Since its inception in 1962, the Grand Prix has been Pontiac’s personal luxury model aimed at the mature consumer that enjoyed comfortable performance. It incorporated two doors, adequate space for 4+ passengers, a large-cube engine, and sporty appointments inside and out.
While looking through my Pontiac brochures, I happen across this one. Have you seen it before?
The Grand Prix’s introduction seemingly created the personal luxury segment within the marketplace. During the late-60s as overall dimensions swelled, it seemed that Pontiac lost its way with the Grand Prix. John DeLorean whipped it back into shape with the smartly-redesigned ‘69 model whose immediate success spawned a host of competitors over the next several years.
If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know I have an affection for Grand Prixs. Over the years my grandfather, James V. Rotella had owned ’72 Model J, ‘76 Model J, and ’83 Model LJ examples and my father, James M. Rotella owned 73 Model SJ, 77 Model LJ, and 2001 GTP examples. My first car was a ’75 Model J that my dad had purchased as a spare vehicle for the family. You can read more about the ’73 SJ here and the ’75 J here.
The inside foldout reveals the Grand Prix GT package from Myrtle Motors. It was tastefully assembled and enhanced the sporty persona of Pontiac’s flagship.
My grandfather’s ‘83 LJ was a great looking car. It was the last car he’d purchased new and I was always willing to help him clean it inside and out. Later, after he’d passed away and my grandmother decided she wanted something smaller to drive, we purchased the LJ and I drove it daily while attending college. I really enjoyed that Grand Prix and plan to make it blog post topic in the near future.
Having an interest in the 1981-1987 Grand Prix, I collected various pieces of literature over the years. I always felt the ’86 Grand Prix 2+2 was interesting and still think the aerodynamic treatment, particularly the front fascia and rear spoiler really enhanced its appearance. I wasn’t then (and am still not today) a fan of the large rear window. I do, however, completely understand and embrace the reasoning that necessitated its existence.
The rear cover provides a detailed map to Myrtle Motor’s locale in Queens, New York.
While assisting someone that contacted me via PontiacV8.com, I was sorting through my Pontiac brochures searching for something specific. That’s when I came across a brochure that I’d forgotten I had. It’s a simple foldout that detailed the new Grand Prix GT. “GT” wasn’t standard Grand Prix nomenclature at that point, however. Instead, it was applied to the modification package that Myrtle Motors in Middle Village, New York created in the mid-1980s to give Pontiac’s Grand Prix a fighting chance against its performance-oriented peers like the Buick’s Grand National, Chevrolet’s Monte Carlo SS, and Oldsmobile’s 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds packages.
The April 1986 issue of High Performance Pontiac magazine placed the Grand Prix GT announcement just above the banner title on the cover.
The Grand Prix GT was the only “tuner” package for the 1981-1987 Grand Prix that I’m aware of. Standard equipment included the LG4 305-inch four-barrel Chevy engine backed by a 200R-4 overdriven automatic transmission, bucket seats with center console and full instrumentation, and Y99 suspension package and limited-slip differential. During its transformation into a Grand Prix GT, Myrtle Motors added dual exhaust with chrome tailpipe splitters, a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, 32 mm (front) and 16 mm (rear) sway bars, and 15 x 7-inch Rally II wheels on 215/65R-15 Goodyear Eagle GT tires. The gloss black exterior finish received blacked-out window trim and a low-rise rear spoiler, which lent a very sinister appearance.
How could this article about the Grand Prix GT not create excitement in 1986?!
As I opened the foldout to take a better look at the 1980s Grand Prix I so admired, I started thinking back to when I’d first learned about the Grand Prix GT. That took me to the April 1986 issue of High Performance Pontiac magazine when author Frank McCarthy wrote about Myrtle Motors’ new Grand Prix GT package. My dad subscribed to HPP and I’d looked at every new issue that arrived in our mailbox. I’m certain the moment I’d read about the Grand Prix GT, the racy G-body was engrained in my memory, especially when considering how much I loved my grandfather’s ’83 Grand Prix. I was so enamored with Myrtle Motors’ efforts that I attempted to incorporate some of their modifications (like dual exhaust, deeper gears, and tire and suspension enhancements) into the ’83 Grand Prix when we’d purchased it from my grandmother.
The Grand Prix GT was attractive from any angle. Its blacked-out exterior appearance with minimal chrome made it look sinister.
Beyond a retrospective in a later special issue of High Performance Pontiac magazine, little has been written about the Grand Prix GT from Myrtle Motors over the years. I believe only a handful were produced and a quick Google search revealed that number is supposedly less than 20. One may still survive today, but it isn’t as delivered by Myrtle Motors. So what became of the other Myrtle Motors Grand Prix GTs? I’d say at this point it’s anyone guess.
I’d love for you to share any information (or memories) you may have about them!