Great Old Pontiac! 1963 Grand Prix
The seller refers to this car as a member of the GOP. No, not that GOP but the Great Old Pontiac club. And it is! It’s a somewhat worn, big, two-door hardtop that still proudly wears its beautifully crafted lines. Earlier in the week, we covered this ’62 Grand Prix and there was a lively response of comments. So today, let’s look at Pontiac’s sophomore attempt in the form of this ’63 Grand Prix. It is located in Riverside, California and is available, here on eBay for a starting bid of $10,000. Thanks to Larry D for this tip!
In 1963, the Grand Prix continued with the trend that it had started in ’62. The biggest difference is that the recognizable GM creased convertible top look gave way to a more formalized design. In keeping with other Fisher Body design trends of the time, the A-pillar was straightened, eliminating 1962’s distinctive curved version. The Grand Prix caught the imagination of many buyers as sales rose from 30K units in ’62 to an outsized 72K in ’63.
Unfortunately, our subject car is not the mechanical hit that our ’62 is. And that’s not a bad thing as the standard powerplant in ’63 was a 303 HP, 389 CI V8 – not a lightweight. It’s assumed that’s what’s ensconced in the engine room as the seller does not elaborate. Gear changes are handled by a Roto Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The seller states, “Car runs good that being said does leave a spot on the driveway when parked“. Practically every old car that I have owned leaves something on the garage floor so I’m not surprised.
The finish is described as original and it’s showing a lot of fade and degradation. But the body looks sound with no sign of surface or invasive rust. The trim is still present and attached and the chrome plating has held up well over this GP’s 58 years of existence. This Pontiac presents itself as a typical California car that has just spent a lot of time out in the bright sunshine. As with our ’62 subject car, this Grand Prix is outfitted with Pontiac’s renowned eight-lug wheels.
Moving inside, we find seats that have been recently recovered in white “Morrokide” vinyl, positioned over top of new carpet. The dash pad has also been replaced. The instrument panel and heavily trimmed center console still look great. Either this seller or someone else, has installed a trio of auxiliary gauges attached vertically to the driver’s side of the console. The feature that I always find unusual with Pontiacs of this era is the location of the tachometer vacuum gauge, positioned on the center stack of the console – not the best location for optimal viewing, though it really doesn’t matter.
The seller suggests, “just a really nice car to fix up“. I would agree. The mileage is recorded as 90K miles and if that’s genuine, it’s a manageable number. Where I’m on the fence is the opening bid. I’m finding that I’m not worth a darn at figuring out what some cars are worth, worth as in what a seller and buyer will agree to. This GP has five auction days to go, so I’m going to keep an eye on it and see what happens. This Pontiac is a sound start for a redo, I hope it finds a new home soon. Tell me, any interest out there?
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Comments
Man I’ve had the Pontiac fever for a while now and it’s not going away.
This looks like a great starter especially with the work already done. I agree this person might have blown his/her auction with a 10k minimum bid. A low minimum or no reserve would stoke the fire. But that’s hard to actually do when you are selling something valuable. I’ve made the same mistake.
Not a tach on the console. Vacuum gauge. Just sent my ’63 Grand Prix to the boneyard,it was too far gone to restore.
That’s a big sucker of a vacuum gauge! It’s hard to imagine that there would be that much interest in vacuum level in ’63, or at any other time, for that matter.
Thx!
JO
That vacuum gauge was a head shaker in 63, GM seemed to have a fetish for them at the time, stuck them in most of their “sporty” cars. Useless eye candy.
My ’66 Impala SS had one too. It was real small however and only seemed to work on alternate Tuesdays. And when it did, it told me nothing. Yes, a definite head-scratcher.
JO
Big sucker, nice pun there Jim. I’ll let the gauge indicate just how much the engine sucks.
Vacuum gauges were used as a way to monitor your throttle usage in order to maximize fuel economy. You could order them from the J. C. Whizbang catalog.
Having had a built 396 big-block under the hood of that Impala, and my heavy right foot, there wasn’t a lot of “maximization of fuel economy” going on. Maybe that’s what happened to the gauge as it was constantly stuck on zero.
JO
What purpose did they have other than maybe used for economy purposes? Or didn’t need that, just something else to go wrong?
I’m curious as to whether the clear sectioned steering wheels can be restored? This one looks to be a good start for someone into GOP’s! GLWTA!! :-)
Yes they can but be prepared to open up your wallet! It’ll require a complete strip and resto of the wheel to make it look good again. Check out https://qualityrestorations.com/pontiacs-clear/ , don’t remember exact price but I seem to recall Dennis quoted me at least $1.200+shipping to redo my ’64 Bonne wheel. That was for the wheel only not the horn ring or button but a lifetime warranty is included.
