Why is Grand Prix lacking

[Gbarrie]

Can anyone explain to me why pontiac Grand Prix is lacking behind Olds/442 & the Monte SS :?: Theirs got to be an logical
explaination. Just drove an 83/hurst, 85/442, 86/monte ss and performance wise their is not any, compaired to my 86/GP-LE
Got chance to look under those vehicle only difference is the dual exhaust and different cats. My steering box is the same.
Gbarrie.

 

[Gbarrie]

Come on guy's/gals, Someone has something to say! and dont tell me the performance model for Pontiac
is the LE option. Would have been KOOL to have a high performance GP model to go up against 442/HO-MC/SS-HO.
Gbarrie.

 

[mugzi]

back then pontiac didnt put much into the gp as for i see. the grandprix was more a luxury vehicle of its time.. the sport version of the gp was the 2+2 ...which im not even sure if it came with the h.o. 305..i feel the same way u do. even as today u cant find after market performance parts or re-manufactured parts like u can for the other gbodies..its jus not fair..we hold a very rare stance in owning a grandprix,, thats why i wouldnt trade mine for the world..

 

[pontiacgp]

Being as humble as I am it is hard to reveal to the common people that it takes a higher IQ to appreciate the exquisite Grand Prix....

 

[GP403]

I think they reserved the "we build excitement" factor for the Firebird and the Fiero at the time. The GP never really had a performance model. The 2+2 doesn't count AT ALL since it was made in so few numbers for one year only, and then only for the body style to satisfy NASCAR requirements... nothing else. No HO motor or anything. Just a bubble and a few stickers.

If they had made a "GTO" version and put i.e. the Firebird Formula's 350 TPI in it or even the HO 305.... something more interesting they might have had something. So Buick got the GN, Olds the 442, Chevy the SS, and we got stuck with "SE" instead. 😛 Thanks, GM.

 

[JDMitch32]

The biggest reason that that I can see for the GP to NOT have a performance model on par with the Others is GM was basically killing them even then. Do you know how much arm twisting it took to bring the GTO here a few years later? Add on top of that the sales figures and demographics of who bought the GP. I never understood why Olds and Buick BOTH got to keep their own stand alone engine program when Pontiac had to stop making any of their's. The last true Poncho V8 was '79 with the TA 6.6. Kenny Bell was working with Buick on what would become the 3.8 the year before. BTW, anybody know when that engine BEGAN production? Might surprise a lot of people. I never have been able to figure out how GM could even suggest that it wasn't economical for Pontiac to continue with their own engine program. Think about it. They used the exact same block from '54 until the end. They needed more cubes they just punched it out a little more. One article that I read about the time of the F-body demise is the fact that HOT ROD took an every anniversary addition from the '69 until the last and did a shootout. The '69 TA was GM's own original untitled museum piece. The only one that could hang with the '69 was the '89 Turbo. Now can you imagine what could have been done to the 400 if it was given the same treatment as the Vortecs? You'd have ended up with a Super Duty program all over again. I love the Ponchos. Always have. GM should have continued with a 400, or at least a 326 in a GP well into '87. They could have taken a page from Olds and Buick. Limited run with yearly upgrades. Pontiac basically lost anyone that had any passion for their cars. Unlike Olds and Buick. Chevy, well, we all know they were the darlings of GM Brass for decades.

 

[clean8485]

The Grand Prix has always seemed to be the red-headed stepchild of the G body line. The Buick GN and GNX got the engines with the most HP, even though they were V6s. Even the Monte SS and 442 only got "high output" versions of smaller V8s, that were rated at 180HP. Any of these cars could accept pretty much any engine that was ever produced by GM, V6 or V8. I always thought that it was a shame that GM never installed any of the tuned port V8s in any G body, even though it could have been done with parts that were already on the shelves at GM, including manual transmissions. I have a 2+2, which is in rough shape and needs a complete restoration. I do take a bit of comfort in that the Grand Prix interiors are just a bit nicer (IMHO) than the other G body cars, and that there is some chassis bracing on the GP that isn't available on the other G body cars.

 

[Gbarrie]

I agree with all the above^^^its a shame that they did't put more in to the engines, The suspenion (F41) GP/BAR
quick ratio steering are great but that turtle 305 it cant get out of its own way. that being said its reliable, thats it.
Good luck finding a pontiac 455,400 326 just not happening
Gbarrie.

 

[lilbowtie]

I would have to say the most logical explanation would be the lack of management to push, promote, and sell performance to the powers to be. When Delorean (who was friends w/ Estes & Knudsen) left so did performance which was already taking a hit from the goverment regulations and insurance companies. I wouldn't call the 80's 442's and SS montie performance cars it was management dressing them up and putting some lip stick on them to promote and sell. Buy the way I love my Grand Prix - beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

 

[Gbarrie]

I would have to say the most logical explanation would be the lack of management to push, promote, and sell performance to the powers to be. When Delorean (who was friends w/ Estes & Knudsen) left so did performance which was already taking a hit from the goverment regulations and insurance companies. I wouldn't call the 80's 442's and SS montie performance cars it was management dressing them up and putting some lip stick on them to promote and sell. Buy the way I love my Grand Prix - beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Yes I agree,I wouldn't call an 78-88 Gbodie performance
cars either, I just sold a 71/SJ WITH A GAS GIZZLING 455 but those others as mentioned are faster than my 86/LE-V8.
If I had to do it over again, I would go with the 83/hurst ,man that car was responsive nice rumble, chirps in all 4 gears
2004r.
Gbarrie.