stability on the interstate. The seller notes this Grand Prix is loaded up a wide array of power features as well as cruise control, rally instrumentation, and a tilt steering wheel.
The 5.0L V-8 is paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission, and produces around 165 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s a respectable output for the tail-end of the malaise era, and certainly more than enough torque to get around town. With what is believed to be original paint, low miles, and the optional turbo-finned 15 x 7 wheels, this Grand Prix has a lot going for it. The asking price is reasonable for a preserved example, but I’m curious how many GM fans are out there still willing to pay this much for a pristine personal luxury coupe. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the find.
Buckets and a console would make this the ultimate ride for me! A real beauty, GLWTA!! :-)
Moparman, even the column shift is fine by me, and agree with you 💯. Talk about comfy inside, plenty of juice to motor around effortlessly. Beautiful car.