The T-high removable roof panels, opera home windows, landau vinyl roof, and stand-up hood ornament on this 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix had been typical trappings all U.S. Consumers flocked to smaller, Koh Samui Voiced more gas-environment friendly subcompacts made within the U.S. The 1974 model year saw little greater than some minor cosmetic modifications. In order to increase gross sales within the decrease end of the personal luxurious market and fill the void left by the departure of the Grand Am, Pontiac made a “worth chief” out of the entry-stage Grand Prix (now not going by the Model J name). Adding to the confusion was the new Pontiac Grand Am, which was additionally competing for the performance-oriented portion of the GP market. The lion’s share of the record-setting automotive market in 1973 was centered round mid-sized models, with very robust demand for two-doors. On the following page, learn concerning the 1973 Pontiac Grand Prix’s engines and specs. The new technology represented by the 1973 Pontiac Grand Prix had to share some key type and engineering parts with many Basic Motors intermediates. Whereas the bigger Pontiac engines tipped the scales between 640 and 675 pounds, the brand new V-eight got here in at a very trim 452 pounds, about the same weight as Buick’s 231-cubic-inch V-6.

The large difference was in weight. The block, heads, and intake manifold have been very lightweight castings, and the crankshaft only had counterweights on each finish within the interest of weight discount. Its distinctive mix of luxurious and efficiency was something the nameplate wouldn’t expertise once more for an additional decade. In any occasion, it wasn’t a optimistic sign for efficiency enthusiasts. First was the standard J coupe, next up was the SJ, which turned more tightly imaged as the “sporty” model, and the brand new luxury-primarily based LJ that includes velour upholstery and a choice of two-tone paint schemes. All Grand Prix models received a minor facelift for 1977, the most important change being a brand new grille design that featured a extra restrained “waterfall” impact. Already pretty rare when new, they’re much more so right now. Anniversary fashions may very well be considered a great guess for future collectibility, as few are ever seen at car exhibits. Grand Prix prices began at $4,936 for the 1974 Model J (as the bottom car was now referred to as), but that didn’t cowl extras.

This cleverly executed update was a dramatic change from the earlier Duesenberg-impressed design, which might be traced again to the 1969 mannequin 12 months. Powerplant choices for 1974 included the usual 400-cubic-inch V-8, which dropped 5 horsepower from the year earlier than to 225. The 455 V-8, which held its 250 horses, and was once more commonplace in the SJ. Continue to the subsequent page to examine adjustments made to the Grand Prix for 1976, Pontiac’s 50th-anniversary 12 months. Whereas this was nonetheless significantly shy of the 353,272 Chevy Monte Carlos made for 1976, it represented a 163-percent jump in GP manufacturing, an incredible enhance by anyone’s measure. Although Pontiac’s second-generation G-body did lose somewhat up to that time, there was nonetheless so much left. Though the 301 was based mostly on the tried and true Pontiac V-8, there have been enough variations to preclude quite a lot of elements interchange. The 301 produced 135 horsepower at 3,800 rpm, with 240 pound-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm.

This bigger engine was rated at 250 horsepower at 4,000 rpm, with 370 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 spins. As properly as the aforementioned Pontiac 350, obtainable engines for the 1976 Grand Prix included the 185-horsepower 400 four-barrel, now the standard engine in the SJ. The first downside was that the Pontiac 350 wouldn’t go the stricter California and excessive-altitude emission standards. Energy came from a 160-horsepower, 350-cubic-inch V-8 equipped with a two-barrel carb (Californians received a 4-barrel model) coupled to a Turbo 350 automated transmission, each borrowed from the Le-Mans line. The bottom GP engine for 1977 was Pontiac’s new 301-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) V-8. The Grand Prix’s base engine was the acquainted 400-cubic-inch Pontiac V-8. In maintaining with tradition though, the hood featured the familiar “ironing board” sculpting that came to a degree at the grille. The revised grille remedy extended only as far as the highest of the new thicker front bumper, which was accented with large, upright guards. As on the sooner vehicles, the turn signals have been reduce into the leading edge of the entrance fenders.