Top 5 Strange Facts About the Awesome 1969-72 Pontiac Grand Prix!

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Rare Classic Cars & Automotive History

Rare Classic Cars & Automotive History

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 422
@ventman929
@ventman929 Жыл бұрын
Back in the early to mid 1970's, i owned 5 GP's.....the 69 with the 428 was an animal....the 72 SJ with 455 was a low flying jet on open road....i loved those cars!!
@wallacegrommet9343
@wallacegrommet9343 Жыл бұрын
Badass. Plain and simple.
@czechappy
@czechappy 10 ай бұрын
We had a 1969 GP and I love the door handles, This make it sound like you needed two hands to open the door, You didn't, You push it with your right hand thumb and it pop out and then you just grab it with your right hand fingers. It was real Easy to open GP big door and no more broken nails.
@BlueVette3832
@BlueVette3832 Жыл бұрын
When I was a kid the first car I bought was a 1971 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ. I just fell in love with its lines, cockpit and door handles.
@FosterCovers
@FosterCovers Жыл бұрын
69 Model J Wish I still had it 400 4bbl
@GuyMastellone
@GuyMastellone 8 ай бұрын
Me Tooo! Omg I wish I could post some pics of mine here
@John-xk1ym
@John-xk1ym 7 ай бұрын
Same here dude. Had a 71 SJ 455.
@mebeingU2
@mebeingU2 6 ай бұрын
I wanted one so badly back in the day! I couldn’t afford it. Looking back, I should have bought a clean one and kept it.
@sdtangler
@sdtangler 19 күн бұрын
My first car was a 1969 Gran Prix SJ with a 428 HO engine. I bought it from a neighbor for $500. Had to rebuild the transmission before it could drive, and my dad gave me two weeks to get it off the blocks in front of my house. God I miss that car.
@bobfeller604
@bobfeller604 Жыл бұрын
I just loved those cars.
@christopherkraft1327
@christopherkraft1327 Жыл бұрын
The 69 to 72 is hands down my favorite generation of the Pontiac Grand Prix!!! Thanks Adam for sharing this informative video!!! 👍👍🙂
@toddbrooks2464
@toddbrooks2464 Жыл бұрын
If I had my druthers, I'd blend a 69-70 front clip onto a 71or 72, dunno about the interior blend but I've ridden in the 69/70 they seemed good enuf on the inside just dig the rears of the 71-72's
@danielreiss1156
@danielreiss1156 Жыл бұрын
The '69 wasn't boattailed, much cleaner than the '71-'72!
@XY_Dude
@XY_Dude Жыл бұрын
I drove my Dad's 69 SJ. Hated the "lovely" door handles! Now I have a Kia EV6 - With the same type of opener!! ACK.
@DavidBugea
@DavidBugea Жыл бұрын
One additional fact: DeLorean had trouble getting the brass at GM to approve the expense of the tooling for the roof stamping for this one model. He worked out a deal with Chevrolet Division President Pete Estes to share the roofline with the Monte Carlo. Part of this deal was that Pontiac got a one-year exclusive use of the roof for 1969, with the Monte Carlo appearing in the following model year.
@jamesthompson8008
@jamesthompson8008 Жыл бұрын
@DavidBugea THAT sounds very much like a DeLorean move! I've read articles/interviews of those who worked with & around him, all of them generally reference his ability to not only find viable outcomes to production, but also his ability to capitalize on exclusivity for his designs/projects.
@jamieturner401
@jamieturner401 Жыл бұрын
Olds also got the roofline for the 1970 Cutlass Supreme coupe. 😊
@jamesthompson8008
@jamesthompson8008 Жыл бұрын
@jamieturner401 It was a few years ago at a POCI event, where a gentleman had a 72 GP he'd made into a convertible using all the top components/structures from a Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible. Really was a STRIKING looking car!
@edwardpate6128
@edwardpate6128 Жыл бұрын
The kind of horse trading that was so common in GM at that time.
@daveridgeway2639
@daveridgeway2639 Жыл бұрын
You are correct, see my reply. Dave...
@Sedan57Chevy
@Sedan57Chevy Жыл бұрын
Okay, I'd never noticed hose door handles before! Very cool! These were some sharp cars, from an era when the designers really made a big impact on the cars.
