(first posted 3/25/2016) As soon as I pulled up to Sam Bond’s Garage last night, I knew that at least someone else had shown up for our little local CC Meet-up. I did a double take when I saw this parked out front…a GP 2+2…but where’s its grafted-on fastback roof? Owner Norm (on left, with redmondjp) soon filled me in on that mystery. Let’s just say this is the genuine article, and likely the only one left of its kind. And there is an explanation, of sorts.
This is how they’re supposed to look. The GP 2+2, like the quite similar Monte Carlo Aerocoupe, were conceived for the same purpose the legendary Ford Talladega, Plymouth Super Bird and Dodge Daytona had been 15 years earlier: to be faster on the NASCAR ovals. GM was tired of losing to the slippery Thunderbird coupes, and both Chevrolet and Pontiac went to work; separately, but with similar results. So what happened to Norm’s 2+2?
Norm wrote to the Pontiac Heritage center with his vehicle information, and what he got back was a statement that in essence said that they must have run out of fastbacks for the last few 2+2s to be built.
Given that Auto Fab, Inc. was responsible for the fastback conversion, what likely happened is that Pontiac built a few more of these specially-equipped cars than Auto Fab had fastbacks for. Or something like that. It does make one wonder if the price was discounted for the missing fastback. Well, all of these 2+2s were most likely heavily discounted, as they were a sales flop. They were heavily optioned, and the asking price, some $2000 more than a Monte Carlo Aerocoupe, was more than the market would bear at the time. Most dealers avoided taking delivery of them, and the majority were sold from factory auctions. It was strictly a one-year phenomena, and only 1225 2+2s were ever built.
Not having the fastback is hardly a great loss; not only is this a completely unique car (presumably the only one still left), but the fastback had a number of negatives, including overheated rear passengers and luggage, as well as a ridiculously tiny trunk opening.
Frankly, I’m not a big fan of the fastbacks on these cars; yes, they’re distinctive, but they don’t look the slightest bit organic. This is more honest. And a unique period piece.
Norm bought this a couple of years back, and had it re-sprayed and otherwise cleaned up some, as it was a bit ratty when he found it. And it expanded his collection of Pontiacs to…sixteen. BTW, I first got to know Mr. Pontiac when I ran into a ’63 tempest he was hauling home on a trailer, and that led me to his ’63 LeMans convertible, the subject of an in-depth CC on those unique cars with their rear transaxle, swing axle rear suspension, high output four cylinder engines and their flexible drive shaft.
The interior of Norm’s car has been nicely cleaned up, and I believe the front seats re-upholstered.
Behind the distinctive beak resides a 165 hp Chevy 305 LG4 V8, teamed up to the four speed THM. Despite its intent of going 200+ on the NASCAR banks, in real life these were not exactly fats cars, with a 0-60 of about ten seconds and a 17.7 second quarter mile. The Muscle Car era was long over, and this was the depths of the Malaise Era. or the tail end, anyway, as things were starting to look up right about this time, performance wise.
Norm has another very distinctive and unique addition to his Pontiac stable.
Maybe one of these days we’ll have to go back out to his place and check them all out. This is what it looked like in 2009; he’s now adding another building to store more of his collection out of the rain.
The meet-up was an intimate affair; just the three of us. Norm’s 2+2 was a good conversation starter, but there was no shortage of stories, about cars and otherwise. The hours flew by, and one of us got to drive this missing-fastback 2+2 home.
countryclassiccars.com had an aeroback for sale for a very long time. Its no longer on the website, but I know they sometimes rotate cars on the site. They are in Illinois.
I pass them on my way to Georgia when I visit my Dad. Unfortunately, they’re always already closed by the time I roll past. Need to leave early one trip and get some photos!
I’ve seen 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 with a fastback roof, but I’ve never seen this before, with the standard roofline and rear window. While I like the style of the fastback roof, I would think the standard roof would be more practical, since it makes for an easier trunk to work with.
Story is fabricated, car is a VIN swapped car with parts and VIN from a wrecked 2+2, the handwritten statement is made up, PHS doesn’t hand write information like this.
Orher scenario its that it was rear ended, tgat glass was irreplaceable. The hatch back setup was only riveted in and its very easy for a body shop to reinstall the regular rear window a trunk lid. Nothing was welded in when the conversation was originally done…
To add to your theory, the whole purpose of it being a 2+2 was that aero window, without it, it is NOT a 2+2 and doesn’t fit the purpose for the build. The 2+2 was built for NASCAR purposes because the Notchback had too much drag, so creating a 2+2 with a notch window does not fit or apply to benefit NASCAR and GM on the track.
I love stories of production anomalies like this car. What a great story. And having attended a couple of meet-ups in the past, I have no doubt that those who could make it had a great time.
Story is fabricated, car is a VIN swapped car with parts and VIN from a wrecked 2+2, the handwritten statement is made up.
