Vehicle Description
In the 1970s, if you wanted a little performance with your luxury
(or was it luxury with your performance?) then Pontiac was where
you shopped. This 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix is a super low mileage
example (9045 original miles!) of the car that neatly combined a
strong-running V8 with the luxury features of a Buick, and wrapped
it all in some of the best styling of the decade.
Unlike many of its corporate cousins, the Pontiac Grand Prix didn't
seem to get clumsy-looking as the decade wore on. Instead, the
handsome long nose/short deck profile continued to be a big seller,
and with dramatic elements like the V-shaped grille and steeply
sloping rear window, it looked fast but not like a kid's car. The
handsome Bavarian Cream paint makes this subtle but hard to miss,
and it highlights why these cars were popular then and will likely
become desirable collectors' items in the near future. Note the
sweeping front fender line that continues to just about where the
driver sits, then kicks up again to finish out the quarter panel.
That's a line that's been alive since the early days of sports cars
and put to great use by GM in so many products. It looks awesome
and gives lithe proportions to even a big car like the Grand Prix.
Great paint certainly helps, with a shine that certainly seems in
line with the mileage and a set of gold pinstripes to highlight the
car's best features. Chrome was a big feature in the '70s, and the
bumpers, trim, and lenses on this Poncho all look great, and you
just can't have a luxury coupe in 1976 without a padded roof.
Sure, the tan vinyl interior is pure disco-era flash, but they
didn't skimp on the sport or luxury at Pontiac. Bench seats mean
there's plenty of room for everyone, and the upholstery is in
excellent condition, as you'd expect on a car with so few miles.
The gauges are exceptionally cool round units in a wrap-around
instrument panel, flanked by round A/C vents that complete the racy
look. There's nothing here that's been modified or even really
used, and the years have been kind because the door panels, dash
pad, carpets, and steering wheel all look almost new. Hopefully
you've gone to some garage sales and saved your 8-track tapes,
because this car has an original AM/8-track radio, which was pretty
much state-of-the-art in 1976. This car's originality is also quite
evident in the trunk where it shows factory paint, an almost
perfect mat, and what has to be the original spare tire and jack
assembly, never removed from their shelf.
A 350 cubic inch V8 was standard on the Grand Prix, and with so few
miles, this one still runs like a new car. The 2-barrel carb isn't
going to win any horsepower contests, but it's incomparably smooth,
proving once again that original cars just feel better. The engine
bay is highly original and while it shows some age, there's really
nothing it needs to make it ready for survivor-class competition.
The engine runs smoothly with impressive torque at almost any
speed, and all the decals, markings, and other little items that
are usually lost over time are present and accounted for here. It
moves with a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission and a 10-bolt
rear, and it appears that even the exhaust system is original
equipment. Color-matched Rally II wheels look great and wear
215/75/15 whitewall radials.
Incredibly clean and totally authentic, this car will be a
slam-dunk in preservation classes and reminds us how good cars were
back in the day. Call today!