The Pontiac Grand Prix was born in 1962 as a personal luxury car – with some muscle built in. Based on a modified A-body platform, the car was redesigned in 1969 – and sales took off. Styling was refreshed in 1971 with the most noticeable change being a switch from dual to single headlights (like the Chevy Monte Carlo). Located in Amsterdam, Missouri, this GP is described as a survivor that could use some cosmetic TLC. It’s available here on eBay where the current bid is $1,170 (reserve unmet).
Continuing with Pontiac’s performance tradition, the 1971 Grand Prix stuck with a 400 cubic inch V8 as standard equipment. It sucked gas through a 4-barrel carburetor and deployed dual exhaust. The more potent 455 V8 was optional, but both motors now had lower compression ratios to run unleaded petrol. Sales for this generation of the Grand Prix were all over the board, thanks in part to labor issues at GM. Production peaked in 1969 (112,500 copies) vs. 58,300 in 1971.
The seller describes this vehicle as a survivor with older paint and a vinyl roof covering with some rust underneath. The heads on the 400 V8 have been rebuilt, but we don’t know about the rest of the engine or the TH-400 automatic transmission. We’re told it’s a solid runner with lots of other new parts, including the radiator, battery, carb, and some suspension pieces. The build sheet is included with the automobile so you can verify what’s numbers-matching.
This Poncho has gone through three owners in 55 years, so it’s had some stability along with its 134,000 miles. Some other paperwork has survived for the buyer to take possession of. If you want air conditioning, you’ll have to hook up the under-the-hood parts, which are in the trunk. The interior is original and okay but showing its age. Do you see yourself restoring this Pontiac?
Am I the only one who’d refuse to apply the term ‘survivor’ to a car like this?
– resprayed
– reupholstered (incorrectly, even if it was decent quality)
– engine rebuilt (to unknown spec, or possibly even replaced?)
In my book, it could perhaps have one of those things and still be rightly called a survivor. But all three? That’s an old restoration.
The dual-snorkel 455 air cleaner, the absent AC compressor and lines, and the later 15″ wheels with late ’70s stainless caps, make me wonder what other swaps and omissions are waiting to be discovered.
And, obviously, the paint could easily be hiding any number of sins. Those peel-n-stick lock guards make me think the repaint probably happened sometime between the late ’80s and mid ’90s, when these cars weren’t worth much, and subpar work could have been considered acceptable in the name of getting an ‘old car’ presentable enough to be enjoyed by its owner again.
That said – I saw this one the day it appeared on eBay, and if I didn’t already have a GP of my own, I’d be giving this one a careful look. It could have potential for a do-it-yourselfer to make into a very decent driver, for someone who cares not about originality but cost-effective fun. And that it is a ’71 would be a plus to those (myself included) who appreciate this lower-production year, with its tougher-looking grille and a few other one-year-only trim details.
To me, “survivor” means only normal maintenance items have been replaced. Paint is not a normal maintenance item. Upholstery is not a normal maintenance item.
not a survivor by any means. work under the hood is questionable from what i see. bench seat is going hold this back. buckets are always preferred in a g/p. too lazy to put the a/c back. i think there’s more to this than the owners is telling. i will be watching to see what they think they can get.
Rare bench seat car no power windows if body is strong could be a good project to update with a high option parts car
Rare bench seat car no power windows if body is strong could be a good project to update with a high option parts car
Column shifter imho decrease the value ,still someone may like it depending on price
You are right, bucket seats and console makes the car more desirable. The parts necessary for a floorshift conversion is getting expensive, the local discount wrecking yards aren’t a viable source any longer, piecing the parts together seats cores, console, shifter, floor shift column and other miscellaneous parts can easily approach $2,000.
Steve R
A lot of snooping and investing could be required, but at the right price could be a great project. Take these GP model over a Monte anyday. Great power plants and handling
It’s an okay car but I agree with the others, definitely a re-do or restoration. A survivor is a (hopefully) decently taken care of vehicle. Doesn’t have to be perfect by any means but should not be repainted, or reupholstered, or re-engined or whatever. In fact I would almost always take original paint/motor/upholstery even with some flaws over everything being remade. It’s only original once as they say.
My first assumption would be the likelihood of flood damage, via the contrasting “color” of the carpeting.