During the early sixties, personal luxury coupes were gaining popularity in the marketplace, and it didn’t hurt their desirability either if they also offered strong performance. The early Pontiac Grand Prix is one of those cars fondly remembered as excelling in both areas, and while it’s been quite some time since this 1963 model has performed on any level, this one might be a good project for those on a budget who happen to have a strong set of DIY skills. This one’s located in Lyndon, Kansas, and can be found here on Facebook Marketplace, where the seller has listed his hope-for price at $1,300. A thank you is owed to Barn Finds reader T.J., who spotted this GP and was kind enough to send us the tip!
This one gives every indication of a flip, as the seller indicates that he purchased the Pontiac from the original owner’s nephew after it had been sitting in a field since 1988. I respect that no effort has been made to clean up or disguise the flaws that will be awaiting the next owner, and leaving the car on the rescue trailer instead of photographing it in a more picturesque setting seems to help create realistic vibes of what you’re getting here. While the outside appearance doesn’t present very well in its current state and some rust is visible in the lower body sections, the only real bent area I’m spotting is the rear bumper, plus the exterior also appears fairly complete.
The 389 engine and automatic transmission are both present, but the seller says that the engine seems to be locked up, and this may be a case where the car wasn’t operational even before it got abandoned in a field. Interestingly, the one component on the entire auto that was attempted to be protected is the carburetor, which has been encapsulated by some square object. However, it would have probably been wiser to have invested that effort into better preserving the interior.
The exterior actually looks pretty good when compared to the inside, which shows the suffering it has gone through while enduring all seasons sitting in a Kansas field. It’s cool that Pontiac chose to equip the early GP cars with bucket seats and a console, but it’ll take lots of time and effort to get these and the other interior parts anywhere near back to the condition they began in. Are you seeing any promise for getting this 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix back on the road soon, or would it be better to just return this one to the pasture?
This is your classic parts car, it’s complete and too far gone to justify putting it back on the road, especially with frame rot. Try and get it for $1,000, even though many of its parts are going to have some issue, where are they going to find them, most specialty salvage yards are notorious for overpriced parts.
When cars were inexpensive I’d buy a parts car for every project, you want to buy a car that was complete, keep what you needed, get your money back with a few expensive/desirable options and make your money on the “small” $20-$75 items.
Steve R
Junk it the war is over
Hope springs eternal!
This is a tough one to make much sense with. Too many days in the Kansas weather with one or more windows down. Not a heavily equipped car with perhaps no A/C or PW or FM radio. Does look to have PS and PB. Perhaps the juice is just not worth the squeeze on this one..
Well it does have the factory vacuum gauge so….
This makes me sad to see. My first car was a ’63 Bonneville, a two door with bucket seats and console. I bought for 300 dollars from my neighbor across the street when her hubby died. She also had a ’61 Bonneville ragtop, but her son was getting that. Mine had a bad trans, but the local trans shop rebuilt it for 325 dollars. I spent my senior year in high school bringing it back to life and had a new paint job on it when I went off to college. I sold the car some years after and still regret it to this day.
How thoughtless of the seller to remove the 37 year dwelling of all sorts of varmints and vermin, leaving them homeless like that.
The seller probably did not purchase this, they are double profiting on this one since the original owner paid them to haul it away.
These cars were gorgeous when new, it makes me wonder what set of circumstances brought this car to a soybean field in 1988 and left it to deteriorate to such a sorry state.
It probably had significant rust and/or mechanical problems, if they couldn’t find a wrecking yard to take it for free it likely got shoved into the back 40.
Cars that were rough, even if they were desirable, had little to no value. In the late-80’s decent versions probably weren’t hard to find and not for much money.
Steve R
looks like people are finding out its to expensive to restore a car at today prices
This is a car worth the restoration, looks complete. I would drive this car before any new car and not be a victim to big government.
Will it take work, time money, yes. But in the end would you guys buy a 35K car and spend more to drive and maintain it and be TOLD by the feds you have to do whatever, or fix the GP and smile while fixing it back to glory.