Happy Spring!
Winter still is emitting its
tenacious bite. This has been a cold one and even though precipitation has been
slight, the frigid air is relentless!
A
few weeks ago we set a record of 74 degrees one day – and two days later it was
in the 20’s and we had the second ice storm of the season!
On the 74 degree day, my
friend Chris came by my work place in his ‘70 Hemi Road Runner. That was a
great sight to see and a real surprise! We had a nice thaw and after all the
dreary weather we’ve been inundated with, here comes this rumbling orange
beastie to remind me of brighter days and rekindle the spark in me for our
vehicles and the fun we have with them!
Everybody
came out to look at his car and it made our day.
I
can’t wait to get to work on mine again!
Chris is the kind of
energetic and passionate guy who always looks at the bright side and keeps
going no matter what. Here he is with a real six figure Hemi Bird and he takes
it out regardless of the fact that there is still residual salt, etc on the
roads. He wasn’t going to let that stop him from taking a much deserved ride in
his pride and joy! Chris enjoys himself with his car – a very nice car. His attitude is something that
will stick with me.
I
can learn a lesson from him.
As you may have noticed, there was no March edition of the Newsletter. March’s articles are included this month along with everything from April. All the writers are featured together in one big issue for your enjoyment!
Take the time to enjoy this one… and get ready for the car
season! It’s only a week or so away!
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May you all have a blessed Easter
and Passover!!
The Lamb has come to bring
life to us all.
Celebrate with family,
friends, and neighbors. Remember the
reasons for these wonderful days and their meanings.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1
Editor’s Introduction
2
Advertiser’s Promos
3 Picture Caption Contest
4 Cruise Night Information
5 Guest Writer’s Columns
Tom
Sebastian
AutoMat
Lou Refano
Steve Goldsmith
Rich’s Tech Tips
6
My Car Story x 2
7
The Archive
8
Editor’s Closing
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Please take note of our new advertiser:
East Coast Chevelle.
A
company that specializes in parts for the ’64-’72 models, they have thousands
of items in stock and offer quick delivery as well. Dave Esposito has built a
business that seeks not only to maintain the many cars out there now, but to
promote and supply countless enthusiasts with the parts they need to build and
resurrect these classics!
Tell
them Long Island Classic Cars.com sent you!
___________________________________________________
Here are some special deals and offers from some of our advertisers!
We thought it would be a good time to re-acquaint you with what these
folks offer when you mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. They have grrreat
stuff!! All of these businesses below advertise on Long Island Classic Cars.com
in the underlined section of the website.
Let’s start with TRANSPORTATION.
When you buy that new car or sell one of yours, Phil at ABRO MOTORSPORTS is offering special rates for those who mention Long Island Classic Cars.com! He has all new equipment, fully enclosed, insured, and door to door service by the owner himself! Call him for a free quote today!
AJ CLASSIC AUTO TRANSPORT is a premier local service that takes great pride and care in their work. They are huge car enthusiast that serve LI, the tri-state area, northeast, and beyond! Call Jimmy and mention us for a nice rate to go along with his fantastic service! Great people!
Hmmm….maybe you are buying something to add to the fleet!?
In that case check the INSURANCE section.
Call VEHICLE APPRAISERS NETWORK. Dave Smith is an accredited appraiser of the International Appraisers Network. What that means is that his services are reliable and accepted by major members of the collector car market. If you need an appraisal of your car, or an experienced and accurate assessment of a specialty or classic vehicle that you are considering purchasing, Dave is the guy you should call upon. Don’t make that purchase without a professional appraisal! Spend a little now to save thousands later!! Tell him he was recommended by liclassiccars.com!!
For good rates, and more importantly; great service, check out THE RASKIN GROUP. Ask for Ray and tell him we sent ‘ya! They will help you out and give free quotes with no obligation.
If you like dealing with pros, try the DeStefanos at ALLSTATE/HAGGERTY AGENCY. They work in conjunction with one of the world’s finest Specialty insurance companies, but can also provide you with the local touch you need!
Perhaps you need a little monetary help with that new purchase?
Go to the FINANCE section and see…..
The largest and most widely known of all Classic Car Finance institutions is J.J. BEST. They have so many years of getting people into cars and have helped thousands! Their experience and rates are top notch! Mention LI Classic Cars.com for some special consideration!
Keith Adler at CLASSICAUTOLOANS.COM. Tell him you saw his ad on liclassiccars.com and he will certainly help you out! He specializes in all kinds of classic, exotic, and luxury car loans.
