1986 Grand Prix GT |
1986
In 1986, Pontiac offered the Grand Prix GT, from Myrtle
Motors of Middle Village, N.Y. The GT featured a standard-issue 305 4-barrel hooked to a
4-speed automatic. It received a black exterior with matching blacked-out trim, rear deck
spoiler and Rally II wheels shod with 215/65R-15 Goodyear Eagle GT radials. According to the
Myrtle Motors sales department, they were not allowed to make any mechanical modifications
due to emissions regulations. As it turned out, less than 20 GTs were sold.
In order to be more competitive in NASCAR racing,
Pontiac introduced a special version of the GP called the Grand
Prix 2+2. In order for this special car to be legal on the racetracks, it had to be
released to the public. Production of the 2+2 equaled just 1,118 units.
The body modifications that separated the standard GP
from the 2+2 were obviously implemented to give NASCAR Pontiac racers an aerodynamic
advantage. In fact, it was "The King" himself, Richard Petty, who originally proposed the
idea of an aero-style GP for high-banks racing. Richard Petty Enterprises built a prototype
of such a vehicle in 1983.
The production 2+2 was indeed a slippery piece. Up
front, the fascia panel was constructed of urethane and was heavily sloped. The grille was
of a honey mesh pattern, and a front spoiler provided additional cooling and reduced wind
resistance.
The rear section of the car was also heavily modified.
The aerodynamically inefficient notchback roof design was smoothed over with a large
bubble-like rear window and an abbreviated rear trunklid with a spoiler. The trunklid itself
covered a very small opening, which would just barely admit a space-saver spare tire.
With a limited production run of only 1,118 units, the
body style was not seen as an economically feasible alternative. The lack of a hatchback
arrangement did in fact make it a cumbersome grocery-getter. Unfortunately, the performance
of the 2+2 was not quite as exciting as its racy exterior might suggest. The only available
powerplant was a 165-hp 305 4-barrel hooked to a 4-speed automatic transmission. This was
the same powerplant one could order in a regular GP. It was a far cry from the 190-horse
High Output 305 that came in the Monte Carlo SS of the same period.
The exterior of all regular-production 2+2s came only
one way with an attractive two-tone paint scheme featuring silver above the beltline,
charcoal gray below and red accent striping between, plus blacked-out window trim. All 2+2s
were "no-option" vehicles, meaning they only came fully loaded.
It is reported that a couple of "brass hat" cars were
maroon, although the only picture we could find was a prototype with a wild rear deck
spoiler replacing the bubble roof.
Although the 2+2 fell short in terms of performance,
you can't complain too much when you consider that the car was the result of Pontiac's
desire to further its factory racing efforts. That sort of thinking had not been seen since
January 1963, when GM pulled out of racing.
1987
When the 1987 model year rolled around, the Grand Prix
2+2 did not return. This would prove to be the final year for the G-body GP. After years of
non-development and being lost in the crowd, the rear-drive GP was finally put to rest.
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