@jwelchon2416
@jwelchon2416 Жыл бұрын
Actually, the 69 and 70 big Ford had a DRIVER-CENTRIC dash. Everything wrapped around the driver. The passenger could only look at the glove box. The radio was on the left side of the steering wheel and the clock faced away from the passenger. It was a great design if you didn't like passengers fuss-en with your radio.
@hiitsstillme
@hiitsstillme Жыл бұрын
As it should be. The passenger should just be glad to be there, and behave themselves.
@sp-lc1fy
@sp-lc1fy Жыл бұрын
I was going to point that out. Love those big Fords.
@sooverit5529
@sooverit5529 Жыл бұрын
I was thinking that same thing. I think the driver-centric dash layout was nicer looking in the GP, but the 69-70 Ford dash was over the top driver-centric.
@marko7843
@marko7843 Жыл бұрын
The LTD, at least, stayed that way through '72...
@philipfrancis2728
@philipfrancis2728 Жыл бұрын
Driver centered dash: 1963 Studebaker Avanti
@hugh-johnfleming289
@hugh-johnfleming289 Жыл бұрын
These are among my favorite American Cars.
@jetsons101
@jetsons101 Жыл бұрын
Ford also had a driver-centric dashboard in the 1969 LTD's, the two are like twins. I wonder who spied on who???? Another great watch from Adam, thanks much.......
@davidpancerev9658
@davidpancerev9658 Жыл бұрын
And the leftward mounted radio location. Love to know more about that.
@jetsons101
@jetsons101 Жыл бұрын
Back in "Those" days it was mounted on the left to keep the "little woman" from changing the station to cooking shows or soaps... LOL@@davidpancerev9658
@leecordell7418
@leecordell7418 Жыл бұрын
69-72 Ford Ltd I believe was even more streamline! I believe the cyclone had driver centric dash .
@Oldgunguy62
@Oldgunguy62 Жыл бұрын
Thanks Adam I did not know some of that I had a 69 Grand Prix for 15 years I sold it about 4 years ago, Mine was a model J but had the optional 428 and roll up windows. Most had power windows.
@fodderr6561
@fodderr6561 7 ай бұрын
This is may favorite car of all time. My parents had a 71 standard model until my Dad wrecked it & replaced it with a 72 model J, green with green paisley interior. Gorgeous car. In the 80s I bought a 72 model J black for $250. Great car. My mother once said the 72 GP was the best driving car she ever owned.
@maxr4448
@maxr4448 3 ай бұрын
The 1969 Full size Ford's had that "cockpit" theme as well, but without the gauges. So well done Pontiac👍
@Porsche996driver
@Porsche996driver Жыл бұрын
Yeah great Cockpit and the sidetrack stance. There were a few of these warmed over.
@wraithconscience
@wraithconscience Жыл бұрын
An example of Adam's briliant and unique research. Fascinating!
@The_R-n-I_Guy
@The_R-n-I_Guy Жыл бұрын
Love those door handles. Perfect addition for a custom car
@user-ThomReec8587
@user-ThomReec8587 Жыл бұрын
I've owned 7 69 to 72 Grand Prix's, (4 at the same time) really loved that Dash and all the sutle things Pontiac did the set them apart from other Pontiacs. My wife allways had trouble with the door handles. Her daily driver was a 69 Malibu, but she also drove her own 72 Grand Prix.
@markdc1145
@markdc1145 Жыл бұрын
It took me a while to warm up to the styling of this GP but looking back it was one of Pontiac and GM's finest. Still love those slim and elegant push-pull door handles. Thanks for the backstory on this interesting car!
@JohnnyAloha69
@JohnnyAloha69 Жыл бұрын
One interesting tidbit, 69 was the first year that the Bonneville had a unique grill design compared to the other full sized Pontiacs like Catalina. This is because the 69 Bonneville grille was designed for what was going to be the full-sized 69 Grand Prix before they decided to instead build it on the midsized platform.
@michaelwitas9482
@michaelwitas9482 Жыл бұрын
I liked that upscale looking '69 Bonneville grille with it's endura impact absorbing framing. And, I think it's neat how the Grand Prix and Monte Carlo looked distinctly different even though they shared a lot of parts and under the skin engineering. You could never mistake one for the other, at least in the early years.
