Pontiac redesigned its personal luxury car, the Grand Prix, in 1969. By switching platforms, it changed from being a full-size product to an intermediate (even with the longer-than-life hood!). The public loved it and bought nearly four times as many of the Pontiac than they did in the dismal 1968 model year. The seller’s “J” model, previously restored, is rare in that only 177 copies are said to have been built with a 4-speed manual transmission (out of a total population of more than 112,000). This beauty is offered through a dealer/broker here on eBay and is available here on eBay from New Haven, Indiana for a stout $71,300 OBO.
The Grand Prix was John DeLorean’s baby, and he didn’t like the negative trajectory of sales in 1968. So, he had the troops modify the mid-size GM A-platform to create the new G-Body (which would spawn the Chevy Monte Carlo the following year). The wheelbase and overall length were shorter, making for a nimbler Grand Prix which came was a 400 cubic inch V8 as standard with a 428 being optional. The seller doesn’t mention what’s in this offering, so we’ll go with the 400. The basic version produced 265 hp while the upgraded one kicked out 350. Drivers now sat behind a “Command Seat” instrument panel which made them feel like they were flying an aircraft.
Most Grand Prix cars came with an automatic transmission, so the installation of a 4-speed from the factory is an uncommon sight. By the time you drill down by colors and options, perhaps only a handful of Grand Prix’s were produced as this car’s twin. The vehicle’s-built sheet has survived and is provided by the seller so the buyer will see exactly what he or she is getting. Hagerty pegs a J model in “good condition” to be a $13,000 car, so this must be one special GP.
The body, paint, and interior look mighty fine to me, though the seller will only give it a “high driver quality” rating. It apparently spent its prior life in a Pontiac collection that the seller had the chance to liquidate recently (we guess the owner passed away). The seller further clarifies the car’s rarity by saying that only 10% of the 4-speeds were equipped with factory air conditioning (but by the way, can any of our readers shed any light as to what the cylinder is that’s mounted next to the A/C compressor?).
Before offering the car up for sale, the seller/dealer gave the Pontiac a tune-up and flushed out the fuel system along with redoing the brakes. So, it should be turnkey ready for the buyer to drive, enjoy, and show off at events like Cars & Coffee. Offers will be considered, but only if they’re “reasonable.” Another plus for this beauty is that it’s fully numbers-matching. The mileage is said to be close to 64,000, but we don’t know how many it had when the older restoration was done.
I always did like these, especially the later models with the rectangular headlamps. Much better looking than its cousin the Monte Carlo. This one is very interesting as I never saw one with a 4 speed. This car looks great and who needs anything more than a “high quality driver” anyway. P/S That big tank beside the compressor was called a muffler.
Beautiful car. Price is out of sight. That “muffler” used to be called the AC dryer.
No, that is a muffler, not a drier. Mufflers are used on a number of vehicles’ a/c systems. You’ll seldom see one on a Chevy, but more expensive cars go through extra lengths to keep the a/c quiet
Wow. The condition of that interior.
Dixon good news to report. The ultra rare four speed model came w the 4Bbl Rochester carb..350hp/445lb-ft. 💪
And Pontiac, displaying its HotRod roots, made 3.55 gear ⚙️ standard.
This owner new exactly what they were doing when ordering too. Added the limited slip rear. 🏁 What a great car.
There were 646 Grand Prix built with a 4-speed in 1969. These were split among Model J 400, Model J 428, and Model SJ 428.
WOW! A 4 Speed! Such a beauty! I often wonder, though, with such an immaculate restoration why a new dome light cover was not sourced? It’s a small thing, but it’s details like that that stand out (to me, at least!) GLWTA!! :-)
Not to be Negative Nelly, but to me when they skip little details like that, how many big details did they skip, if any work was done at all. Besides that, at this price the car should have a 428.
I don’t believe the upholstery is right.
These are my favorite years with that Indy front snout and dual headlights. It was like a 70 Chevelle and 73 Tbird had a baby. Pontiac was always a lot like Dodge in going the extra steps to be unique and powerful. Making a 400 the base powerplant makes a statement. Remember their old slogan? “We build excitement”
Nice but way too much asking price.
