Some classic cars will blend into the background like an automotive chameleon, while others can’t help but boldly stand up to be noticed. It could be their styling, paint shade, interior trim, or overall condition. This 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ ticks all those boxes to create a car guaranteed to draw attention and admiring comments wherever it goes. The one place it is destined to go is a new home, with the seller listing it here on Craigslist in Georgetown, Kentucky. They set their price at $22,500, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L. for spotting this beauty.
Whenever I look at cars like this Grand Prix, I wonder how a manufacturer like Pontiac could produce such stunning and iconic cars and eventually disappear with barely a whimper. Economic rationalism is one part of the answer, although poor product planning is another factor. That leaves it to cars like this Grand Prix to carry the flame and remind the automotive world of what we’ve lost. It presents superbly in Firethorn Red with a subtle White pinstripe. The shine is incredible and looks deep enough to walk into. There is virtually nothing to fault about its presentation, with any panel or paint imperfections too minor to show in the supplied photos. The sparkling chrome is excellent, and the Rally II wheels add a sense of purpose. With flawless glass rounding out the exterior, this Pontiac is guaranteed to draw crowds wherever it goes.
Red-on-red cars can sometimes prove overwhelming, but this Grand Prix carries that combination admirably. The seats sport cloth trim, with the remaining upholstered surfaces wearing matching vinyl. There is some wrinkling on both bucket seat bases but no appreciable wear or evidence of abuse. The faux timber is excellent, and the dash and pad show no signs of UV deterioration or crumbling plastic. The sense of luxury is accentuated by the console, while air conditioning, power windows, cruise control, a tilt wheel, and AM/FM radio seal the deal.
It would be fair to expect any vehicle of this vintage to show its age under the hood, but this is another area featuring spotless presentation. Its 400ci V8 looks superb, sending 180hp to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. The inclusion of power assistance for the steering and brakes should make light work of the driving experience. This Grand Prix emerged at the height of The Malaise Era, with the modest power output and a curb weight of 4,131lbs virtually guaranteeing it is unlikely to blitz the opposition at the local drag strip. However, a ¼-mile ET of 18.4 seconds was considered respectable in 1977. This Pontiac is in excellent mechanical health, with the seller indicating it is ready for a weekend road trip or some relaxed cruising. If the buyer wants to fly in and drive this classic home, it appears that’s a viable option.
I don’t think it would be overstating the case to call this 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ stunning. Its presentation is hard to fault and would seem to suit a discerning enthusiast. Pontiac sold 288,430 Grand Prix in 1977, with 53,442 buyers selecting the SJ. The price on this one sits at the top end of the market, and although I suspect the seller won’t be inundated with inquiries, I won’t be surprised if someone finds it irresistible. Will you?
I’d prefer it to have the chrome wheel lip moldings and rocker panels, but other than that it’s a nice looking Grand Prix. My first car was a 1971 Grand Prix SJ 455 HO.
It needs the 1971 style door handles as well.
Very, very nice.
This is a nice ride in a great color, but I believe it’s missing some trim. All Grand Prixs had wheel opening moldings and rocker panel moldings. Missing trim like that always leads me to wonder if there’s Bondo in the wheel arches and rocker panels. I believe it also had a vinyl roof at one point, as it’s also missing moldings around the rear side windows.
I’ve never seen one without a vinyl top or wheel well/rocker mouldings, I believe a in person inspection is warranted on this car
I had a 77 GP LJ which was ordered w/out a VT. It was uncommon not to have one, but in retrospect, it was a good idea. The car had a sunroof anyway, so who missed a VT?!!
Also, all SJ models had the wide body side moldings. My came with Uniroyal raised white letter tires. Also had a vinyl top, but I’m not sure if it was an option?
A friend had one of these when I was young. A blast to drive, very comfortable and real nice. His was grey with a black vinyl top. Dig the color on this but am wondering about a vinyl top on this one
Sure looks clean! Good find and excellent write up.
Without all that trim it looks like Uncle Leo when his eyebrows burnt off.
helloo jeerryy!!!!
Beautiful.
We never see many 80s Grand Prix’s on Barnfinds.
I agree it’s not periodcorrect, needs wheel lip moldings and rocker panel stainless trim, and correct width whitewalls to be original.