@OLDS98
@OLDS98 Жыл бұрын
I often wonder why the change was so dramatic in 1969 when Grand Prix used to be on the full-sized car line. This video explains things. It went to the midsized car line and never looked back. There were many successful Grand Prixs over the years. They got away from the Duesenberg trim names in the 1980's. I am thankful you explained them. I had relatives that owned Grand Prix with those trim level names. I recall J, SJ, LJ. I may have missed one. Those were some very interesting facts. I do recall all of them. Good footage and information. Thank you Adam.
@RareClassicCars
@RareClassicCars Жыл бұрын
LJ came later
@OLDS98
@OLDS98 Жыл бұрын
@@RareClassicCars Indeed. Thank you for the correction. It got easier to recall the trim levels by the 80's and 90's too: base, Brougham, LE, SE, GT, GTP, and the brief Turbo. People later associated this car with Nascar and Richard Petty. The Pontiac 2+2 came back briefly in the 80's in that Nascar package,
@MarinCipollina
@MarinCipollina 10 ай бұрын
@@OLDS98 That 1985 Pontiac 2+2 was very good looking for the era. Too bad it didn't have the performance to match the looks.
@OLDS98
@OLDS98 10 ай бұрын
@@MarinCipollina Thank you for your comment. This is true. I see them on You Tube all the time and for sale sometimes too. The other G-Bodies ( Oldsmobile Cutlass 442, Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, Buick Regal Grand Sport ) all had performance. I wonder why Pontiac did not invest too. The trunk was an issue on this car too because the opening was quite small. I guess they more than made up for this with the next generation W Body performance Grand Prix Turbo, GXP, and GT.
@bigredc222
@bigredc222 Жыл бұрын
A friend that I haven't seen in 35 years had one of these. It brings back memories.
@jeffhalperin8066
@jeffhalperin8066 11 ай бұрын
The 69 to 72 grand prix was a front mid-engine car that made it cornered very well.I have beaten trans ams to ferraris (not kidding).. Crappy brakes but it could go around a corner like it was on rails.Still have it.
@jimhollaway1761
@jimhollaway1761 8 ай бұрын
The 69 to 72 grand prix's are a fairly common car. However I do like the 71 and 72 's You failed to mention, one of the greatest facts, about the car. 69 to 72 , which , especially 1972 , came with manual 4sp transmissions, with special consoles. I have the history on paper, on my research materials . Something, like close to 800 , for 69 , 400 for 70 , 150 , for 71 , and lastly , 100 , for 72 . And 0 for 1973 . At the moment, can't remember the exact amount, because I am to busy, researching something else. Also, I believe you could order a 455 ho motor. Not sure. Great video, Adam, nevertheless.
@1badsj
@1badsj 3 ай бұрын
You may wish to research a bit deeper. I have read 117 for '71 amd 0 for '72. Though I did speak with an owner that converted his '72 into a 4 speed.
@kobewade8709
@kobewade8709 Жыл бұрын
I own a 69' gp. It'a a wonderful car. I love it.
@davidallen5776
@davidallen5776 Жыл бұрын
I'd still like to find one of these again!
@steveoh9838
@steveoh9838 Жыл бұрын
Very cool info Adam, keep it going👍
@Later2u
@Later2u Жыл бұрын
My brother had a '69 Grand Prix with 50's all around and lowered slightly with glass packs. Awesome car.
@edwardpate6128
@edwardpate6128 Жыл бұрын
Those door handles remind me very much of those on the current Cadillac Lyriq
@randolfo1265
@randolfo1265 Жыл бұрын
My best friend got a 69 GP around 1979 and that 'driver centric cockpit' was really different even in 79. We noticed it immediately and loved it.
@fob1xxl
@fob1xxl Жыл бұрын
I owned a 1974 Grand Prix. Great car. Metallic blue w/White interior and Vinyl Roof. Factory Chrome Mag wheels. Went from that to a 1978 Seville.
@kennygardner5041
@kennygardner5041 Жыл бұрын
I had a beautiful ‘69 Grand Prix! 400 engine, 350 hp before it was rebuilt, 14x7 ralleye wheels etc.. GREAT car!
