The 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix defined the personal luxury car and all of the other car manufacturers soon followed with versions of their own Grand Prix. This car is for sale in Alton, Illinois and is still covered in barn dust. There are four days remaining in the auction and the car is bid to $3,050. You can see additional pictures here on eBay.
The Grand Prix was first introduced in 1962 but the redesigned 1969-1977 iteration was the most popular generation. John Z. DeLorean and other Pontiac engineers designed the all new Grand Prix which was introduced in 1969 and sales jumped from 32,000 units in 1968 to 112,000 units in 1969. The Grand Prix sought to deliver performance and style. This car is equipped with a Pontiac XH 400 cubic inch V8 engine which generated 350 horsepower in 1969. The base 400 cubic inch engine (YF) provided only 265 horsepower. A buyer could also opt for a 370 horsepower or 390 horsepower 428 cubic inch V8 engine in 1969. A 4 speed manual transmission was even offered.
This car appears to be a low option unit with no air conditioning, power windows or power locks. It does have bucket seats and an automatic transmission. The car shows a lot of patina and wear including a dent on the front fender. I have always liked the “Command Seat” cockpit style dash that wraps around the driver.
I am not sure if this car is painted Liberty Blue Poly or Windward Blue Poly but the car appears to retain its original hub cabs. The Grand Prix spent most of its life in Montana and does have some rust but is said to start and run. The seller advises that the new owner will want to have the car trailered home. Do you like this generation of GPs?
Sure do. One of my ex-brother in laws had a car exactly like this, blue ’69 GP. They were such nice cars, Gentlemens Cruiser, it was. Pontiac made such great cars, I knew the world went haywire when they stopped making them. This one is a bit plain and will need a lot, but should be restored. They’ll never make cars like this again, and you can have one. You surely won’t regret it.
I have a white 69 Grand Prix. Bought it in 1974 with 50k miles on it. I have since then restored it and will never part with it. Don’t forget this car has a 6 foot hood and John D. was very proud of that. Also, among many other first of items, this car was the first to put the radio antenea in the windshield.
Can I assume you are counting the pointy center hood “beak”?
The ’70 firebird has about a 5 1/2 foot long hood!!, not counting the bumper & i’m sure the ’79 exceeds 6 feet counting its very long bumper. I’m sure there are other cars with even longer hoods, such as early ’70s 2 door t-birds & the car private eye Cannon drove. Maybe even olds Toronados & Eldorados.
Since the rain evidently washed the “barn dust” off the car, why not go ahead and wash the car and clean the interior and engine bay? Bidding might pick up if the car didn’t look so filthy.
SOOOOH——Lets keep it low so someone might be able to afford it. Great looking car and I,d sure like to own it. Its looks to be in nice shape. Check everything on it and drive it and fix while you can.
Even though Bunkie Knudsen had left Pontiac by the time this car was built, it’s obvious that it retains his trademark design feature, the “Bunkie Beak”.
Some of the best door handles ever . . . No kidding . . .
I’ve always liked that model of Grand Prix,
a clean design before the big bumpers.
I have a model of a ’69.I painted it dark blue,
with a black vinyl roof.I need to finish it.I bought it
new in 1969,so guess I could call it a “one owner”.
angliagt,
Around 71, my friend’s Dad bought a 69 GP, (full size) but also dark blue, with a black vinyl roof. Dad would occasionally give my friend the keys telling him to go gas it up. The nearest discount gasoline available was 20 plus miles away. He and I would take that rocket out on route 4 and fly….. we even returned with some gas.
This is a very, very basic example. The only options I see are power steering, power brakes, automatic transmission, and AM radio. The black steering wheel seems very out of place. I thought these had color-keyed steering wheels standard, but I can’t find any documentation to back that up.
I seem to remember those steering wheels turning black, or almost black. I get a kick out of the dash warning light says “Gen”, when it’s clearly an alternator. I wonder if they kept it “Gen” for the old fogies?
CCFisher, you are incorrect on the steering wheel as I own a ’69 GP Model J and now has 10 or 12k miles on it. I purchased from the original owner about 25 years ago. My car is Expresso Brown with pearl white bucket interior. The dash is black as well as the steering wheel. My car is a “stripper” also (not many options).
I’d say that wheel is a replacement, cars a plain Jane, even no vinyl roof, but this is supposed to be a personal luxury car, so I’m confused about the no A/C, could’ve bought a Lemans or tempest w a 400 in it
This is the best year ever IMO. The Colonnaide years were OK, but Pontiac hit their stride with the 69 to 72 years.
i had a 72 gp last of the powerhouses 400 hp with a 3 speed turbo 400 it would smoke the tires through low and second cherry red with white and black interior factory 5 spoke wheels man i was young back then
Alton spelled backwards is “Not LA”. Alton spelled forwards is… also not LA.
Too bad. This one might have been spared a good deal of corrosion if it were in So-Cal.
Needs a blue steering wheel & maybe a hood tach & chrome valve covers..
My sister in law had a ice blue w dark blue top and interior 69 model J. 400 motor 400 transmission power windows doors A/C AM/FM stereo, I was a kid early 70s self taught myself how to light up the bias plys, in the underground parking garages of the shopping center, loved that car, took my communion pictures standing in front of it, I’ve owned Pontiacs all my life because of that car
One of my Favorite cars 69- 72 GP, i have owned 1 69 J an 1 69 SJ, 2 70 J and 71 SJ an 71 J and right nw have a 72 J that im gona give my grandson whom i took my stepdaughter to hospital in for her to deliver. Still have a 70 that was factory j 455 car i dont have the original 455 , but do have a 70 455 n the car im restoring….these cars were faster than some people who dont knw bout them realize….
I own a 69 GP, i love my car. Light blue with a dark vinal top.car is almost perfect. I am 70 years old, makes me feel like a teenager.
Alton, IL is on the mighty Mississippi river. I was in there last summer when the river rose to record levels and parts of the town were flooded for weeks. (thankfully, not “Fast Eddie’s Bon Air” bar and grill)
I don’t know where this car is located in Alton, but I’d definitely check for flood damage cause it looks like there may be some, to my eye.
This car is missing a very important item that would go on the right side of the engine.
What is a personal luxury car without the luxury?
Could one of you enlightened gentlemen answer a question for me? Why are there ALWAYS three pictures of the front end, one of the engine and one of the dash, but, none of the rear end???
And on a different note, that mile long front fender and hood are practically half of what today’s cars are! Look at that space between the front wheel and the door. You can actually put the cars model name in there. Not anymore.
GPs have always been a Pontiac favorite of mine. I love the one year only ’68, but this…… This was style, comfort and luxury, all wrapped up in a powerful package.
In my opinion the 72 with a 400 and the really nice interior was my favorite although I was never a fan of the 10 ft hood but it just plain fit this car perfectly! They were so quiet and comfortable and with the 400 had a little oomph under the hood, very beautiful cars!
Always liked these from new – 4 or 2 headlights….friends older siter bought one new either the 69 or 70 – man she was the cat’s meow.
you really need an sj