1969 Pontiac Grand Prix

The 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix was a combination of performance, luxury, and comfort at an attractive price. It wore all-new bodywork on a 118-inch (down from 121-inch the prior year) platform and was available solely as a two-door hardtop coupe with seating for five. It was a slightly longer version of the intermediate GM A-body platform and called the G-Body.

Within the GM lineup, the Grand Prix personal luxury automobile was smaller than the Cadillac Eldorado and the Oldsmobile Toronado and positioned to compete with the Ford Thunderbird, Mercury Cougar XR-7, and Dodge Charger.

While the 1968 Grand Prix production had reached 31,711 examples, the public wholeheartedly agreed with the new 1969 styling, with production topping 112,486 units.

The styling featured a V-shaped grille flanked by squared headlight surrounds, a very long hood, and an aircraft-inspired 'Command Seat' wraparound cockpit-style interior. Most of the gauges and controls were within easy reach of the driver. The 'Strato' bucket seats were separated by a console integrated into the instrument panel that slanted toward the driver. There were flush-mounted 'pop-open' exterior door handles, an optional built-in electrically heated rear window defogger, a radio antenna embedded in the windshield, and side-impact beams within the doors. Standard equipment included carpeted lower door panels, upper-level ventilation system, and 'pulse' type recessed windshield wipers.

A 400 cubic-inch engine delivered either 265 hp or 350 hp, depending on the configuration, and the 428 CID V8 engine produced either 370 hp or 390 hp (depending on configuration). Most engines were backed by an automatic transmission, with around a thousand with synchromesh with 676 having a four-speed manual.

The Pontiac Grand Prix Model J was the 'standard' trim level and came with the 'base' 400 cubic-inch engine. The Model SJ added power front disc brakes, a four-pinion differential in the rear axle, and automatic level control. Under the bonnet was a 428 cubic-inch V8 with 390 horsepower.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020