@HAL-dm1eh
@HAL-dm1eh Жыл бұрын
The fact the styling was influenced by early 1900s cars explains why the front end gives me steam punk vibes. It's a beautiful car.
@ronjones1077
@ronjones1077 Жыл бұрын
I’ve owned many Pontiacs and other vehicles in my 73+ years. The 62 GP and the 69 are my favorites. I still have two 62 4speed 8 lug GP’s plus a 62 Catalina convertible. I had a 63 GP 4 speed my brother got from me and still has. Also had two 64’s, a 65 and a 66 421 car. Newest owned was a 69J and in 1974 I bought a 72SJ 455. I still have my 65 GTO tri- power 4 speed and had several Firebirds, Lemans and Bonnevilles. I still have a 61 Bonny bubble top.
@dukeallen432
@dukeallen432 Жыл бұрын
Nicely presented. All GM A bodies were great those years ~68-72.
@Primus54
@Primus54 Жыл бұрын
Hi Adam, While I have very much enjoyed these features on unique touches I can’t help but notice the calendar rapidly advancing toward Autumn and was hoping we’d get to see more videos of your collection during these warmer months. Thanks! 👍
@falcorthewonderdog2758
@falcorthewonderdog2758 Жыл бұрын
The 69 gran prix was built on a 4 door A body chassis. That gave it the stretched out front end.
@DanEBoyd
@DanEBoyd Жыл бұрын
I always really liked these A body-special Grand Prixs!
@TeslaRoadtrips
@TeslaRoadtrips Жыл бұрын
a 72' grand prix was destroyed at mt. st helens. the husk is still there from the campers who died in the explosion. there is a placard and everything. i recognized this car right away.
@howardfletcher7206
@howardfletcher7206 Жыл бұрын
Easily one of the best I’ve ever owned a 71 SJ with 455 HO dual snorkel air cleaner bronze with crème vinyl roof and interior. Mine had the rare bench seat column shift and Trans Am style stamped steel steering wheel. So much fun a true muscle cruiser.
@gregm9230
@gregm9230 Жыл бұрын
I drove a 72 GP for many years and loved the dash, the long boat like hood and those door handles! 😃 Great cars!
@ricksand6477
@ricksand6477 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the great information on the '69 Grand Prix, Adam. When these came out, they made a HUGE splash in the media of the time. I recall that the refrain from the automotive press was, "All the looks of a Lincoln Mark III at half the price!" Pontiac also made a huge deal out of the fact that they had the longest hood in the industry at 6'. This car and the 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that followed created a huge new niche in the market - the intermediate personal luxury car - that played out throughout the decade of the 1970's with huge sales for any automaker that fielded one. That first generation Pontiac Grand Prix was the best of the bunch however. The design was really special. Reportedly, DeLorean and Mitchell didn't get along - but GM Design Staff did some of their best work for Pontiac during this era. Thank you again for a great look back!
@MarinCipollina
@MarinCipollina 10 ай бұрын
Huge talents typically have huge egos to match. That frequently made for complicated interpersonal dynamics.
@waynewells915
@waynewells915 Жыл бұрын
Loved and still love those classic Pontiacs 😍
@Flies2FLL
@Flies2FLL Жыл бұрын
The "Miller" grill makes perfect sense! I look at the '69 GP and I knew I had seen that grill before.... Great video!
@bobhill3941
@bobhill3941 Жыл бұрын
Hearing the inspiration for all these styling touches makes me love the 69-72 Grand Prix even more. I can't remember which GM brass wanted it, but the long hood on the 1970 Monte Carlo is from an affinity for the 30's Duesenbergs and Cadillacs too. That rich brown looks amazing. If I had a Grand Prix SJ, I'd build a 455 with a Roots supercharger and back it with a 4 on the floor like you could get.
@MARKB3946
@MARKB3946 Жыл бұрын
Awesome. I owned a '70 with the 400. IT was a dark green with black cloth interior and column shift.
@aaronhollingsworth6808
@aaronhollingsworth6808 Жыл бұрын
My dad had 2 69 Grand Prix model j, now I have my own, I bought it from the original owner in 2015 and I love that car, has the horsepower of a GTO judge and the ride comfort of a Cadillac
@keithskane394
@keithskane394 Жыл бұрын
My family had a 1969 sJ triple brown. My all time favorite car.
