Did I Purchase A 1973 Pontiac Thousand Prix Sj On Ebay?

I knew i twenty-four hours I would stumble upon a Grand Prix Did I purchase a 1973 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ on eBay?

My 1973 SJ aureate mine. I finally did it! I knew i twenty-four hours I would stumble upon a Grand Prix, i of my dream cars, inwards fourth dimension capsule form, amongst the proper “SJ” pedigree. I finally bought the machine to larn amongst the tachometer that I institute well-nigh 3 years ago. That’s the agency nosotros machine guys operate, nosotros purchase parts for cars nosotros don’t ain (yet), too i twenty-four hours detect the machine to larn amongst it.

Presenting my 1973 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ 455 inwards Valencia Gold. That’s the stuff!

I bought a bucket listing car, however, that is non the destination of the story. Junkyard Life Brother, Scott Andrews of Indiana, happened upon a story that Jody too I had written on a Colonnade-era Grand Prix. Scott, ever a fan of this forgotten generation of Pontiacs, got excited too hitting the Internet looking for an SJ Grand Prix of his own. He institute one, a beautiful blueish 1974 SJ. He blamed the whole transaction on me! So for revenge, he conspired amongst Junkyard Life Brother, Anthony, too Jody to detect me a Grand Prix.

Darn them, they did. They institute a few but I ever turned them downward for about argue or another. Just non the right machine or the right time, until Anthony got the call. Scott institute an incredible 1976 Grand Prix LJ on eBay too told Anthony to make me expression at it. I did.
Wow! It was spectacular.

Notice my novel Ames Pontiac flooring mats. Also, depository fiscal establishment annotation the ability window block-off plates. Cool! Say, is that African Crossfire Mahogany? Yes. Yes, it is.

Hold the phone

But... hello... hollo back me? The guy NOT wanting to purchase i now. So, doing what mortal who doesn’t desire to purchase a machine does – I expanded the search too institute this one.
Oh, no! And it’s Valencia Gold!

I could listen Scott too Anthony laughing deep inwards my soul.

You must purchase it

“You receive got to purchase this car!,” said Anthony. “This one! Right here!”

I silent said no. He convinced me to bid on it. Actually, Anthony bid on it for me. I didn’t fifty-fifty look. Jody kept calling, telling me how many people were watching it. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 couplet of dozen, at least. That exclusively assured me farther that I was non getting the car.

Surely, mortal had that cheating software that outbids yous inwards the lastly micro-second of the auction, so most of us, mere mortals, could non stand upwards a chance.

Who won?

Whew! When the bidding crossed the dollar sum that I had capped for the SJ (or thought I did), I relaxed. I was glad for whoever only paid a lot of money, but silent a rattling fair deal, for a machine of that caliber. I only didn’t know it was me. I volition never forget when Anthony called to say me what the machine sold for.
I asked, “Who won it?”
“Um... You did,” he replied.

The SJ has a 455-V8 engine, that inwards spite of depression miles too running truly well, is inwards demand of detailing, too every bit long every bit I am at that, I may every bit good supplant too update article of apparel parts similar the pumps too gaskets. My listing ever snowballs when I position it into words. In my caput it doesn't audio that complicated.

Trucking to Arkansas

My Grand Prix, now known every bit Valencia, or Val, was inwards Batesville, Arkansas. The gentleman who owned it, too several other Grand Prix collectibles, met us inwards Memphis, Tennessee. I too then became ‘Valencia’s Lesser Accomplice’ every bit Anthony likes to telephone vociferation upwards me.

So, what is this foreign too beautiful Pontiac that has taken residence inwards the Junkyard Life shop? The machine has the SJ package, that included the 455 engine too a nurture sway bar. Equipped amongst rally gauges too the famous Equus caballus neckband bucket seats. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 beige interior that is truly to a greater extent than of an “off-white” amongst a chocolate brownish dash too carpets. Deluxe lighting packet amongst a ability body unloose inwards the lighted glove compartment. It has 3:23 gears, so it could purpose an overdrive. It has the agency cool, finned hubcaps, that laid upwards off the classic Pontiac styling rattling well.

