Finding a solid classic that needs little but leaves scope for a new owner to make their mark can be challenging, but that is the opportunity awaiting this 1969 Pontiac Grans Prix’s winning bidder. It is a tidy and solid vehicle with enough minor shortcomings to keep someone occupied in their workshop. The first thing it needs is a new home, with the seller listing it here on eBay in Tacoma, Washington. Bidding sits at $4,550 in a No Reserve auction.
Pontiac introduced its Third Generation Grand Prix in 1969, and by adopting the platform and mechanical components utilized on the LeMans, Tempest, and GTO models, the company halved the development time from thirty-six to eighteen months. Our feature car is from that first production year and makes a positive initial impression. It is worth noting that the existing White paint isn’t original. The seller indicates it underwent a repaint around ten years ago, and that might be when it received a paint shade change from the Mayfair Maize indicated on the Trim Tag. It presents well, but there are issues for potential buyers to consider. The panels are straight and solid, with the only rust revealing itself on the hood. The underside shots show nothing but a dusting of surface corrosion, meaning the winning bidder’s grinder and welder won’t be working overtime on this classic. Some light lenses show deterioration, but the remaining trim and glass condition is consistent with a survivor-grade vehicle. The wheels have been color-matched to the exterior paint shade, and the look isn’t out of place in this case.
The Grand Prix’s interior is where the new owner could make their mark without spending a fortune. The upholstered items are free from tears and physical damage, while the carpet and dash tell a similar story. Several surfaces, like the steering column and console, carry an odd appearance often associated with mildew and a damp environment. It is unclear whether they could be cleaned successfully, but the winning bidder may find they need to spend a few dollars on replacement pieces and some minor paint restoration. They can add those parts to a new parcel tray if cleaning is ineffective because it is warped beyond salvation. The aftermarket CD player installation isn’t the best I’ve seen, and the horn buttons are missing from the wheel. If cleaning addresses the issues with the column and console, whipping this interior into shape won’t break the bank.
Powering this Grand Prix is Pontiac’s legendary 400ci V8. It is unclear which version this is, but the driver should have 265hp or 350hp at their command. The power feeds to the road via a three-speed TH-400 automatic transmission, with power assistance for the steering and brakes providing an effortless driving experience. The low-power V8 would allow this classic to cover the ¼-mile in 16.3 seconds, while the 350hp version slashes that figure to 14.9 seconds. The seller believes this classic is numbers-matching and states it runs well and drives. The brakes require attention before it can be considered genuinely roadworthy, but with that issue addressed, nothing is stopping the winning bidder from indulging in some classic motoring pleasure.
This 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix could be an ideal candidate for a buyer seeking a first or hands-on project vehicle. It has shortcomings, but a competent new owner could address many of these in a home workshop. The No Reserve aspect of the auction makes it attractive, and if the bidding doesn’t intensify as the end draws near, it could be genuinely considered affordable. Are those thoughts enough to tempt you to pursue it further?
This car needs something,it’s just too plain!
How about A/C for starts.
This was my first car, except that it was black. Paid $650 for it in 1977. Had minor body damage but was overall a good looking car.
I wonder if Pontiac built any prototypes with 4 speed & Ram Air IV 400.
4 speed . . . no
R/A IV . . . no
455 4V . . . YES
No 455 in 69,but a 428 was available,and was what the following year’s 455 was based on, these are sweet cars, tuxedo wrapped muscle cars, was one moniker I’ve heard of.
Don’t know about the RA IV, but right out of high school (1972 era) I worked in a gas station. We had a regular customer that had a triple black 1971 model. It had a 455 with a four speed, I think it was a 455 SD if I remember right.
Actually the 455 super duty was only in 73 and 74,and I believe was only available in the firebird/trans am.
They did indeed but the production
numbers were very low. I’ve seen a
few of these over the years and they
must be a real blast to drive. Last time I saw one was here on BF some
time ago. That one was dark brown
with steelies and dog dish hubcaps
and boy, did it look sinister! If memory serves, the gearbox they used was the tried and true M-22
rock crusher unit used almost corporate wide. You could even get
it on the 428 and 429 engines if you
wanted it. With all that torque, it would really be a slingshot once the
second 2 barrels kicked in on the carb. If you can find one equipped
this way, 140+MPH would not be out
of the question. Nice car though, but
I think I’d change the paint to make it
more attractive. Maybe a nice dark
blue with gold pinstriping and a padded vinyl roof with coach
lamps for that luxury vibe. Cap it off
with a set of American Torque Thrust
rims wrapped in red stripe tires, and
presto! You have a winner!
