Even in base form, the fifth-generation Grand Prix was an attractive automobile, especially from 1981 onward, after Pontiac revised the sheet metal, improving looks and aerodynamics. As popular as these cars were, I don’t recall there being many special editions, unless you count the NASCAR-inspired 1986 Grand Prix 2+2. A few others wore 2-tone paint with an unusual breakline stripe on the side separating the colors, but that was just an option and not really considered anything special. Barn Finds reader Barney recently stumbled across one I hadn’t heard of before: this 1985 Pontiac Grand Prix Americana here on Craigslist. It’s located in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and priced at $13,500. Nice find, Barney, and thanks for sending us the tip!
My internet sleuthing didn’t turn up much information about the Americana, and I have a feeling not too many buyers sprung for the package, since it apparently added an extra $2,000 to the price of a Grand Prix. Evidently, Pontiac dealers installed this exclusively, and from what I can tell, the most significant feature was a distinctive vinyl landau top that reduced the back side window size. It also included opera lighting on the B-pillars and special badges outside, so Pontiac admirers would know this wasn’t just another run-of-the-mill G-Body. The seller says he recently bought this GP from the original owner, and the exterior appears very well preserved.
Everything inside also looks much younger than four decades, and it’s great to find this one equipped with bucket seats and a center console. It’s also well-optioned for the mid-eighties, with power windows, door locks, cruise control, and a tilt-steering column among the luxurious features. However, unless I’m missing something, the sole special piece in here is one badge on the dash that reads “Americana”, so the package was almost all exterior-oriented.
The Americana didn’t include any performance upgrades, but this one does have the 305 V8 under the hood instead of a V6, and the seller says the car runs, drives, and stops nicely. The mileage is listed at 80,000, so if the mechanicals have been maintained as lovingly as the cosmetics, there’s probably plenty of life left for the next owner to enjoy. For two grand more in ’85, I might have expected a little more extra bling, but this is a sharp car nonetheless. Has anybody here ever heard of or run across a fifth-generation Pontiac Grand Prix Americana before?
Beautiful, but I’d lose the vinyl top. Great lines.
I always liked the mid ‘ 80s GM cars ( Chevy Monte Carlo SS, Buick Grand National / GNX, Oldsmobile 442 and this Grand Prix. Even though like stated the GP didn’t really have a separate sport model. To me GM had refined the looks to all f them, from their base models and came up with sport versions out of 3 of them. I guess the Grand Prix was considered more of a luxury model, like the one here. Just like Mike noticed, that landau roof on the back looks like a special version. Along with the back window being smaller, the opera windows on the sides look narrowed in the width from the standard opera windows on the GP. I know this is the only version of this GP I have ever seen. I believe it must have been a special order. I really like it though.
Never heard of it. $2000 in 81 explains why. That was a decent bank account in 81. It is a nice car though.
I grew up when 60’s Firebirds, GTO’s, Camaros and Mustangs dominated the HS parking lots.
Now I look at some of these other cars with a new appreciation, but if I think back really hard, I can remember what it was like owning and driving some of these. For me, GM is synonymous with failed headliners. How many muscle cars lost a bow or two because that friend rolled down the window at 90?
The memories for me outweigh the nostalgic desire.
But, I think I would still love a 61 convertible Catalina.
Of the G-Body Body Coupe’s this is My favorite! I remember the Americana model, the eighties were big for designer packages! The Buick Regal had the dealer installed Presidential package! That package consisted of a cloth half top , presidential package logos and gold trim! Mercury offered the Bostonian package which was very similar! In many ways the eighties were all show and no go!
I worked at a Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac, GMC dealership from 1970 thru 2008 in the body shop. I never heard of the Americana or the Buick Presidential packages. Maybe they weren’t available in Michigan. If they were the price would certainly detract from their attraction for no more than what you got for your money.
what dealership did you work at? I started working at Cadillac Mtr Clark St plant in 1975 then went to the Poletown plant when they built it. I bought my 86 GP from a dealership in Southgate.
I was a child of the 80s and these other cars of my youth. When I was a kid, I thought that cars from the 60s and 50s looked like an ancient artifacts with their big steering wheels and bench seats, while I really like this Grand Prix here this is the first time I’ve looked at a G. body and thought to myself “wow that looks like the antique that it is”.
This is the first time me seeing this edition of the GP. These were some very good cars and I use to own a’82 model until my sorry father wrecked it while I was in Germany. I remember the NASCAR 2+2 Edition and the LE, and the SE. I just didn’t like the rear greenhouse on the 2+2 but these were some good cars. Now I own a Grand National.
My mom had one exactly like this one. Really nice cars.
I have had several of the 1983 to 1987 GP’s. My first GP a was my first NEW car. A black Myrtle Motors Grand Prix GT. The GT, was a Myrtle Motors exclusive that $1500.00 adder came with 15” Rally Rims, Dual Exhaust w/spliters, 3:43 Limited Slip, black out chrome and custom work to the distributor and metering rods that did wake up that snoozy LG4. The interior was the same as in the article with a different steering wheel and Hood Tachometer. If interested go to History of the Pontiac Grand Part 3 for some details. Auto theft was high in NYC area and stolen from the garage. My other three GP’s were used cars two were beaters, but the last a White 1983 GP LE Luxury looked like the article car white with deeply padded white vinyl top and tuffed red bench seat interior. Neat car but that 231cid Buick V6 was a problematic.
Great Article!!!
I bought one in 86, it was a special order car. It had the same interior color also, had the 1/2 vinyl top, exterior color was a med. metallic Gray top too. Also a sunroof. I had the 305 V8, buckets & console. I also added a tighter ratio steering and HD radiator & trans cooler which was part of a trailering package. Also had a different cast aluminum spoke wheels and white letter tires. I believe I paid around 13 – $14,000 for it. Great car, Bought with my GM discount.
The G-bodies were great cars, but their MPG sucked. I had a 79 GP & a 79 Caprice Classic & the Caprice got better MPG than the GP
sounds like some crap package dreamed up at a sales meeting. these are not often seen, and this is loaded up w/ gauges, buckets, rally wheels. i would lose the top if possible. if you could snap this up for 10k be a good deal.
Having worked in dealerships most of my life I would suggest this is a dealer add-on and not factory.
These things came in all manner of names with nice emblems just to add more profit for the dealers.
I bought one of these for my daughter but it was a V6 and we could never get it to stop stalling so I had to ditch it. Glad this one has the V8.
Dealer add-on like the Olds Cutlass X-treme.
I’ve never heard of this Amercana edition.
No one has mentioned the Brougham which was a model from at least ’82 to the end.
Too bad it’s not a 301. That would make it a great candidate for a Pontiac 400.