1977 Pontiac Grand Prix, Pontiac’s personal Luxury car
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- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- Today on what it’s like, Pontiacs personal luxury car offering Grand Prix (1977) a couple corrections that’s not a clock tack I apologize I’m dyslexic sometimes things just don’t appear as they seem. ( I thought it looked like a tack Dodge did something somewhere called the TikTok tack and I thought this was Pontiacs version of that, it’s not, I was wrong. Don’t crucify me lol)
Two more engines were on offer the 400 in the 455 and they are not on the list of engines
Lots of specs side by side comparison with the 76 to show differences in models full tour button switches and knobs. Enjoy this episode
This absolutely stunning Pontiac Grand Prix is for sale at max motive in Cheswick pa click link below after the show
maxmotive.com/...
If you’d like to get in touch with me shoot me a comment in the comment section below or check out our Facebook group that correlates with this UA-cam channel if you send me a message I will respond =)
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Boogie Wonderland Earth Wind and Fire??
That’s it you got it congratulations you’re the first one to do so =)
Be sure to tune in Saturday for the 1961 Pontiac Ventura Super awesome car that I never saw in person until just recently
I owned a brand new 1977 Grand Prix in aquamarine blue with a white landau top and white leather interior. Smoking Hot. The hood was about a mile long! Fantastic vehicle. Probably my favorite, ever…..
This was Pontiac’s finest moment.
Your car sounds absolutely incredible the color must’ve set the lines off really well.. this car had some killer lines =) do you still have your Pontiac what engine did you have
The color was stunning, and the white interior set off whole vehicle.
The car is long gone…..😢
I remember when this style GP came out. It was a real HEAD TURNER for sure. You mention the TBIRD and even though the TBIRDs 77-79 sold in record numbers I think this car had more class and luxury. The Cutlass was the number 1 selling car during these times.
I totally agree that’s why I said I prefer this over the t-bird now over the Córdoba that would be tuff I love those cars (I’m not even a huge mopar fan)
@@What.its.like. I bought my first "nearly" new car in 77, at 18. It was a loaded 76 Dodge Charger Daytona ( Dodge's version of Cordoba) The Daytona option was nothing more than a two-tone paint job, but it was stunning in the midnight blue/ silver blue two-tone with baby blue velour interior! Being a smoker of various things back then, the velour seats were way more unforgiving of "pops" and burns than leather, vinyl, or regular cloth. I was initially so proud of that car, but it turned out to be a piece of junk, not helped by my young and irresponsible ownership! Overall, I still have mostly fond memories of the times in that car!
Actually, it was more of a royal blue, not midnight blue. I grew up in a Mopar family, so it was a natural choice, and I chose the Charger Daytona as it was much more unique than all the Monte Carlos, Grand Prix's, and Cutlass's that all my friends were buying!
The 77's were a good looking car. I'm really like the 69's and 70's. They could be had with a 400 or 455. I noticed this still had the smog pump intact. Couldn't tell which power plant was in this one. I know the 301's were somewhat reliable and not bad on gas, but I had one in my 79 Trans Am, and it was the slowest muscle car I ever owned. I think a 350 or 403 would make this GP respectable to drive.
Thank you so much for that information I wasn’t sure about the 400 and 455 information was conflicting Pontiac is one of the harder cars to do because of the plethora of engine options and not one source can agree what was offered and what wasn’t offered
maxmotive.com/vehicle/1977-pontiac-grand-prix-u1302/
as I learned from car bloggers, if the oil filler is high, it means Oldsmobile
Jay, the keyhole cover is not magnetic it's spring loaded. And it's pronounced Boca Ratone
Thank you for those corrections I had a 88 Lincoln it was magnetic I believe I read that the owners manual I think and I think that’s why I said that
Boke-A-Ruh-Tone "Boca Raton" means "Mouse Mouth" in Spanish. LOL
@@billolsen4360 Rats Mouth
Mean's "Mouth of the Rat."
“Disco era” indeed. I did my undergraduate studies 74 - 78 (Yes, I am ancient.) so disco remains a fond memory. I mention this only in that I dated a guy who drove a ‘77 Grand Prix and that car always provides fond memories. I never cared for the steering wheels on Pontiacs but you have to admit that massive hood was Freudian psychology at its finest. Thanks for posting! 👍
What I would give to have lived back then. I swear I should have been born in the 30s
@@What.its.like. The Thirties were tough years. The Great Depression. Hitler came to power. Still, great clothes, great music, great movies and you could be stylin’ in a brand new 1937 Cord Speedster!
But to be born in the 30s he would just have to hope that in the 50s didn’t get drafted like if you were born tail end of the 30s my grandpa my best friend he didn’t get drafted but I think he went to college so that he didn’t get drafted
Long hood, short rear deck, taking after the 64 1/2 Mustang and the 67 Eldorado
@@What.its.like. I was born in 1947 and I received the notification from Uncle Sam that my presence was required for military service. So I joined the Navy and I was almost drowned in boot camp because I didn’t know how to swim and I was forced into the swimming pool and I sank to the bottom of the pool and I didn’t know what to do. They had to pull me out with a long pole. Then they put me in special classes to teach me how to swim. To this day I don’t go anywhere near any body of water deeper than a bathtub.
These used to be everywhere 😔, miss those days.
One wonders if, when factory fresh, all the interior materials matched in hue? Outstanding in Black/Red. Interior is classic 70’s plushy stuffy. Perfect. Thank you, Jay…..
Thank you for digging this episode =)
William Heald, I think you’re right. GM LOVED 🥰 velour, which didn’t age well. The colors did fade over time
Depending on the colors and the situation I had two cars that have wore and I prefer that over the leather because velour did not burn you in the summertime and it did not give you frostbite in the winter time.. my first car sat in the greenhouse for four years the color got sunbaked but the velour didn’t.. but it was maroon a dark color.. The top of the seat if I remember correct did get a little bit of sun damage/ fade but that was it
Love your videos Jay. I was 14 when my dad brought a '77 GP home from the dealer where he worked. I remember admiring the interior gages, & the massive pointed hood. I was a car nut even then. I do like the '76 grill and outboard fender signals better though. He brought home Cutlasses and Monte's of the same era - loved them too. Ended up with a Cutlass! Keep up the great work.
That’s awesome great story thank you for sharing that memory, glad you dig the channel
Very cool What it's like. I got to see theses and the 77 Cutlass's being built at the Kansas City Leed's plant. One of the best field trips ever. Over the years I've owned a 73 and 2 77's. For a fairly big car they handled decent (compared to other cars in the class) and could be made to move rather quickly (built 400 poncho). The t-top option was cool, but they leaked like a sieve. Turns out sub frame connecters help control that. Look forward to seeing more great content 🍻
Awesome story that’s awesome that you got to see these being built on a field trip =) t tops would be interesting never owned a car with them, perhaps one day.
Glad you liked this episode
The last year Grand Prix designed by Jack Humbert for John DeLorean, in 1972. Beautiful car! The GM G-body of 1973-77 was for the Grand Prix, the Chevy Monte Carlo, the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and the Buick Regal.
Awesome information thank you so much for sharing all of that =)
Love you videos. Regarding the interior, defined vinyl. GM wouldn't use leather in that era if their corporate life depended on it.They thought plastic and vinyl were luxury materials.😉
PLASTIC lol somethings never change have you been in a new Chevy product, some of the materials are just awful both inside and out
They did offer leather.
Not many bought that option.
A friend and fellow bellhop at the military academy I attended got a new '74 Grand Prix top-of-the-line model with the 455 for high school graduation (I inherited my Dad's '51 Studebaker when he moved up to an Opel Kadett).
I had wanted an Avanti II, but at least I got a Loewy coupe.
Robin went to the steepest hill in the country town and left most of his rear tires on the pavement the afternoon before commencement.
Robin's gone now, but we were friends for almost 50 years
Those cars looked a lot bigger than those spects say. BAAAD CAR!
The button on the floor is a cover there is nothing there the head light dimmer is on the turn signal stock. You click it back like newer cars today. My 73 GP had that setup it's marked dim on where the turn signal switch mount to the side of the steering column.
Thank you for that correction (darn it forgot to edit that part out) why was the button left on the floor that’s weird
Jay…I believe you are correct….I kind of remember in my 77 GP that there was a high beam button on the floor, not on the column.
If you look at the video you will see the word dim on the little box on the side of the column.
Take another look at it and the rest of the 70's Grand Prix's they are all column mounted Jay.
Thanks for the video, it brought back memories of my '77 SJ I bought in '87 for only $300. Red on red with white vinyl top and pin stripes. I drove that car until the wheels fell off. Literally. The right rear wheel broke free one day. A few hours in the garage and back on the road. Until one day I heard the engine knocking over Bob Segar blasting out of my $400 Clarion. That's when I learned that idiot lights are for idiots that don't look at their gauges. I shut down Bob and saw the oil pressure gauge was on 0. I kept the Clarion to use in my next 2 or 3 cars. FYI, that's the second hand in the clock. It didn't have a tach. And the S below Drive (third) is Second gear with L being Low or first gear. Thanks!
Thank you so much for those corrections I have an owners manual that says this is for super for Pontiac and Oldsmobile that had the turbo Hydra Matic..
did you fix your car or did you get a different car?
@@What.its.like. No, I didn't fix it. I had a weird on-again off-again relationship with my local salvage yard. I gave them the car and they gave me parts for my next one. Keep in mind these '70s cars were basically rolling junkers in the mid/late '80s. Between the rust and poor build quality 100k miles was end of life. Only Southern old lady cars seemed to survive. Thanks again
I really like this Grand Prix!!! In 1976 my boss bought his wife a new Grand Prix with red velour interior, the exterior was silver over black two tone, it was called the tuxedo edition; it was a sharp looking car as is this one!!! Thanks Jay for sharing another exciting video!!! 👍🙂👍
Awesome story thank you so much for sharing that I don’t think that there is a class your color out there like gunmetal gray/silver with red interior it’s such a classy combination =)
Velour upholstery went perfectly with polyester disco clothes in the 70's 🙂 while dancing to Earth Wind & Fire. I had a 76 Cutlass Supreme (same body shell as this one), red velour everywhere and a stand-up hood ornament. Acceleration didn't burn tires.
The Pontiac 400 was available on all the GP's that year and was standard on the SJ, unless you lived in California or a high altitude area. Then you were stuck with the 403 Olds.