Also try Jim at CLASSIC CAR FINANCIAL. He can help you if your
credit is less than perfect. They finance classic and modern machinery.
How about PARTS for your baby?
Classic Chevelles are a very popular car and because of that, there is a high calling for parts for them. Dave at EAST COAST CHEVELLE is the guy to turn to! He’s probably got what you need in stock! Give him your list and go home happy!
Are you putting out a fire? Is your car running hot? Electrical goblins? Fuel leakage? In any case, having a fire stopping device is a necessity in our valuable cars! John at PYROCOOL TECHNOLOGIES has a patented system that not only works better than standard fire extinguishers, but it is harmless to paint, rubber, fabric, and other valuable surfaces! If you care about your car - get one of these! The pros and industry use it all the time!
Call or go to PARTS AUTHORITY. They have everything automotive and locations throughout the area! They are giving 10% off to all who mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. Get your repair, maintenance, and performance parts all in one place! Get some stocking stuffers from their vast inventory!
AUTOMOTIVE UNLIMITED has a huge selection and stock of classic and modern day parts. Give them a call and ask for Eric or Dave. Mention our site for some nice savings!
Is your radiator or cooling system steaming you up? Then Bill Carberry at CLASSIC HEATERS and CAP-A-RADIATOR SHOP is the one man who has what you need! Whether it is parts, service, or a custom build, this guy does it all. Mention liclassiccars.com for a discount that will certainly cool you off!
How about some NOS, reconditioned, or used parts for your Chevrolet vehicle? Don at RESTO TRIM is offering 10% off now through the end of May when you mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. Minimum $100 purchase. He can give you the parts you need, or refurbish yours to showroom new condition!
If you need Mopar parts, HERBEE DODGE is giving 5% off when you mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. Whether you need resto, performance, or daily driver parts, call or visit them. They are a great bunch of guys in the parts department! Ask for Bob or Ronnie.
More GM stuff you say? DAVE’S GM PARTS is also offering 10% off for all who mention Long Island Classic Cars.com. He has three (3) warehouses full of parts!
Need some RESTORATION or REPAIR?
Any restoration is only as good as the prep work that goes into it. That being the case, here is a company that can start you off in the right direction: AMERICAN DRY STRIPPING will take your car and all your parts down to bare metal so you can restore them better than new! Tell them we sent you for some special considerations!
APPEL AUTO SERVICE is operated by a classic car nut! He is more protective of your cars than you are! Call him to get free quotes on all types of work. Tell him LI Classic Cars.com sent you and he’ll take car of you and your car for sure!
TAPPEN ENTERPRISES is a premier street rod shop here on Long Island. Bill has vast experience in all phases of rodding from ground up fabrication to finish work of the highest caliber! When a guy who loves the hobby has a business he loves too, the results are remarkable! Tell him Long Island Classic Cars.com sent you!
Jan at ELITE COACHWORKS takes tremendous pride in his work. He can make your modern, classic, or anything else look gorgeous! He has good prices, turnaround time, and most important he is a quality guy to deal with! Tell him LI Classic Cars.com sent you and get a discount as well!
Whether it is your interior or top (and a whole lot more), the boys at AUTOMAT have got you covered. [Pun intended]
The fellas have decades in the hobby and do tremendous custom jobs as well as classic and modern restorations, repair, and modifications to your vehicle. Let them know you saw their ad here for a nice discount. Their reputation is their name!
Dave (from above) also owns and operates BANNER ROD & CUSTOM. I have seen his work and man his cars are scary fast! He performs surgery on all types of cars, whether you want repairs, fabrications, customizing, restorations, engine or chassis building, paint and body, dyno-tuning, and more!! Again mention Long Island Classic Cars.com for 10% off any work! That can be a monstrous savings for restorations and custom work!
Try AL & SELWYN. Paul is a serious pro at classic car and performance mechanical work. He takes great care with your vehicle and has a true interest in the art. He offers great prices and service to begin with, but mention Long Island Classic Cars.com for a nice discount.
EAST COAST RESTORATIONS is also owned and operated by Don Ness. He does beautiful work on vehicles. Stock, modified, or custom, he does it all! A nice, clean, and efficient shop is his trademark.
STREETSIDE RESTORATIONS specializes in fabricating, roll cages, and complete restorations! Tell Christian that liclassiccars.com sent you! He will take care of you and your ride.
