1970 (phs Authenticated) Pontiac Grand Prix Sj 455 Ho, 43,424 Original Miles on 2040-cars

1970 (PHS authenticated) Pontiac Grand Prix SJ 455 HO, 43,424 original miles.

Purchased by me from an 83 year old woman in June of 2003.

I’ve shown it many times and am a stickler for originality, but veered off on this one.  It was just too much fun to drive. Well, I pushed her too hard and blew the engine, but not so bad that I was able to drive it to the mechanic. The block is the original block and the transmission and rear end are assumed original as well, so I’m 99% certain it is numbers matching car.

I took the car to a hot rod / drag strip rebuilder and told him to put all the after market go fast(er) stuff into it, with the limit look original (e.g. Edelbrok stampings) be filed off or filled in.  The engine was to look as close to stock as possible. The exhaust was replaced with a high performance system and sounds the part without being obnoxious. The car is running on synthetic oil.

The car does not idle smoothly due to the aggressive cam lobes installed (for GO FAST), but immediately runs smooth as silk as soon as any gas is applied.  After 3 years in storage, a tune up would probably help it idle a little smoother, but it will never idle smooth (by design). She’s a sleeper!

$11,264.79 later, if it was fun to drive, now it’s almost scary! I have not had it dynode, but the mechanic guarantees me a minimum of 500 horses.

I’ve stored it for the last 3 year, in A/C, Heated, climate controlled garage.

All it took to recommision it was a new battery (August 2014). A/C flushed and recharged (August 2014), no parts needed, hoses need to be resnugged. It blows ICE COLD.

Protecto-Plate and original build sheet (in scorched condition), PHS reproduction window sticker reproduction and other PHS documentation included.

Equipped with driver’s power seat, passenger’s is manual. Tilt steering wheel. Soft ray tinted windshield, but the rest of the windows have been tinted by the previous (1^st) owner. Correct T3 Headlamps. Cornering lights function. All Power windows work. Has original rally wheels with beauty rings. AM radio & Rally clock (both not working). Funny yesterday, someone asked me if I’ve checked the fuses. I have not. So could be a very easy fix, or not. Just never bothered me.

I have added NOS door edge guards and a period correct passenger side rear view mirror, driver’s side is remote control. Current tires purchased, June 2004, mileage 40,772. So less than 3k on the tires.

Additional Interesting History and description of the car’s condition

This SJ final assembly point was Fremont California & Sold new in San Diego as a 50^th birthday present to a woman that would have nothing to-do with muscle cars. So, her husband snuck this one in on her; accounting for the low mileage. It was just too much car for her, at 500 lbs feet of torque off the assembly line. When the original owners retired they moved to Las Vegas, so the car has always been in a dry environment, free of salt. Then I brought it back to Orange County (Southern) California.

At some point before I purchased the car was freshened, repainted original Granada Gold, and White vinyl top replaced (with incorrect grain pattern that was & is easier to keep clean).

The interior is nearly flawless: Original seat covers, carpet may or my not be original, but with so low mileage, I assume it is. No cracks on the dash. The shifter surround’s crackle paint was pealing, typical for this car; but I had it blasted, re-chromed and refinished and looks brand new ($500.00). The headliner is flawless, hold that the trim has pulled back slightly at the top of the passenger’s side rear (top) window trim.

There is a scuff on the on the side of the drivers side rear bumper. No deformation.

Rust? Not atypical of a car of this era, there is slight bubbling under the vinyl top, at the lower corners of the rear window. And oddly enough, there is one 1 inch bubble on the drivers side fender. That’s it.

Paint is near show quality, but at some point, someone got a bit aggressive polishing the passenger’s side quarter panel, just behind the wheel. Also, to nit pic, there are some drip stains just behind the driver’s door from when the engine was being rebuilt/upgraded stored indoors below another car.  When I saw this, I immediately had the car towed 20 miles back to my climate controlled garage for storage until the engine was completed.

Notes, she was 50 in 1971, so was 82 in 2003, when I purchased the car. Meaning it averaged only 1,300 miles per year. This is the car from the little old lady from Pasadena.

 Bringing a car back to concourse condition is a very costly adventure. As my hard head has now experienced with 3 cars.  Total investment in this car by me exceeds $27,000.00. So I’ve taken the hit. If you want a concourse car, this car needs very little. If you want a driver, local show car, etc. This is it. (not to worry, I do not expect to recoup my investment) Reserve is reasonable as I’ve been watching Grand Prixs on Ebay. Haggerty Insurance agreed value, $18k, and my reserve is well below that.

Happy bidding and GOOD LUCK.