Friend bought a new black on black 69SJ with a 4 speed and 428. Traded it the following year 70 for a SJ 455/4sp. Both were beauties
So it’s a lower lever “J” with a 4-speed and a 400. So what. For that price it should be an SJ 428, 4-speed in the same condition and even that’s a stretch. He’s not going to get his price.
You are being a Negative Nelly
But Terrry with three “R’s” is not wrong. For the asking price, this GP should house a 428 in the engine compartment. Then, it would be tough to complain about the price. As it sits now, it’s a cool GP that is tens of thousands of dollars over priced.
Ahhh why the he double hockey sticks they did not make many with the manual? Cars that should have:
Grand Prix, Monte Carlo, Buick Riveria, gutless. Ford Thunderbird all years! More torinos and cougars, all their mid sized cars. In fact all manufacturers should have offered them. If you want one, it should be a simple order.
EXACTLY!, in the early 80’s after high school one of my best friends older brothers running buddies had a 70’s Cutlass with a 4speed, while the Chevelle and such often had the manual trans, I had never seen an Olds like that, nor a Pontiac. this is very cool, and if it were a 428SJ 4speed it would be even more amazing
Not a bad looking car. I’ve always liked them, but there’s no way it’s worth $70K. The questionable mileage doesn’t help it either. Oh well…
That part that is attached to the A/C compressor almost looks like a fuel filter setup of some kind. Look at the lines and where they go.
Perhaps the seller has sloppy handwriting, and the first digit of the asking price should be a 1, instead of a 7?!
Fantastic car! I watched a three speed manual that did not appear to be nearly as nice and no air conditioning sell for right around $40K a few months ago. I’ve also seen two 428 4-speed cars sell for well over $100K (and owned one that I got nearly 100K for several years ago) so this one no doubt is somewhere in between. I guess the debate is one of the things that makes the hobby fun.
A beautiful black 65 starfire 4 speed didn’t sell at barrett Jackson for a asking of 35000 last bid! And only around 50 of them were made with the muncie 4 speeds! So 70000 is astronomical price! A beauty but they don’t command this kind of money! Not a corvette or a mustang or a cameo ect…
Wondering how many of those Grand Prix’s got ordered without a vinyl top. It looks awesome without one though. If the seller is serious about selling it, the offers will tell them what is it value. 70k seems steep.
Sell is high as a kite on mushrooms with that asking price. A base ‘69 Grand Prix Model J with a manual transmission. No power options (like most GP’s have) Windows/Locks/Seat/Trunk/Seat back releases
The only option notable is a/c. Power steering and power brakes were options, but expected at this price point. In this condition (pretty nice) worth about $12,500-$15,000 max. Good luck trying for $50K more…
1970-1072 are by far my favorite Grand Prix’s I love the no vinyl top but 70k is way too high rare or not. Still a beautiful car though.
Sorry, nice car, somewhat rare…but that price!…are they kidding us???….if I were very rich, I’d never even consider that astronomical price figure….crazy!
Only 177 Model J cars came from the factory that built the Grand Prix and with four speed manual transmission. Of those, it is estimated that only about 10% received air conditioning making this likely less than one of 20 built.
And as stated previously when you factor in Model J, with AC, 4 speed AND no vinyl top, how many of THOSE were built?
Rarity is often worth money, but not that much.
I agree, it’s a fuel filter. Look at the lines to it.
Sale ended! Looks like it didn’t sell.
As Frank TA said, sale ended, no deal. The best GP in the world isn’t worth even $40,000. I love them, had a silver one years ago, but the truth is no one is going to spend that kind of money. As for this car, yes, beautiful. No useless vinyl top to rot the car to pieces and a four speed for real men.
Back around 71-72 a friend had a Verduro Green 69 400 4 speed Model J, it was the only 4 speed GP I’ve ever seen in person. In 1970 my second cousin bought an equally odd 70 Monte Carlo with a 350 4bbl 4 speed and bench seat. He had a 68 Corvette but by 1970 he’d gotten so many tickets (and a couple accidents) with it that he couldn’t afford the insurance. The 4 speed Monte was low profile enough that the insurance company didn’t give him trouble about it. The 69-72 Grand Prix’s were nice cars, in 72 my mother traded her 68 LeMans in on a new GP.
As has been said, the long horizontal cylinder to the right of the compressor is the AC muffler, part of the AC hose assembly. The vertical cylinder to the left of the compressor is the fuel filter.