Many of our readers have foreign cars that need love too! Lou Palumbo at GULLWING MOTORS INC. is THE specialist to see for all your repairs on British, Italian, German, and other foreign car makes. They have over 25 years experience! Tell them you saw their ad on liclassiccars.com and they will take care of you and your car with “kid gloves”.
Bill at CLASSIC HEATERS and CAP-A-RADIATOR SHOP does some real special fabrication, repair, and resto of your cars components. He makes things from scratch as well, and does some neat resto work to boot!
Paul Rawden who sells and restores vintage license plates is now also offering a duplication service. If you have one good plate and the other one is damaged or even lost, Paul can duplicate the good one for you so you have a full set again! How about that?!
Warm weather means top down cruising! Just in time, Jim at PHOENIX AUTO INTERIORS is offering 10% off on convertible top repairs and replacements! Just mention Long Island Classic Cars.com and he’ll have your car ready for the road in style!
Another professional upholstery shop is RP INTERIORS. They do many of the custom and classic rides you may have seen at the shows. Tell Rich you saw his ad on liclassiccars.com. They do cars, boats, bikes, even airplanes!
And what’s better than driving with the top down and the radio on?! Nothing if you ask me! The problem is most of us don’t have a good working radio and speakers. Robert at ELLIOT’S CAR RADIO can fix your “box” and speakers and have you driving and singing along with the music. (Hopefully that’s a good thing.) He is offering free shipping on your radio purchases and/or repairs for the month of April. Just make sure you tell him Long Island Classic Cars.com sent you!
While you’re parked or driving, THE REFELECTED IMAGE can ensure that you properly see where you are going and what’s around you! They are offering 10% off on all mirror restoration, customizing, and re-silvering! What that means is simple: if your rear or side view mirrors are cloudy or gray, they can make them brand new again! They also create stock and wild custom etchings and graphics for any kind of ride!
Want some collectible or show stopping AUTOMOBILIA? Check the PARTS-BUSINESS AD section.
Alan at CARZIGNS is offering free shipping on all custom made signs for your pride and joy! These are the highest quality show signs out there and he offers a design service that no one else does!
Just make sure to mention LI Classic Cars.com for the free shipping! (By the way, his design service is outstanding! I know, he did a beautiful sign for my ’69 Super Bee that you may have seen at the shows.)
TOYS TOYS TOYS! Who can have enough? Not me! Call DIECAST MUSCLE. They have one of the largest stock of die cast items that includes ultra-rare and limited edition models you can’t find anywhere else. I have many of their items and their service is fantastic! Ask for Mark or Dave. They will give you 10% off all orders regardless of amount, and, free shipping if you spend $100 bucks! Make sure to mention you saw their ad on liclassiccars.com for the discount.
How about these great deals!! Just don’t wait folks, some of these
offers are for a limited time only!
Brought to you by Long Island Classic Cars.com
___________________________________________________
Long
Island Classic Cars.Com’s
Submit your entry along with your name and e-mail
address to: newsletter@liclassiccars.com
This contest is open to everyone! (LI Classic Cars.com
paid personnel, regular column writers, and business advertisers are not
eligible.)
Winners will be notified by e-mail and/or phone.
Please submit all entries by the 10th of the next month.
(ex: for April’s contest the entries are due by May 10th)
No substitutions of prizes will be allowed.
In the event of prize choices, winner will be given
the opportunity to select the one they want.
All decisions are final and are made by the paid personnel
of Long Island Classic Cars.com
Winners must claim their prizes within 30 days of
contest end or forfeit the prize to the runner up.
A few simple rules:
1) Think!
2) Keep it somewhat clean.
Here is the picture for our April “Caption Cut-Up Contest”!!
Go to it! Send in your funniest, wittiest comments by 5/10/07
and win the prize!
___________________________________________________
“EXTRA EXTRA!
READ ALL ABOUT IT!!”
The
Cruise Nights are all up and running!!
Here’s the latest on them…
2007 Cruise Night location
updates:
TUESDAYS: McDonald's. Metropolitan Ave. & 69th Road, Forest Hills, NY.
Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys For Tots
TUESDAYS: Audrey Ave. Oyster Bay, NY (Starts May 1st)
Sponsored by Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce
TUESDAYS: Bald Hill Cultural Center. North Ocean Ave. Farmingville, NY
Sponsored by the Farmingville Fire Department
TUESDAYS: Old K-Mart Plaza. Hempstead
Tpk. Levittown, NY (closed down)
Public gathering.
