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

Year:1970 Mileage:43424
Location:

Aliso Viejo, California, United States

Aliso Viejo, California, United States
Advertising:

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 (1st) 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 50th 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.

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Auto blog

A case for Pontiac's return

Wed, Apr 5 2017

Sadly, many brands have disappeared off of the automotive landscape over the decades. Many people have imagined over the years of restarting defunct automotive brands. A few of those dreamers even made prototypes to shop around and to established connections with investors. But, alas poor Yorick, however valiant an effort, many brands are shuttered for good, rarely to be heard of again except in historical tales or maybe seen in car shows. So, what do you do when you win the lottery? Not just any lottery... In fact, it is a lottery that takes care of you and your loved ones for life? You and your family don't have to work, ever. You can give to charity, pay other people to do those projects that you've been putting off, and so on and so on. But, you're still a Car Nut right? There begins the conundrum. Do you buy and fix cars, new premium cars, old muscle cars, or classics, or maybe, just maybe, do you buy the rights to an old departed automotive brand and bring it back to life. Hmm. Which brand? The problem with the old Pontiac was that it was an additional badge engineered vehicle in the portfolio of GM. The meant the brand was diluted by competition from its own parent company, in addition to the competition outside the camp. So, if it were to come back, it would have to be different. Yet, it would still need to keep true to its roots at the same time in order to wake up its armies of existing fans. Even those that aren't fans of Pontiac cannot deny that Pontiac has a long heritage of legendary vehicles. So do Packard, and Studebaker, and others. So, why would a lottery winner choose Pontiac as the marque to bring back? That's easy! Pontiac's long heritage is closely tied to performance vehicles that made many of a teenager drool. Even more important though is that Pontiac is still fresh on people's minds. The brand itself is only recently departed. So, Boomers, Generation X, and Millenials all would all be able to identify with it as opposed to brand names that disappeared multiple decades ago and that now have a more limited appeal. The return of Pontiac couldn't just be another launch of a badge engineered vehicle. It would have to be performance oriented, yes. But, it would have to be unique in some way, a niche brand. What niche though? Look at the automotive landscape now and you see that Tesla is the one out there grabbing at the wide open electric niche with success.

Remember when Pontiac made a Trans Am Kammback grocery getter?

Thu, Nov 8 2018

Despite muscle cars having strong reputations as some of the most impractical cars one can buy, they've occasionally had one of the most useful and practical features a car can sport: a hatchback. In the 1980s, General Motors' Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird had one, and it added respectable utility to the sports cars. But the people at GM thought they could make the F-Body cars even more useful. So, after a few clay-model experiments, Pontiac built three examples of an extended-roof 1985 Pontiac Trans Am Kammback concept. Spotted by GM Authority, one of these Trans Am Kammbacks (although "shooting brake" seems like the more apt descriptor) is going on the block at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in early January 2019. Reportedly only three of these prototypes/experiments/test mules were built to driveable specs, and this example, VIN No. EX4796, has additional history that might make it the ultimate example. According to Mecum, the show car, which has made appearances at numerous auto shows, also spent some time at the race track — just not as a participant. It was used as a pace car for PPG and IMSA racing and temporarily had a light bar and "two-way communications equipment." Following its pace duty, and after GM stopped the project from going any further, it was put into Pontiac Engineering's private collection for 13 years. Famous Michigan car collector and Pontiac dealership owner John McMullen then bought the car. He eventually sent it to Pontiac specialist Scott Tiemann for a full restoration to the gorgeous condition it is in today. As seen in the photos, the Trans Am features white paint over a gray leather interior. It houses a 5.0-liter V8 under the hood and has a five-speed manual transmission. The wild concept is rare enough to be super cool, but we can't help but think of an infinitely more practical, more modern, more powerful, and arguably more interesting car we'd rather have. Manual Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon in Black Diamond anybody? Or, if you don't care about the extra doors, perhaps the Callaway's Corvette AeroWagen is more applicable. Either way, we're in full support of any shooting brakes we can find. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Hurst Edition Trans Am proves the Screaming Chicken will rise from the ashes

Wed, 31 Oct 2012

It seems the Pontiac Trans Am steadfastly refuses to die. Ever since Chevrolet was granted a retrofied Camaro to compete with the Ford Mustang, Pontiac lovers have lamented the loss of this 1970s icon. And, looking at the Hurst Edition from Trans Am Depot, shown here at the 2012 SEMA Show, may explain what all the fuss is about.
It's not going to appeal to everyone's muscle-car tastes, but there's certainly room for a brash-and-bold black-and-gold Special Edition in many a Trans Am lover's garage. After all, if you want the keys to a custom pony car, you'll certainly get noticed in this one. If this scheme isn't your bag,, you can alternatively order your Hurst Edition in white and gold or silver and black. Oh, and don't forget a color-coordinated Screaming Chicken on the hood.
No matter which way you choose to go, your inner Burt Reynolds will appreciate the Eibach suspension kit, forged wheels with Pirelli PZero tires, functional shaker hood, fender air extractors, rear spoiler and, of course, a Hurst shifter inside. The interior is emblazoned with all manner of special touches, including a Hurst dash plate and T/A stitching on the Katzkin two-tone leather seats.