@mileshigh1321
@mileshigh1321 Жыл бұрын
Beautiful car and excellent information !
@DoudD
@DoudD Жыл бұрын
I had a '69 GP. Wonderful car. I heard that the the hood was a half-inch longer that the MKIII Lincoln. It was no accident. DeLorean wanted to claim the 'longest hood"
@pontiacexcitement4evrponti995
@pontiacexcitement4evrponti995 2 ай бұрын
Thank u for bringing that up. I was waiting for him to mention this. As a diehard PONTIAC fan, the 1969 Grand Prix will always b one of my favorites.
@jamieturner401
@jamieturner401 Жыл бұрын
When I was a young child my sister married her second husband who in 1971 had a 1969 Grand Prix J 400 auto and at the same time my older brother had a 1970 SJ 455 HO. We lived in a big GM town in Central Indiana. Thank you for bringing up the exterior door handles on these GP's, but no one ever talks about the interior door handles on the '69"s. They were built-in to the armrest and EXTREMELY hard to open for a 10 year old. They changed them on the 1970 models to a very modern paddle pull-out type which worked way better. I loved my Brothers SJ! He used to talk about Racing his neighbors 1970 GS 455 Stage 1 up beyond 130... Fun Memories!😮😊
@daveschannel124
@daveschannel124 5 ай бұрын
Yes I remember them! One of my friends had two 69s and a 70! Remember how difficult it was to open the doors from the insides especially since those cars had normal wear but the 70 was easy to open!
@angeloavanti2538
@angeloavanti2538 Жыл бұрын
Best ever. Owned 2 of this body. 69 and 70. Fast and fun to drive. Always a crowd pleaser.
@I-Libertine
@I-Libertine Жыл бұрын
My first car was a 74 SJ. The drivers cockpit spoiled me for life. No other car I've come across has as good a vibe for the driver, IMHO.
@Skyrider12
@Skyrider12 Жыл бұрын
I almost bought a 70 GP silver and chrome! Broke my heart when I was 16yrs old. ✌🇺🇸
@colibri1
@colibri1 Жыл бұрын
I always wondered what the J, SJ, and LJ names meant! Now I know where they came from.
@normansabel1850
@normansabel1850 Жыл бұрын
The 1972 Grand Prix was the only car I have driven at 150 mph. The speedometer needle would pass 120 and hit the zero peg at 150 mph.
@nzobrist6525
@nzobrist6525 Жыл бұрын
I had a 69 GTO, always wanted a Grand Prix. Way cool cars.
@charlescherry1733
@charlescherry1733 Жыл бұрын
Great video, as usual. I think the same style door handle that’s found on the ‘69 Grand Prix was also used on the ‘55 “Million Dollar Look” Chryslers.
@davidpancerev9658
@davidpancerev9658 Жыл бұрын
And De Soto as well.
@steves9905
@steves9905 Жыл бұрын
Gorgeous cars. 73 and after had I think one of the best dashboards ever but prefer the style of the earlier. Although not especially praised in this vid, I love the 67 and esp the 68 full size...great detailing and have such a massive authoritative presence, while 69 and later had a lighter sportier look. But ya know they were all good and a winner for Pontiac from the get-go
@MarinCipollina
@MarinCipollina 10 ай бұрын
The earlier full size 1960s Grand Prix were always very special cars. Most were loaded with all the options you would expect on a Cadillac. They used real wood on interior dash, door and console trim. They were also very powerful with 421 Tri-power V8 engines. The 1964 had Cadillac style iced tail lights. The 1967 was the only full size Pontiac with hidden headlights mounted horizontally. The others were vertical stacks, which looks a bit awkward today.
@berniemiller2992
@berniemiller2992 Жыл бұрын
Adam Had a friend that had a "T" handled four speed manual transmission in his sixty-nine Grand Prix. How many did they make with sticks?
@howarddavis1307
@howarddavis1307 Жыл бұрын
Great video Adam the 1963 1968 and the 1969and 70 Grand Prix are my favorites tesler uses a similar style door handle also .👍
@gregorylatiak3333
@gregorylatiak3333 Жыл бұрын
Took my drivers test in Chciago in a friends SJ.... very carefully.