I believe you are correct, because GM would have an invoice with a specific shipping and receiving date with dealer code, they would know the specifics of such car and would know how many (in this instance) and they would know the dates and where said car went for sale. The hand written portion is vague in the time frame the car was built, they would know more specific times.
I’ve always been a fan of the G-Special and this is a great color and trim package. I agree that it’s better without the fastback (and I’m even on the fence about the front end treatment, which extends the already excessive front overhang).
In a way it’s a shame that the Chevy and Buick G variants got the worthwhile performance packages because the Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles were very attractive cars.
There’s on up on eBay right now. Apparently only 111 built.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pontiac-Grand-Prix-2-2-Aero-/162011811686?forcerrptr=true&hash=item25b8a80f66:g:92sAAOSwyjBW7VzF&item=162011811686
I’d be more inclined to trust the note from the GM Heritage Center pictured in the article that lists the total at 1223 cars…
Wow, that is a sexy car! I agree, that without the fastback roof, it looks better. Normally, I’m a fan of fastback styling, but not on these……or the Monte Carlo Aerocoupes. The nose looks great, though…..and I think that it should have been standard on the Grand Prix. The problem with the 2+2 is that it didn’t have a high performance engine option, like a Monte Carlo SS or Hurst Olds. Had they offered the 2+2 without the fastback glass, but with the unique nose, along with a HO engine, they would have done much better, I think. The Grand Prix’s natural lines (and the Pontiac lineage of high performance cars) would have been the best fit for an HO package, but perhaps they already felt that the sales of the Monte SS and the Hurst Olds/ 442 were already limited enough, and/ or that the 2+2 would have been competing with the Trans Am anyways.
It’s true that the lack of a perormance engine was truly unfortunate. While the L69 305 of the Monte Carlo SS and the LG8 307 of the G-body Hurst/Olds and 442 were not powerhouses themselves (180 horsepower ratings for each), that 10% bump certainly would have helped a bit.
I love that car without the fastback! It looks amazing! I would love to get my hand on one of these. Do we know what the total production number was for 2+2’s without the fastback?
Glad to see that car in the hands of a bona fide Pontiac fanatic.
*phenomenon, not phenomena.
Dang I missed the meet up? and here I am with all my old junk running.
It’s interesting how the Grand Prix (and its Chevy Monte Carlo and Buick Regal A/G platform-mates) started life in 1981 as broughamed-out rolling living rooms on wheels, but by 1987 had become muscular-looking cars for folks with NASCAR driver fantasies. Note how the opera window was made to look connected to the door glass using black paint both underneath the window and on the B pillar. The more aerodynamic, less chromey front clip helped too.
The Monte Carlo if I recall correctly used different fastback glass that left the trunklid merely extremely small rather than riduculously small as on the GP.
Also, wasn’t the 2+2 really a 2+3?
I’ve always liked the way the fender contours on te ’81-’87 reference the lines on the 1963 Grand Prix coupe (especially the sharp-edged coke bottle contours on the rear fender that jut upward, downward and outward under the opera window), and also the ’73-’77 model on the trunk lid and (to a lesser extent) the hood.
Love it, what a sharp looking car without the aero rear. The GM intermediates of this era, the Grand Prix, the Oldsmobile Cutlass/442, the Buick Regal (T Type and Grand National) and Monte Carlo SS are worthy of car collector status; for those put out by the high dollar entry of the ’68 to ’72 GM intermediates these are perfect cars to jump into the auto hobby with. Well built, very clean and sharp design, V8 or Turbo V6 power (Buick). Just nice looking cars that grab your eye today much like those older GM intermediates once did…
I agree, they are sharp looking cars and perhaps will never be as valuable as the 70’s muscle cars but still worth saving.
The rear deck looks especially long. Was the car’s length increased from the stock production model?
YES by at least 2″ but most of the length extensions were basically due to the unique front nose compared to the other non 2+2 Grand Prix. 203.9″ for the 2+2 model and 201.9″ for ALL other Grand Prix models.
In reply from my comments six years ago, 203.9″ is a fairly large car by today’s standard in 2022 and those Grand Prix were only 0.1″ shorter than a 1975-79 Cadillac Seville.
Malaise or no, I really like that car. Interesting story!
I wonder what the auction value is on that, and what it will do in the future.
Never liked this gen of the Gran Prix of any sort, but good find! I preferred the good looks of the Monte Carlo & to a lesser extent the Regal over this!
This car reminds me of the ’77 Pontiac Can-Am. Story was the mold for the Cam-Am’s rear spoiler broke before production was finished for the year, and a number of cars destined to be Can-Am’s were finished as regular Lemans models. These cars were supposedly built with many Can-Am features, such as the Pontiac 400/Olds 403 engines, bucket seats and consoles, and Grand Prix dash and instrument clusters.
I’m jealous of Norm!
That’s a really unique piece of Pontiac history. I like to think that I know a bit about 80’s cars, but I didn’t know there was a notch Aerocoupe.