WEDNESDAYS: KFC. William Floyd Pkwy & Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY
Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club
THURSDAYS: Wendy’s Shopping Center. Montauk Hwy and Locust Ave, Oakdale, NY
Sponsored by Still Cruisin’ Car Club
FRIDAYS: Bellmore Train Station. Sunrise Highway. Bellmore, NY (closed down)
Public Gathering
FRIDAYS: Massapequa Train Station. Sunrise Highway. Massapequa, NY
Sponsored by the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce
SATURDAYS: *AM Cruise* Steve’s Collision. 618 North Bicycle Path. Port Jefferson Station, NY.
Sponsored by Steve’s Collision.
SATURDAYS: Sonomax Station. 278 Greenpoint Ave. Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY.
Sponsored by East Coast Car Association/Toys for Tots
SATURDAYS: Kohl’s. Corner Grand Blvd and Commack Rd. Deer Park, NY.
Public gathering.
SATURDAYS: KFC. William Floyd Pkwy & Montauk Hwy. Shirley, NY.
Sponsored by Bow Tie Boulevard Camaro Club
SUNDAYS: *AM Cruise* Ocean Pkwy, Captree Beach Parking Lot through May, then at OBI.
Public gathering.
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GUEST WRITER(S)
COLUMN(S)
Tom Sebastian is back to his patented “...from this....to this” format. This time out
he takes a more elegant form of travel.
Justin
from AutoMat has a great story about a Father/Son team and the project
they set out on. Don’t miss this one.
Lou Refano
continues with his new series on his favorite cars of the 1970’s. This time out
it’s a Grand affair!
Steve Goldsmith talks about something most of us can relate to: buying on e-bay. And in
this case, it deals with the pitfalls and issues involved when searching for a
classic car. Be wise! Be safe! Watch out!
Rich’s Tech Tips has a very timely (again) article regarding checking our cars thoroughly
upon removal from hibernation and prior to their springtime usage. A couple of
hours doing these things can save several weeks of heartaches and “should have
done’s”!
In this month’s “My Car Story” we have a couple of cars!
First up is Mark Williams and his Honda Civic. By day Mark is a busy mechanic
at a high end auto dealer and when time permits, he works on his own vehicle.
He has done a lot to this one!
Next up is the Mustang GT
convertible of Carmine
Gonzales. Carmine is a service
advisor at a major auto dealer. Between Carmine and Mark, they will gladly
schedule your appointment, fix your vehicle, and lighten your pockets!
Enjoy…
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Tom Sebastian
Tom goes from this 
…. to this! 
The
Jaguar XJS Convertible: The Ultimate
Boulevardier
I swore to myself after my last car -- the BMW CSi, the “ultimate driver’s car” that could force unwarranted bowel pressure when you least expected it -- that I was simply too old have to ‘perform’ my way to the grocery store every time I needed bread or oranges. I was tired of people with babies screaming at me -- as my engine screamed back at them – to slow down. The poor thing was only trying to get the necessary revs in order to shift properly, lest unwanted carbon built up and stink me out of the cockpit. (A virtual, ‘smell test’ of one’s driving skills.)
So, what’s an aging racer to do? A Lexus? HA! (Not yet.…)
Hanging out in the Hudson Valley for part of the summer a couple of years ago had its rewards: I was first on the scene when the big Jag went up for sale one town over.
Meeting first at a prearranged, easily identifiable street address, I was able to catch the total ‘ambiance’ of the thing as it approached. ZOW! BAM! ZAP! As Batman more than likely would have said (and I did say). Top down, low to the ground, it was an eye-full.
Whatever else this thing was, I had the distinct impression that it was not a sports car – at least in the way I define it. Good God… it weighed in at just under 4000 lbs. – and that’s with no one in it. That’s more than many full-sized, Mercedes sedans.
Ok… It was still a two-seater[1] with a monster V-12[2]; and the pick-up was there if your pockets were deep enough for the fuel it required toslam it home once in a while. At these prices (this was when the fuel prices were approaching the 3-dollar mark for the first time in history) here was an accelerator to learn how to feather! And it only took premium gas besides!
But… Too cool to pass up: Bought it within twenty minutes.
So… what did I have here?
A fun car for sweeping through S-turns?[3] Forget that one.