@kc0lif
@kc0lif Жыл бұрын
john DeLorean was legendary. I like also 1973.
@clintonflynn815
@clintonflynn815 Жыл бұрын
I always thought the grill was inspired by parrots or cockatoos.
@joshuagibson2520
@joshuagibson2520 Жыл бұрын
I always thought bird like as well.
@UberLummox
@UberLummox Жыл бұрын
When I was a kid there was a '68 GP with fins from a '60 Cadillac on it!
@mariocestra1156
@mariocestra1156 Жыл бұрын
The good old days of styles and personalities in cars
@corgiowner436
@corgiowner436 Жыл бұрын
I was always partial to the ‘71 of this generation. It had the most classic Duesenbergesque grill and I loved the boat tail. We had a silver one with black vinyl top and interior.
@billyk5338
@billyk5338 Жыл бұрын
Studebaker's had "Driver's-Centric" Interiors not only in Avantes in the early 60s but also in the mid to late 50s Hawks ! !
@581rma
@581rma Жыл бұрын
Excellent video it’s amazing how the dash layout was centered towards the driver, and of course, the passengers have limited access to the radio and climate controls.
@wernerdanler2742
@wernerdanler2742 Жыл бұрын
Well, that sure brings back old memories. I had at least 5 different Pontiacs back in the 60s and early 70s. I liked them all. They built good cars back then if a little bit oversized and uneconomical, but I never heard of mpg back then. 😅😂😅
@frankbrowning328
@frankbrowning328 Жыл бұрын
I've always really liked this Gran Prix body style. It was more agressive and sporty than the larger cars but still had a good amount of luxury options. It wasn't a pony car but 1 step larger and more refined. As a GM car you can also see the similarities between this body style and the 67-70 Cadilac Eldorado which are my favorite years for the Eldorado.
@teebird94
@teebird94 Жыл бұрын
I'm a fomoCo guy...but have a love for Pontiacs,and this is the top of my list..1969/70 version..before the "boattail" style trunk,which i did not like,although i did on the Riviera.
@michaelvachon1334
@michaelvachon1334 Жыл бұрын
Had a friend that owned a '71 GP. Really classy car back in the day.
@daveridgeway2639
@daveridgeway2639 Жыл бұрын
Hi Adam, outstanding car and video! Your information is 100% correct! Most people who owned a Grand Prix, had no idea what "Model J' and/or "Model SJ" stood for. In 1969, Pontiac Motor Division took the GM A-body "mid-size" hardtop frame and pushed the fire wall, roof and passenger compartment back, to produce a longer hood, front fenders, shorter rear deck and longer roof sail panels, (the area behind the quarter windows or rear side windows). Chevrolet Motor Division did the identical thing with the brand new Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and GM called both cars the new GM G-body mid-size. They both tended to look a bit bigger than the standard A-body, I.e. Chevelle/Malibu/Tempest/LeMans due to longer hood, front fenders and sail panels. The G-body Grand Prix did sell much better than the B-body (full-size) Grand Prix did. Back in the 1960s, Pontiac had two full-size personal luxury cars, the Pontiac 2+2 and the Pontiac Grand Prix, The Grand Prix had more standard features and more engine options then the 2+2, but both competing each each other. Please reply. Dave...
@marko7843
@marko7843 Жыл бұрын
I also thought of the thumb-push finger-pull door handles first! LoL Right after that was the unique original window switch layout, the power, the thirst and, I THINK it had the spring-loaded "diagonal slap-stick" gear selector...
@petertornabeni602
@petertornabeni602 Жыл бұрын
This car, with the single headlight version - is beautiful. The commercials for this car were excellent ! Attention to detail, absolutely ! Thank you Adam. Much appreciated …..
@jamesthompson8008
@jamesthompson8008 Жыл бұрын
I remember seeing an ad(Craigslist?) about 12 yrs ago for a 69 SJ,, triple black with a 4spd & hood tach, & thought that IT HAD to be a very rare combo. And I've also been watching for a 4spd car since!
@issyparrish
@issyparrish Жыл бұрын
Another great video Adam. While I especially enjoy your videos that cover your own collection, these “information” videos are also enjoyable. Your details regarding the exterior door handles on the ‘69 GP was something I never notices before.
