We can’t take credit for finding this one. That goes to Todd Ryden, our pal at In Gear Media. Todd shot us a note when he saw this ad and we fell into the same spell he did while looking at this car. This is a weird car. It is a cool car, but a weird one in many ways as well. This 1974 Pontiac Grand Am four door was ordered with an amazing array of factory high performance options. From the 400 4bbl engine to the 4-speed transmission, to the honeycomb wheels, heavy duty air cleaner, full gauge package, custom sport steering wheel, reclining bucket front seats, and on and on an on. The real question here is about who ordered this car. Was it a kid who had parents buying him a car and they demanded a four door? Was it a husband who traded in his Trans-Am and bought what is essentially the closest thing to it in four doors? In the end it was someone who really was an enthusiast and who knew the option sheets like the back of their hand.
Today, cars are not bought like they were a few decades back. Today optional equipment is sold in “packages” and “groups”. Back in 1974, you could order like a buffet line if you knew what you were doing. The person who bought this car went in with a plan. We’ve never seen or heard of another Grand Am with this list of options. For 1974, this was a hot car, especially in the realm of four door sedans.
In case you’re thinking that this is some sort of screw job and that no one would have ever intentionally bought this car, the seller has both the original window sticker and the actual dealer order sheet, specifying all the options! 1974 Grand Ams are not collectible cars, especially in the four door form, but that is actually a good thing in this case. You could buy what we think is a one of one car for dirt cheap money!
Scroll down past the photos and hit the link to see the ad!
eBay Link: Wildly optioned 1974 Pontiac Grand Am
Sounds like a car for a moonshine runner. Has all the go fast goodies in a sedate, not flashy color.
Moonshine runner was exactly what I was thinking.
Interesting car, but I can’t see 5K for it.
When was the last time you’ve seen a 1974 V8 powered 4 spd 4 door car of any make?
I think its worth the price.
I would rock that in a heartbeat. It screams either shine runner or something Buford T. Justice would have for a work car…
If he can get it, great. We’ll see if anyone will actually write a check for it.
I’ve loved the Gen I Grand Ams ever since Papa Speedy brought home an issue of Motor Trend with one on the cover (Papa Speedy was a Mechanix Illustrated/Popular Mechanics/Popular Science kind of guy, so seeing an issue of MT around the house was definitely an unusual and noteworthy event).
I suspect this bitchin unit was ordered by someone trying to avoid an insurance surcharge. Back in the day, “Flo,” the “Gekko,” “President Palmer” and the other greed-soaked auto insurance hawkers would automatically hit customers with 25%+ surcharges for anything that smacked of high-performance. For many motorists, insurance cost as much or more than their monthly car payments!
In addition to obvious red flags, such as high power-to-weight ratios, meaningless stuff like “racing” stripes, limited slip axles, “mag wheels” and hood scoops would trigger harsh surcharges (the “Gekko” wouldn’t even write policies on some “heavy” street-sweepers).
But a few crafty Bangshifters figured out that ordering “sleepers” helped avoid the surcharges. Order a 400 and an M-21 in a “Goat” and it was “pay up sucka” at insurance time. Order the same powerteam in a boring sedan (such as a Grand Am or a Luxury LeMans) and your local agent could often skate you by without a surcharge (wink, wink, nudge, nudge . . . nothing to see here . . . .).
Of course, the G.T.O. had already moved to the compact NOVA platform by the time this sweet rig was assembled.
That being said, it was a crime that the Grand Am front end wasn’t used on the ’73 G.T.O.
This car reminded me of the one my brother tried to wanted to buy at a Pontiac dealership back in 1974. That one was dark red w/red interior. He ended up buying a 74 Super Beetle because of the gas crisis back then.
Sent him the ebay ad, maybe this time?
for 5K I’d be all over that
Back in ’96 i found a Black on black ’79 Grand am in a junkyard. Factory buckets, and console, and gauge package, 301 powered. Non ac car. It actually ran and was in nice shape. Guy didn’t want it anymore and junked it. I tried to buy it from the yard, butn they wouldn’t let me.
Many people in the JY business define the word “jerk.”
That car is pretty damn cool.
A classic beauty.
Hell, ship it to Australia – you’d sell that for 10 grand in about 3 minutes….I’d be first on the line!
That is beyond doubt, one of the ugliest pieces of junk I’ve seen in many a month.
First, it’s from 1974. 1974. Think low compression smog motor. Think de-tuned gas gobbling mechanically smogged and therefore complex and unreliable, stuffed with emissions control shit smog motor. Oh wait. All the emissions stuff has been removed. Yes, that sure does make it run better.
Then, it’s green. The interior is green. The same green. I remember cars like this from the 80’s where a shitty vinyl dye job still would occasionally show the original color through the black. At least this one is original. green.
The nose is… well it’s an abomination. it’s broken too. TRY to find a replacement.
None of the body panels line up. The car’s been through the wringer no doubt. That 4 speed is to blame no doubt. it’ll bet the clutch is just charmy.
You are looking at a car with a 5 k asking price which with an added investment of 20 to 30k would yield a car worth 7k.
Give me a break.
They make a reproduction header for the car. Why would you want to restore it? Just get it mechanically sound and have fun!
I guess your a half empty glass type of person.
On the one hand, it’s being touted as a “rare” car. A collector. You would just continue beating on a real collector until it gives up and you call the scrap hauler?
I suppose you’d do that to a Pontiac Aero Coupe too? How about a Hudson Wasp?
This is why I like guys like you. You stick to ’70 Chevelles and ’69 Camaros and leave the stuff that people don’t see everyday alone. I’d rather bomb this around and have people come up to me and ask me about it than have the typical musclecar where everyone is drooling on it and you need a small security team to make sure it stays put. Cleaned up this car would be a shocker at a car show. And “reverse engineering” can be done by anyone. That “low compression smog motor” was still a stomper in ’74, with a hell of a lot of torque too.
But stick to what you know, and I’ll keep the interesting stuff coming into my garage.
Guys like me? What do you know about “me” anyway?
It’s an ugly car. A rare ugly car.
A rare ugly car with a boat anchor of an engine.
Most likely a V8 400, “R” Code – 175 hp, less likely a V8 400 “T” Code – 225 hp
The 455SD only made 290 that year.
I stand by my statement, even though I don’t own a Camero or a Chevelle.
5th digit, T. Is that the designation on it?
Ok…in fairness I went overboard. My apologies.
As far as the argument for the car however:
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
A 400 can be made to work.
Agree to disagree, I guess.
I love this car. I have owned many muscle cars and am a Pontiac person..Ermott is an idiot!
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