Pontiac produced the Grand Prix SSJ Hurst in three years, 1970 to 1972. In 1970 there were 272 produced, in 1971 there were 157 produced, and in 1972 there were only 60 produced. Actually, Pontiac produced a basic Grand Prix J model and sent them to Hurst to have the gold accents and vinyl roof installed. This is one produced in the 1972 model year. If you’re a regular reader of Barnfinds, you may have read articles on these cars before. This is actually the third time we have written an article on a 1972 Hurst. If you would like to read the previous articles the links are provided below. This 1972 Pontiac Grand Prix SSJ Hurst is for sale here on eBay in Wakefield, Massachusetts. Of the three, this one is in the best condition.
While it is in the best condition, it is not in perfect condition. The seller says that this one is rust free and was apparently rust proofed when new. I’m not sure I totally agree. Take a good look at the bottom corners of the doors and lower exterior panels. Hopefully, it is surface rust and has not eaten through the metal. The original vinyl landau top has been removed but the moldings are still with the car in case the buyer wishes to restore back to original and include the vinyl roof.
The interior was available in either cloth or Morrokide (vinyl). This one has cloth bucket seats, but unfortunately, they are not in very good condition. The original steering wheel is in the trunk. The Hurst option included a power sliding sunroof, but this one is not working. The carpeting has been replaced and is in good condition.
The engine is the 455 4 barrel V-8. It runs and drives good according to the seller. The odometer shows 28,695 which is believed to be 128,695. The car has new tires, brakes, master cylinder, and hoses. Also, the gas tank and radiator have been refurbished as well as transmission serviced.
A copy of the dealer invoice is included. While the invoice shows all options included on this Grand Prix, it does not list it as a special model nor does it list the SSJ Hurst option. I assume that it may have had an extra addition to the window sticker that showed the extra cost of the SSJ Hurst option, much like cars once did when things like interior or exterior conditioning packages were added at the dealer. This car was originally delivered to Jim Herrin Pontiac in Findlay, Ohio.
This 1972 Pontiac Grand Prix SSJ Hurst has a Buy it Now price of $14,500. While it is quite rare, it will take a few more thousand dollars to bring it back to the look of the original. Yet it could be enjoyed in the current condition.
Click below to read articles on previous 1972 Pontiac Grand Prix SSJ Hurst on Barnfinds:
God, what a beauty this was when new. Doesn’t look all that bad even now until you really look close. While not the basket case of the other two examples it’s still rough.
Having an original interior is meaningless when it’s in this condition. It’s all gotta get redone to be serviceable. Pretty sure the exterior metal may be free of rust through but it doesn’t look rust free. With the minor dents & scrapes it needs a full redo too.
So there goes at least $10k. Probably still a worthwhile project but better off finding a nicely restored or cherry original for around $25k.
personally, i prefer the double headlight front ends on the ’69-70’s a lot more.
Just too much vacant real estate in the nose on these later models.
Make mine a 390hp 428 Model J with a 4-speed if you can find one. I’d settle for a ’70 SSJ if not.
Hey Poseur, I agree with you about the four headlights of the 69-70 GP’s. My 69 had the 370 horse 428 with the factory Hurst 4 speed, although the motor had been rebuilt and bored 0.30 over so it was a 390 horse (with a factory rated 472 ft lb of torque!) when I picked it up from Nickey Chicago, home of the backwards k in the name, and one of the Chicago area hot rod dealers along with Mr. Norms Grand Spalding Dodge. My Pamela the Pontiac was in the September 2011 issue of Muscle Car Review for those who want to see a beautiful, special order paint (Castilian Bronze) 1969 Grand Prix. And I would check every stamp and the PHS Documents to verify if this car is a real SSJ. I personally don’t think it is. AT ALL. Nobody gets rid of/loses ALL of the badges on a specialty item. Can you imagine not having YSC and the Yenko badges NOT on one? Or a Baldwin Motion Chevy? Come on. There’s no way. Why not take the red inner fenders off of a W30 because you think they don’t go with the car! This is the truest case of “buyer beware”…
wow, man. that’s a beauty. with a 4-speed and 428 i believe i’d keep it forever. wonderful color….don’t know that i’ve seen it before. great car!
no ssj grand prixs were four speed cars. all automatics. phs docs will not spell out ssj option but the ship to code at the bottom, like 50-12, will determine it was delivered to hurst for the modifications.
