I had a Pontiac Grand Prix LJ in high school I bought it brand new and absolutely loved it it had a 301 4 Barrel I used to flip it so it would make a deep sound when I opened it up. Two tone blue. Buckets. Had wires. Bought a set of Rally 5 wheels. Rare sort of. Such a great car I miss those days. Super Tramp.....Long way home.
I had a 1980 GP LJ with the 301 4BBL and loved that car. If I had ordered it new I would have got the bucket seats, floor shifter, full gauge cluster and an optional higher geared rear end ratio. Otherwise it was a real sweet ride!
Seems strange today, but divisional rivalry not only improved the product, but could clinch the sale for a local dealer. That all ended with the proliferation of badge-engineering.
@@cadmanist oh wow, that makes sense. I don't think I've seen a Chevy product today compared to Buick for example tho I should look again on the comparison charts they advertise cars with.
My dad had a 1980 Pontiac Lemans two door coupe that he bought used from an elderly woman who had it less than a year but had a stroke and couldn't drive anymore. It had a 265 c.i. V8 with auto and A/C. But, it was radio delete. Always thought that was odd.
Family car - 79 GP black LJ, no vinyl roof (specifically ordered that way), wires and red bordello (velour floating pillow) interior. It actually looked pretty classy, and you were never embarrassed to pull up anywhere with it. 301 4bbl and RTS. For its time, it was a very competent car - unfortunately you just can't find 78-80 GP anymore anywhere, couple of ratty examples maybe, but values are too low to merit the work they need :(
Just ONE more thing 🤔 Those were definitely really good days. GM and the other big two were in the process of changing engine sizes and transmission sizes. But overall, life was really good back then and I really miss it.🙁
You can say that again. Things were way simpler, people were nicer and liked to do things, we had way more good stores to shop in, cars were styled really nice and kids did healthy things instead of sit around playing video games and getting sucked into toxic social media.
First blush it looks that way, but in reality it's dealer v. dealer, and only the larger areas carried multiple divisions. In the end, GM still gets the sale without bouncing the customer to Ford, Toyota, etc.
6:52 the Buick Regal Limited interior is MUCH nicer than either the Grand Prix or the Thunderbird! They said it "comes close" - yeah right! That's not to say I don't like the Grand Prix, because I do. But Buicks were always much nicer cars.
I had a Pontiac Grand Prix LJ in high school I bought it brand new and absolutely loved it
it had a 301 4 Barrel I used to flip it so it would make a deep sound when I opened it up.
Two tone blue. Buckets. Had wires. Bought a set of Rally 5 wheels. Rare sort of.
Such a great car I miss those days.
Super Tramp.....Long way home.
I had a 1980 GP LJ with the 301 4BBL and loved that car. If I had ordered it new I would have got the bucket seats, floor shifter, full gauge cluster and an optional higher geared rear end ratio. Otherwise it was a real sweet ride!
It must be weird to have to compete against Oldsmobile when you're part of the same corporation
Seems strange today, but divisional rivalry not only improved the product, but could clinch the sale for a local dealer. That all ended with the proliferation of badge-engineering.
@@cadmanist oh wow, that makes sense. I don't think I've seen a Chevy product today compared to Buick for example tho I should look again on the comparison charts they advertise cars with.
Family had a lemans wagon new till about 1990 ,my brother and sister drove it when they got license
I find it funny looking at these prices today, and in 1980....
My dad had a 1980 Pontiac Lemans two door coupe that he bought used from an elderly woman who had it less than a year but had a stroke and couldn't drive anymore. It had a 265 c.i. V8 with auto and A/C. But, it was radio delete. Always thought that was odd.
Family car - 79 GP black LJ, no vinyl roof (specifically ordered that way), wires and red bordello (velour floating pillow) interior. It actually looked pretty classy, and you were never embarrassed to pull up anywhere with it. 301 4bbl and RTS. For its time, it was a very competent car - unfortunately you just can't find 78-80 GP anymore anywhere, couple of ratty examples maybe, but values are too low to merit the work they need :(
RIP, ‘Dandy’ Don Meredith…
Just ONE more thing 🤔 Those were definitely really good days. GM and the other big two were in the process of changing engine sizes and transmission sizes. But overall, life was really good back then and I really miss it.🙁
Why was it better?
You can say that again. Things were way simpler, people were nicer and liked to do things, we had way more good stores to shop in, cars were styled really nice and kids did healthy things instead of sit around playing video games and getting sucked into toxic social media.
@@ponchoman49 You are 110 spot on correct..
I didn't know the LeMans came standard with a 3-speed manual. I never saw one, even when they were new.
I wonder what accounted for the difference between the LeMans and Cutlass shoulder room.
Me too. I always thought they were badge-engineered. But I suppose there were subtle differences between the bodies.
The 80 cutlass had the “formal roofline”
@@AlexanderWaylon So that means less shoulder room?
@@paulparoma seems like it
Hard to understand why GM would be pitting it's own Dividion Models against itself!! Very Self Destructive..
First blush it looks that way, but in reality it's dealer v. dealer, and only the larger areas carried multiple divisions. In the end, GM still gets the sale without bouncing the customer to Ford, Toyota, etc.
I miss my 84 Grand Prix
I had an '87 Grand Prix and loved it, like an idiot I got rid of it.
6:52 the Buick Regal Limited interior is MUCH nicer than either the Grand Prix or the Thunderbird! They said it "comes close" - yeah right! That's not to say I don't like the Grand Prix, because I do. But Buicks were always much nicer cars.
A Pontiac what? Oh Volkswagen what?? .... Just got to be a G-Body I probably have never heard of....
Me gusta el carro
Id go grand am
I rather have a Chevrolet than a Pontiac.
It's the same thing tho .... Styling wise maybe but other than that it was the same ... same LOL
In reality Pontiac had its worst ever year to year sales drop in 1980. Every single model except the new Phoenix tanked.
These cars didn't last long at all. I can't say I've ever seen one on the road.
It wasn't so much that they didn't last long, they just didn't sell many. Everyone was buying Cutlass Supremes and Monte Carlos at that time