@issyparrish
@issyparrish Жыл бұрын
BTW Adam, your audio quality on this video is IMO much crisper. New mic?….or did I just clean my ears better this morning😅😅😅😅😅
@MarinCipollina
@MarinCipollina 10 ай бұрын
The only way to have not noticed those door handles is to have never ridden in one.
@ralphl7643
@ralphl7643 Жыл бұрын
I don't see how they could know the '68 was a flop when they had to have started the '69 at least a year or two before production. At the time, I built a plastic model of the '71 or 2 in metallic brown. Great looking car, but what a 70s color!
@markdc1145
@markdc1145 Жыл бұрын
Good point, I was thinking the same thing. I do know that the divisions often had several proposals running concurrently which allowed them to make quick decisions based on sales results - even in the 1960s! The engineering underneath was fairly constant regardless of the body finally chosen.
@wildcat64100
@wildcat64100 Жыл бұрын
I love these kind of details. Except for the Duesenberg inspired model names, they were all new to me.
@MA_808
@MA_808 3 ай бұрын
I was a kid car detailer in those days at a Pontiac dealership. I washed and drove over a hundred of them. I remember it well. beautiful car
@maxr4448
@maxr4448 Жыл бұрын
Damn Adam... you surprised me again. I just remembered it was .. like Guys who had money who bought those. Back in the in the day... It was like the longest car I had ever seen... A dream car... I didn' t also know the this Gran Prix had that dash... I thought it was first started in the 1971 Javelin.. So corrected here. Thank You..
@marko7843
@marko7843 Жыл бұрын
Hey Adam, that '68 GP has another unique cornering light for your collection! (And can you imagine getting parts for THOSE headlight doors?)
@jamesthompson8008
@jamesthompson8008 Жыл бұрын
@marko7843 Aside from the grille face portion, everything else would've been shared with Executive, correct? Bonnie's were open headlight in 68/9, as were Catalinas I believe.
@marko7843
@marko7843 Жыл бұрын
@@jamesthompson8008 Well, I was talking about the "eyelids" over the headlights, which in hindsight may actually have been lifted from Adam's 1967 Eldorado... If you're asking about the car in general, it was basically the slightly smaller Catalina chassis with the Bonneville's drivetrain. Buick did much the same thing with the Wildcat and then the Centurian: take the big engine and transmission out of the largest car and put them in the next largest car with a few fewer inches of wheelbase and a foot less body, thus making a 'sporty' full-size.
@jamesthompson8008
@jamesthompson8008 Жыл бұрын
@@marko7843 Yes - the 'eyelids' is what I meant. As all the mechanicals would've been shared items.
@jeffrobodine8579
@jeffrobodine8579 Жыл бұрын
A neighbor restored a 1967 Grand Prix convertible over 15 years ago and complained how hard it was to find parts for it back then.
@JeffFrmJoisey
@JeffFrmJoisey Жыл бұрын
Thanks!! I learned more about the 69 Grand Prix here than i knew as a kid when these came out. I always thought the grill was a flattening out of the 68 “Edsel style” bird beak. BTW, the 67 “Batmobile” GPs are one of my favorites.
@alecfromminnenowhere2089
@alecfromminnenowhere2089 Жыл бұрын
Nice video, thanks.
@davidmccaffery7977
@davidmccaffery7977 Жыл бұрын
For me the 71 455 was Numero uno. Had one...wow, what a mochine
@huskyflylangley6053
@huskyflylangley6053 Жыл бұрын
My first car was a 1971 GP bought for ten bucks, door handles were on airplanes first before ever on the 300SL. I have them on my 1947 Aeronca Champ. I think Beech Bonanzas might have had them as well, a good, clean and elegant design no matter who made it. Great channel Adam. I am a huge Pontiac and Ford fan, especially that Ford body fit and door close. I had a 1984 Ranger and it also had that famous Ford door close sound and feel from the mid 60s. Reliable too! four cylinder was great. S-10 had the GM door sag and slap shut flimsy feel for its doors, too bad, because the S-10 was a great truck when equipped with the iron duke and 5 speed trans.