Given the oil fill tube in the front, I am inclined to believe this has the 403 Olds engine. Thanks for sharing this beauty. ~ Chuck
I really liked this generation of GP. I prefer the '76 over the '77, because of the front end treatment, but wouldn't kick the '77 out of bed for eating crackers.
The markers at the fender corners should be lights, not reflectors. That law began with the 1968 model year.
Another well done video. Keep up the momentum. Minor quibbles:
1) you mention Chrysler Córdoba but show photo of a Dodge Charger. The Charger does qualify for a spot in this category however.
2) The rear window is not referred to as a rear windshield. It does not block wind! It's my opinion only regarding the terminology.
You did very well pointing out the various styling cues on the car. They work well to make this GP a styling masterpiece.
=) the Chrysler Córdoba Dodge Charger picture was on purpose Córdoba was just little bit up market instead of saying both i pictures one and said the other =)
This car has such stellar lines I’m glad I did this car justice
Something really special about a car with full dial instrumentation Jay, it is like telling you and everyone that you are a serious dude, when it comes to driving.
I also noticed the small RTS badge, which GMH made such a big deal about in Australia in the 70s, Radial Tuned Suspension. By which time, I don't think you could even buy bias ply tyres anymore. These marketeer types are so full of shit. But a beautiful dash.
In the late 80s I had A Ford Fairmont XD, which was the model between the Falcon and the Fairlane, with grey, body matching velour seats and carpets. I loved that car, it could be taken anywhere, even on our bloody awful dirt roads. (Ford did a much better job of making their vehicles handle our shitty roads than GMH, for some reason?) The Ford seats were so supportive and comfortable, they came out all the way to support your legs till where they bent, so you sat in and not on the seats. 1000KM (800ML) later and you didn't need to stretch, just a stop for food. It had the big 4.1 litre straight 6, which made some think you had a V8, even if you would not tow a big boat with it.
I totally agree with you 100% and the crazy thing is I’d rather have this car than the Trans Am because this car at least doesn’t pretend to be fast the Trans Am with the whole Smokey and the bandit thing it’s false advertisement that car so slow. I got to drive one over the summer I got to drive a judge and the bandit back to back in the judge will run circles around the bandit. The thing that blows my mind is people I’m sure treated the judge for the bandit if that ever happened to me I would’ve thought I got robbed yes the Trans Am Rides better but it wasn’t the better car, in my opinion
My favorite year of Grand Prix in the '73 to '77 years or Colonnade styling. One of the prettiest instrument panels made with functional gauges being a plus. Just wonderful. Thanks.
Laser straight body & nice black paint , what a treat !
This one was mint, like looking at a brand new example
Its a light red interior, car looks excellent. I'd pay 25 for a puff low mileage car. I had the 71&73 GP,76 Monte Carlo &78 Cougar. 71 GP w/400 was the best car,fastest car & newest car I had in HS in 74.
What a cool car! Definitely 1970s disco style.
This car was dynamite lol One day I hope to do an epic comparison of the three
Had a 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix 50th anniversary gold t tops and white bucket seats and last year for 455 engine grand prix and parisienne were Pontiac's best cars imo
Awesome =)
That's a nice one. However, I worked in a Pontiac/GMC/Honda store during that time in the service department. The warranty on these ran 1,200 a car, yep that was the average and GM was proud of that number. Paint, body fit, 403 engine issues, transmission issues, window regulators and window alignment issues and don't even start with T-Tops, a/c accumulator issues with POA valves, squeaks, rattles. Heck you name it. Nice trip down memory lane though, still like it's looks.
Wow that’s crazy thank you so much for sharing your experience =)
Beautiful Grand Prix!!!
This one was like brand new doesn’t have hardly any miles on it =)
@@What.its.like. 👍👍
Jay, thank you for this video. I have owned four GP's with one being a base 1977 model. I love the body sculpting on these and the car I had was a very comfortable driving car and I enjoyed it. I have owned a total of seven Pontiac's over the years as I grew up in a Pontiac family. Thanks!
The lines one this car are great I’m glad I was able to do it car the justice it deserves because a lot of times a lot of those lines don’t show up on camera =)
Which one was your favorite, any cool stories
most beautiful pontiac ever! I think that it combines the 60s, 70s and 80s in one car: it is obvious that the overall design dates back to the 60s, was produced in the 70s and did not become obsolete stylistically until the mid-80s
=)
Another great video. You put some effort into the video. I liked the footage and the old catalogs/brochures and other video footage. The 1977 Grand Prix was one of the Grand Prix's I liked. When this car is fully loaded, it is nice. That front end styling ended up of the 1980-1981 Pontiac Bonneville/ Pontiac Parisienne. They used to pay attention to styling details.
Thank you glad you dig this episode and the channel =)
I grew up in this era and I think 71-77 were some of the most beautiful and affordable cars on the planet. My favorite was the 1976 Gran Prix with the T-tops. I currently have a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible that is drop-dead gorgeous.
That was the last yeah of the Cadillac Eldorado convertible, until they made another one not long after carburetor or fuel injection.. those are cool really comfortable seats
All the contours were necessary to add rigidity to the body, and pleasing sculptures when done well. Better modern steel has brought us better vehicles, perhaps, but distinctive styling appears mostly in the plastic pieces now.
