This 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix has been garaged since 2005. It is located in Portland, Oregon and is listed here on Craigslist for $9,500. The Grand Prix has been listed for 6 days and appears to be in good condition and, despite its hibernation, it is said to be drivable. The first pictures in the ad shows the car covered in dust or pollen. Other pictures show it cleaned up and washed. Pontiac introduced the new third generation of the Grand Prix model in 1969 with two different models the J and SJ.
There is only one picture of the black interior and it shows furry seat covers that might be vintage! The car has bucket seats, power windows, tilt steering and automatic transmission. New tires have recently been installed and the tires are mounted on aftermarket wheels. We used to call these wheels “flower mags” back in the 1970’s and Crager used to make a set. I am sure other wheel manufacturers made similar wheels. The Grand Prix has a center console.
This vehicle is apparently a Model J which came with the base engine which was a Pontiac 400 cubic inch V8. There is not much information about the engine in this car but it is said to be rebuilt and backed by a GM Turbo 400 automatic transmission. The seller states that it runs and shifts strong. Two versions of the 400 cubic inch V8 were offered (265 hp vs 350 hp) and 2 versions of the 428 cubic inch V8 engine (370 hp vs 390 hp) were offered in 1969. The pics in the ad show that a chunk is taken out of the passenger side of the roof. Not sure how that happened but it looks like a forklift hit it.
One of the cool things about the 1969 to 1977 Grand Prix was the cockpit dash. The gauges and controls were centered and focused on the driver. I have a 1977 Grand Prix and it is one of my favorite cars to drive. The Grand Prix was the brainchild of John DeLorean to deliver a personal luxury car and it was a home run in terms of sales from day one. In 1969, Pontiac sold 112,000 Grand Prixs compared to 32,000 in the prior year before the model change.
Wheels in question are Keystone Klassics. Same construction as a Cragar SS, aluminum center welded to a steel rim. Great looking wheels, but you really had to keep up with the polishing or they would start pitting and rust bubbles on the chrome.
The GP and Monte Carlo were GM’s entry into the personal luxury market. Both had probably the longest hood GM ever built. The GP was always more sporty of the two and made great cruisers. A friend had a 71, it felt like you were cruising on air but would take the curves well also. IIRC, it was a thirsty beast , too.
I had Keystone Classics on my 70 Plymouth Duster 340, and you’re right, they did have a tendency to pit & bubble especially here in Minnesota.
I had KKs on my 55 Bel Air. Yes, they also got rust worms. Cool looking, but had to be the heaviest wheel in production.
Should have bought TorqueThrust or Welds…
Regarding the wheels, agree they are Keystone Kustomag/Klassics. I had a set on my 69 GTO back in 1971. Bruce (the author) mentioned these as “flower” mags, a term I never heard of, maybe it was a geographical thing? I grew up in the Chicago area. The only thing I can think of would be the “Daisy” wheels, originally produced by America Racing and marketed as the 200S. The design was later copied by numerous manufacturers, and also referred to as “coke bottle” wheels. My first Cragar SS wheels were on my 1969 442 back in 1973, they also began to pit, I replaced them with Appliance full steel chrome wheels that closely mimicked the SS wheel design. Despite my obsessive care, they began to rust. Every set of Cragar SS wheels I ever had pitted, no matter how well or often I cleaned and waxed them.
Is that a hole that someone took an axe to? Maybe someone used it as a target for axe throwing which is all the rage now. AC car but no compressor. What’s under those seats covers?
My friend’s father had a ’69 J back in the day. Amos would let us take it to gas it up – 20 miles away, in Glens Falls where the gas was cheaper, kind of. For us, that was always a high speed, cruising road trip. Great memories.
Buyers remorse ? Still like these o’GP’s like a buddies older sister bought new in 1969…hers was silver….she never did give me a ride….
One of the biggest transformations in car history. I think of boattail Riviera and 4-place T-bird as others. Great car that set the stage for the next decade or two.
Ahhhh Nelson … my kingdom for a boattail Rivie…
I always liked the looks of Keystone classics on the long hooded GM cars
I also think it’s a nice car a bit pricy to of not gone through yet but I’m not sure if I can put a price on love I like it recently saved a 69 buick wildcat and been restoring a 71 Pontiac LeMans GT myself to me the worth that n more but I have lots of upgrades,good luck wish I could take it off your hands..