Pontiac never build a 429 engine.
The 428 succeeded to the 421 in 1967 as well as the 400 succeeded in the same year. Then, in 1970, the 428 was gone and replaced by the 455.
The displacement of 429 was used by Cadillac from 1964 to 1967 and by Ford, but this is another story of course.
I had a summer job in a Huntington, NY dentist office in 1970. Dr Verschel drove up one day with a triple black 1970 SJ (I think) with a four speed and 3 pedals. Pretty doggone sure he drove it off the dealership lot like that. It impressed the heck out of me that an older guy (35!) would buy a car like that. But, he was a car guy and loved to shift . . .
One of GM’s best designs. Clean and simple, with no chrome doodads, or stripes.
So what was the difference between a 428 and a 429?
If it’s the Ford engines, the only similarities are they were both made by ford. The Ford 428 was in the FE engine family began production in 1958, whose siblings were the 332, the 352, the 360, the 390, the 410 and the infamous 427. These have a skirted block similar to the old Y-block design. The roots of the FE engines began with the Lincoln Y-block starting in 1952.
The 429 is from the 385 series of engines, its siblings are the 370 truck engine and the 460 Lincoln engine. The 385 engine uses a non skirted block design, and has cylinder heads that are similar to those used in the 335 series of engines (Cleveland), or slightly reminiscent of big block Chevrolet heads. The roots of this engine family began with the MEL engines that Ford produced for Mercury, Edsels and Lincolns back in the late 50s.
I find it annoying that GM chose to badge these cars as models J and SJ
both descriptors used by Deusenberg in the 30s. Pontiac quality could never even approach that of Deusenberg !!
4 speed . . . no
R/A IV . . . no
455 4V . . . YES
Actually only 1 cubic inch. The 429
was first used in Cadillacs from ’64
’67 and was replaced by the 472 in ’69. The 429 found it’s way into
Pontiac cars during this time and remained there until it was discontinued in ’70. It was a smooth
running mill with mountains of torque.
And when driven normally, would last
a really long time. Same thing Ford
was doing back then only Ford’s
engine survived til ’73 when the 460
took over. And that’s the way it was
in the horsepower wars. Hope that
helped.
“Freudian” slip again with the “429” moniker. 428 was used, NOT 429 in Pontiac applications. I agree with everything else you said here.
I don’t think Pontiac ever used a Cadillac engine. Would like to see some evidence of this.
Had a 72 SJ Bought in 75 when I came back from Alaska to USCG Airsta Elizabeth City NC. Black With Sage green leather. 455 under the hood. Don’t know how fast it would go but in the flatlands of coastal Carolina it would BURY the 140 speedo. With the pedal down it would nail you to the seat.
This car was likely parked outside with a cover on it for many many years. Explains the mildew covered rotten interior. You can see in pictures there is A LOT OF RUST in door jam areas, underside of doors, lower body line, everywhere and was simply repainted right over all the rust. Not even Bondo. That’s why there’s no reserve and such a low bid on auction. It needs a LOT of metal, interior, weather stripping, body, and especially motor repairs. It a 20 footer at best. But a sucker is born every day.
Much Props to the engineering genious of John DeLorean… at this price is a deal ONLY IF someone can give this a professional new color and bring those PMD rims back
Had a 1970 model j 455 sd it buried many a muscle car I used to talk people in to a1/2 mile race instead of 1/4 where u couldn’t lose it was a mean car
The reason why there were very few 455 V-8 versus the 400 V-8 was fuel economy. 400 V-8 averaged 17 mpg versus the 455 V-8 10 mpg! Dealers mainly Stocked 400 V-8 . So it was order one with the 455 V-8 or Go Home the same day with a 400 V-8. I can give testimony to the difference between the two motors. The 455 V-8 pinned you back in the seat more than the 400 V-8! It was fun to pass on 2 Lane Highways with the 455 V-8 , but you could see the gas gauge dropping quickly while passing!!! But in every day driving, the 400 V-8 was adequate and even at $1 for a gallon of gas in those days, the 17 mpg was what most drivers wanted!
With single exhaust & restrictive pancake pellet cat converter & low compression 400s & 455s of ’75 & ’76, in the t/a the 455 made only 15!! more hp & only 20 more ft lbs of torque than the 400! Ridiculous. No wonder Pontiac got rid of the 455 for ’77. lol