My Grand Prix Story

After recent outpatient surgery that included anesthesia I became possessed by an incredible urge to own a Grand Prix. Its not like I never owned a Grand Prix before. Way back when, the first car that I bought on my own in Pueblo, Colorado was a one year old 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix - an incredibly beautiful and fast car for the day - it was gold with a white Naugahyde interior, front bucket seats, 4-speed stick on the floor, blue dash lights. I let it go after about two years thinking I would be another Bob Dylan. However, that didn't work out and I subsequently went back to work and bought in Colorado Springs, Colorado was a ten year old 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible with blue trim off a used car lot for $500. The car had "Fuel Injection" in reverse slant block letters on the front fenders. I was later to learn, much later, that it was one of only 630 manufactured. Plus I believe mine had air-conditioning, one of eight. Air conditioning in those days was not integrated with the heater, it was a separate box that hung under the middle of the dash, so I recall. It wasn't in the best of shape. Under the hood, the fuel injectors had been replaced by a four barrel carburetor, wore tires badly, and the horizontal speedometer was so erratic so I couldn't tell how fast I was driving. After about two years, I let it go in favor of a beautiful white 1965 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport convertible with black top and interior from Red Nolan Cadillac in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I never owned another Pontiac but I always remembered those two cars. So I decided I wanted one of the last Grand Prix series.

At first I was excited by the GXP's but decided they might be a little too radical. I found a beautiful crimson red 2007 GT with black leather interior. That was the last year for the supercharged 3.8L V6. It has a nice history; started out as a rental in El Paso, Texas for one year racking up 19K miles, then sold as a GM certified car into the Colorado Springs area to one owner who traded it in at the Red Nolan, now Infiniti, dealer earlier this summer with 91K miles. It was subsequently immaculately detailed and listed for $10,500 for a month or so but didn't sell. It was then sold to the South West dealer in Pueblo where I bought it for $9,000. (I paid the same for a six year old Honda Accord 10 years ago.) It seems perfect, Carfax history shows great maintenance. Cruises I-25 at 75 mph turning only 2,000 rpm, fascinating. A great Grandpa car.

Here's a few pictures as it appeared on the the dealer site: