1970 Pontiac Grand Prix 455
Submitted by Michael H. Epstein
Like many of my friends, I lust over the first car I ever owned. In 1970, when I turned 16, I didn't get my dream car because my parents thought it to be unsafe. I lusted for a 1970 GTO Judge convertible, but instead I received a 1970 Grand Prix (albeit a 455-cubic-inch 4-barrel).
Even with the 455, I thought it was an old man's car. But now, as I tentatively approach middle age, with my son constantly reminding me what an old man I am, I longed for another flawless optioned-out 1970 Grand Prix.
I searched for two years until I found the right one--a one-owner 39,000-mile 1970 Grand Prix SJ, loaded with rare options including real leather, power everything, and even a wood sport steering wheel. Its one owner was 78, so maybe it actually is an old man's car!
Right now I'm restoring it, and I'm anxious for it to be finished. It's due to be finished in about a month. It will stand among my small collection of German and English marques. The pictures here are of the car before the restoration.
Will I drive it? Not much--our 1994 Morgan has 2,200 miles on it. But it will be fun to look at and remind me of my long-lost youth. During that youth, I put 29,000 
miles on my first Grand Prix in the first year until I upgraded to a 1971 Corvette. I remember my father asking, "How the hell can you spend $150 a month on gas?" This, by the way, was when gas was about $0.38 a gallon.
I'm going to cherish this car.
--Michael H. Epstein
Mochi Mochi on March 21, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Nice article. I totally get what Michael is talking about. We all have cars from our past that call to us over the decades and ask to be reborn. I've been keeping a watchful eye on ads for VW Squarebacks from the 70s. Yes, today's cars are wonderful. But there are so many wonderful cars from past decades that, with a little work, could be fantastic to own. They could be daily drivers, or weekend cruisers. How much milage they get is not the question. How much enjoyment and happiness they bring to us is the answer.
Old cars tend toward entropy. Having lived in the northeast I have lost too many cars to salt and hard weather - rust so bad you can see right through the car. There is a sad terminal quality about that kind of condition. But it doesn't have to be that way. And taking a car you love, and saving it from entropic chaos, is something worthwhile. Yes it take energy - hard work and/or money - but the end result is something that makes everyone a little richer. The pleasure one gets from having an old friend back, is often matched by the pleasure others get at seeing a nice car from the past.
I certainly appreciate seeing older vehicles, that owners obviously love, brought back to a state of rolling health.
bigrig on March 21, 2008 at 02:31 PM
I know this feeling. My second car was a 72' Olds Cutlass Supreme. It also came with it's own 455.I have fond memorries of roasting the tires while waiting for the car to catch up. At 17 , you do this, regularly. It got 14 mpg. at 72,000 origional miles.This car and it's faternal twin, the Grand Prix were the better looking of the group.Like you, I wanted the hot rod version (mine being a 442), but I was quite happy with the 'Supreme.
Anthony Cagle on March 21, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Excellent car and I envy you.
When I attended my (archaeology) field school on San Juan Island, WA several years ago another student had one like that. Drove the thing like an absolute maniac. I would drive what I thought was fast from one side of the island to the other, and he would beat me by a good 15 minutes. I guess I was amazed back then, but rather appalled now as he probably could have done serious damage in an accident. Still, fabulous car. I adore 1970s Gran Prixs.
Bryan Frymire on March 23, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Old cars are great. My first car (sort of) was a '58 Ford handed down from my granddad. It was okay - until I drove my friend's Chevelle SS 396. So I needed muscle. Found a '66 Mercury Cyclone GT. The 390 moved that little car pretty well. Had it for four years. Gas crisis hit and 10 mpg didn't cut it. Sold it for a hundred bucks less than I paid for it. $400.00, BTW. Then I rebuilt a swiss-cheesed '69 Fiat 124 Spider convertible. Then it was a '76 version of the same car. Those were great cars - electrical systems notwithstanding. It takes a lot to make Lucas look sophisticated. Yada yada. Today I have a '99 Mitsubishi Galant. It's no rocket by any means but its 4-banger gives me great economy and honestly I could never go back to one of the primitive rides I used to own. I have an '86 F 350 flatbed diesel for that!
Robbins Mitchell on March 23, 2008 at 01:39 PM
I can well understand the sentiment attached to the Pontiac Grand Prix SJ....my first real job out of college was as a field rep for GMAC...that model was a very fast moving one with our local Pontiac dealers here in Houston...so much so that in 1970 I repossessed more of that particular model than any other sold due to payment delinquency
Robbins Mitchell on March 23, 2008 at 01:41 PM
I can well understand the sentiment attached to the Pontiac Grand Prix SJ....my first real job out of college was as a field rep for GMAC...that model was a very fast moving one with our local Pontiac dealers here in Houston...so much so that in 1970 I repossessed more of that particular model than any other sold due to payment delinquency
Tim DeRoche on March 23, 2008 at 03:27 PM
A couple of years ago, I bought my grandfather's 1978 Grand Prix. It's not quite as sporty as the 1970 model, and signficantly shorter/lighter. But it's a great car...and in terrific shape. I get a ton of compliments on the car....Seems like there's a ton of nostalgia for the old American cars of the 70's.