Nice job as always, Jay‼GM's whole personal luxury car concept was that no one would be sitting in the back lol so don't feel bad. The view from the back seats show a red vinyl and it sure looks like an orange toned velour to me. I am excited about seeing your review of the 1961 Ventura 👏
Thank you glad you liked this episode =) it’s a cool car for sure
the ending was naughty...good job!
Do you know where that’s from I might do the next line in the next video, I tried to do Arnold Schwarzenegger again with the pizza message but my voice was shot and couldn’t do it it’s coming though I used to be able to do him to a T problem is once you record something your voice changes and I couldn’t get it to where I liked it =)
Beautiful survivor. Unusually heavily optioned for a base Grand Prix. I would have expected to see those upgrades on an LJ or SJ trim level. Odd that they went with the standard 301 instead of the 400 considering the level of options. I had never seen a bench seat with that console. Again, I would have expected buckets and floor shift for this heavily optioned example. There must have been some interior upgrade included with the sunroof as this car has the chrome pedal trim which was part of the LJ model. I owned a 1977 Grand Prix base as well, but it didn't have near this many extras. Loved it though.
So 😎
When I was a little kid my best friend's Mom had a '61Ventura.
Awesome that a good year for Pontiac =)
I'm glad they provided ashtrays for the kids in the back! 😉
I know right
I had 2 Grand Prix's - loved them both! In this generation I really like the look of the 73 and always wanted one. IMHO the giant clock should have been a tachometer and a personal luxury car should always have a center console and floor shift. Love the red interior!!
This was a cool car from that era =)
It's so weird to see such a common car that was seen for years on the streets - on a classic car channel now! I mean, I used to see these a dime a dozen. Never thought of these as special because in the 70s us classic car nuts were still on a buzz from all the wildness of the last few decades! Time is trippy
This example is in promo state! Looks brand new. This was the year I started to smoke and those tiny ashtrays would get stuffed.
More than likely you'd be flicking out the window, totally oblivious to the pollution and fire risk! Crazy times, crazy habit (I quit the nasty things 8 years ago
Congratulations on quitting smoking that’s something I never got into. I used my ashes as coin deposits =) when I was growing up 16-18 (driving) late 80s cars where everywhere Ltd grand marquis town car, it seemed everyone had a dark green 98 Buick LeSabre and now can never find those cars.
It's a nice-looking car. Considering that many of your vehicles aren't in the "Complete book..." From here on in, just compile your own opinions as that's what a potential owner would do. Well done as always, Jay.
Thank you I’ll do that if it’s in the complete book (that’s not very compete or in complete should be the real title but I’m sure they would sell that many books with a title like that, then again that book was published in 2001.. which was a while ago). This channel will be like a visual book of collector cars one day. =) it’s a pretty good size catalog now
Jay needs to move forward with a new, up to date book. Maybe 2
@Mark W Is there an updated book, though? It's more likely a website these days. Then again, Jay could compile one "What it's like" must be some sales there?
Do you have any recommendations I can’t find a book that’s like this book.
This UA-cam channel is going to be that one day I hope, I love the fact of the car community if I get anything wrong you guys keep me in check and it gives you guys a voice owners of these cars and that’s absolutely incredible. =)
Boca Raton - snooty way that moneyed locals will insist is Ratone - as in postpone . Though some would argue Raton like 'baton' - you know, the relay stick thing. Either gets you closer than Rat-en :) Oh, and Astre is 'a-stra'. The GP was actually an A special body - wheelbase was longer than the A body coupes. Tooled around in an early SJ version of this gen back in the 80's and I can tell you that with a properly tuned engine it would surprise a LOT of stuff on the road back then. With up level suspension (don't think it was designated RTS in 73, but you did get radials with the SJ and heavier sway bar, etc.) it could handle pretty well too for what was even then a pretty big car. Learned about power oversteer and opposite lock in this thing - good friend had a fleet of vintage detroit sitting at the family home, and we'd just rotate em out. GP had style in those years, and the person (usually a man) who drove one had a personality.....
Thank you so much for the corrections and insight super helpful =)
Another great video. I owned two Grand Prixs through the years, and loved them both. My first was an '81 - downsized from the model shown - and I think my back seat was roomier. Cheers!
Glad you dig this video =)
I’ll have to look for some of the downsized ones
Boogie wonderland...Earth wind and fire 🔥
How could I not know this one?!
I danced to it at my HS prom 😁
Man that would have been awesome we played a lot of classic rock because music sucked in 2007 or school song was don’t stop believing =)
@@stuartb9323 Looks like I beat you by 1 minute. Better luck on the next one bro 😊
@Allen Wayne You sure did buddy...good job 👍
77 Grand Prix came mostly with the Pontiac 400. The Olds 403 came only in the cars bound for California for emissions reasons. There is no tach in that clock. Those numbers are the minutes of the clock. PRNDSL-the S stands for second gear, not super.
It is super though in this era that’s what the owners manual says it was an Oldsmobile and Pontiac thing
facebook.com/share/p/vnD58AQZYLtQU9HD/?mibextid=K35XfP
I thought on the trunk you could twist the emblem and it would click open and not quite rest on the key and when you twisted the key it would release the badge since you could then simply pull out the key and it would be basically even more of a little luxury than it appears. Loved the video!!
