A few days ago, I reviewed this 1972 Pontiac Grand Prix and mentioned that it was the last version of Pontiac’s personal luxury coupe that I really appreciated. Yes, I wasn’t thrilled with what followed from ’73 to ’77 (and no, I don’t subscribe to the thought: A – Body – old guys always carry a chip about their 1968-1972 GM coupes.) as one poster to that ’72 review suggested. I spent two years at a Chevy shop (’73-’74) working, seemingly endlessly, on GM’s Colonnade A-bodies and I’m not a fan. With that out of the way, let’s delve into what followed with this 1979 example of Pontiac’s downsized fifth-generation GP. Villa Hills, Kentucky is where this LJ luxury edition calls home and it’s claimed to have only experienced 35K miles of usage!
For 1978, a new, smaller version of Pontiac’s famed Grand Prix was introduced and it had shed about 600 lbs. and a foot in length from its ’77 predecessor. Still built on an A-body chassis, the designation was changed to the G-body for the 1982 model. Popular? You bet, Pontiac moved about 210K GPs in ’79 with 61K of that total wearing an LJ badge. Trim levels were three with a base model, SJ, and then LJ at the top of the heap. There was a limited production SSJ offered too but it was nothing more than a gussied-up appearance package with a padded landau top, opera windows and a brushed stainless Targa bar.
The styling of this ’79 GP, and styling is always subjective, is fairly generic – it’s a bit boxy but no aspect of it really jumps out. The two-tone original paint job is in fine nick but bland and blander hues don’t really work that well together, at least as far as accentuating the positives of this design. The seller does state that there is no frame or body panel rust – and that’s always a positive. If you think that you have seen those wheels somewhere else, you have, they’re Oldsmobile pieces.
The late ’70s downsizing affected not only exterior girth but under hood motivation as well as this Poncho is powered by a 135 net HP, 301 CI V8 engine tethered to a lightweight Turbo-Hydramatic 200, three-speed automatic transmission. The seller claims there’s a limited slip differential in place and this Tin Indian, “Runs and drives super smooth.” Also added is a dual exhaust system which makes me think this car is sans its catalytic converter (the underside image isn’t clear) – could be a problem in states that still smog check a car of this vintage.
The tan vinyl, bucket seat/center console equipped interior is in excellent condition. The seller adds, “No rips, tears or holes in the interior. No cracks on dash.” The driver’s side dash and instrument panel isn’t as hooded as the one that was first employed in ’69, but it’s still formed and oriented towards the driver – a nice continuing touch. The seller also makes mention of a new headliner and sun visors. While being an A/C equipped car, this Pontiac’s system is inoperable as it needs a compressor. Kudos to the seller for telling it like it is and not playing the usual horse-hockey about needing just a charge, or a simple line replacement or a shrug and a “I dunno what’s wrong with it”.
OK, back to that issue of mileage. This Grand Prix LJ is in excellent condition but I would prefer some documentation to back up that 35K mile claim. Regardless, this is a clean machine and you can view the listing here on craigslist where it’s available for $15,000. What’s your thought, priced right or not quite?
I like it but unless your a dyed in the wool pontiac guy who sees this as a must have there is a lot of competition at 15 grand maybe a Grand Prix with a LS already in it because G body’s work great with a LS!
Neat example but 15k? No way. Maybe half of that to the right buyer. $5-6k to move it reasonably quickly.
What else are you going to find at this price with a coolant overflow tank that matches the lower body paint almost perfectly?
“A two-tone? What’s the color combination?”
“Code 11 Cameo White over Code 54 Brittle Plastic.”
I believe this is a well-equipped base Grand Prix. LJ models had color-keyed seat belts, a “luxury cushion” steering wheel, and bright pedal trim. Those would be odd things to replace, particularly if the mileage claim is true.
Comfortable cruisers, Grand Prix, Monte, Cutlass, Regal.
Old and rare does not automatically equal valuable. What does this car offer? I certainly don’t see much.
However, if someone does see everything s/he wants in an older car in this Pontiac, more power to them.
I drove a base model 79 grand prix in high school. The paint code was 54 light yelow. It had the 301 with ac, column shift, bench seat and crank up windows. It had the same color interior but the seat belts were not black? I tossed the factory hub caps for some chrome mag wheels. I would have loved to have the buckets, console and power windows like this one. This car has alot of options for a “well-equipped base”?
Nice looking cruiser. I like the two tone and interior combo. Air and power windows for the comfort crowd. $15-grand just don’t buy what it used to.
This is a perfect example of GM generic. There is absolutely nothing special about this car other than being a low mile survivor. Cars like this destroyed Pontiac. GM has basically lost all its car business. This Pontiac is an example of bad decisions from bad management that still runs GM. They will loose their truck/SUV sales as well for the same reasons. As proof, where are the Oldsmobile and Pontiac divisions today or even Saturn? Buick seems to be their Chinese division. Cadillac makes wannabe BMW’s. Chevy is only trucks and SUV’s. GM has lost their soul and reason to be. Everything they build is group think generic. They have a history of that!
Except, they probably felt like they were on the right track.
This car’s clone, the Cutlass, was the country’s best selling car at the time.
put a set of pontiac wheels on it and loose the olds wheels
I like this GP but even with the low mileage this is not a 15K car.