Pontiac built its sporty image offering the iconic GTO by stuffing the full size car 389 engine into a smaller Tempest LeMans body. The Firebird cemented the image. The redesigned 1969 Grand Prix with 400 and 428 V8s only added to the luster. What happened? Emission controls. Two OPEC fuel embargoes. CAFE federal mandates. Detuning to run on unleaded gasoline. Consumer interest in MPG rather than performance. Then GM stylists made 5 divisions of cars look alike and GM brands shared engines. So there was little to distinguish a Chevy from a Pontiac for example. This 1977 represents the last of the classically styled Pontiacs. Nice color and good equipment although the horsepower had dropped since 1974.
I had a all black 77, this baby is clean!!
These were the true meaning of personal/luxury car. I have had 5 G/P Pontiac and loved every one of them.The 69 was the fastest but all of them were great road cars.Some on here say they were a Grandma car but I never saw any one with gray hair driving them around my town.
Would be even nicer with a T-Top and the Trans Am rims. I believe the car may be a repaint which may be the reason why the moldings are missing. Otherwise decent sturdy looking Grand Prix.
Dad has a 73 yellow with half V. Top Interior leather seat. Beautiful car..
When I was 10 my parents had a new 71 SJ 455, a beautiful car. It looked like a airplane inside to me with the console and bucket seats. My mom drove my uncle’s (her oldest brothers) 69 SJ 428 and really like it, so her and Pop ordered it with power everything, really tricked it out. I always liked the looks of it better than his 69, it was to square? looking to me. They traded their burgundy/burgundy 66 tripower four speed GTO in on it that one of the dealers employees bought right away. My mom could really drive that Goat, better than Pop I think, and he raced a gasser back then. Lots of good memories.
CCFisher is correct. I owned a 77 GP SJ loaded with an original cost of almost $9,000. Every option including the $587 Hurst Hatches and snowflake wheels. That car had chrome rocker trim, wheelhouse chrome, etc. I found a set of 4 NOS wheelhouse pieces in 2005. Paid $300. Sold them for $800. Parts for these cars impossible to find NOS, yet GM built about 285,000 1977 GPs. Best looking GP EVER. I now have a 50 year old Corvette. I would dump that thing in a second to get my GP back.
I, like Keith, think it’s a recent and slick repaint. The guy probably liked what he saw before putting the trim back on. Anyone who goes to look at it may find all the pieces included with her. 😉. Very nice looking ride. Just so happens I’m pretty close and wouldn’t mind doing a poop and snoop for someone if they cover expenses.
Looks like a restore which isn’t complete. Hated the 85 mph speedos these years had. My new 76 black GP with 350 was quite the dog I. Performance but looked good.
Almost all also had the rubber molding on the door and fenders.
I have a 73 SJ 455 black w white 1/2 top white buckets, factory sunroof, every option available, my car has period Appliance double basket spokes and Vogue tires, really hot car, I have my wheel opening moldings in my garage, cause my paint and wheels/tires are so beautiful, and my wheel opening moldings are all dinged, not available aftermarket, and if you find a new set, 1000.00 easy, have my car 19 years, and with its factory sunroof, it gets trophies all the time, when I’m gone let the next guy get the moldings
John there are a lot of people that restore stainless moulding for a reasonable rate. Might want to look into it if you still have them.
I have them, some of the holes for the mounting screws are for some reason bored out, I really have been trying to find NOS for not a million dollars, I found Rocker Molding, hood molding, I got a NOS header Pontiac emblem, Pd almost 500.00, trunk lock cover that slides open was insane, I got rid of the lock, it’s power, I’m getting close to selling it I think, I’m 61, have it 19 years, looking to go down to buy a place in Florida, sadly I don’t have the time I thought I would to play with it, prefer the beach now, more than ever
I live in Florida and find the beach is fun but still have lots of sunshine left in the day to drive all my cars and can do it all year round. Think twice about getting rid of that car. Happy Holidays
Also, all SJ models had the wide body side moldings. My came with Uniroyal raised white letter tires. Also had a vinyl top, but I’m not sure if it was an option?
Car looks really nice without the garish ugly polished aluminum wheel well trims and body side mouldings as well as those ugly half vinyls.Nice clean look.
I had a 77 red with white vinyl seats, every other day I would scrub the seats I always kept them white, that was my favorite car , I gotten it in 85 , I put 250,000 miles on it, it only had 85,000 on it when I bought it , I pulled my boat with it handled beautifully, never had any major problems with it , I really loved that car
Nice car..by 1977..Pontiac was dumping a lot of 301 motors in.gp’s…tho..nice car and color..like the console..had a friend that had a 75..gp..it was a nice riding car..