The personal luxury car segment of the market was hot in the 1960s and 1970s. One of the leaders was the Pontiac Grand Prix, which debuted in 1962 and ran through 2002 as a coupe. As conceived, the auto combined size, luxury, and performance into a package that resulted in the most expensive Pontiac coupe before the Trans Am of the late 1970s. This third-generation Model J (a step down from the Model SJ) from 1972 looks to be a beautiful survivor whose only flaw may be a dent in one of the rear quarter panels. Located in Dongola, Illinois, bidding on this Poncho has reached $12,700 here on eBay, but the reserve is still elusive.
Grand Prix’s were redesigned in 1969 and would give way to a companion product over at Chevrolet in 1970, the Monte Carlo. Other than a switch from dual to single headlights in 1971, the cars would keep the same shape for four years. Plans called for an all-new Grand Prix in ’72, but an extended labor strike in late 1970 caused the new A-body and G-body cars to be pushed back to 1973 with Colonnade styling as the new theme. That didn’t reduce the popularity of the car as Pontiac delivered more than 91,000 Grand Prix’s in 1972.
This Grand Prix has the standard 400 cubic inch V8, with a 4-barrel carburetor that was rated at only 250 hp thanks to a shift to SAE Net measurements. The seller’s Pontiac looks to be a part of a collection given the inside company that it’s photographed with. We’re told it runs and performs great, thanks in part to having just 52,800 miles on the odometer.
This Pontiac is said to be unrestored, which is another way of saying it’s original. That means original paint, vinyl top, upholstery, powertrain, and the works. Before moving to Illinois, this Pontiac spent most of its life in Oklahoma. Documentation comes with the car in the form of a build sheet. Once you attend to the whack the car took on the driver’s side, you’ll have a sweet ride for weekend cruises and Cars & Coffee.
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