A design homerun in my opinion, this incredible time machine 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix has been in the same family since it was new. I have only owned one vehicle that long, a 1966 Yamaha YL-1 Twin Jet 100 and that’s no Grand Prix. The seller has this beauty posted here on craigslist in Clearwater, Minnesota and they’re asking $9,500 or best offer. Here is the original listing.
The short deck/long hood design is beautiful on the second through the fourth-generation Grand Prix. This third-generation Grand Prix was made in 1972 for the 1973 model year and this car is the last year for the series and the last year for the big models: 1977. The following year 1978, GM downsized them, lopping off almost a foot-and-a-half in length.
All of the US car manufacturers had to work with safety and emissions regulations that kept creeping up on them, forcing car companies to add bigger bumpers and to also offer smaller engines to deal with rising gas prices and shortages. This Grand Prix is the last of the run to have big chrome bumpers, the following models would have body-colored bumpers that seemed more integrated with the design, something that we take for granted today.
The seller has provided two photos showing the seats and I don’t see any flaws, and how about that classic transmission hump cup holder/garbage holder? That was one of the first things I’d buy whenever I got another car before cup holders became a thing. You know, because now humans would shrivel up and die instantly if they didn’t have a coffee or bottle of water with them at all times. The seller has provided underside photos which is very nice for a craigslist ad, and it looks solid with some typical light corrosion underneath.
And, an engine photo! 2022 is looking up! This is the smallest engine available for this car, a Pontiac 301 cubic-inch V8 which had 135 hp and 245 lb-ft of torque. The seller says that the AC has been converted to R143a and it blows cold, but the in-dash clock doesn’t work nor does the dealer-installed cruise control. They don’t say how it runs but I’m assuming that it starts, stops, shifts, and rides well. Hagerty is at $7,400 for a #3 good condition car and $14,900 for a #2 excellent condition car – but those are with a 350 V8. Are there any fans of the last of the big Grand Prix models out there?
In the 80’s a buddy of mine had this in silver with white buckets and console and t tops was beautiful car road like glass. real nice. Days are long gone for style all the cars today are cookie cutter molds!!!!
In 2005, I bought a loaded silver on red velour 77 SJ off eBay. Flew to North Carolina and drove it home 500 miles. Not an issue. Had every option, even Hurst Hatches and snowflakes. Like an idiot sold it for $4,500 18 months later. I know the car is in Texas, but not registered since 2015. I will pay anything to get that car back. I have the VIN to avoid scammers. Finders fee paid.
My dad had one and traded it in for a newer model 2 later. He loved Pontiac Gran Prix’s.
I’ve always wondered myself why cars had ashtrays going back to the 1910s but it took until the mid-’80s for cupholders, given that the smoking rate peaked around 60% of adults in the early ’60s and consuming water is a basic requirement of life.
I think at the time it was seen as more of a driving distraction distraction. I do recall the inside of the glove compartment door on many cars had to indents to put your cups on, presumably while parked at your local burger joint
That’s a beautiful car. I’m a sucker for just about any GM car from the 40’s thru the 70’s. One thing: Smallest engine available AND a trailer hitch?! Watch out for hills…
These Colonnade cars are the best of what we had style wise in the 70s IMO.
I believe the colonnade cars were the fastback style, not these coupe style.
Well Scotty id be interested in hearing about your Yamaha. My HS drivers ed teacher wrangled a whole handful of these cars for our course. Also somehow a CanAm. I always thought the looked good.
I had a all black 77 years ago, mine had the bucket seats, center console and sunroof.
My parents had a triple black one also, beautiful car.
Actually, the 1978 through 1985 models that followed these, also had ‘chrome bumpers’ and not ‘color-keyed’ body-matching items… those first appeared on GP in 1988. Beautiful car featured here! Loved my 1976…. my 1978 t-top GP was a piece of mixed-metrics junk that I bought new! But I still love Pontiac’s anyway–
Actually the 1997 Grand Prix had body colored bumpers and was the first year of the supercharged GTP 3.8 front drive engine in the GP.
Sorry, had too too many cars. 1997 was the GTP I was referring too. My bad.
Nice……should be gone…….
As beautiful as this car is – and it is beautiful – I can’t imagine what it would be like with a 301 in it. Slow as molasses. If I were to buy one of these it would have to have the 400.
Oh that GM 301….knock 2500 off that bin price and you might speak some interest. A 301 in a car that heavy is a total waste not to mention a trailer hitch….can barely get out of it’s own way!
GONE, not surprisingly.