1976 Pontiac Grand Prix

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!