No, this appeared to be more of a sex machine for aging playboys with white hair, gold chains, and white bucks whose racier days were behind them. The car for tooling down tony avenues in the tonier parts of town; stepping in to the old inn, perhaps, for a Dewar’s and water, all the while checking out the ‘rich widow action’ as you shake the loose change about in your white pants pockets. (Yes…!! Just you wait! It will happen to you, too!)
The thing just looked decadent in the way that a mere Lexus could not. With its Hollywood/Las Vegas touches, British-born or not, the XJS convertible was as All-American as it could get.[4]
But not the Hollywood of today. Whereas its successors, the sleek XK8 and the new, Aston-like, XK, could wow the likes of P. Hilton and Nicole Richie right out of their bottom pieces (Oh… You mean the car wasn’t necessary?), the XJS is made for a classier clientele: The Hollywood of the 1940’s, perhaps.
If Clark Gable or Claudette Colbert made their reappearance on The Strip today, they probably would not go about it in some bullet-shaped nose-cone on wheels. Remember, these were folks from the Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg Era. You were nothing if not stunning then. ‘Sleek’ was an unknown commodity in those days and Buck Rogers was for kids. Racing in and out of the spotlight in record time was not for this crowd. Staying in it was. The all-important, ‘Glamour’ was IT. -- And that’s exactly what this car oozed plenty of: IT!
After the glorious E-Type, the auto journalists seemed a bit put-off when the XJS first rolled off the assembly line at Coventry in the mid-70’s. I liked it as soon as I saw it. It was unlike anything Jaguar did before – or after. But their own history seemed to keep them from pursuing this line of inquiry.[5]
Today, it would be a great estate car for the Long Island Leisure Set, a stars-night-out cruiser to the better dining establishments along the shore.[6] And the lines have enough of the feminine in them to highlight long-haired beauties whose very presence behind the wheel of such a car would make men drool as they glide past on a sunny day in May. And you do not have to look like a young, Elizabeth Taylor to produce the effect. This car, on its own, lifts a lot of that burden off your shoulders.
And now for an insider’s secret: the XJS is one of the last, great values out there. In plain English: This is one, inexpensive, ego booster!!
NEXT TIME!! -- What
has 5 doors, seats seven, weighs less than a Porsche, and will get you into the
Harvard Club without any degree at all?
(Hmmm? BMW X5? Cant’ wait to find out!) Pete
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There Is No Rest In Restoration.
by Justin Appelbaum
There are relatively few things that bring a father and son together like a good project. Growing up my father (still to this day) was not a believer in calling a repairman or mechanic of any kind. It was always, “get up we have work to do today.” Whether the work was plumbing, electrical, carpentry or more often than not, mechanical, I was out there learning from him. Ever since I can remember I have been turning wrenches, everything from brake jobs to engine rebuilds. It would be cliché to say that everything that I learned, I learned form him, but definitely a majority. Many an hour was spent in the auto shop in high school filling in all the blanks. The point that I am tying to make is that all that time that I got to spend with my father on these various projects was time that I cherish and will always look back upon fondly.
This brings me to Mark and Brendan Petersen. Together they are building a 1937 Chevrolet Coupe. Well, actually they are pretty much done with it and that is why it is currently at AutoMat Co. The ’37 was purchased from a neighbor already slightly modified to be a hot rod, but it was not quite in the state that they wanted it to be. The car itself was black with a maroon interior, which in alone is not a bad combo, but throw in maroon and black speckled Astroturf for the carpet and finished (and I use that term loosely) trunk. The seats were out of a mid 80’s American car and the doors were covered in some kind of deteriorating house carpet. The interior was basically a mess, and don’t get me started on the wiring. They knew that though, and that is why they purchased the car, to have a project that Mark could work on with his son Brendan. The good that they got with the vehicle was that there were already custom Frenched-in taillights and antenna, and the condition of the body was decent.
The engine was your basic Chevy 350 with some minor performance upgrades. While they were in the planning stages of their project they took the ’37 to numerous local car shows last season to get a feel of what they would like their end result to look like. Mark, being the service manager of a large dealership on the Island, was no stranger to turning a wrench either, so a majority of the mechanical work was done at home with Brendan. For starters, to squeeze some extra power out of the stock 350, a Crane high lift cam was installed. Being a fan of Edelbrock; a polished intake manifold was bolted on top of Edelbrock high flow heads that sit on the engine. Mounted on top of that is a polished Edelbrock carburetor. Ingesting the air is a traditional polished Edelbrock Pro-Flow 1000 series air filter. The exhaust fumes are expelled from the block through an equal length manifold and exit out the rear through a custom dual exhaust. Other accessories on the engine include aluminum valve covers and spark plug wire looms. One aesthetic touch that we added was to custom cut mirrors to fit over the firewall, creating a finished look. Completing their performance modifications is a set of traditional Cragar five spoke rims were added at all four corners.