My grandfather Earl Case was a GM dealer in Momence, IL. He *loved* the GP.
walt on March 23, 2008 at 03:44 PM
My parents also unknowingly bought me a very fast car when I was 16, the cousin to the GP, a '70 Olds 442 with the 455. They thought it would be safe bacause it was an Olds. Safe! Until I finally blew the engine two years later (it was a very irresponsible youth) I was king of high school. I've never had a car even close in the 38 years since. Is it possible to peak at age 16?
djr on March 23, 2008 at 06:15 PM
I had a 69 (that I wrecked) and then the 70 when I was 17 or 18 (both gold, just like above). That was one of the best cars I ever had - I remember it having a 400/4b/dual exhaust. It was a screamer. One time the drive shaft snapped when I was showing off. The e-brake cable had been cutting through for a long time.
JunebieHead on March 24, 2008 at 02:29 PM
I love old cars, too. :-)
KC on April 16, 2008 at 11:34 AM
I had to graduate before my parents would let me have anything with more than 4 cylinders. And my 18th summer and the next 3 years was in a 72 Cutlass SX 455 4bbl. Huge back seat, huge engine. Every Saturday and Sunday I cleaned that car for hours to keep it spotless. One night of racing on Forest Lane in Dallas, I averaged 8mpg. I still love and miss that car.
daniel on May 22, 2008 at 03:15 PM
hello
i writen in spanish
yo tengo ono igual en venezuela es extraño q un auto asi alla llegado hasta aca seria tan amable de enviarme el manual de el auto lo estoy restaurando le falta el motor y la caja pero va a quedar bien chao gracias
daniel on May 22, 2008 at 03:18 PM
a se me olviudo este es mi msn djperfector@hotmail.com y necesito alguien q me ayude a a restaurarlo chao
Bob slusser on July 05, 2008 at 12:05 PM
WOW,Im 50 now,only differance is I bought mine my senior yr 1976 and hung onto it .Just got it back from paint after goin on 2 year reso.Nicest car Ive ever owned.Mine is a converted 4 speed .nice article
[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/2623220064_64d05fc898.jpg[/img]
dale on November 11, 2008 at 11:48 AM
sean this car reminds me of my 1970 gp factory 4 speed. 400 super dudy engine. beautyful car i keeped the gp over the 66 gto tough choice. wish i stll had it.
Pathrick Neid on November 13, 2008 at 05:19 PM
MY girlfriend from Grosse Pointe was given a new 1969 SJ to drive to school where I then got it. What a car! Curved dash console facing the driver with a big four speaker Delco stereo radio if I recall. Driven right very few cars could match it. On the freeway it was a perfect cruiser at 85-90. We drove Toronto, New York, DC, Key West in one of my finest long distance cruises with gas at 23 cents a gallon.
Living large I tell you at 21!
p.
It took 22 years and a 1992 Lexus SC300, which I still own, to surpass that car.
Damon on December 17, 2008 at 02:08 PM
I Have that same car right now and i live in Sacramento,Ca. The car is in very bad shape and i need a lot of help restoring it. The transmission has a leak and everytime i drive the car the engine start smoking because the old owner let the car sit for so long. If anyone can help me please that would be nice. My e-mail is dmgmar@aol.com.
Thank You
Paul Graham on January 15, 2009 at 07:19 AM
I have a 1970 Pontiac Grand Prix Model SJ that I am trying to restore. It needs a paint job and a new interior; new bumpers, tires...the works.
a.) How much do I expect to spend on restoring it? I will not be doing the work...I will definitely outsource the work.
It has 160,000 miles on it, but only 70,000 on the rebuilt engine.
b.) If I get it back to decent shape, how much would it be worth? Just a good estimate is all I am looking for...
Thanks.
Dilrats on May 01, 2009 at 07:10 AM
Sweet car!! I've got five, all in different shades of blue. My parents are morons, they bought me so many sweet cars because I'm too lazy to buy my own.
rocky jerls on May 01, 2009 at 11:59 AM
somebody needs to buy this car its what this website was built around i mean come on its a classic
John Mopar on May 01, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Nice car. GM always made the best Personal Luxury cars. My friend owned the same car when I was around 15 and recall how what a great combination of style, performance and roominess it had.
It looks like you purchased the car from AutoHaus Los Gatos which is only a few minutes from my house. He seems to get some interesting cars from time to time.
Anthony Cagle on May 02, 2009 at 04:02 PM
I was just out and about and saw this beeyootiful 1977 Grand Prix. I was admiring it when the owner walked up. Turned out he had bought it recently from someone on Craig's list for. . . . $600. 39k miles.
Love love LOVE these things.
Jed on May 07, 2009 at 07:53 AM
My First car was a 77 Grand Prix SJ with the 400-4bbl. I loved it and thought it had power until I drove a 455 SJ and it put my lo-po 400 to shame. That fire-breathing monster burned rubber on the highway. All I can say is DRIVE your car. It will keep the engine intact and a car this hot needs to be used.
fourby4 on May 09, 2009 at 01:54 AM
Nice body paint. The interior were awesome!
charles on May 16, 2009 at 03:07 PM
My sister had the same car with the optional 483 it was coverted to run off of propane. I remeber it like yesterday I loved the Dash board and the power windows allthought I was 12 years old All I remember It would HAUL ASS It was the same color as your picture. I Know one that is here In Norman Ok its green but a Model J Hes put a ton of work in the engine. For the interior it needs work. I drove it around the block and its a go getter