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Low-Mile Survivor: 1984 Pontiac Grand Prix

Sometimes, when sellers proclaim a car is great fun to drive, you’d be forgiven for rolling your eyes when there’s zero information about updates to the chassis components to effectively improve the handling, or some tweaks under the hood to increase power output. But in some rare cases, I’ll make an exception as cars like this 1984 Pontiac Grand Prix really do look like they’d be a blast to cruise around in regardless of whether it rides on Koni dampers or has a set of Flowmasters bolted on. The Grand Prix is listed here on eBay with bidding at $7,500 with no reserve.

While I normally don’t give many style points for no-name aftermarket wheels, these polished rollers actually work quite well with the Grand Prix’s stance, helping to fill out the fender wells and giving a much-needed dose of aggression to a car more commonly found on wire-look hubcaps in a retiree’s garage. This Grand Prix shows you can dress these cars up with just a few small enhancements and change the appearance from stodgy to sporty without spending a fortune. The tinted windows aren’t my favorite look, but they work well here against the backdrop of a bright, white paint job. Fun fact: my mom owned this same car in black with a cardinal red interior.

But given the Grand Prix resides in Arizona, window tint is a necessity during the summer months. It’s certainly proven beneficial in keeping the cabin from looking like other desert climate cars left outside with no protection. The dashboard isn’t cracked and the cloth upholstery shows next to no signs of wear and tear, caused by the sun or otherwise. The seller notes the Grand Prix comes with the full assortment of power features but doesn’t mention whether the air conditioning still works. The Brougham series Grand Prix came standard with the power options and plush seating surfaces seen here. While mileage is listed in the description as 57,549, it cannot be verified.

The engine is the standard-issue 305 V8 paired to an automatic transmission the seller claims shifts smoothly. I gave some foreshadowing to my plan earlier, as I’d make this car have a little extra rumble out back and perhaps a more aggressive stance if it were mine, bringing the suspension down a few inches if such an aftermarket spring solution exists. The Grand Prix has long been an accessible first collector and/or hobby car, but with bidding approaching $8,000 and plenty of time left in the auction, the best ones that are still out there may be primed for a price escalation as enthusiasts wake up to the benefits of an accessible, yet fun to own, classic car.

Comments

  1. Avatar Moparman Member

    I’m with Jeff on this one! A cool looking, low key mid 80’s cruiser! GLWTA!! :-)

    Like 7
  2. Avatar Joe LaForm

    I own one. Rebuilding it now. I absolutely love the car and it’s really fun to drive, especially seeing the looks I get, they’re not very common anymore.

    Like 2
  3. Avatar John Oliveri

    Horrible Chevy powered Pontiac, that’s why Pontiac is where it is today, between the 305, and Buick’s miserable 231 V/6, history

    Like 3
  4. Avatar Lance Platt

    Grand Prix models were a perfect balance of luxury and sporty styling, handling and control especially the SJ models. So, I wouldn’t make big changes.. wouldn’t be a good return on investment either. I prefer the 1969-77 styling but the shorter models with the small block V8 were easier to park and still responsive. This car mileage isnt verified and it’s 36 years old but still worth a look. I just wish GM was smart enough to still build something this awesome today.

    Like 7
  5. Avatar Steve Clinton

    Looks to be in fine condition, and if the bidding doesn’t go off the charts, this 36-year-old beats the cost of any new car nowadays.

    Like 5
  6. Avatar Mark Guthmiller

    i had one, 1984 grand prix brougham, , it was white with red vinyl top. ( part of top) had the opera lights on back side windows, red interior. listed for over $13000.00 new, i bought it new in 1984 , traded it in 1988 with 52000 miles on it, really liked that car. wish i could find one like it

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Steve OBrien

    Had an ‘83 Brougham. Two toned. Light brown and cream. T-tops. Brown plush interior. Loved that car.

    Like 1
  8. Avatar Chuck Dickinson

    The equipment level of the Brougham trim must’ve changed over the years. I ordered an 81 (first yr of Brougham trim), and the rear VT and opera lamps were std.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar John Oliveri

    I had a 2 tone blue 79, and a black and saddle 80,the body style before these, bought them new, the 79 had the 301, the 80 had the V/6, got stuck w it cause the 79 got totaled in August, and I liked that body, big mistake that V/6 sucked, pretty car though

    Like 1
  10. Avatar Jim in FL

    You don’t see many of these still around, considering I personally dealer prepped probably 100 of them when I worked at the Pontiac dealer. Wonder where they all went? Agree, most of these had the wire wheel covers, occasionally one would show up with rally IIs. Lots of interesting paint combos back then. You could get silver over maroon, which changed color under a funky fade stripe.

    The 305 hurt these, couldn’t get great performance. Pontiac was really selling the a body, 6000 ste as the performance car. European was in. Dad would still take GPs for demos over the 6000s. He liked the idea of a coupe, now that we were old enough to be out of the station wagon phase.

    You could also get these with t tops, which would bring bonus cool. Nostalgia aside, these were okay to drive in a boulevard cruiser way. This will be a good buy for someone who wants to enjoy something you don’t see every day. Also poke around the Internet. Pontiac made a big deal when people started running them in NASCAR. We all got promotional Dale Earnhardt t shirts!

    We used to have one that came in the shop, owner put raised white letter tires on the rally II wheels and gave the car a bit of a rake. Nicely changed the whole attitude of the car.

    Like 3
    • Avatar John Oliveri

      Pontiac killed it loyal following with the motors they used in the 80s, no more brand pride, you were driving a Chevy or a Buick with Pontiac sheet metal, all the pride went out the window, along with performance, cause non of the American manufacturers knew how to please the government and its public, the 80s were a sad time for most American cars, saving grace was the Grand National and that was a 6 cylinder and the Fords 5.0 came and really pushed it along

      Like 0
  11. Avatar Alex83

    Jim in FL- know where they went? Junkyard unfortunately. Here in New England in the late 90s early 2000s rows and rows of g bodys. My 83 grand prix was junked in 2003 after the rear frame rails rotted off. Great car, loved it. 305 4bbl had plenty of power considering the era.

    Like 2
  12. Avatar rob mcmullen

    If it was a LJ with sunroof I would buy it,, had that car same color but with half light blue top and sunroof!! Loved that car put a 400 in and keystones looked awesome . Thanks for the memory

    Like 1
  13. Avatar Geo

    Had one in gold, that someone put a th400 and 428 into…..

    Like 1
  14. Avatar wadroc

    I used to have one 78 and drove for 27 years with no problem even same engine and transmission for 733,000 miles on it.(avg 100 miles a day)… sold it for 3300.00..

    Like 1
  15. Avatar K. R. V.

    Oh what a fantastic candidate for a nice tight LS6 swap! Along with a new 4 speed automatic. Then a suspension rebuild with high end shocks, like Koni, plus slightly stiffer springs and rear disk brakes added. Then watch the amazing looks on the faces in the mirrors!

    Like 3
  16. Avatar R.Lee

    K.R.V Has it going!

    80″s are the end of an era of full bodied and frame GM Cars. The engine performance was fair at best. But with first generation computers modifying the original blocks was easy and now replacing engines with LS Engines is easy as eating apple pie.

    This will be the last generation of cars that will in ten more years be extremely popular as new emission requirements will make owning these type of cars economical. I will own nothing but as you can service the cars easily and performance is whatever you decide, at least in most states.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Tom Lewon

    Had a maroon 1981 Gran Prix with T-Tops. V6. Original motor blew at 65K. Dropped a new one in and drove it forever. I miss that ride and those T-Tops.

    Like 0

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