The Pontiac Grand Prix has always been stylish across its generations, and I once owned a 1975 Grand Prix Model J. It was probably the most comfortable of my classic cars on the highway, and I would love to own another one someday. If you feel the same, a 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix LJ is up for auction in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, currently listed here on eBay with a bid of $8,300 and four days left. There is also a buy it now option at $15,999.
The 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix was part of the fifth generation of the model which ran from 1978-1987. Pontiac’s promotional brochure announced “There’s New Excitement In Our ’83 Grand Prix” and buyers had the choice of three levels of trim; the base, LJ, and Brougham Coupes. The model for auction on eBay is the middle-priced LJ which featured the luxury-sport trim. The seller notes that the garage kept Grand Prix has no rust on the body and that the frame was undercoated twice. The 1983 model had the distinction of having no hood ornament.
I’m a sucker for T-tops even if they were prone to leaking and they look great on this Grand Prix. The brown interior looks extremely comfortable with plush velour bucket seats while the wood-grain dashboard of the Grand Prix gives off a luxury vibe. The seller does reveal that the floor pan has some surface rust which could be cleaned up and coated. 1983 would mark the end of the Grand Prix LJ series, as the LE model would replace it in the 1984 model year.
After reaching out to the seller in regard to the mention of a new V8 engine with 2,500 miles on it, I was told the Grand Prix originally had a V6 which would have been the standard Buick 231 cubic inch producing 110 hp. However, reader Big_Fun pointed out that the VIN decodes to having the Chevrolet-based 305 V8 from the beginning, which was an optional engine on the Grand Prix in 1983. The new engine is also reported to be a Chevy 305 which produced 150 hp and the seller states the car runs and drives well. One issue which needs to be addressed is a reported issue with the title regarding the mileage. This Grand Prix LJ for sale looks to be a good classic Pontiac to drive around in. What do you readers think?
Good news; the VIN decodes to having the Chevrolet based 305 V8 from the beginning. No overdrive symbol spotted, likely rear gear ratio is 2.14 (!) or 2.41 (shout out to Stan!)
Thanks Big_Fun! I’ll make the correction and credit you.
You’re welcome. Nice write up, Christopher G.
I thought this would have factory gauges, but warning lights only. Last year of the LJ. ’84 it became the LE. It lost those neat loop bucket headrests and those articulating door pulls.
Very nice Grand Prix. I was going to say, if someone swapped engines they did a very nice neat job, and looked factory. Nice car, thanks for the write up Christopher I enjoyed it!!!
A few red flags but this everything a Pontiac Grand Prix should have: Bucket seats with the console (I love the open look head rests) and the Pontiac Rally wheels. Nice car.
Nice car! The two-tone color combinations were all gorgeous on these. I was a teen when these were new, and someone used to bring theirs to me to wax every summer. It was white and silver with the rally wheels, I can still see it.
I’ve always liked the styling of these mid to late ’80s Grand Prixs. And having T-Tops is a bonus, hopefully they don’t leak but I wouldn’t think it would be a expensive fix if they do.
Nice cars,bought one for my ex-wife. The t-tops do leek,all t-tops leek.
Eventually, sad but true.
Seller of any vehicle needs to deal with title issues. I’ve done it, it’s not impossible. Think it cost me $ 50. Sure made the car easier to sell.
these are hard to find like this with these options. i would want to see the bottom and question all the undercoat on the frame. if i were in the market i would consider it hard.15k is not out of line for what’s being pictured.
I am a G-Body guy – my first car was a 79 Cutlass (technically, an A Body at the time, but all 78-87 are now called G-Bodies) and I currently have another 79 Cutlass resto-mod. Obviously the Cutlass was my favorite, especially 78-80, but these Grand Prixes were a close 2nd. I especially liked the dashboards, even though those circles are not gauges, but circular idiot lights on this version. Good news is that all G-Bodies used a lot of the same parts. For those concerned about leaking T-tops, all of the weatherstripping is available, and even replacement steel roof panels if needed. This one doesn’t appear to need that. The bad news is that Pontiac for some reason went further than just a different dashboard (they different lines all had at least slightly different dashes). The Grand Prix has unique door panels and console, which I don’t believe have been reproduced to date. The Cutlass and Regal used the same console, with just a different top section, and door panels were generally the same shape with just insert differences across the Cutlass, Regal, Monte Carlo, El Camino and Malibu. Both the door panels and the console appear to be in good shape in this GP, so this would be one to buy and treat those pieces with care. I had a friend in high school who had one of these in black and grey two tone, and knew another that was red and black. Both of those had full gauges, might have been different years. Pretty cars, but not much performance-wise.
G-Bodys are Fun easy to work on & easily LS swapped for gobs of power & rear end swaps easily done – tons of parts available aftermarket or junkyard.
Price is right & has plenty of interior & trunk room to actually do stuff.
What’s hot now is EFI ECM Straight 6 Turbo charged for lots of low end torque & great fuel economy on Hwy.
take your pick lots of Rock Solid engines to choose from.
As a as is driver it’s meh OK – but I smell budget Project.