The Quiet Kustom: 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix

[Jive-Bomber]

The 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix was one of the first in a long line of GM's "Personal Luxury" cars, much like the better-known Buick Rivera that would premier one year later. The GP was introduced as a lone hardtop model, based on the short wheelbase...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

[RAY With]

They were a nice looking car but just never clicked for me. The fire bird was my style.

[damagedduck]

never had a Grand Prix,but one of my first cars was a 62 Catalina,paid $25 for it & drove it home--i was 14yr old,i drove the wheels off it,even did the super wide track thing to it once or twice {putting rear wheels on backwards}
jeez the memories of driving that thing through the Black Hills with out a care!

[GaryB]

beautiful cars, i had one life got in the way.had to sell it

[296 V8]

I had a 63 and preferred it to a 62.………They came lowered stock and had there own GP only top in 63

[willbe]

1960, 61, 62 Pontiacs were the neatest GM designs, ever, to me. Oh, and '63-'67 Corvettes. Ever try to buy those years with tri-power and a four speed? Rare and expensive.

[GassersGarage]

I just got a '63 but would have preferred a '62.

[loc8tor]

I like thw 62 and 64 GPs but favor the 61 cat!

[4t64rd]

Olds Starfires are probably for another day, but along the same lines... Love them big boats with the buckets, console and floor shifters...

[Mr48chev]

The window cleaner at the Pontiac dealership in Auburn Wa probably hated me on Monday mornings between late 1959 and June of 1962 when he/she had to clean my finger and nose prints off the show room windows every other week. A 62 Grand Prix would be high on my want list of cars. One of the best looking Pontiacs of any year or model.

[GaryB]

had a buddy in high school that had a 62,black on black ,hydros,supremes and bellflowers,I wanted that car

[jakespeed63]

IMHO, these 1962-1964 "personal luxury cars" from GM, where a hi-water mark for the corperation. The Buick Wildcats, Olds Starfires and these Grand Prix's are all "factory customs. And yes, I wholeheart-ally agree that all they need is a mild touch to make them look cool. Everytime I drove my Starfire, I imagined some Jet-Setter Nasa engineer, cruising back and forth to the office, then to his MCM ranch home in the burbs. Have a deepove affair with my Oldsmobiles, but the thought of this jet black'62 Grand Prix, back in Cleveland, makes me wish I had scooped one up a long time ago.
JT

[customrod48]

My dad had the first '63 GP sold in town, traded a 62 Cad rag top even up for it. The GP was the first car I drove the day I got my driver's license. My dad said it was almost the last I'd get to drive if I ever took his pride and joy out again...........little did he know........

[Deuces]

Originally Posted by GassersGarage

I just got a '63 but would have preferred a '62.
Attachment 1489953Attachment 1489954Attachment 1489955Attachment 1489956Attachment 1489957

Beautiful!!!....... No engine pics???

[GassersGarage]

Originally Posted by Deuces

Beautiful!!!....... No engine pics???

The motor is stock. Except for a remote solenoid. I just fixed the factory A/C and switched to a turbo 350. The slim jim gave up the ghost (LOL)

[Lotek_Racing]

Originally Posted by RAY With

They were a nice looking car but just never clicked for me. The fire bird was my style.

the '62 Firebird?

[Engine-Ear]

Great post, J-B!

The '62 GP hooked me on B-body Pontiacs...bought mine at age 17 for $200 in '89 from a co-worker. No engine or transmission, rear gear ass'y was blown out. But just sitting in it was all it took. Ended up getting it running and driving by '96 and put about 10k miles on it. Still have that Freedom Machine; waiting for some $$ to finish off paint and bodywork.

If anyone is looking at one to buy and would like my opinion on the car, please PM me. My credentials: I have owned about 25 '62s since '89 (currently have six) and have had them fully apart and back together again.

Stick '62s are low-production cars but worth it if you can find one, esp if it's a Cat or GP (since they use that dreadful 3 speed Olds hydramatic). However, the automatic used in '62 Bonneville and Star Chief models are a (superior) FOUR speed design. All B-body '62s have killer road manners and plenty of pep, even if only with a 2 bbl carb.

With that typed, I would discourage anyone from buying one who might think that there is aftermarket parts support like a full size Chevy; aftermarket parts are almost nonexistent and original pieces can be EXPENSIVE.

[O.Hove]

Love the looks of the 62.
Had a wagon in 63 with factory 4 speed.
Traded it foe a 64 f.i. vette

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by GassersGarage

I just got a '63 but would have preferred a '62.

I think you made the right choice...



K

[Hdonlybob]

Always in a class by themselves. Beauty and power back then, and those wheels were never outclassed.
I hope to have one of those beauties some day...
Cheers.......