With that all taken care of; attention was turned back to the interior. A decision to paint the exterior of the vehicle a metallic burgundy was made - so deciding on the interior color left them with a few options, but ultimately the choice to go with a cream color was decided upon. It is definitely one of the harder colors to keep clean but well worth the effort.
For starters,
seats from a Nissan 300Z were sourced to replace the big bulky units that came
with the ’37. They were recovered in
cream leather in a roll and pleat style.
That is where the sourcing ended, everything else was made from
scratch. All of the interior panels
(door, quarter and kick) were made in the same roll and pleat style to match
the seats. Very plush German velour
carpet was used on the floor as well as the custom bow tie embroidered floor
mats. A custom storage unit was
constructed in lieu of a rear seat that would also house the custom enclosed 6”x9”
speakers. The front 6 1/2“speakers were
mounted in the kick panels, and a custom center console was constructed between
the seats to hold their choice of beverage along with an iPOD adaptor. The disaster that was the trunk was
completely stripped down to the bare metal and new panels were made and upholstered
in the roll and pleat style and finished off with the German velour. Also added to the trunk was a tank connected
to spray nozzles at the rear wheels that would be able to spray such liquids as
bleach onto the rear tires for those occasions where burnouts were necessary! Topping off the new interior was a wood
grain steering wheel from Grant and a host of billet accessories, such a 
window
cranks, door handles and pedals.
Due to the wiring mess that the vehicle came with, a decision to rewire the entire ’37 with a Painless Wiring kit was made. From the headlight to the taillights to all the brand new AutoMeter instrumentation and custom mounted in dash Kenwood head unit.
What is truly great about this project is that Mark and Brandon make all the decisions together. Actually, when it is finished it is going to be Brandon’s car!
Keep an eye out for these two on the show circuit this year, especially at any burn out contests!
(Justin, great story about how a Father and Son
project can go a long way.) Pete
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LOU’S ’70’s FAVES, PART 2 ...
HOW GRAND IT IS
by Louis Refano
Thanks to John Z. DeLorean
(the subject of a previous article you can find in the liclassiccars.com archives),
the Pontiac Division of General Motors took a massive turn for the better in
the 1960s.
That car was the original Grand Prix of
1962… It was essentially a standard full-size Pontiac Catalina coupe
with minimal outside chrome trim and sportier interior (bucket seats and a
center console). DeLorean, head of Advanced Engineering at 
The full-size Catalina-based Grand Prix
sold well throughout the ‘60’s, and is often credited with the move towards
minimalism in exterior trim seen later in that decade. Yet its clear
resemblance to the other full-size
A big change for Grand Prix came in
’69. It was cut loose from the shackles
of being a Catalina with a sport package.
It was as monumental a change as the T-Bird was for 1958. Like that T-Bird, the Grand Prix not only changed
in stature, it created a whole new segment…the affordable personal luxury
car. For 1969, DeLorean's
team introduced the all-new Grand Prix based on a slightly stretched version of
the intermediate GM “A” platform. This
smaller, lighter car at last had its own body, and brought a new level of style
and luxury into the intermediate class. But it also emphasized performance,
with increased installation percentages for manual
transmissions and engine options up to the 390 hp 428 HO.
It was both a marketing and an engineering landmark, being hailed at the time
as "an Eldorado for the masses.” The
long hood, short deck proportion compared favorably with that Caddy, as well as
the 1963-65
Inside, the 1969 Grand Prix featured a
sporty and luxurious interior with a wraparound cockpit-style instrument panel
that placed virtually all controls and gauges within easy reach of the driver.
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 choices included
standard all-vinyl or cloth and vinyl or an extra-cost leather trim. Innovations included a concealed radio
antenna, which amounted to two wires in the windshield; an optional built-in
rear window defogger and side-impact beams inside the doors.
