“The Enemy”. If there was one car that could be considered the enemy, the N-body Pontiac Grand Am was certainly it. One of the many clone copies of the same car pouring out of GM in the 1980s, the Grand Am (and just about every other GM car of the era) showcased why badge engineering sucks. That doesn’t bring in the wrong-way-drive argument, the the joy of a buzzing Quad 4 four-banger, mouse-fur upholstery or, if you ordered late enough in the production run, the “mad mouse” seat belts that loved to choke your ass out the second you shut the door and hit the key. Not a bad car, but if you enjoy spinning wrenches and tires, the N-body Grand Am could easily become the enemy.
Then there’s this freaking thing. Jerry Konstatos’ 1986 Grand Am is everything a standard Grand Am isn’t: it’s rear-drive. It’s got a blown, alcohol-swilling 532ci Chevy that is probably making about as much torque as the car weighs. It’s got attitude for days before you start looking at the stickers and the graphics. The car is the perfect anthesis to a 1980s econo-sled. It has one mission: destroy. It has it’s marching orders, and is heading out into the world. Look out.