Glad you dig this video =) this is one of those cars that just doesn’t get the attention it deserves lots of gorgeous lines in the body of this car
Burnt orange I use to think those 77 grand prix was ugly until i watched this there actually pretty good looking when you really start looking it over
It’s an absolutely gorgeous design lots of lines in this car that glossily get overlooked
The epitome of Pontiac style.
So many Gorgeous lines in this car
They called the color "firethorn"
What an awesome name that describes it perfect =) thank you for sharing that
Awesome great car I had a 1977 d top I had bought it Dallas 1993 color gold and I like
Awesome =)
77 is my FAVORITE year for the Grand Prix. I owned a 84 Grand Prix for about 15 years. You want the 400 in the 77 model. 301 was too weak for that big car
One of my friends in HS had a 76. Those cars just floated down the road. Like riding on a pillow
I’ve never driven a Pontiac like this I’ve driven the bandit and it was some what floaty. Maybe this year who knows =)
8 to 12 mpg city depending on how you drove & 12 to 14 hwy mpg. She was a drinker. T-Tops were the coolest.
Sporty, for the young adults and small children. You were expected to upgrade to the Bonneville, then Safari wagon in the future, and Trans Am was ready and waiting for the midlife crisis.
Pontiac always had the most beautifully distinctive exterior styling, and firmer suspension for better handling. Ignore the low NET HP numbers measured at rear wheels in the car from 1971 and up. Previous HP measurement was gross, at the flywheel, with not an alternator or even an exhaust system to hold it back. Torque is what made these cars move, and you could feel that power.
This car was absolutely gorgeous there’s lines that I hope I was able to capture so many nice lines in this car.
I owned an 88 Lincoln town car signature series when I was 18 it was the second car than ever owned and honestly I’m on 36 car since then it’s probably in the top three. It’s number one is far as ride quality goes nothing rides like that car did. My 88 Lincoln had the AOD automatic overdrive transmission the key to the car if you wanted it to go fast if you put put putted it up to about 20 miles an hour and slammed on the gas that they would take off like a rocket I used to race people all the time I raced Camaros and beat them from the 80s and they would all be like HOW.. I absolutely loved racing fox body mustang as well specially the ones that were geared really high with the 2:90. My weekend would blow the doors off of theirs we collected 0 to 60
8 1/2 seconds which doesn’t sound that fast but it was fast for a car that only had 160 hp
That trick works in new Ford cars as well my brother had a Mustang 2013 mustang with a six speed automatic and I told him I was like try my trick and he did and he was like WOW..
Hi Jay, the pin stripes are interesting. I figure, they must be like stickers/transfers? On an RR, they were hand painted, so very expensive, but even so, it would be a time-consuming hand application of a stripe on the Grand Prix? (Nobody mispronounces Prix in America, or elsewhere.) Now no pressure Jay, but I look forward to starting my day with 'What it's like' every morning. The breakfast of champions.
Hahaha I’m dying over here
@@What.its.like. Well, a fantastic job.
The front looks similar to the 77' Chrysler New Yorker
Now that you mention it I see it too
I like Pontiacs, however being a Convertible nut, I like the Couger in the background better
I think the style feature of the top of the body kicking up, in what I call a hip, along the top side, either at the rear door or just after on a coupe, were a special GM feature that everybody still uses to this day. It gives a more muscular stance to any car, which was GMs intent, and every carmaker liked its utility. If it wasn't GM, I'd like to know who started the style.
You didn’t even mention the Pontiac 400 V-8.
THAT was the engine to have.
Olds 403 was next.
Marker lights are on the SIDES, parking lights & turn signals are in the FRONT.
There are not ever marker lights in the front.
The trunk keyhole cover is held open by a small metal tank, & it lets go when key is turned.
The 301, though powerless, was a good engine.
I had one, & knew people that had them. They were reliable.
None of us had sensor problems.
The clock has seconds on the inner ring.
It’s not a tach.
If it had the tach, it was in place of the clock.
They didn’t have “post marker” lights. They were called “courtesy lights”.
On the exterior of the post, were called opera lights, and were NOT usually on coupes.
Everybody knows the Chrysler Cordoba was better because it had fine Corinthian leather. Plus, they had a guy with a foreign accent trying to sell you an American car. How could Pontiac ever beat that?
I honestly have to say that in my opinion, the year and these cars were some of the worst cars ever designed and sold by US. Automakers. A lot of people may disagree with me, but these things were big lumbering tanks with big engines that were choking and gasping for power and got abysmal gas mileage due to the federally mandated emissions standards. They are a fine example of why smaller quicker and more fuel efficient foreign cars were able to just kind of walk in here and take over the market. US automakers were doing themselves, no favors by making these big tanks.
Carl, “a guy with a foreign accent”? You mean Mr. Roark from Fantasy Island? (Yes) & better known as . . . Kkaaahhhnnn!!! Ricardo Montalban. But I DO agree, these are the cars that drove people to Hondas, Toyotas & Datsuns. The imports had more room, got much better gas mileage and were cheaper to own, handled better and drove like they had more power, because they weren’t tanks
@@markw208 .....And that's why alot of people disconnected that emissions shit and saw their gas mileage go up and these cars ran alot better, also those five mph bumpers did not help !!!!.
