Ordinarily, I wouldn’t be a fan of the late 1970s Pontiac Grand Prix. Too baroque, too luxury oriented. The Can Am/Grand Am setup is more my speed, and is more or less the same car. But I’ve got a soft spot for the GP, thanks to my dad. When I was in high school, his commuter was a well-beat all-red example, with Pontiac 400 power and an exhaust note that managed to cross “healthy” with “rusted muffler” into a surprisingly good sound. He drove it like any dad would. But when the car I drove had a major issue, I borrowed it. Maybe I did some donuts. Maybe I got caught signing a street in rubber by one of his friends. Maybe my dad made sure I understood that he had no trouble removing me from the world before I got my diploma later on that night. Whatever. That Pontiac was some of the better fun I’ve had behind the wheel. It reminded me of my old ’73 Chevelle: surprisingly willing and capable for such a big boat. 
This original owner SJ is a score. Olds 403 power, still California legal, 140,000-ish miles on the clock, and kept well and sorted. It’s not perfect…there’s a bit of missing trim for the vinyl roof and some upkeep on the headliner could come in handy…but look at it: black on chrome, Vectors with knock-offs and a very nice interior scene. The story goes that this Poncho got “retired” off of the street in 1988 and that, more or less, has been kept under wraps since. We wonder if the Gabriel HiJackers are still capable of holding that back end up for the right rake, but overall: this beauty has promise! Like most 1970s whips, it’s all about comfort first, performance second, but even a smog-era 403 has potential. Keep it in Cali and have a nice classic to drive, or …well, you’ve got an imagination. Just keep everything under that expansive black hood and call it good.
Nice plate ………” A THEIF “
Correction – A THEIF2
The wheels rock! Love the look of this beast. Shame it’s on the wrong coast for me to actually entertain purchasing it.
Had a ’76…loved that car…