This was my first car, purchased in 76 for $700, my best friend and I pooled our money to buy it. Neither of us had our licenses yet, and we didn’t tell our families. We took turns keeping it overnight, parking on the next street over. A year later we had a falling out, and he kept the car, and refused to pay me for my half. I leaned an important lesson there. Great car though, plenty of power, sporty enough, nice lines.
Now THAT, is a very sad story !!
If all you lost was $350 for a life lesson LEARNED, then count your blessings. I have had to learn many life lessons and they cost me a whole lot more. My divorce cost me Everything!! But I LEARNED a lot.
You shoulda wooped him.
My first car was a 69 model J. I bought it at a Buick dealership in Connecticut for $800.00. It had just hit 100,000 miles. It was fully loaded, power everything, including reverb. The previous owners were Florida snowbirds, so the car was basically rust free but had faded silver paint. It clearly was the best car I have ever owned. Powerful, roomy, and sharp looking. My friends and I took it everywhere.
gaping wound in the roof which is no easy fix and the a/c hacked out. And as said in another post what’s under the seats? I don’t know old man good luck.
Those wheels are vintage Keystone Classics, Not familiar with the term “flower mags” The best choice in my opinion is the Pontiac Rally II wheel.
SJ Grand Prix, Brimstone, black interior, padded Landau, Hurst T-tops, 400cid, TH400, limited slip-posi, AM/FM CB radio, RTS.
That’s what I had.
This GP style debuted when John Deloren was our manger. Life was real good at Pontiac Motor at that time.
Seat covers look like my lamb skin one’s. But yep, they are not see thru….
It’s nicely optioned with cornering lamps too. I like NO vinyl roof. Somebody said it’s an a/c car with no under-hood a/c parts – that’s NOT good, I hate seeing that bs. Another guy mentioned he paid $700 bucks for his and I quite agree with THAT kind of money for the car, but less than 10 grand doesn’t sound bad today either. Not bad. I wonder if that’s the original paint. I tend to think not because the drip rails are body color and they did not come that way.
These things were fast and thirsty, but this one looks really tired, a 3500$ at best.
Seriously❓Nah, it’s worth more than that…
I retract my comment: I think you hit it: $3,500 max. The car itself seems like a good starting point for a project. We don’t even know if that’s the original color. NEVER change the color of a vehicle.
A friend of mine in high school had a ’69 Grand Prix SJ with the 370 HP 428/ turbo 400. It was
a steel grayish blue color, with black interior. FAST car! He had the stock Pontiac 5 spoke wheels on it. I always liked that car… good times!
Just a week in and I’m regretting selling my 1974 SJ model
I always liked Pontiac Grand Prixs.We had a 63 midnight metallic blue with matching interior. It was still a big car until 64 when it was switched to the Lemans body. My next pick was the 1969 Grand Prix. I thought they were very sexy. We have a lot great Pontiacs because of Mr. John DeLorean. Guys like him and Lee Iaccoca made the US auto industry into the giant Big Three manufacturers that once owned the globe automotive market. We owe these guys. And, if not for that damn 1973 oil crisis who knows where the Big Three would be today. I blame that oil crisis for changing America. I had just turned 16, old enough to get my license. I was so afraid that the Big Three would never be the same. And you know, I was right. We can say they got back to normal, but it’s a much different normal. I’m just glad I was able to be around when the Big Three were at the top of their games. To this day I have never forgotten what that embargo did to our country. In 1973, we weren’t even able to put up Christmas lights, and the national maximum speed limit was 55 mph. Man did that suck.
I got to own my dream car, a 77 Gran Prix, and yes, I put Keystone Classics on it like this car. Gold and chrome, until I scored some Cragars which looked very similar to the orig Pontiac rims. Late wife totalled it on Christmas night 95. I then bought a 80 El Camino SS roller and put the drivetrain in it. With the weight reduction, it screamed in that car. I still miss it, but equally miss my 2dr 85 Caprice as well.