BF Auction: 1966 Pontiac Grand Prix
- Seller: Bryan H
- Location: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
- Mileage: 12,899 Shown
- Chassis #: 266576C100933
- Title Status: Clean
Although some enthusiasts focus on classics featuring Triple-Black paint and trim, there is much to be said for following the opposite tack. This 1966 Pontiac Grand Prix is a shining example of that philosophy, with its Triple-White creating a cool and classy look. This is a turnkey proposition with only minor needs. After providing the current owner with fourteen years of motoring pleasure, he wants this gem to find a new home with someone who will continue to appreciate all it offers. Therefore, he has listed the Grand Prix exclusively with us at Barn Finds Auctions.
Pontiac introduced its Second Generation Grand Prix for the 1965 model year, and its appearance was dramatically different from its predecessor. It rode on a longer wheelbase, and Pontiac embraced Coke-bottle styling to create a muscular and purposeful car. It followed the prevailing industry practice of performing a mild update for 1966, although the changes were evolutionary. Our feature car retains the stunning good looks that drew acclaim from the buying public and motoring journalists. However, the first owner increased its visual impact and inherent class by ordering it with a Triple-White paint and trim combination. The car is very presentable for potential buyers seeking instant classic motoring gratification. There are minor shortcomings they may wish to address if a straightforward project is on their radar. The paint holds a warm and consistent shine, and the panels are as straight as you could hope to find on any survivor of this vintage. The owner points out a paint defect in the hood, which is visible in the photo gallery. A strip and repaint of the offending area is the best solution and would lift the presentation of this driver-grade classic to a higher level. One obstacle the buyer won’t face is significant rust. It is limited to a small patchable spot near the passenger-side rear wheel well. Otherwise, this Grand Prix is as solid as the day it rolled off the line. The owner replaced the White vinyl top a couple of years ago, and it remains in as-new condition. They acknowledge a ding in the front bumper, although the remaining trim and glass are comfortably acceptable for a driver. The Rally II wheels add the perfect finishing touch to the exterior.
While the Grand Prix’s exterior appearance conveys the impression of a tidy survivor, changes below the surface will undoubtedly unlock performance improvements. The updates aren’t radical but are well-considered using factory parts. The Pontiac rolled off the line with a 389ci V8 under the hood, probably producing around 333hp and 429 ft/lbs of torque. However, the previous owner raided a 1970 Grand Prix, slotting many of its mechanical components under the skin. The list includes the 400ci engine, three-speed Hydramatic transmission, and suspension. The larger engine should boost power and torque to 350hp and 445 ft/lbs. Most of the mechanical upgrades were performed by the previous owner. Still, the current one added his touches by fitting an Edelbrock carburetor and an H-Pipe exhaust and replacing the radiator, hoses, thermostat, starter, alternator, and battery. He says the car runs and drives exceptionally well, although it can be cold-blooded. It might benefit from an electric fuel pump to provide constant pressure, but some old-fashioned tweaking and tuning might improve the situation for free. Otherwise, potential buyers can consider this Grand Prix a turnkey proposition.
The final piece of the puzzle with this Grand Prix is its interior. The first owner selected White vinyl trim, and when combined with the contrasting Black carpet, the faux woodgrain, and the center console, it creates an interior dripping with class. It is a surprise packet because its condition is comfortably acceptable for a driver-grade classic. The White vinyl surfaces are free from rips and tears. It features a spotless headliner the owner added when the vinyl top was replaced. The upholstered surfaces have minor dirty marks and slight discoloring, and there is a potential solution the winning bidder may wish to investigate if they don’t wish to splash what could be unnecessary cash on a retrim. We have seen owners achieve excellent results by spraying the vinyl with Hydrogen Peroxide and exposing it to UV lights for a few hours. It might not bring the trim back to a factory-fresh state, although it may make a difference. It would be worth discussing the idea with a specialist before plunging headlong into it, but if it works, it is an affordable option. The dash does have some cracks in the pad. Photos of the cracks can seen in the gallery below. Also, the car no longer features air conditioning, but the new owner receives power windows, a tilt wheel, and a factory AM radio. The seller acknowledges that the radio and heater are currently inoperative as well.
