Why is Grand Prix lacking

[Gbarrie]

Gbarrie, with all due respect, when you look at how the 2+2 is equipped, and the powertrain that was available, it would be unrealistic to expect that there would be any kind of dramatic difference in handling or driveability between the 2+2 and a regular GP F41 car. In terms of chassis, steering, suspension, brakes and powertrain, both cars are very similiar, so you could expect both of them to perform pretty much the same. In terms of styling, I've found that most people either love or hate the 2+2, and there are very few that are in the middle. Thanks for your comments.

I agree, Just reading all the hype from 1986 mags/lit I was expecting, man this has to be one special car and it is.
I've learned not to beleave every thing I read and this is a prime example of that! All these years of waiting to drive
one and finnally did WOW this car drive's nobetter than my 86/GP=LE with the factory F41 setup and was highly disapointed.
Above comments were made out of fustration/blowing off hot steam! But the 2+2 is a car that you could do an engine swap
and SHAZAM a new beast the way it should have been built. Keep the PONTIAC NAME STRONG AND CARRY ON.
Gbarrie. :lol:

 

[clean8485]

Agreed. This car cries out for a stronger engine, and a better suspension.

 

[Shaun4BigBlocks]

It’s quite simple actually, it all boils down to GM politics. There has always been a tension between Pontiac and Chevy, one that reflects a civil war that has plagued Pontiac since Chevy stole the Pontiac Banshee in ’64 & f’d up the body line and credited it as their very own Stingray. Or the Fiero GT that was intentionally de-tuned when it was realized that it was faster than the current production Vette. And we could talk for hours about how the division repeatedly sodomized Delorian… Let me summarize, in the original grand scheme of things Chevy was to be your base “use and abuse” GM product. If you wanted performance you forked over a few more bucks for the Pontiac. Classy was reserved for the Olds but Luxury was always tied up in the Buick lines, though Luxury Sport was tossed around merely a marketing name for hybrid- the gentleman’s sports car. As far as G-bodies, Pontiac had the true Muscle Car 2” and larger gauges, cockpit dash design, flareside/wide track option (hence why my buddies would put my slicks on there Montes and Cutty’s and rub), special chassis and trunk bracing, legitamate muscle car heavy chrome bumpers- I say that because unfortunately the 80’s represented the new breed of “Euro” inspired exotic plastic feature cars such as a Monte SS's or 88’ Cutlass's. If only the GP had metal instead of plastic grills the one thing I would change out of principal… yes muscle cars had grills, and no it wasn’t cool for everyone to black them out just as it wasn’t cool to put 22’s on them since the muscle car look is big rubber. And no you can’t use the Super B and Daytona as excuses for the cheesy bumpers, they were uni-bodies which technically render them “pony cars” and not “muscle cars” just like your “F” bodies and Fox bodies ect. On that slick front end note, do know that the GP with the 2+2 nose was the most aero dynamic G-Body so much so that only one 2+2 was produced with the T-Tops which was the prototype that kept having glass sealing problems in the wind tunnel- hence the stop of that combo. Understand this, I’m 36 and when I was 16 the base model A bodies were cheap, like 1 grand and you could have a cloneable GTO, 442, GS or SS (yes I'm aware that there are still some deals in the desert though guys like Danny Kount are dwindling that pile QUICK). It’s supply and demand. Once all the premo optioned G-bodies get pricey folks start seeking the alternatives along with wanting there old high school car back. As for the Pontiac Grand Prix, it is safe to say that it is the last rear wheel drive Pontiac muscle car. Not a muscle car some say?? If it has a full size chassy it becomes a muscle car the minute you can smoke both rear tires. AND… AND to be technical 78-83’s were called “A” bodies in the beginning and then changed to “G” when the cross member was altered in 84’. Also, ever one likes to forget that the HP rating system changed after 72’ which made everything look like sh*t from 73’ on… even though the 73’ LS4 would have had 5 more ponies if adjusted for negative inflation… trust me I know my Suburban chirps 2nd AND third with 33’s. Sooo my point is give it time and down the road when “that generation” finally dies off and people start looking at the 80’s cars for what they actually are I truly believe you will see a surge in GP popularity, especially if it has “clean” un molested upgrades with original parts on hand. Buick, that is your final reason… started with the carbed 3.8 turbo in 78’. Don’t get me wrong it was a cool concept , as a young buck whose father said no to V-8’s my grass roots were with carbed t-type platforms. It’s just that it was really bad timing. You see Petty was on top and GP was standing a chance (it was an even 305 playing field in 83’ BTW) and then in 84’ when everyone who wasn’t “Team Chevy Good Ol’e Boy” should have been focusing on the GP the SFI turbo evolved and let’s face it Buick was like the Doogie Houser of all engines and it took ALL THE GM POWERS WHO COULD BE to focus on making sure Chevy backed GM nood-nicks couldn’t sabatosh the effort. The End… cuz ya it’s a touchy subject and it pisses a lot of us off, especially when the demolition groups love to crush Pontiacs! PS: I've been rolling GP since 92' and ba-da-da-DA-DA I'm LOV'N IT!!!!

 

['81 Grand Prix LJ]

Guys, guys, guys.... For God's sake, STOP IT!!!! I've only read 3 pages out of 5 and i CAN'T read a single more line as my eyes are BLEEDING!!! YES, GP's are REALLY solidly lacking but PLEASE throw that performance CRAP AWAY!!! The ONLY REAL reason why they're lacking is that we can't find a DAMN RESTORATION PART for them!!! I've owned my '81 LJ for the last 8 YEARS and never came up with a SINGLE good grille for him!! I've had to dig OH SO MANY salvage yards to find my stuff, all the dealers could get me is some engine stuff that he shares with a SBC 350!! I've seen in the previous pages someone saying that we're sitting on a gold mine...YES, EXACTLY!!! For example, mine came out of the line in SEPTEMBER 1980 as an early production unit and he came out with a humble 267 cid (CANADIAN car lets no forget) with 2bbl carb and believe me that it's gonna stay in the car for the rest of GP's life!! That's pretty RARE and i'd rather keep him match numbers !! ONLY thing i really wanted to change is my wheels....Buick Rallies came in!! I have LOTS of fun with it the way he is and those damn cops just leave me alone!!! Yeah it's pretty big fun to have a big 454 BBC under the hood... But WAAAY LESS when you clearly know that you CAN'T play correctly with it on the street without having 10 pursuit cars up your *ss....Unless you hit the dragstrip wich will be your ONLY REAL playground!!! Enjoy your GP's, enjoy your A/G Bodies (mine's an A...G line came in '82) just the way you got it!!! Then , you'll REALLY appreciate it!!!! Don't take it the wrong way, just wanted to try to put an end to a VERY bad point of view of judging a car or another!! LOL CHEERS AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT!!

 

[-83MONTESS-]

For wanting this thread to stop you didnt have problem bringing it back from being dead for a week :lol:

 

['81 Grand Prix LJ]

For wanting this thread to stop you didnt have problem bringing it back from being dead for a week :lol:

LOL!!...Been a WHILE since last time i came to the forum and i saw it as the latest post...So i tought it was new stuff!! I never check dates LOL!!!

 

[85GPLef41]

For wanting this thread to stop you didnt have problem bringing it back from being dead for a week :lol:

LOL!!...Been a WHILE since last time i came to the forum and i saw it as the latest post...So i tought it was new stuff!! I never check dates LOL!!!

I for one want this subject alive!! ... sick and tired of getting the " you're car isn't popular enough" crap!! WE WANT PART"S MADE FOR OUR GP's..... 😢 it's ok i'll do with I have for now... :|

 

[cyrus_the_great]

now i know why gp is lacking :lol:

which part u need for GPs ? just give a sample to chinese they will make ... i bought some parts for camaros here >> http://www.apexauto.com.tw/product/cate_17478_1.html

 

[olds307 and 403]

Ugh, 267 . Those motors made the sbc 305 and Olds 307 look like fire breathers. The only V8 it could beat would be an Olds 260, extra 7 ci and better gearing is the only reason. My BIL had a 81 Canadian Cutlass so equipped. It was a turd. My 7.8 to 1 76 Olds 350 is ton more fun and won't get beat by a Ford Festiva. I can find many spots to have fun with it around here. My ex BIL bought one for $50, 20 years ago when the sbc was king of popularity, even then they were worth nothing.

 

[82Poncho]

Ugh, 267 .

I'll pass you while you're gettin' gas. :lol: I am sure everthing you said is correct so I'll take my victories where I can.