Once again paralleling the ’58 T-Bird, sales of the GP shot up
dramatically over the previous year, from about 32,000 built in ’68 to over
112,000 of the ‘69s. Due to this success, Chevrolet followed with the
The Grand Prix that rolled off the assembly line from 1973-77, a member
of GM’s “colonnade” hardtops, is officially my choice number 2 for ‘70s
Fave. GM abandoned true hardtops on its
intermediates after 1972; instead they chose to design cars with better
rollover protection, in response to anticipated federal mandates that
ultimately did not materialize. So the
’73-‘77 coupes had frameless door glass but unlike the traditional hardtop,
there was a vertical section of metal between front and rear quarter windows. The rear quarter window was either a
triangular fastback style in the lower-priced series (in
For ’73,
Inside, a new instrument panel
continued the wraparound cockpit theme of previous models with new African
Crossfire Mahogany facing on the dashboard, console and door panels. The Strato
bucket seats were completely new with higher seatbacks and integrated
headrests, and optional recliners and adjustable lumbar support; surprisingly a
notchback bench seat was offered as a no-cost option.
The standard drivetrain consisted of
the four-barrel 400 inch V8 rated at 230 hp and Turbo Hydra-Matic
transmission. Also standard were power steering and power brakes. A four-barrel
455 inch V8 was optional and included with the "SJ" option that
also added a rally gauge cluster and a radial tuned suspension with front and
rear sway bars, Pliacell shock absorbers and radial-ply tires.
While 1972's sales total of 91,961 units was
certainly nothing to sneeze at, it paled in comparison with the new GP's tally.
All told, the final count was 153,899 units, 20,749 of which were the upscale
SJ models.
The 1974 Grand Prix received a revised
split grille with vertical bars that was entirely above the bumper. Out back,
the boattail effect was softened somewhat thanks to a new federally mandated
5 mph bumper added to the similar mandated front bumper introduced in
1973. The license plate and fuel filler were moved above the bumper and
taillight lenses were revised. Interior trim remained virtually unchanged from
1973 with standard seating choices including Strato bucket seats with center
console or notchback bench seat with armrest and cloth or Morrokide upholstery.
The bucket seats were available with optional recliners and adjustable lumbar
support.
Engines were carried over from 1973
including the 400 inch V8 (standard on the Model J) and 455 inch V8
(standard on the Model SJ, optional on the Model J). Turbo Hydra-Matic
transmission, variable-ratio power steering and power brakes were standard
equipment on both models. In addition to the 455 V8, the Model SJ also added a
Rally Gauge Cluster, "SJ" identification and a radial-tuned
suspension similar to
Sales of Grand Prixs for the 1974 model
year dropped from 1973's record of around 150,000 units to just under 100,000
units primarily due to new competition in the intermediate personal-luxury car
market from a new upsized Mercury Cougar XR-7 coupe.
Still 1974 was the third-best selling year to date for the Pontiac Grand Prix.
The
1975 GP was essentially a carry-over from 1974, in terms of styling. The few
changes made were concentrated in the grille, which received fewer vertical
slats, and in the taillights, which were now more vertical.
The
Grand Prix lineup now consisted of three models, all based on the same body.
First was the standard coupe, next up was the SJ, which was now the
"sporty" version, followed by the new luxury LJ. The three varied
somewhat in terms of available upholstery and trim levels. The LJ included pinstriping and a
luxurious velour interior trim. Otherwise, interior trim was revised with the
real African Crossfire Mahogany trim on the instrument panel replaced by a
simulated material though the "real stuff" continued on the door
panels and center console.
Mechanical changes this year included
the addition of GM's High Energy electronic ignition and a catalytic coverter
that mandated the use of unleaded gasoline. Radial tires became standard on all
models. A new luxury LJ model was added
the lineup, positioned between the base Model J and the sporty SJ series.
Speedometers were revised with numerals now topping at 100 mph rather than
the 120 or 140 mph readings found in previous years and speed readings in
kilometers were added.
The addition of the catalytic converter
spelled the end of dual exhaust pipes for 1975 and detuning of engines. The
400 inch V8 (standard on J and LJ models) dropped from 230 to 180 hp
while the 455 inch V8 (standard on SJ, optional on J and LJ) was detuned
from 250 to 200 hp.
A new split vertical bar "waterfall" grille and quad rectangular headlights in front and revised taillight lenses out back highlighted the 1976 Grand Prix. The same three model designations continued (J, LJ and SJ) with the LJ and SJ offering the same trim and equipment levels as in 1975 with the exception being the SJ downgraded t