1966 Pontiac Grand Prix

The 1966 Pontiac Grand Prix two-door hardtop personal luxury vehicle had the same wheelbase size of 121 inches as the Catalina, Catalina 2+2, and Safari station wagons, but one of the highest prices in the lineup at $3,500. Styling was similar to its Pontiac siblings highlighted by a 'Coke-bottle' profile, vertically stacked headlamps, rounded body lines, twin-air slot grilles, and V-shaped hoods with a prominent center bulge. The Grand Prix was the most distinctive full-sized Pontiac and trimmed to standards similar to the larger top-line Bonneville.

1966 Pontiac Grand Prix photo
Hardtop
Chassis #: 266576C103727
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Auction entries : 3
The 1966 Pontiac Grand Prix had wire mesh grilles that contained rectangular parking lamps and flanked on either side by the vertically stacked headlamps. Similar to the Bonneville, the Grand Prix had rear fender skirts, and the fin-shaped crease along the lower body was trimmed with a stainless steel molding. Grand Prix identification could be found on the front fenders, and elongated V-shaped emblems were placed on the lower trim panels. The monochromatic interior included new Strato Bucket seats, a console and tachometer, a glovebox lamp, courtesy lamps, front and rear armrests, padded instrument panel, padded assist grip, and Morrokide or cloth upholstery.

The standard engine was an overhead-valve, V8 with a 389 cubic-inch displacement, a cast-iron block, hydraulic valve lifters, five main bearings, and a Carter four-barrel carburetor. It delivered 333 horsepower with the synchromesh transmission and 325 bhp with the Hydra-Matic automatic. The Tri-Power 389 option with 338 horsepower was no longer available, leaving the larger 421 with the three two-barrel carburetor setup the only option. This was the final year for the 421 due to a new General Motors edict that banned the use of multi-carb options on all G.M. cars, except the Chevy Corvette, beginning with the 1967 model year.

The 36,757 examples built in 1966 accounted for approximately five-percent of Pontiac's total production.

1966 Pontiac Models
The entry-level Pontiac was the Tempest resting on a 115-inch wheelbase. Prices ranged from $2,330 to $2,630 for the Standard Tempest, $2,360 to $2,700 for the Tempest Custom, $2,500 to $2,800 for the Tempest LeMans, and $2,780 to $3,080 for the Tempest GTO. The overhead-cam six-cylinder engine was new for 1966 and the standard engine in the Tempest and Tempest Custom. The GTO came with a four-barrel 389 V8 with 335 horsepower.

The Catalina was the base intermediate-sized Pontiac resting on a 121-inch wheelbase that it shared with the Safari and the Grand Prix. Prices ranged from $2,760 to $3,220, depending on body style, and the Catalina 2+2 hardtop listed for $3,300 and the convertible at $3,600.

The Star Chief Executive was the base full-size Pontiac, with a 124-inch wheelbase that it shared with the top-range Bonneville. The Star Chief was priced from $3,115 to $3,245 and the Bonneville listed for $3,350 to $3,750.

1966 Pontiac Engines
Pontiac engines included the 230 cubic-inch, overhead cam six-cylinder engine with 165 horsepower at 4,700 RPM. It had seven main bearings, a Rochester one-barrel carburetor, hydraulic valve lifters, and a cast-iron block.

The 389 CID V8 was offered in several states of tune, with various carburetor setups and compression ratios, with horsepower that ranged from 256 hp to 335 hp. The 421 CID V8 had 10.5:1 compression, hydraulic valve lifters, five main bearings, a Carter carburetor, and delivered 338 horsepower at 4,600 RPM.

The Grand Prix
Pontiac began using the name 'Grand Prix' in 1962 as a performance-oriented replacement for the Ventura, essential a Catalina coupe with a sportier interior, minimal exterior trim, and a unique grille and taillights. The standard engine was the 389 CID four-barrel V8 with dual exhausts and delivering just over 300 horsepower. With the Tri-Power (three two-barrel carburetors) installed, horsepower rose to 318 hp. Other versions of the 389, with higher compression and Tri-Power, power rose to nearly 350 horsepower. The 421 V8 with four-barrel carbs became available near the close of 1962, offering 320 horsepower. In 'Super Duty' guise, with two four-barrel carbs, it was rated at just over 400 horsepower.

Styling updates for 1963 were similar to its Pontiac siblings, but with a squared-off roofline and concave rear window. The front fascia was comprised of a split grille with vertical headlights, and the back had round parking lights and 'hidden' taillights. The public agreed with the new clean look, full list of Bonneville standard amenities, and comfortable interior, and production rose from 30,195 units in 1962 to 72,959 in 1963.

Minor appearance updates were applied to the 1964 Grand Prix, and a slight price increase (by approximately $10) kept the Grand Prix popular, with sales remaining strong at 63,810. The engine options remained mostly unchanged, with the biggest mechanical update being the previous Borg-Warner T-10 replaced a new GM-built Muncie four-speed available in either a wide-ratio M-20 or close-ratio M-21 options.

The 1965 Pontiac Grand Prix models received new styling, along with other full-sized Pontiacs, featuring the rounded bodylines with Coke-bottle profiles. This generation of styling would continue through 1968, the same year it gained a more pronounced 'beak-nose' grille and a new front bumper. The concealed headlights and windshield wipers introduced in 1967 were carried over in 1968.

The all-new Grand Prix for 1969 was a stretched version of the intermediate GM A-body platform, called the G-Body, resting on an exclusive 118-inch wheelbase platform with design cues that included a pronounced V-shaped grille, a very long hood, square headlamp surrounds for the quad round headlamps, dual exhausts, and an aircraft inspired interior.


by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021

Related Reading : Pontiac Grand Prix History

One of the signature most popular personal vehicles of the 1960s, the Pontiac Grand Prix was also the first in a long line of posh Pontiacs this still continues today. During the 60s, luxury stood for performance, and the Grand Prix had tons of it. Released in 1962, the Pontiac Grand Prix has become a legendary vehicle that set the styling trend for the entire industry and has continued to be popularly....
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1966 Pontiac Grand Prix Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1966 Grand Prix
$3,490-$31,400
1966 Pontiac Grand Prix Base Price : $3,490

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1966 Pontiac Models
$2,760 - $3,600
$2,780 - $3,080

Grand Prix

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
30,195
120.00 in.
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 235.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 303.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 318.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 333.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 405.00hp
$3,490 - $3,490
72,959
120.00 in.
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 283.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 303.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 313.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 353.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 370.00hp
$3,490 - $3,490
63,810
120.00 in.
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 235.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 255.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 267.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 303.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 305.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 330.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 350.00hp
8 cyl., 421.00 CID., 370.00hp
$3,500 - $3,500
57,881
121.00 in.
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 325.00hp
$3,430 - $3,430
36,757
121.00 in.
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 325.00hp
8 cyl., 389.00 CID., 333.00hp
$3,490 - $3,490
42,981
119.00 in.
8 cyl., 324.59 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 400.00 CID., 350.00hp
$3,550 - $3,810

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Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.