Another outstanding car. Look what comes through here, if one had money, what choices you had back then, not like the choices of today, if any. This one is a bit rough around the edges, but to be expected, these were drivers cars. I’m not sure the Hurst part of it warrants the asking price, it wasn’t much different than a regular GP. If the Hurst part does something for you, this is rare, but for $15g’s, I see several regular long hood GP’s ready to go.
Not my kind of car, but it’s pretty impressive looking. I like the lines of the rear half. You don’t see many of these on the road, so it would make for a unique restoration. Lots of potential!
The invoice doesn’t show the ~$1200 SSJ option or the Moonroof. Makes you wonder.
I believe the process involved ordering a regular coupe from Pontiac (invoice shown above) and then there was a separate order form to fill out for Hurst (not shown above) which would show the SSJ package and any additional desired options. The standard couple would be sent to Hurst and modified to order prior to delivery.
Steve, it’s a steel-panel power sunroof; not a ‘moonroof’ tinted glass panel. Those were not available on GP’s until `76. But you’re right; no listing for that option. (Q: Did Hurst add the sunroofs as part of the pkg.,, or the factory?)
The “shipped to” location of 50 012 (highlighted on the invoice pictured) indicates that the car went to Hurst in Roseville MI for SSJ conversion. The sunroof was part of the SSJ package.
A very nice find. I always loved the inimitable lines and performance of Pontiac’s luxury GTO!
Had a 71 GP back in the day and I loved that car. I would love to own one of these and have always liked them.
I had a 1977 SJ for 9 years, with all options except sunroof because it had the Hurst hatch T tops. Still one of my favorite. The Hurst GP is on my bucket list. Time for some crowd funding!
I guess I’m a little out of touch with modern Trends what is crowd funding?🤓
It may run, but that’s about it. Someone rattle-canned the honeycomb wheels some weird non-Hurst gold color; same goes for the gold paint on the hood/roof. I’d need more proof of this being a true SSJ Hurst model before I committed; so far Im not seeing anything. The interior is standard fare for a `72, and needs A LOT of work. Big bucks there. Sunroof was an option on all Grand Prixs in `72; not just the SSJ models, and who knows what that would cost to get working again. IMHO, this car is about $6K too high.
I agree. It seems like a lot to pay for an undocumented “Hurst” car…
The 50-012 shipping code verifies it to be an SSJ, although not every SSJ got that code…
Sunroofs were not available from the factory for the 1972 Pontiac line. If I’m not mistaken, only Cadillac and a few Ford/Lincoln cars had a sunroof as a factory option then.
Thats why HURST installed the sunroofs. You could also get a tv if memory serves…
I found a 1972 SSJ Grand Prix , car waa full of rust, it was love at first sight !
I learned at lot from that car. The sun roof comes from a 1972 caddy , so if you need parts thats another option. I also learned when you restore a car , insure the recepits along with the car.(mine was stolen, we found it, but it was beyond repair).
The biggest thing i learned ( for me) never ever restore a car with rust !!.
How i loved that car !
I know this car well, and I’ve been into the SSJ GPs since around 1986 when I bought my first one in Pittsburgh. My brother and I currently have 4 of these cars in our garages…
The 50-012 on the build sheet confirms it was sent to Hurst Performance from the Pontiac assembly line, but Hurst had little to do with it.
Hurst hired a company called WISCO (Webasto) to do these Hurst SSJ conversions on Groesbeck Highway in Roseville, Michigan. Webasto was one of the expert companies doing sunroofs back in that era, and they’re still in that business today.
Webasto was also doing their own gig on higher-end cars like Cadillacs and Lincolns, thus the ability to paint, stripe, and add tons of oddball options.
This particular SSJ was out of Ohio, and it belonged to a guy named Norm Nelson, who I corresponded with regularly. Something happened to him and this car went into a 25 year warehouse slumber, which is where it fell into disrepair. Norm was very proud of it and he took very good care of it, until the long-term hiatus.
It then went to another friend of mine in Louisiana who had big plans for it, but ultimately decided otherwise.
Here’s one of my SSJs that got a “dual conversion” of Hurst-offered items as well as another group of options offered through WISCO’s El Clasico package (yes, it really has those original items from 1972, it’s not a Pep Boys backyard special):
http://www.timelessmuscle.com/features/feature-cars/pontiac/car-feature-grand-prix-ssj-el-clasico/
If any of you guys and gals want to talk about these SSJs, email me at hurstssj@gmail.com
Harvey
Thanks for the post, Harvey.
This is one of the reasons why I like Barn Finds – it has a big reach and readers are eager to share their knowledge.
I’m sure the owner would share this information with anyone really serious about the car, but it’s great to get the inside story from someone without a financial interest involved.
The SSJ’s are rare, but I always found it odd that they started with a model J and not and SJ Grand Prix, but they(Hurst) billed it as being above the SJ, but it really wasn’t since had a few standard features that he J’s didn’t have, though you could get J that was about 99% the same as an SJ.
Me, I’d rather have an SJ over an SSJ, I think all the years of this 69-72 gen Grand Prix are good looking cars, sort of a GTO-Eldorado, the 4 headlight front is good looking, but the boat tail rear on the 71-72 is also really sharp.
For 1970, an SSJ could have been either a J or SJ. For 1971/72, Hurst required the car to be a J, but in 1972, they relaxed that a bit. I have a 1972 SJ that got converted (and it’s documented).
I too am a fan of the ’69-’70 GP double-sided headlights. Sure wish I could find that September 2011 Muscle Car Review online featuring Johnny Joseph’s ’69 GP.
I don’t think Jesse will be upset with me mentioning this. Regarding Hurst related vehicles, I just want to mention that several weeks ago through the social media FB, I arranged to purchase a signed copy of the “Hurst Equipped” hardcover book co-authored by Barn Finds member, Richard Truesdell. When I received the book, I was blown away by the quality of the book and the pages. It’s a fabulous book with a beautiful jacket packed with a wealth of information and pictures to back up the featured Hurst related vehicles. It’s one of those automobile books that you just don’t want to put down.
RoughDiamond is correct about this book, it is a treasure house of Hurst info. It not only covers the cars, but also George himself. Who knows how many lives have been saved by the Jaws Of Life, which he invented and produced.
I have a copy signed by both authors, and by Linda Vaughn (in the book, by my car, ’91 Olds Custom Cruiser).
Read it if you get the chance, you will be enlightened.
Great info from everybody. My buddy Pete had a 69 GP with a 428 auto in cream color with a brown vinyl top. Super sweet car that cemented my love for them. We had 6 guys piled in the car one night and we pulled up on my friend Kevin in his 79 Trans Am in martinique blue. Kevin got on it and Pete walked him like he was standing still. Man if I could find that car that would go nice next to my 78 T/A in the garage.
Where is the Hurst shifter I work at a Pontiac dealership and drive one and it had one in it
Russell,
Bucket seat cars didn’t get a Hurst shifter (unless added by dealership or owner), but bench seat SSJs got Hurst’s Auto/Stick 1 shifter during the Hurst conversion.
Sorry I checked the car in I was in new car check in at the time and it was in it and no bench seats and we didn’t ad it I Work at Walker Pontiac for 18 years