Lifetime warranty – for my life, his, or the Pontiac’s…?
Excessive gauging. 5 yards and loss of down.
Worse is “Idiot lights, pass interference, 15 yards loss of down”.
first it’s not ready for the bone yard. that trunk looks pretty solid to me no big hole in it, too bad no air-cond, be nice to have it in Ohio
Yet another seller with a touch of Barrett Jackson Syndrome, about 6g Max.
Definately a good starting point, just not at that $. Being a personal car and obviously cherished by their (often more mature) owners there are still plenty of ’63-’64 GPs in the market. I stumble upon them regularly on EB and CL and one should be able to find nice driver quality GPs around 15k.
If those seat covers are new I’d highly recommend owner to either wear cleaner trousers or settle for a different color than white. Even if it drives OK and transmission doesn’t have too many hickups this isn’t more than a 6-7k GP. FYI manual cars got a tach in the console (highly optioned GPs got a pedestal tach with vacuum in console), and AC could not be combined with the auxhilary in-dash gauges
I totally agree. These pop up for sale often in varying condition and at a wide range of prices. If you are buying it to fully fix it up, there’s a lot of money to be spent to get it up to a higher level. With no pictures of the underside, and only one of the trunk where these often rusted due to leakage around the trunk seal, $6k tops for me. Like you said, a pretty penny to fix the steering wheel, and then address the inevitable mechanical issues, brakes unknown, hidden rust in the rockers unknown, and then pretty it up with paint and dash/gauges restoration, interior fixes, it’s a money pit going that route. I admit it’s attractive and alluring, and deserves to be saved, but I’ve been down that road before.
Yes, if I had the room.
The license plates are a late (newer) number. Has the car been sitting or is it
from someplace else which would be a clue as to its condition. No A/C, which
is mandatory around here (Left Coast). I think the opening price is too high, but they are wonderful cars, i remember them when they were new……….+
My first sighting ever with a Grand Prix was a ’62 in Mandalay Red (bright red) at an ice cream joint near our neighborhood in Mobile, AL where all the teenagers hung out. It was called The Dream Cream!
I was 10 at the time. I used to go there with my sister and her boyfriend who both were seven years my senior.
As that car rolled in the parking lot, I naturally noticed that red paint with white bucket-sear interior along with bucket seats and the floor mounted shifter. I didn’t recall ever seeing a contemporary car at the time with floor shift. It was impressive to say the least. And I noticed those incredible 8-lug wheels on it. I thought they were hubcaps since that’s what other cars had.
But this car was a sign to me that cars were changing. From the dull, boring family type to the exciting racing-oriented offerings such as the Grand Prix. The checkered-flag GP emblem helped confirm this.
And the real cream for this dream of a car was the blond-haired high school girl who was driving it.
It was appropriate for her to be at The Dream Cream.
My uncle bought one of these new. it was a dark blue, beautiful car with the 8 lug wheels. I was nine years old at the time. I had never seen bucket seats in such a large car. What I still find amazing is the dash and the instruments, console, etc. Look at all of that metal and chrome. It was something when it was all new and shiny. One thing, though – that car was wasn’t cheap but it didn’t even come with air conditioning. So, in the summer, that dark blue and black interior and all of that chrome inside got mighty hot!
GPs definately weren’t destined for the budget-minded, particularly after some options were added. If you saw the ’64 GP yesterday you probably observed its original invoice stating a whopping $4.700 sticker – and was down to only $1.450 4years later…
Looks like could be made into a nice one
I have 63 Catalina 2 dr hardtop original 29000 miles same family with ac repainted red lacquer in 82 . It could be 4 sale $3000.00
The seats are from a 1964 Grand Prix and are incorrect for 1963. They aren’t recovered, they are from a different car, not necessarily new. Just new to the car. He is selling a 4 speed 63 GP on ebay too and is asking $20,000, in much worse condition than this one. The syndrome is real.
Excellent Reefer Madness automobile on the interior & dash if one was to imbibe at night, at the Drive In of course, officer.
Bob
Commented before enter wrong info about price of my 63 Catalina with only 29000 original miles. for sale $ 30,000.00
Another pour soul has fallen victim of the feared BJ Syndrome…
OK, I’ll try my best to not disappoint you but in that $ range you should be able find excellent 421/stick GPs. Big body Pontiacs don’t sell in GTO territory, simple as that. FYI you’re not supposed to put your vehicle up for sale in the comment section, ref BF terms and conditions
@local_sheriff
I agree with you on all counts.
Patiently waiting for the dual radio comment’s.
8 lug wheels and a 5 bold spare?