Every time that Bugs Bunny was lost, he blamed a wrong turn at Alburqurque. Since that place is apparently interesting enough that the animated wise-ass could get turned around so many times, I decided there must be something worth looking at within the city’s Craigslist. With no surprise, I found a couple of decent items…a ’69 Satellite crew cab, a late ‘70s Ranchero…but the one that takes the cake this time is this 1978 Pontiac Grand Prix.
The G-body GP hasn’t really seen the love that it’s cousins have. The Monte Carlo SS was the best factory bodykit, the El Camino was in a world of it’s own, the Cutlass and 442 had the funky shifter, and the Regal, T-types and Grand Nationals have turbos. Somewhere along the way, the Grand Prix got left out in the cold. Even the GP 2+2 Aeroback coupe takes a backseat.
But that error can be rectified. Let’s start: We have a complete ’78 Grand Prix for less than a thousand. It’s a desert car, which means the paint is roasted, the interior has sun fade, and a fair amount of weatherstripping is probably cooked. And currently, it’s not running. But let’s look at the good: Interior is complete. Snowflake wheels. Power windows. Floor shifter and console. New exhaust is poking out of the back.
So you’re out $1000 on the purchase. You’ve got four grand left to do whatever with. Hello, budget 350 build for the cheap route, junkyard LS to piss off purists, or get your hands on a workable Pontiac block and get to it. I’d flat black the hell out of this car, clean up the snowflake wheels and get some decent rubber on them, start raiding junkyards for Trans Am suspension parts, and tint the windows. It wouldn’t take much to make this thing an absolute screamer.
You can see the Grand Prix’s Craigslist ad here.
It’s been used, abused and neglected, but it’s good enough to get a second life! What do you think?
I’m building an ’82 right now they are fun, cheap, and any engine fits in there with the right mounts… PS. I want the wheels if you don’t use them.
Can you score any JATOs for $4,000? Just sayin’.
Why not spend the money on a big ol’ torque motor? Just find a 455 (Pont.,Olds,Buick) and re-ring it, clean up the heads & add a small cam, good carb & intake. Don’t really need headers ,if they make them, for this combo Then you can spend the big money on a good trannie & rear. The big motors will fit, with little work. Even a big Caddie motor would work, but they’re a bit more pricey. Shades of the old ‘Paper Tiger” series!
That is the car i got to beat i mean drive in the ealy 80’s in high school
would love to have that one now for a full blown Pro tTouring build
It’s a blank canvas for sure but you gotta ditch those snowflakes, fugliest wheels ever made.
Seriously, I think one of these would be bitchin in the black and gold, John Player Special-inspired 50th Anniversary/Special Edition paint scheme (a/k/a the “Bandit” livery) . . .
Functional Trans-Am shaker scoop on top of a real Pontiac V8 . . . a Hurst Dual-Gate in the console . . . Supersized Year One repops of the vintage “Snowflake” aluminum wheels . . . . NASCAR-inspired blade spoilers . . . Smoothed bumpers . . . Make it look like what Wangers or maybe Mecum might have sold back in the day if they’d have had more stroke . . . .
Oh, damn, yes.
already been done… my dad did an 80 olds w-30 for a racer in Michigan, that drove back and forth to boston.. installed the shaker scoop and t/a fender extractors, black with gold and a 2nd fuel tank in trunk for non stop trips to and from… car was blindingly fast.. all body work was done in a sheel servicebay of their sheel station on morrissey boulevard Dorchester ma about 1981-2
already been done… my dad did an 80 olds w-30 for a racer in Michigan, that drove back and forth to boston.. installed the shaker scoop and t/a fender extractors, black with gold and a 2nd fuel tank in trunk for non stop trips to and from… car was blindingly fast.. all body work was done in a shell servicebay of their shell station on morrissey boulevard Dorchester ma about 1981-2
Why did they push it into the street & block both lanes? Just askin’…
All that late-70’s goodness for less than a grand??? Hell, that car would be $3500 here in the salt belt, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be all nice and dry and dusty like this one.