@@markw208 But not BMW! They were known for $62 Oil Changes that had to be done by the dealer to maintain your warranty in those days. Highway robbery!!
@@markw208 yes good old Ricardo Montalban aka Roark aka KAHN from Star Trek.
@@carlmontney7916 , He probably really did help sell many, many Chrysler cars. For a few years they were everywhere. Cordoba, LeBaron and others
The last big Grand Prix before the downsizing.
I had a friend who had a 1977 GP which she bought new in Michigan before moving out here to California several years later.
Her car had the Pontiac 400 V8 with a floor-shifted TH400. I worked on this car multiple times. I don't remember the Olds 403 being available outside of California. In California, the Olds 403 replaced the Pontiac 400 for emissions reasons. They were also downgraded to the TH350 automatic and I've even seen the TH200 behind the 403. The Pontiac 301 was not available in California. Because of this, California didn't get the Turbo Trans Am, which used the 301.
Thank you so much for sharing all the information and insight as you always do Pontiacs are always the hardest wants to do because they always have so many engine and transmission options =)
The color of the interior is called firethorne red
the 77 I owned had a Pontiac 400 4 barr carb
Sweet how did you like it?
Looks burnt orange to me. Though we see colours different (LY) and even then, TVs vary too. (the LY is the adverb to the verb) Definitely one of the prettiest interiors of the era, I feel.
It’s a nice interior One day I would love to do the ultimate personal luxury comparison compared this the Chrysler Córdoba and Lincoln Mark V
I would also love to compare the Thunderbird ,cougar , Mark V
@@What.its.like. Oh yeah, that is like a dream. To compare the plush cars against one another would be so cool.
Just looked up those arent comparable the mark v started at around 11k and the Córdoba was almost 4K the mark is nice not sure it’s 3 times as nice
@@What.its.like. Hmm, pricing is always a curious thing, though. Is a RR worth as much, or a Bugatti Veyron as worthwhile to go shopping in, or to drive from A to B with air conditioning? It isn't to me, ever, but I am not "Mr status, look what a big shot I am", kinda guy.
I am a pragmatist, very happy with a comfortable, powerful and safe vehicle. Would I like a Bugatti or an RR? Sure, think of the resale value, and the amount I would have left over for better things, like a larger size sedan with 5 stars, all the bells and whistles car, with excellent chassis dynamics. Plenty of people would tell you I was nuts, though. Oh, and I would never buy a Mercedes-Benz, the dealer support is non-existent in Australia, which is why most drivers only lease them
12:14 it's not a tach,it only shows time like 15 past one O'clock for (3) or 25 min past one O'clock for (5)
on the shift indicator S stand for SECOND not super! second gear😁
S is super on the turbo hydra matic that’s what the manual says
classicoldsmobile.com/forums/transmission-4/s-super-68123/
facebook.com/groups/707697117215381/permalink/879610036690754/?mibextid=LROouL
tack was an option and when you ordered it the clock was moved to the center of the dash near the radio.
There was two sets of numbers in that gauge the one set only goes up to 55 so I thought 5500 rpm I’ve seen some dodges have tic toc tachs I thought this was Pontiacs Version of that, lol I don’t know why I thought that geez that was for the seconds hand. Thank you for keeping me straight guys I’ll have to fix those parts
@@What.its.like.
that was a joke,not an actual reference😂😂
I have the owners manual at home I’ll send it when I get back it refers to the turbo hydra Matic as super I put it in a bunch of episodes actually both Pontiac and Oldsmobile use that term I’ve gotten corrected both ways the people that correct me say if it was second they would just put 2
facebook.com/groups/707697117215381/permalink/879610036690754/?mibextid=LROouL
Yeah, the '76 looked better ,I always thought
On the "cons" side I would add the sharp corners on the trunk lid.
Which engine does this one have?
It was so long ago I don't remember
Boogie wonderland earth wind and fire 1979
Yeah buddy =)
Boogie Wonder Land Groups Earth, Wind and Fire 🔥 Featuring The Emotions. The year song 🎧 🎵 🎶 came
out 1979 my Junior Year of High School.
There were 3 Models of Grand Prix IJ, LJ and SJ. Take a really good look 👀 of the rear end of the Ride especially the tail end of the car. Notice from the years 1969 to 1970, from 1971 to 1972 and from 1973 to 1977. From 1971 to 1977
notice the Boat like Tail End. Now from the years 1969 to
1977 take a really good look at the Tail Lights section.
There is a very huge difference in the rear end of that Ride.
From 1969 to 1977. The same goes for the front end as well.
As far as Power Plant for me as far as I’m concerned from 1969 to 1977 the Top of the Line Model Would’ve came and had every single option i could and would think 🤔 💭 🧐 of.
You name it it would have been installed even under the hood for Power Plant which would have been a Big Block
455 SSD 4BBL Dual Exhaust with Horseshoe Shifter with Console Leather Interior with High Back Bucket Reclining Swivel Six Way 60/60 Seats💺💺.
Again use your imagination. Can you dig it!
From your Brother 👨🏾🧔🏾♂️ from a different Mother.
