For years automakers have prepared special versions of popular production vehicles to attract consumer interest at major new car shows. You’re likely familiar with some of the largest expos during the heyday of the muscle car era. Those include the Chicago Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show, and New York International Auto Show.
The photo accompanied Pontiac’s press release about its 1970 model year show cars—Cielo del Sol (top) and La Vinta (bottom). (Photo courtesy of General Motors)
Pontiac was no stranger to building show cars for such events. You might recall examples like the 1964 LeMans Flamme and 1967 Firebird Skydiver. Generally speaking, Pontiac show cars were ordered by the division and built on the appropriate assembly line and are equipped with a traditional VIN. The vehicle was then delivered to Pontiac Engineering where its custom appointments and/or equipment was applied and/or installed. For the 1970 model year show circuit Pontiac created two customized cars.
The November 16, 1969 printing of the Detroit Free Press details the two show cars that Pontiac displayed at that year’s Detroit Auto Show.
La Vinta was a 1970 GTO Judge painted pearlescent Orbit Orange. It was equipped with special patent vinyl seats and preproduction honeycomb wheels. It was powered by a Ram Air IV 400 backed by a four-speed manual transmission.
Cielo del Sol was a 455-powered 1970 Grand Prix that featured a pearlescent platinum (also described as “champagne”) exterior finish complemented by matching leather interior and padded landau top. In additional to its custom interior appointments, a key feature of Cielo del Sol (which loosely translates to “Sun of the Sky”) was a power sunroof, which was rather new technology at the time along with a first for Pontiac.
This color photo of La Vinta clearly illustrates its pearl-orange finish. Notice the preproduction honeycomb wheels. Under hood was a 370 hp Ram Air IV 400-ci. (Photo courtesy of General Motors)
Press releases for La Vinta and Cielo del Sol were distributed during Fall 1969. By November of that year newspapers were describing Pontiac’s attractive duo in their event coverages. After their tenure as 1970 model year show cars ended, both La Vinta and Cielo del Sol faded into obscurity.
La Vinta was equipped with black patent vinyl high-back bucket seats and integral racing-type seat belts. The bold treatment was quite appropriate for the times! (Photo courtesy of General Motors)
As a Grand Prix enthusiast, I’ve always admired Cielo del Sol. To me, its most intriguing feature isn’t the sunroof, but the “SSJ” emblems that adorned it. Most Grand Prix enthusiasts correlate “SSJ” with Hurst’s aftermarket customization option, which was introduced to consumers at the New York International Auto Show in April 1970. Based on known timelines, Cielo del Sol was built during the fall of 1969, which appears to predate Hurst’s program suggesting that Pontiac originally conjured a purpose for using the “SSJ” nomenclature (also borrowed from Duesenberg), applied it to Cielo del Sol, and then loaned it to Hurst for its package during the 1970 model year.
Hurst SSJ enthusiast Harvey Morris shared with me this color image of Cielo del Sol. Notice its attractive pearl-platinum exterior and “SSJ” badging on the fender.
Several weeks back I was watching a 1971 Grand Prix Hurst SSJ on the virtual auction block at Bring A Trailer. While perusing the auction’s general comments, one immediately jumped out at me. A fellow viewer posted that he believed he’d owned an SSJ prototype during the late 1970s. He bought the car from someone who worked at GM’s Tech Center in Warren, Michigan and described its pearl white exterior, matching leather interior, and power sunroof. My mind immediately began shuffling though the various unique Hurst SSJs known within the hobby, but I simply couldn’t recall any that were painted pearl white. Then it hit me! Could the unique SSJ being described be the Cielo del Sol show car?
Peering down through the sunroof, we see Cielo del Sol’s customized interior. Note the SSJ badging on the center console. (Photo courtesy of General Motors)
I posted a comment asking the poster to contact me through PontiacV8.com with hopes of learning more. The former owner, Don reached out and a conversation ensued. I shared some images of Cielo del Sol from my files and the pieces of the puzzle began falling together.
Febrary 15, 1970 printing of the Wisconsin State Journal outlined many the vehicles its readers could expect to see at the upcoming Chicago Auto Show. This is the first and only occurrence I’m aware of that states Pontiac’s Cielo del Sol and La Vinta were aimed at attracting women.
“Wow. Those pictures gave me goosebumps,” he said. “The fact that my car was in the Detroit area and similarities are intriguing to say the least. The color could be correct but by the time I acquired it, it was yellowed and cracked. It was a Michigan daily driver. The interior was definitely that light color with those style buckets. I know the wheels I had were not standard issue and very well could be these one-offs. Also, the SSJ emblems look familiar in that I remember them being very pronounced. Whether this show car was the one I had or not, mine was the proverbial ‘one that got away.’ I wish I had been a Pontiac guy not a Camaro junkie and was a little older and wiser at the time. I would probably still own it or it would be in the GM Heritage Collection.”
This Pontiac press photo of Cielo del Sol surrounded by women likely played a role in the above clipping. (Photo courtesy of General Motors)
It seems rust continued to consume the Grand Prix’s body. Within a few years of ownership Don sold his SSJ to a friend who pulled the 455 and sent the rest to a junkyard. Without a VIN or documentation, it’s difficult to definitively say if this particular Grand Prix SSJ was indeed the Cielo del Sol show car, but it’s hard to scoff off the significant similarities as mere coincidences—especially when considering that Pontiac’s (and other divisions) show cars were often sold to someone with an inside connection because outside of customized exterior/interior treatments, there were generally no mechanical modifications that might cause safety and/or crash concerns for normal transportation use.
The April 3, 1970 printing of New York’s Daily News provided readers with pointed information about the customized Pontiacs displayed at the New York International Auto Show.
It’s difficult to conceive today that a former Pontiac show car could have been sent to the crusher in the early 1980s, but its potential significance simply wasn’t known. At that point Don’s SSJ was little more than a well-used vehicle with a weathered custom paint job. There’s also a chance that the SSJ wasn’t even Cielo del Sol. Assuming it was, however, while the body may be gone forever, it’s exciting to think that an XF-coded 1970 455 block stamped with its VIN could still be out there! Now let’s get to finding it!
Do you have any memories of Cielo del Sol?