1969 Pontiac Grand Prix
1969 Pontiac Grand Prix
- 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ
Development of the new intermediate-based 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix began in Apr, 1967 after a few prototype GPs were built on the full-sized Pontiac platform as initially planned. DeLorean and other Pontiac planners decided to make the switch in light of declining sales of the full-sized Grand Prix in comparison to competition from unique personal cars in both the luxury and sporty auto fields including the Ford Thunderbird, Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado at the luxurious end, with the emerging ponycars like the Ford Mustang and Pontiac’s own new-for-1967 Firebird.
To save product development costs, a decision was taken that while the most recent GP would have a novel bodyshell of its own, the car would use the basic framework and drivetrain from the A-body intermediates (Tempest, LeMans and GTO), in pretty much the same demeanour Ford made the original Mustang in 1964 using the basic frame and drivetrain from the compact Ford Falcon.
In 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix, 2 engine sizes were offered, the base four hundred ci and the 428 upgrade. 2 power options were available in each engine size ; a buyer could go for a 265 hp four hundred ci, 350 hp four hundred ci, a 370 hp 428 ci and the high output 390 hp 428 ci. The 390 hp 428 ci option could run the 1/4 mile in about 14.1 seconds. It was both a promoting and an engineering landmark, being hailed at the time as “an Eldorado for the masses” and also in hindsight as the first successful downsizing of an American car.
Interior
1969 Pontiac Grand Prix Interior
Inside, the 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix featured a sporty and lush interior with a wraparound cockpit-style instrument panel that placed nearly all controls and gauges inside close range of the driver, and was named the “Command Seat”. The “Strato” bucket seats were separated by a console slanted toward the driver which included the customary floor shifter, storage compartment and ashtray, integrated into the instrument panel. Upholstery selections included standard expanded Morrokide vinyl or cloth and Morrokide, or an extra-cost leather trim. The leather interior option also included a more plush cut-pile carpeting replacing the regular nylon loop rug that came with standard interior trims.
Innovations introduced on the 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix included a hidden radio antenna, which amounted to two wires in the windshield; an optional built-in electrically heated in-built electrically heated back window defogger and side-impact beams within the doors. Also new were flush-mounted “pop-open” exterior door handles instead were flush-mounted “pop-open” exterior the ordinary door handles featuring a grab handle and push button.
The basic 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix bodyshell continued till the 1972 model year with a major facelift in 1971 but only minor detail revisions in 1970 and 1972.
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