Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Hi Bruce,,,Been meaning to send you the pics of my SJ.

------I bought this 1969 Grand Prix a little over two years ago. Ive wanted to find a very good 69 SJ with tons of options and leather interior for a long time. Perfect original leather interior is almost impossible to track down. Believe me, if you think tracking down a COPO car is any easier you just might be surprized!


------Finally after years of looking I ran across this car at a cruise right up in Port Huron about 15 miles from my house. A great guy by the name of Andy Gould had it and the GP was for sale. An absolutely loaded 69 Grand Prix in good, rust free condition, with only 29,500 original miles in Port Huron just doesnt happen, but there it was. Actually Andy has its equal at home with a 4-speed and HO, but thats another story.


------Although in nice condition I apparently cant leave anything alone and took the body off the frame and renewed everything including paint. I finished my project this summer after chasing a couple of gremlins for quite awhile. The resto has been left alone in several areas that were in extra nice condition such as the radiator support and 90% of the interior. Since these pictures were shot I have redyed a couple of interior pieces that came out wrong the first time around like the console and plastic seat backs.


------One missing option was the 390HP HO engine, so I changed all the external stuff like exhaust manifolds, etc., did a little head work, slid in a slightly bigger cam and went to two-and-a-half inch exhaust. It feels as though I more than made up for that missing 20 horsies. Of course I didnt restamp or alter anything and am completely open about the changes. Kind of like day two under the hood!


------So far, one thing I havent been able to bring myself to do is install the trim rings. Since this GP has a more muscular nature than most I thought it was in keeping with the theme to leave them off "Judge style"....And, once they go on once theres no going back, is there?


------Hope you guys like it as much as I do........Bill S



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...enson/tn_1.jpg


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...enson/tn_2.jpg


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...enson/tn_5.jpg


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...enson/tn_6.jpg


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...enson/tn_4.jpg


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...enson/tn_3.jpg



http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...enson/tn_7.jpg

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Very nice Bill! I like these &quot;big&quot; Ponchos too. Boy is she loaded. Nice job and thanks for sharing your story. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]


P.S. Yay! Members' rides are BACK!!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Very nice ride Bill. Did I hear correctly that we might see it this fall?

Jake

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Nice find! What to take when you're going for steak ... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Bill, very cool car! My father owned a 70 J model and this brings back fond memories. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

-----Thanks, guys!

-----The show is not in the cards this year. I really wanted to, but finances are a bit low at the moment and I had to cancel......Bill S

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Cool story and cool car!

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Way cool car!!

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Bill, I'd be glad to drive it to Chicago for you..........
I'll even put new rear tires on it when I return it.

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Bill, Thanks for sharing your wonderful Grand Prix with us. I am so sorry that it took so long to get it up on the site.

There's nothing like luxury muscle [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Bill, the GP looks fantastic... great job! Its begging for trim rings! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] Gives the wheel a deeper look.

Grant

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Wow, what a beautiful GP! Those 69-72 Grand Prix's were truly special cars, and John DeLorean was very proud of his personal luxury car. The all-new 1969 Grand Prix was another home run for Pontiac, and ushered in a new era of 'personal luxury' cars in the 1970's. The Grand Prix was soon followed by the Chevy Monte Carlo, then Ford (and the rest) developed their own personal luxury cars, using the Grand Prix long hood/short deck design, and sporty driver-focused cockpits.

The 1969 Grand Prix SHOULD have won the 1969 Motor Trend Car Of The Year. The criteria for the Car Of The Year is that a vehicle had to either be a new model, or a totally redesigned version of an existing model. Also, any significant design or technical advances, creating a new class of car, etc., would make a car a strong candidate for the Car Of The Year.

For 1968, it was a no-brainer for Motor Trend. The all-new GTO was a totally new design, revolutionary Endura bumper, hideaway headlights, it was the obvious choice. But Chrysler felt slighted because Motor Trend did not give the award to their new Road Runner. Granted, the 1968 Road Runner was also all-new, and it too created a new class of cars (the budget Musclecar), but the GTO edged it out...

In 1969, along comes another winner from Pontiac; the 1969 Grand Prix. Totally new design, and the term 'personal luxury' car was used to describe its unique niche in the market. The Grand Prix sold like hotcakes, and it's huge ironing board hood, short deck lid, and wraparound cockpit was very innovative and stylish. It was a shoe-in for the 1969 Motor Trend Car Of The Year. But Motor Trend gave the 1969 award to the Road Runner. Odd, considering the 1969 Road Runner was basically a carryover from 1968.

Another little bit of trivia on the 1969 Grand Prix. The 1969 Grand Prix offered a leather interior, unusual (but not unheard of) for a GM car at that time. The only other Pontiac that was available with the luxurious leather interior that year was the Firebird, and the only color choice was gold.

Very cool car, I love the 69-72 Grand Prix's! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/Can-I-Have-It.gif[/img]

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

I think Pontiac goofed up by not going with a bigger fan shroud.

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

----Jim,,,I havent had much to chuckle about lately, but I just did!!!.......Bill S

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

I've always been a big fan of this era Grand Prix. Especially the interiors of these cars. I love how the dash and console is totally orientated towards the driver and the passenger is just kinda sittin' over there all alone just enjoying the ride! I wanna say that I remember C-Lill having a particularly nice one of these a few years ago. Anyway, a great car and they're actually quite reasonable still because they've always been in the GTO's shadow......until you ride in the Grand Prix and then you realize which of the two is REALLY the nicer car of the two!

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

I had a buddy that had one of these, I thought it had a 428. It was around Christmas 1978 he was letting it warm up before leaving work. Parked about 10 feet from the gas pumps, by the time we knew what was happening it was too late to save it. It turned out that a recent blower switch replacement was to blame. He wound up repairing the car, new glass, dash and paint. Changed the color to black from dark green. He loved that car. Man would it crank on the highway. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Good Luck Bill, beautiful ride [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Bill,
Did you sell the 64 GP Dark blue with white 421 car ? I know you love these old Poncho's, but did not realize you have more garage spece.

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

Bill,

It looked great in downtown Mt. Clemens this past summer! Nice seeing you there! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Rita

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

This car looks even beter in person; a real stand out!

Since it loooks like this one might stay in your fleet for a while, let me be the first to extend the invite for MCACN III, November 19-20, 2011.

We need some GP representation, and maybe you can talk to your friend up in Port Huron into joining us too.

Bashton
MCACN Managing Member

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

This one appears regularly at events around here.....

http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/40...600x600Q85.jpg

Re: Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!
 

-----Hi guys,

In order.....Sold the 64 a while back, Jim, and went on to this 69. Every now and then I miss the 64 though.
Thanks Rita,,,A thumbs up coming from anyone in your family really means something.
Bob,,,I cant tell you how much I missed this years show. You can count on me for next year......Bill S

----Due to Lee's Monte Carlo vs Grand Prix thread I humbly show a 69 SJ version that's sitting about 20 feet from me. 72's are nice as are 70's, and 71's, but My passion is 69's. I don't know how to move this to the MC vs GP thread. Maybe someone can help?.....Bill S