Sincerely Yours Truly
T. O. G. Ivan I J🤵🏾♂️🧔🏾♂️💪🏾💪🏾🕶️👓👖👕👖👔🧢👞💼🎒
Awesome thank you so much for those corrections and insight =)
You know Jay, It has always confused me why the larger American cars had so little rear legroom, where is it all going? Every one of these vehicles with these sorts of wheelbases should be almost stretch limos, I feel. Instead, you're hurting for space? Crazy, as the allocation of space wasn't an objective, except for the front seats. Volumetric efficiency isn't that big a deal, when you, say, sit in an original mini minor, and find yourself swamped with space, it looks so unlikely from the outside dimensions, yet it can be done.
I do wonder if it could have been the saviour of the American automobile industry, in terms of being a world leader? IE, money buys space. Which people know instinctively. A simple instinct to play to as a carmaker.
I haven’t been in a Chrysler product from this era in a long time Ford isn’t so bad but GM across the board it doesn’t matter what it is the rear space of the two-door cars is really bad.. Monte Carlo is the same way
Grand prix was a personal luxury car for grandma and papa and the backseat was not used except for the grandchildren on weekends and they fit in fine . Maybe they took thle little old couple.from down the street out to dinner and they would manage to get in and out fine.. the car was not ment for a family with 3 highschool football playing sons .
My mom I can remember she had an 85 Monte Carlo SS and I hated to get in the backseat there wasn’t even enough room for us when we were little kids and we didn’t even have a car seat at that point I remember it was like crawling into a storage locker. Ironically that was my brother’s first car my mom wanted me to have one I decided to go with the luxury route. The sad thing about that era was it didn’t matter what you had they were all roughly the same speed. I had an 88 Lincoln town car and I raised my friend who had a 83 Camaro it wasn’t a Z 28 it was just a regular Camaro I think it had a 305 in it and I blew his doors off and he couldn’t believe it the only reason I won was cause I shifted mine manually..
Need a T-top Car.
Preferably 76
Love the 77 GP. Disco? Boogie? That was kinda like going back to World War Two. Pretty lame for the 70s but at least it was better than than Motown re dos and James Taylor's funeral dirges.
I had a '75 sj..exact color...455...
Nice sorry for the non-inclusion of the 400 and the 455 conflicting information evidently those were optional engines that didn’t show up on the source that I used.
I think Pontiac had a really nice-looking lineup for this model year. I was still a kid in the 70s but one who always noticed cars, and I thought these were nice, although they didn't strike me the same as some of the early 70s cars that I was around or rode in. We did have a family in the neighborhood with a car just like this, it was the burgundy color scheme, with wire wheel covers. It was nice but to me it wasn't as luxurious as one of our other neighbors car, which a '76 Cordoba that was white pearl white with super plush burgundy interior, that one I did ride in. I do think this model year of the Grand Prix was the best-looking. I liked the look of the look of the '78-'80 . I drove a couple of the next generation GP, an '81 that a friend had, and an '84, that a family member had, and I really thought they! drove well. Pontiac has always been one of my favorites, we had a couple of massive Catalina's in the early, they weren't really lookers in my opinion, and as a really young kid it was like riding in a huge bus or something. The interior does look exactly like that to me, like some hybrid deep red and burnt orange, or tomato. I do like that steering wheel option, although I think I like it better on the '73 Grand am. I think I would prefer the other steering wheel option for this model. Man I watched this too late. I probably would have gotten that song eventually.😊 I grew up with older siblings who had a lot of that type of music playing all the time in the 70s. Cool singing at the end 😎👍
I think I’m going to release the 61 Pontiac video on Saturday there might be an episode tomorrow there might not be.. I got a build a lot of cabinets in Furniture land that I’ve been kind of putting off until now lol. It’s supposed to be 40 tomorrow hopefully. Heat wave, there’s going to be a really special random ending I wanted to do this earlier in the year when I reviewed one of those cars but I haven’t seen another and it’s Pontiac related so it’ll be cool =)
@@What.its.like. sounds cool! LOL I know 40 is a heatwave for you guys, it's supposed to be the low temps here for the next couple of days in Central Florida, but warms up pretty quick.
I want the endgame to either be Tennessee Georgia or Florida I’m so sick of the cold weather here.. I can’t leave I feel like I’m trapped here.. lol I complain but on the positive side we have little to no snakes no roaches and bugs are very minimal in the summer we get mosquitoes but we don’t have no Siems or love bugs or nats
@@What.its.like. those are definitely some pluses! I hate snakes and mosquitoes, and pretty much every bug LOL I have family that have lived in Tennessee for twenty-something years and always enjoy visiting there! Love Gatlinburg!
Just helping you out here...Boca Raton Florida is pronounced (Boca = Bo, then ca with the "a" making the same sound like the "e" in "the" = Boca, then Raton = Ra like the previous "a" sound and "ton" with the same sound as "on" like turn "on" the lights... Boca Raton.). Then for the Pontiac Astre, it is pronounced "As" as in Pass, then 'tre" with the "e" sounding like "a" in Boca.). At least that is how they are pronounced up in the Pacific Northwest, Spokane WA to be exact. 🙂
Thank you so much =) I suck at pronunciations lol
What a beautiful example! I'm not really much a fan of these, as they just look horribly bloated to me. This one sort of makes up with the condition, equipment and color combination.