Marshall, at Shawn Thorson Auto inwards Moody, Alabama, took an extra liking to Valencia. Marshall moisture sanded too buffed, taking extra attention of the master paint. It turned out ameliorate than I ever expected. Thanks, Marshall.

Gold mine details

My Grand Prix has Valencia Gold paint. No vinyl move past times (cool!) No cruise command (it will). No disceptation steering (it will), too no ability windows (I’m form of glad).

The ’73 Pontiac does receive got the optional cornering lamps, which I love. I detect myself looking forwards to turns on a residential street, so the cornering lamps volition lite upwards the signs.

It also has about of the best African Crossfire Mahogany I receive got ever seen. If yous don’t know what that is, African Crossfire Mahogany is a Grand Prix geek give-and-take pregnant the woods grain on the dash too door panels.

Bumper fillers too body dividers are silent intact. I fifty-fifty got the master warranty papers inwards the deal. This luxo cruiser rides good too runs fifty-fifty better. I am truly happy amongst what I got. This machine was good cared for too preserved too I intend to expire on the tradition. Plus, I form of promised the lastly owner, who promised the previous, who promised the original. So what alternative practise I have?
Who am I kidding, I would receive got anyway – I honey these cars!

Ron Kidd

— Junkyard Life

Marshal at Shawn Thorson did such a skillful task on these wheels, that I am putting together a laid upwards of Rally II’s to swap out these occasionally to save them. The centre slice is a fleck faded, but at that topographic point is nix curb rash on these babies. They truly function on this color car. Imagine a laid upwards of blood-red lines….

Ron’s Grand Prix Fun Facts:

The Pontiac Grand Prix styling too trim back levels, J too SJ, were borrowed from Duesenberg Automobile Co. I don’t know where LJ came from. I think it stood for “Luxury.” Weird. The lastly one-half of my #1 Fun Fact was an opinion.
The LJ was introduced inwards 1975. The most distinctive characteristic was the two-tone paint. It seemed to include tons of luxury features, but the gauges too the 455 silent had to live specified. My favorite Grand Prix interior is the burgundy velour from the 1975 LJ. Now that’s a fact. And it's fun.
Stutz, from 1969-1973, were styled later the Pontiac Grand Prix too non vice versa. In the early on 1970’s, Stutz didn’t essay to enshroud it, they used Pontiac running gear – but, to live fair, they also used several other American drive trains.
It is rumored that the starting fourth dimension 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix off the assembly trace of piece of occupation was purchased past times Stutz for re-styling too shipped overseas.
In 1973, roughly one-out-of-every 11 Grand Prixs were of SJ trim.
We named the machine Valencia Julius McMullen because of …wait for it…more fun facts!
My SJ was delivered to the famous McMullen Pontiac inwards Pontiac Michigan. McMullen was the dealership where Pontiac employees took delivery of the cars they ordered for themselves. They built them, but they couldn’t sell them, so, McMullen handled that for them.
The master possessor was a projection engineer for Pontiac. The SJ was a fellowship machine for him. He bought the fellowship machine for his married adult woman when he got the side past times side one.
John DeLorean was his boss for many years.
Early brochures soil that a Grand Prix could live had amongst a Super Duty 455. Sadly, that alternative never came to live inwards the Grand Prix. If that would receive got happened, it would receive got been geared amongst a 3:42 axle ratio. One epitome that I know of, (black amongst a NACA hood) was built.
1973 was the starting fourth dimension yr for the headlight dimmer switch housed inside the plough dot lever. This did non demo upwards inwards the Firebird until 1979. Previously, it was activated past times a human foot activity switch on the floor.

These seats are pure Pontiac heaven. Confession time, I knew that stuff was offered inwards the Grand Prix inwards 1973, but I receive got never seen it. I truly thought it was only an alternative inwards the brochure that didn’t larn inwards to the assembly line. I stand, or sit down corrected!

I lost my clock! The tach install went rattling well. Sort of. But straight off I receive got my ideal Grand Prix jurist cluster – the Rally gauges amongst a 120 MPH Speedometer, a trip meter too the every highly coveted... I waited for it... tachometer.

I truly ain the rattling cool master tag that hung from the plough dot inwards the dealership to say owners where the place of the novel dimmer switch. I am rattling proud of weird things similar this.