If you’re like me, “Grand Prix” and “convertible” are things you usually don’t think of at the same time. When I spotted this one earlier this month, I had no idea just what a rare car it was. In this storied nameplate’s forty-seven model years spanning 1962 and 2008 and the various guises and roles it played within Pontiac’s lineup, 1967 was the only year the Grand Prix was offered as a convertible. Just 5,856 soft-tops were sold that year, alongside 37,125 hardtop coupes, accounting for just under 14% of total GP production.
This was back when the Grand Prix was still a full-sized car based on GM’s B-platform, before undergoing a complete reinvention as a midsized G-Body for ’69. This ’67 looks mighty fine in its dark, business-like paint scheme, but I can’t help but wonder what various other Grand Prixs over the years might have looked like as convertibles. The aforementioned ’69 would have made a knockout drop-top, but there were already slightly smaller, open-air Pontiac A-Bodies available in the Tempest, LeMans, and GTO. I feel that even the latter-day, FWD GM-10 Grand Prix would have made a great-looking convertible, as did its Olds Cutlass cousin. Cheers to the occupants of this particular machine for enjoying top-down cruising during one of the very last warm days of this year.
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois.
Sunday, October 11, 2020.
I briefly owned a ’67 Catalina which was the polar opposite to this. Base model of the F/S Pontiac line, pillared sedan, no options except A/T, not even A/C. I wish I’d had this one instead!
It’s kind of amazing that the GP stuck around long enough to hit on a unique formula. These early ones are interesting but in an oddball way, sort of like the Chrysler non-letter 300s. Pontiac rode “big and sporty” as long as it could then turned to elegant luxury with the 69 GP at exactly the right time.
What a great catch!
What a capture, everything aligned when you snapped this! You make that great big Pontiac look lithe and sporty and..bang up to date although it’s 53..
Wow, a Grand Prix with a hood tach and dog dishes. kool!
Great catch! The photo captures how much that Grand Prix convertible looks like a super-sized GTO convertible – particularly from the A-pillar back.
Imagine the rear quarter rising an inch less, then tapering to the bumper a foot closer to the rear axle
Thanks for reminding me that there ever was a Grand Prix convertible. I envy the people in the picture – it looks like they are having a great time with their big summer sendoff.
Unique though its toplessness may be, this generation of Grans Prix is my least favorite. The 1967-68 cars appear overweight and flabby compared to the somewhat smaller, though equally overwrought,1969-72 generation. All of the GM B and C bodies suffered from taking the coke bottle shape to its logical extreme these years, particularly the two door hardtops, but the Gran Prix seemed to suffer more than most of them because the original 1963 version once seemed so special.
1962 was the original, even if the ’63 looked cleaner
I’d say it’s 8 lugs missing their dress bands
That’s my thought as well, with the aluminum drums painted black. Chromed lug nuts though!
Yeah – they need to go to detailing school
Great find. There is a fine one-owner example of this rare car on display in the Smithsonian. I love Pontiacs from this era and there were so many great choices of models, body styles, and colors.
My first car was a’63, got married and honeymoon in ’68.thanks for the memories.loved those GP
I saw one of these at a local car show in May, 2018 and saw it on the road a few months later. It has… presence! Hopefully the picture isn’t too big at 1008×756 pixels…
An interior shot. I have to believe the 4 speeds were not common.
Early tape player in that one
‘Not common’? More like hen’s teeth. I would guess no more than a handful were ordered that way. Any full-size ’67 anything with a four-speed is a unicorn now. I know a guy who restored a ’67 2+2 with factory 4-speed, he said 310 were ordered.
The black on burgundy hardtop in the ad Joseph posted is the exact car my boss at my job during high school bought new in 67. The business was doing well and he traded in a well-worn 64 F-85 sedan for the Grand Prix. While he might have preferred a GTO, with a wife and two kids a family car was needed but one with some sport and luxury. The Grand Prix met these criteria perfectly. Pontiac had something for everyone in those days.
CC effect today: A black 68 Pontiac Catalina convertible went by us on a cross road while we were first in line at a red light.
That’s a beautiful photo, Joseph, thank you!
I caught this ’67 Grand Prix convertible in motion a few years ago, though my shot is worlds away from yours’ excellent composition. This one looks like it might be the same color as the convertible in the ad you included: Gulf Turquoise, perhaps? Although on second thought, the one in the ad looks a bit more like Montreux Blue…
A rare bird indeed. And a great shot to capture it. Terrific.
I was a car-loving teenager when these were new, yet I was unaware the GP ever offered a convert. Thx for capturing such a rare model Joseph. My 1st time ever seeing one.
Thanks, everyone. Fun fact: the building at the right of frame (Thorndale Beach Apartments) is where the fictional Bob & Emily Hartley lived in the “Bob Newhart Show” of the ’70s.
Joseph, you have the best in motion shots on this site, I swear.
I loved the Bob Newhart opener as a kid because of Chicago. Going back later the show itself was also great. And it set up the greatest series ending ever for Newhart.
Joseph, I missed this yesterday but have to chime in that this is one cool looking car. I’m a sucker for big 60’s Ponchos, convertibles and black wheels. So this pushes a few buttons for me!
Really nice photo! I would love to catch this one parked, too!