Ya learn something new everyday…
Love the car but, GM was definitely playing catch up to Ford in design and styling. Especially to the Thunderbird. Oh how I miss that Coors #9
I like the notchback look, better than the “glassback” look, but if originality wasn’t an issue….I’d take a fastback and paint it black from the “waistline” up, and red-orange from the waist down (sort of like a Z28 Camaro).
Strangely, it’s a toss-up between this and a Monte Carlo
I hope there is another meet up in Eugene shortly.
I’m down. I actually walked right by Sam Bond’s while they were inside but I had to get to my studio. I noticed Paul’s Xbox first and then the Pontiac.
Here in NJ, A neighbor has a 2+2 parked in his driveway. Been there untouched for a long time. Very strange as it’s surrounded by two new cars and only few feet from his attached garage and well keep home. I’ve watched the tires go flat and the headliner droop.
Sad.
Pretty car; I didn’t realize they had the unique front end but the 2+2 was a rare bird anyway so I may be covered on that.
Why was the GP 2+2 so much more $$ than the MC version?
When you coming to Houston Paul?
Gorgeous, I’ve never knew this one, it looks like Ford team designed it for GM!
Cool to see such a rare version of the 2+2, already a very uncommon Grand Prix variant itself. I think the Monte SS was slightly better executed (the urethane nose on these has always looked a little squashed) but these are much better finds.
A Monte Carlo SS aerocoupe was one of the cars I most wanted as a teenager, even though they’d been out of production for 8 years by the time I got my license. If I had known about these, they would have been right up there too. However, despite the fact that I followed NASCAR quite closely back in the late 80’s, I don’t think I was aware of the 2+2’s existence. Don’t recall ever seeing one, anyway. I always incorrectly assumed that the modifications were for the track only.
Just when you think you have seen everything, a notchback 2+2. I seen one on a Pontiac dealers lot back 1988 but didn’t realize how few were made. I did know the cars didn’t get a high output 5.0L–and NASCAR race cars looked like the car they were based on.
I just purchased one July 7th from salvage yard it had a bad owner I’m looking for shifter console and shifter plate for it now I love these cars I also have 86 Ss Monte 79 hurst olds 80 442 olds cutlass 87 442 olds cutlass and my new baby 86 2+2 Grand Prix I love it just the way it is it’s unique nascar inspired and it’s upgraded design helpd put them back in the race love it
Story is fabricated, car is a VIN swapped car with parts and VIN from a wrecked 2+2, the handwritten statement is made up, PHS wouldn’t have handwritten an afterthought into a letter like that. Takes 2 mins to go into the Word file, include such information and print out again…
Orher scenario its that it was rear ended, that glass was irreplaceable. The hatch back setup was only riveted in and its very easy for a body shop to reinstall the regular rear window a trunk lid. Nothing was welded in when the conversation was originally done… in fact they have the original package tray, trunk mounts and bracing all there still.
I worked for Auto Fab Inc. In 1986 at their Ortinville Michigan site.I started about halfway through the little over 1000 2+2s compleated.All the cars came stock from Canada.There is only two ways I can think of that this car came to be without the back glass.First is the possibility that a 2+2 was wrecked in the rear and the nose was put on a stock GP,no cars came from GM with that nose. Decals are reproduced very easy.Its possible but very unlikely that anyone would graft a stock rear on a car,even a rare one like this.Second is when production stopped its possible that a few had the nose on and made it to the public through some kind of auction or factory sale.GM is known for crushing cars all the time,but they could have let some go.Sure there is other possibilities, some people had access to parts from Auto Fab that were leftover.These are just more likely in my opinion.The most rare have my name under the trunk carpet,as it was my job to put carpet in the trunk,put in the spare and clean the interior before it was drivin out the door.Don’t judge I was only 19 at the time…lol
Had Pontiac revived the GTO nameplate in the 1980s for a Grand Prix variant, it would have been close in concept to this 2+2 in question but it would be also available in black.
This is being rehashed again? This has been proved to be a fake before.
Apparently whether they come from junked cars, leftover parts or what there are more 2+2 noses kicking around than glass. At least one has been grafted on to a wagon.
The thought just occurred to me that, if only 1225 of these were built (I’m guessing that the Monte Carlo aerocoupe had a similar low production), how did they qualify for NASCAR duty?
In years past (most notably during the late sixties/early seventies), to qualify for NASCAR, there was always some sort of production number required. The one most often cited is, first, for the 1969 Dodge Charger 500 and Daytona (500 needed to be built). Then, Chrysler had to famously build at least two 1970 Plymouth Superbirds per dealer, most of which went unsold for long periods of time.
If a certain number per dealer was still the requirement, I can’t see 1225 Pontiac 2+2 aerocoupes being enough to qualify.
Who’s “Caitlin Jemma”?
I just like how salty some people seemed to get over this. LOL
Genuine or made-up, I think it’s cool, and a lot of care went into it. It’s not my G.I. Joe, so I’m not going to s*** my pants over it.
I’ve owned a 2+2 aerocoupe since 2000, one of 20 made for 86 Expo in Canada, still has sticker on pass quarter window