@bobhill3941
@bobhill3941 Жыл бұрын
I agree with you on that, dad had an S10 he bought new in 87 and it was great with the Iron Duke/5 speed, hauled anything, went anywhere with a slab of concrete in the bed for traction. It rusted out summer of 99, but the powertrain never failed❤
@annenelson5656
@annenelson5656 Жыл бұрын
I had two Kids Rangers. The first one was a 96 basic model. It ran great I never had a problem. I sold it and got a 2002 Ranger 4x4. That was a wonderful truck. I loved it. I’d still have it but I broke my left leg and tore a nerve so I can’t exactly use a clutch anymore. I can’t understand why Ford stopped making them. They were true work horses.
@bobhill3941
@bobhill3941 Жыл бұрын
@@annenelson5656 Very cool, did you like the basic one or the 4x4 better? I'm surprised you can't use a clutch anymore, I thought with your leg and nerves being repaired, you'd regain feeling. Can you still walk without a cane/crutches/walker?
@pmd467
@pmd467 Жыл бұрын
Umm, (Sir/Ma’am) just 1 more thing 🤔. My wife had a Rootbeer brown ‘69 Gp. Her dad owned a Diesel Repair Company. On one of the trucks he had completed repairing, when it came time to pay, the owner didn't have enough money. So he told my father-in-law, “I can't pay the rest, but here are the keys to my 1969 Grand Prix”. 😳Will this work to settle our bill? Can you imagine the laughter when my wife received the keys to a 1969 Grand Prix that was basically free?🤦‍♂️
@NorlandBoxcar
@NorlandBoxcar Жыл бұрын
Cool. Did not know this was first year of driver centred console for Pontiacs. Of course my parent’s 74’ Parisienne had it. It was really nice and the steering wheel had a wood grain aluminum touch to it I recall which was nice on the Brougham.
@ricardocorbie6803
@ricardocorbie6803 Жыл бұрын
I still want one of these cars!! They’re timeless and beautiful to this day!!
@darolfitch8917
@darolfitch8917 Жыл бұрын
When I was a young man, one of my friends had a 69 Grand Prix. I drove that car a few times, and loved it. If memory serves me correctly, it had a 455ci engine. This car was very powerful. I liked the center console. And ho sitting in that bucket set, and looking out over that long hood, wow what a memory. And did I mention the power. I love your videos, I know they are a lot of work. Thank You. .
@malcolmjones893
@malcolmjones893 Жыл бұрын
My dad owned 69, 70, 73 & 77 Grand Prix that he really loved. He totaled the ‘69 but always said it was his favorite. I learned to drive (and got my license) in the ‘77. All beautiful cars- available in some wonderful colors/trims.
@ELMS
@ELMS Жыл бұрын
I remember when this vehicle first appeared in the showroom of Jenner Motors in my hometown. I loved the looks of it, but was only 16 years old at the time so couldn’t really afford it.
@mjg263
@mjg263 Жыл бұрын
I always loved these GP’s, so unique! Thanks for the very informative look at one of the best Pontiacs.
@slicksnewonenow
@slicksnewonenow Жыл бұрын
These were really a Styling Tour de Force! Very unique and perfect, like the Continental MkII, the '63-'65 Riviera, the '71-73 Riviera, the '68.5- '70 Continental Mk.III, etc. All cars that "need nothing".
@yellowsub22
@yellowsub22 Жыл бұрын
Speaking of "first driver-centered instrument panel," have a look at the 1963 Studebaker Avanti...
@Xsiondu
@Xsiondu Жыл бұрын
That smile watching the balloon Zeppelin shows how much fun you are having
@YYZ-SRQ
@YYZ-SRQ Жыл бұрын
the door handles now made their way into the Tesla Model 3 and Y, basically still difficult to operate
@loutruckmd
@loutruckmd Жыл бұрын
My first car was a 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix. Another feature was the interior door release handles. You had to squeeze it with your finger tips, to open the door from the inside. I wish I could have kept that car. But unfortunately it was just an old car, and I needed the 428 for my GTO.
@MrHoppy-so2no
@MrHoppy-so2no Жыл бұрын
I wonder how the door handles operated in snow/freezing weather?
@1badsj
@1badsj 3 ай бұрын
Just fine
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