Triple-Black cars often possess the “wow” factor, but Triple-White creates an air of subtle class and style. That is undoubtedly true of this 1966 Pontiac Grand Prix. It is a tidy driver that attracts attention for the right reasons. The winning bidder can slip behind the wheel of a turnkey classic with no pressing needs. Leaving this gem largely untouched is a viable choice. However, spending a few dollars and a bit of time on its shortcomings would make an enormous difference to its overall presentation. Submitting a bid could be all that is required to park this fantastic Grand Prix in your garage.
Bid On This Auction
Nic bid $4,500.00 2024-06-23 02:50:38
Larry bid $4,000.00 2024-06-22 15:58:46- Nic bid $3,100.00 2024-06-22 09:03:16
Bigrigger bid $2,100.00 2024-06-21 11:18:57
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Comments
These were the best years for Pontiac! I wonder if there is a source for those dash pads? The triple white looks good, especially with the new headliner.
Looks like a solid, drive-while-you-restore project. Are the fender skirts or original wheel covers (Rally IIs didn’t arrive until 1967) present?
Fender skirts included with the purchase. Original wheels are long gone, unfortunately.
It’s an attractive GP. Too bad that cracked dash and removed AC, the bid would move higher and faster with them. I don’t think it gonna pass 7k as is, and that’s with a dedicated Pontiac guy or gal. Couldn’t beat those smooth high winding Pont. big blocks, 389 up. All those throughout the 60’s ,couldn’t kill em, very dependable. I guess the predominant issue with those was the plastic gear set up for the timing assembly. Saw my share of em.
Pontiac never had big block small block.
All the Pontiac V8s were the same block. Just different displacements.
Excuse me, ok, various amounts of cubic inches on the increased side.Is my spelling ok?
The most beautiful car that Pontiac ever made.
Maybe the ’65 GP gives it a run for its money. I had one , sea green, black interior and vinyl roof that looked better than this. Mine was rather unusual as it had a bench seat and no console, but all the GP trim.
’65 was the first year that bench seat could be available in the GP. In the looks dept, they’re neck and neck but I would prefer the ’66 (since it’s the same age as me). I wouldn’t mind having this in my driveway
General Motors at it’s absolute best! One of the best dashboards ever designed. Friend’s parents across the street in Detroit had a new 66 Bonneville in Fontaine blue. That top dashboard AC vent was spectacular. You could feel it in the back seat as it blew the ice cold air and the smoke from the Dads Chesterfields!
Not wanting to be the ” Oh no, no A/C” nit pick, but one should never remove the stock set up IMO, as the systems are rebuildable for under $1200. Isn’t a Vintage air set up more than that? Regardless, sweet Poncho and AC is seldom needed above 7000 feet anyway. GLWTA!
I love 60’s GP’s.- However, this GP has rarely seen the inside of a garage. A dash cracked that much in several places is the sign of it being in the sun most of its life. GPs were designed to be Pontiac’s customized top of the line – only matched by the Bonneville’s luxury. So why would it not have AC? That’s crazy! – Even if it’s not needed much, it’s still a ubiquitous part of a luxury car. And the heater doesn’t work? That’s even crazier – a heater coil and hoses are like the least expensive thing you can replace in a car. The owner even left the ventilation hose dangling below the dash on the passenger side – the epitome of laziness. And do people who recently sell classic cars not own a vacuum cleaner – or even know how to use one? The trunk is filthy and the GP trunk carpet insert is missing, which are available on the after-market – not factory, but no one but an expert could tell. And where are the GP fender skirts. It looks weird without them – as it does without the 8-lug GP wheel covers. And the original engine is gone – so this one was probably driven very hard and put up wet. — The overall body and seats present well, but with all the really strange things about this GP, I would worry about the body being mostly bondo with loads of rust underneath it and ready to crumble once I got it in my driveway. Buyer beware with this one. It “looks good” but looks are often deceiving!
As the owner of this cars son I can attest that it has indeed been garaged for the past 14 years, otherwise the vinyl top would be in pieces. The car was purchased w/o heat or ac and my father never felt the need to add them. It was a fair-weather cruiser that wasn’t run much. He would start/run it in the off months just to keep the fluids circulating, but that was about it. He bought the car thinking he would do more with it, but never got around to it. As for the Bondo comment I think we would have seen the signs of that by now. Its a Colorado car = dry climate. The car is shown as is, no bs or photoshopping.
