GM had a racing problem in the 1980’s: The sleeker, more aerodynamic Ford Thunderbird was beating the squared-off, not-so-aerodynamic boxy styling of GM’s Grand Prix and Monte Carlo on the Nascar racing circuit. Solution: The Aeroocoupe. A limited-edition attempt at streamlining the existing G-Bodies so they could officially be raced on the big oval. Some call it “love it or hate it” styling, but GM’s goal was accomplished and the reduced drag helped GM perform better on the race track. I remember not seeing many of these on the road back then (and when I did, I definitely noticed that large, curved rear window treatment). With only a total of 1,225 Grand Prix Aerocoupes built during a one-year-only 1986 production run, that’s the reason why. Here’s a very clean, well-documented survivor with 21,675 miles on the clock. This 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix Aerocoupe 2+2 is currently located in Lugoff, South Carolina, and for sale here on eBay. As of this writing, it had received nine bids, but the $7,600 top bid hadn’t met the seller’s reserve. A special thanks to Skibaron for sending this rare Poncho our way.
I must compliment the seller for supplying very good photos and an even better description and history of the Grand Prix. The original owner bought it new from Callaremi Pontiac Buick Cadillac GMC Trucks in Hackettstown, NJ, and later moved to North Carolina in 2007. After 33 years of ownership, the Aerocoupe was sold to a fellow Tarheel in 2019, who only owned it a few months before selling it to the current owner on September 19, 2019. These Grand Prix 2+2’s only came in silver (with a charcoal-colored lower body trim accented by a red stripe), and the seller says its original paint still shines and is very presentable, but some areas appear lighter than others depending on the lighting. The rear spoiler shows some cracks in its paint and the passenger side front bumper has some small scrapes, but overall, the exterior looks very good and straight for a 37-year-old car.
The silver theme is carried into the cockpit and the original interior looks very good as well for its age, but isn’t perfect. The seller points out and supplies photos of the wear on the edge of the drivers seat and an area of separation in the lower corner piping, plus shows some small black stains on the rear seat cushion. There’s also some visible elbow wear on the fabric above the driver’s side armrest. We’re told that the AC works well (and was converted to R134a in 2007) as do the power windows, power locks and dash clock. The radio works, but the rear radio speakers were replaced by the previous owner and the original speakers are included in the sale. The nice leather-covered steering wheel has been restored and the headliner and sun visors have been replaced.
The Grand Prix 2+2 still has its original power plant, a 305-cubic inch, 4-barrel carb V8 engine that’s mated to a Turbo Hyrda-Matic 200-4R transmission. 21,675 miles are showing on the odometer. The seller says the Grand Prix “runs and drives great, doesn’t burn or leak oil, and drives great in town or on the highway where it floats along.” There’s also plenty of documentation, receipts, the original build sheet, some extra parts, and more. The seller is located less than two hours from the Charlotte, NC Airport and invites the next owner to fly in and drive it home. So, what do you think of this limited-production Grand Prix Aerocoupe? Ever owned or driven one?
Some guy here in Tampa has one of these. Truly an oddity. Soooo much plastic.
I would love it because it’s far more rare than the Chevy Monte Carlo SS of the 1980s and more unique to bring to car shows and as I said before when these show up here-> this IS my holy grail 80s dream car.
Have one… often get asked what year Grand National it is. Mine has Richard Petty’s autograph on the dash.
There is one in PA. 85 square back. One owner 52000 miles. All original. 6 cylinder with a knock. Body has some rust. Trunk and interior looks good. Can be had cheap, basically anything above scrap price. 5704894181
In college, I worked in a resort across from the Daytona Speedway where the petty team stayed and there must have been 10 of these in the lot. Not much power, but they were interesting. I do remember the NASCAR people were great tippers…
It’s not so much that the Tbirds were fast. The truth is that Awesome Bill from Dawsonville was beating the pants off every race team out there. He just happened to be the son of a Ford dealer with a brother that knew how to get horsepower out of any engine.
Ahh yes another overpriced under powered 80s mailaise era masterpiece for sale.should take the $7600 and run with it.
He’s at fifteen thousand now with time to go.
That ridiculous, any 1980’s “muscle car” isn’t worth over 10k. They looked cool but lacked any real power.
Effin 85mph Speedometer… says it all
All cars sold in the US market during that era were required to have 85 MPH speedos.
Some mfrs. got clever and realized they could omit the needle peg and even provide additional tick marks beyond the 85 as long as they weren’t labeled, but I don’t think that was done here.
Rare chance to correct a GM mistake here, put a T/A 400 in this & drive it like Burt would.
The interiors on these were nicer than the Monte SS. Once again the bean counters at GM ruined what could have been a Mean Poncho Machine. They could have at least given it the 305 TPI or jumped ahead to the 350 TPI. The Grand National and GNX ruled this platform They blew the doors off of these, the Montes, and the 442. Unfortunately GM made it another “all show and no go car. Despite all of it, however, it will still have a place in NASCAR history. Someone will buy it and enjoy it for that. Or maybe someone will drop a nasty GM crate motor in it. A nice piece of history.
Dan, your comment about the crate motor is correct. I had an 86 with the 305, took that out, put a 300 hp ZZ3 350 in it and a 342 rear from a 442. Loved that car. Then there was the 78 GP I had, took out the dead 301 and dropped in my 428 from a 69 GP. Sweeet.
Odd that this did not use Chevy’s rear window & larger trunk lid that its Monte SS aerocoupe used.