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Morning Symphony: Tearing Across Nebraska In A Monster Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2


Morning Symphony: Tearing Across Nebraska In A Monster Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2

Ever find yourself on an open road somewhere that has absolutely no traffic whatsoever and contemplate the consequences of what would happen if you went ahead and had a little fun? Who would know that your foot was in it as much as you dared? Well…we don’t recommend that on any average day, not because you aren’t skilled enough, but because you can’t control what you don’t know. But there are events across the country that are set up to allow such tomfoolery if you so desire. The Silver State Classic in Nevada might be the race that first comes to mind, but there are others, some we are still learning about. What you are about to see is taken from the 2014 Sandhills Open Road Challenge in Nebraska, and to be honest…it looks a lot like my driving from when I was in high school: trade the praries of Eastern Colorado for the rolling hills of Nebraska, and trade the wheezing, well-worn Monte Carlo SS for another, even more entertaining G-body, but the theme is the same: as fast as you wish to go.

The car itself is something special: it’s a 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2, a real-deal homologation special that was sold to the public with a punch-line of a 305 and an automatic. They look the business, but in stock form not one of the 1,225 2+2s were anything to write home about at all. Car mags panned them, dealerships loathed them, and even Jim Davis and the crew at MotorWeek made it known that compared to the Monte SS, Grand National and the 442, the 2+2 was a poseur. Except it wasn’t…sure, the engine was a worthless turd, but unlike the Aerocoupe Monte Carlo (the other homologation special from GM) the 2+2’s aerodynamics actually made a serious impact, dropping the drag coefficient down from 0.453 to 0.368, which actually put it on par with a Ferrari Testarossa. Pontiac. Who knew?

Now, click the play button and learn that the LG4 5.0L V8 was ditched for something much better: a ZZ502 crate motor from Chevrolet Performance, backed up to a six-speed manual. The car is now a road-racer and is set up for running all day long at 160 miles an hour. If you’re not on board with that, then we don’t know what to tell you, because we’ll be buckling up our helmet while running to the driver’s door…


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3 thoughts on “Morning Symphony: Tearing Across Nebraska In A Monster Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2

  1. john

    Looks like fun…co driver…why wear a full face helmet if you don’t pull down the visor. Thanks BMT. 🙂

  2. Anthony

    This thing is great! I’ve seen too many done up really stupid,put some power to it and give it a serious look and they are sweet cars !

  3. jerry z

    Owned a few MCSS Aerocoupes but not a Pontiac. It was tough finding one back in the 90’s. Always looking to do an Aerocoupe one day.

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