Totally agree
General Motors cars in the 70s were notorious for n9t having great legroom for adults
Yeah there wasn’t any room back there, Lincoln Mark v has more space in the back if I remember right (different level of car tho)
Bull crap.
This was a personal luxury coupe, so wasn’t set up for adults in the back.
A 4 door 88 or 98 had more.
Jay, is that a 56 Ford Parklane Station Wagon behind this car?
It’s a 55 ranch already covered it a while ago here is the link
1955 Ford ranch wagon in depth look #what its like
ua-cam.com/video/wdnAUrnjk6w/v-deo.html
This was the last car for Max Motive that I shot back in before Christmas I was just trying to figure out when would be a good time to feature it =)
I’m was surprised that Pontiac sold the GP with that limp little 301 … The base 350 2-bbl from ‘76 was bad enough, but the 301 was downright pitiful …
I’ve heard mixed things about the 301 I’ve read that it had knocking sensor issues from one source somebody in the comments said that they were really reliable.. but yeah it’s hard to believe that they put that little 301 engine in a 4000 almost 4000 pound car.. but if you think about it they put a 302 in the LTD grand marquis and the Lincoln town car but that was much later and it was feel injection
@@What.its.like. - The ‘77 301 was just a downsized Pontiac V-8 equipped with a standard 2-bbl. carb and HEI (high-energy ignition); no knock sensors, no electronically controlled carb … and no power.
My Dad had one in a ‘79 Regal (smaller and lighter than this GP) and I had a ‘78 Cutlass 305 4-bbl. at the time. They were both slow as hell, but also very comfortable …
I’ll have to find the article that I was reading because I also thought it was weird that it had sensors I didn’t think engines had sensors at that point
When I was a kid I thought this car was pronounced “Grand Pricks” .🤔 Imagine my surprise when I found out that it was actually pronounced “Grand Pree”! 😮
Hahaha I thought it said that too, I was like who would want to drive a car called GRAND PRICK but then again some people buy there sports goods from dick.. wonder if he drives one
@@What.its.like. It’s an interesting example of how messed up the English language is. They have letters in their words that are often silent or are not pronounced the way they look. I’ve heard that English is a difficult language for some foreigners to learn with the contradictions in how words look as opposed to how they are spoken. And on top of that the same words are spoken differently in different parts of the country. 😮
Boca Rat-ON
Ah, the 70's! What a great time to be a teenager, aside from the lousy performance and dubious build quality of our cars. The seats were indeed comfy, but that velour burned like crazy for a smoker! And who wasn't a smoker in the 70's?
I love velour seats I had a towncar with pillow side seats and had one later one with leather seats velour didn’t get cold in the winter and didn’t burn in summer which made it better
Not I, I didn't start smoking till the early 80's.
Capt James T. Kirk had introduced velour a mere 10 years prior and the manufacturers were going crazy putting it on car seats, backs, sun visors and even pull-down center arm rests by 1976.
The interior looks like a light rust color.
Interesting =)
Very Good!... #186 ✝ {4-2-2023}
Tips For You : Don't Scream For Emphasis, It's Annoying !!! Also, Please No Singing At The End !!!! 🙂
These cars had nice styling...but to drive them...the driver sits too far back and all you see is this big long hood "slinging" everywhere when you turn a corner. Someone I knew in the 1990's had one and as a passenger, that was my experience.
My 1972 Oldsmobile has a better driver's position...it never felt like the hood was that long.
16-21 year old me was into these boats I loved the long hood land
Yachts I tried buying a 79 Lincoln Mark v when I was 19 it didn’t work out they wanted a lot of money for it and it was a 400 with the only option being 8 track player with quadraphonic sound I was looking at a bunch of different cars at that timeperiod I wasn’t sure what I wanted to get I ended up buying a 67 mustang when I turn 21 that was my first Classic Car I might do a video on that whole experience because it’s a whole story somebody made mention earlier that you never forget your first car I never forgot my first Classic Car and there’s days that I miss it and there’s days that it’s probably good that it went down the road.. it was an excellent stress ball I will say that
@@What.its.like. I still have my 1972 Olds. Bought it in 1993 from a dealer lot.
Nicer 🥰
Booge wonderland earth wind and fire
Dance! =)
EWF with The Emotions (female group)
Not sure I follow what your trying to put down, never mind Earth Wind and Fire =)
Family Guy episode Wasted Talent.
Boca Rah-Tone.....smh
Pronunciation is something that we struggle with on this channel
7:22 "grill situation" ?? "bumper situation" ??. Do yourself a favor and stop saying situation.
Eh I’ll keep do me not going yo let someone tell me how to live my life
no bucket seats and consule , no thanks
Back in the 70’s, most young men liked to have their lady sidle up beside them to make cruising more appealing …
Yeah I take the bench seat I like the seat in this car that’s exactly how I would like it with the shifter on the column as opposed to floor =) I would take the velour seats over the vinyl too
You were really with it back then if you had Bucket Seats, Center Console, AM-FM Radio WITH Cassette Player AND T-tops
When you were mentioning the pinstripes going from the trunk lid all the way back up to the point on the hood.....it was not called a point - it was known as the "beak".
I graduated high school in 1977 - but I always preferred the waterfall style grill and the non-medallion tail lights of the '76.
Thank you for that correction =)
Almost $38,000 for this car?
Get real.