I call bunk on all that. — A Pontiac GP without a heater — give us a break, man! Now, the heater coil may have started leaking and was removed – and never replaced, but no heater – yeah right! — So, what’s with the vent tubing hanging out below the dash – was it ordered that way too?
ALL mid-60’s GPs came with factory AC – it was part of the GP package — I know because a friend of the family ran the Pontiac dealership where I lived and my parents were going to buy a ’66 GP before going with a ’66 Star Chief Executive, and they were insistent it has to have AC. The dealer said you can’t get one without AC anymore – it’s part of the GP package. You may have been able to special-order one without it – but the price would probably be higher as it would have to be specifically tagged that way on the assembly line, which literally takes more effort to build it specifically that way and thus at an extra cost.
And btw; are you going to tell us you don’t own a vacuum cleaner or don’t know how to use one – as the trunk is filthy – and missing the GP trunk carpet insert — or was it “ordered without one” of those too?
Since the dash is totally destroyed by long-term sun exposure, the only way the vinyl top could look that good is if it was replaced – as UV does the same number on them as they did those foam dash covers. The same goes for the paint job. No car left in the sun long enough to do that damage to the dash pad would have the factory paint look that good either. A wax job can’t make up for long-term sun faded paint.
Just stop – no one is going to believe you anyway.
1. Do you have the A/C parts?
2. Do you have the fender skirt?
It’s an attractive GP. Too bad that cracked dash and removed AC, the bid would move higher and faster with them. I don’t think it gonna pass 7k as is, and that’s with a dedicated Pontiac guy or gal. Couldn’t beat those smooth high winding Pont. big blocks, 389 up. All those throughout the 60’s ,couldn’t kill em, very dependable. I guess the predominant issue with those was the plastic gear set up for the timing assembly. Saw my share of em.
Best looking full size car in ’66( IMO) which this baby is the same age as me. Pontiac was at the top of their game in the 60’s and this is a shining example why.
Car was born with Air Conditioning but the seller is too lazy to put it back together.
It’s possible that replacing the standard 389 cu engine with a larger one (a very misguided move on the owner’s part) may have made it difficult for the compressor to have enough room left to install it without modifications that the owner appears way too lazy to do – given the fact they didn’t even bother fixing the heater. Otherwise, there’s no excuse for it. As I said; I’d be very leery of this GP – way too many big red flags involved with it, which is so unfortunate as the ’65 and ’66 GP were two of the most beautiful of the 60’s GPs.
Shouldn’t have mattered, the 400 is a direct bolt-in replacement as the block sizes and mounts are identical.
We bought the the car this way.
A “heater coil and hoses are like the least expensive thing you can replace in a car.”
LOL!!!!
Signed, E36 BMW Owner
In a BMW – everything is very expensive to replace. The way they’re put together (I’ve worked on them) you probably have to remove the entire dash to get to the heater coil and cut a hole in the firewall to replace the heater hoses. American cars were not made that way before they started taking their cues from Europe on how to make the service department rich. In 60’s cars, the heater coil was easy to get to and remove – I’ve done it on several cars. So, yes – replacing the heater coil in American cars – like this one – was not a big expense at all.
I’d give you a thousand dollars if you could find a heater coil in a 66 Grand Prix. I completely disassembled mine during its restoration and never found one. I did replace the heater core though.
Would be a nice contrast to my 1970 triple black 455er Buick Riviera
The 65’ GP used real wood on dash I’d have to look up the 66’ but this car needs skirts looks undone otherwise.
66 GPs did too. Walnut replacements are available from Ames Performance.
I’d like to take a look at this car, I’m located about 10 miles from Highlands Ranch, I can come by in the afternoon/evening in the next couple days. 303-819-0000 is my cell. I must be in the minority because I can’t stand the fender skirts on these cars. Or on any car really. I live here so I get the sun damage issues. Unless you live at this altitude its hard to understand how damaging it is. I’m sure the top was replaced prior to your father getting it if he didn’t replace it. Finding a car that old with a black dash that isn’t trashed is impossible. I’ll take it vs a New England or Ohio rust repair.
Mark- You are more than welcome to check the car out in person and give it a drive. I’ll give you a call to make arrangements. I think you will see that the posting is indeed accurate. Thank you for your interest.