CAR CULTURE
Pontiac Grand Prix: 1962–1978 | The Gentleman’s Muscle Car
The Pontiac Grand Prix was born from a high-stakes sprint. Rushed to production in 1962 to beat the Ford Thunderbird and Buick Riviera to the showroom floor, it arrived just months after the final executive green light. Under the guidance of John DeLorean, Pontiac took a standard Catalina coupe, stripped the excess chrome, and added a sportier interior with bucket seats and a center console. The "Personal Luxury" segment had a new, high-performance king.
This gallery traces the Grand Prix’s legendary first two decades. From the early Super Duty 421 factory-race options to the iconic 1963 redesign featuring the concave rear window and vertical "stacked" headlights, the Grand Prix always maintained a muscular edge that its rivals lacked. Revisit the "Coke-bottle" curves of the mid-60s and the hidden-headlight elegance of 1967—a year that defined Pontiac’s "snout nose" styling.
As the 1970s approached, the Grand Prix transitioned into a sophisticated powerhouse with big-block engines reaching 455 cubic inches. Whether it was the street-dominating 1969 Model SJ or the plush cruisers of the mid-70s, the Grand Prix remained the definitive choice for the driver who wanted GTO DNA wrapped in an executive suit. Explore our high-resolution archive of original print advertising from the golden era of Pontiac’s premier coupe. »»
Read more about America’s personal luxury cars here
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