From TheBestLinks.com
Mr. DeLorean Has an Idea - Origin of the Model
The Grand Prix appeared in the Pontiac line in 1962. It was essentially a standard Pontiac Catalina coupe with less chrome outside and sportier trim (buckets & a console) inside (http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/pontiac-grandprix/images/pontiac-grandprix-1962a.jpg), and was intended to compete in the full-size sport/luxury class against the Ford Thunderbird and Chrysler 300. The performance-minded John De Lorean was head of Advanced Engineering at Pontiac at the time and would contribute greatly to the GP (along with the Pontiac GTO). The GP had full access to the Pontiac performance option list, including a handful of '62 & '63s receiving the factory-race Super Duty 421 powertrain.
The full-size Grand Prix did very well through the 60's sharing it's body shell with the Catalina, and is often credited with the move towards minimal exterior trim that the early-mid '60s saw. Yet its clear resemblance to the other full-size Pontiacs caused some to consider it not fully a personal luxury car in the Thunderbird style (as the '63 Riviera, '66 Toronado & '67 Eldorado were), but at the same time the GP had a much stronger performance image than these other personal luxury models did.
Less is More - How the Downsized GP Shook the Market
However, for 1969 DeLorean's team unleashed an audacious all-new Grand Prix (http://www.roadgems.com/images/01photos/1969%20Pontiac%20Grand%20Prix%20Santi%20=KD=.jpg) based not on the full-size Catalina chassis but instead on a slightly stretched version of the intermediate Pontiac LeMans/GTO platform, which had been new for '68. This smaller, lighter Grand Prix at last had its own body, and brought unprecedented style and luxury into the intermediate class. It also refocused attention on performance in a personal luxury model, with increased installation percentages for manual transmissions & engine options up to the 390 HP 428 HO. It was both a marketing and an engineering landmark, being hailed at the time as "an Eldorado for the masses" and also in retrospect as the first successful downsizing of an American car.
The '69 Grand Prix performed the remarkable feat of creating a new market segment--the intermediate personal luxury car. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo followed the next year, likewide a healthy sales success. Ford and Chrysler scrambled to respond, producing plusher versions of their Ford Torino and Dodge Charger intermediates, but both eventually created new models to enter the battle--the Ford Elite in 1974 and the Chrysler Cordoba in 1975.
Change is Good - Hanging on in Tough Times
After many healthy years, the personal luxury car market, and in fact the market for all 2-door bodystyles, began to decline in the late 80's, and in the 90's it shrank dramatically. Most of the old PLC names vanished from the market, but Mr. Delorean's creation proved resilient. Although by 1990 it added a 4-door model (http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/used/reviews/photos/index.cfm/id/2095/img/93129191990713), the Grand Prix was available as a coupe right up until the 2004 model year, when it finally became a 4-door only, ironically because the GTO was about to be reintroduced.
All 1988-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix's were built in Kansas City, Kansas. The 2004 Grand Prix production shifted to Oshawa, Ontario Canada. Production of the 1988 Grand Prix began on January 12, 1988. The Sedan went into production on July 10, 1989. The 1996 Grand Prix production ended on May 17, 1996. The 1997 Grand Prix went into production on August 5, 1996. The Grand Prix Coupe production ended on July 19, 2002. The 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix went into production on May 5, 2003.
First Generation 1988-1993 W-body Era
The Grand Prix became part of the W-body family in 1988. Three model designations were available. Base, LE, and SE. Base model Grand Prix were equipped with basically nothing more than the base 1SC option group. LE model Grand Prix's got more standard equipment including air conditioning, power windows, and power locks. SE models got the 2.8L V6 standard along with other available commodities such as "AQ9" 14-way pnumatic power seats, a driver information center console extension, and a sport gauge cluster. In 1989, A/C became standard on all models and in mid-year, a 3.1L Multi-Port Fuel Injected V6 replaced the underpowered, outdated 2.8.
Another model designation was added in 1989, the Turbo Grand Prix. All Turbo Grand Prix's started as fully loaded SE's minus three available options: Leather, Sunroof, and in 1990, a CD Player. The SE's were shipped off to ASC/McLaren to get a "B4M" body kit, A modified 3.1 with Garrett T-25 Turbocharger, and Intercooler. TGP's got specific body molding and hood louvers along with a full-analog gauge cluster that would soon become the base of the 1990-1993 sport cluster.
In 1990, the Base model was dropped, a sedan was now available, and STE was added. A new cluster was introduced. Based off the TGP cluster, the new sport rally cluster dropped the digital speedometer, fuel gauge, and odometer in favor of all analog instruments. The Special Touring Edition Grand Prix's got specific seats, audio systems, and Driver Information Centers. The seats were 8-way pnumatic with adjustable lumbar supports. The audio systems were 8-speaker with full graphic equalizer and a "Gain" slider to control bass. The Driver Information Centers were quite a step up from the more basic ones available in the SE and TGP's. In addition to the basic information that the SE LCD counterparts displayed, the STE Vacuum Florescent Display DIC's had a full light and door monitor with icons for all the major vehicle systems. The STE's got a front and rear lightbar in addition to a trunk-panel. A Turbocharged STE was also available for this year.
In 1991, the Turbo Grand Prix and Turbo STE models were dropped. An SE sedan is now available. A new model, GTP, was added. Grand Prix GTP's got a new 3.4L Twin Dual Overhead Cam engine along with all available options. GTP's got a modified version of the B4M body package. The composite headlights were replaced with mini-quads and the package was renamed B4U.
No other major changes were made to the Grand Prix until 1994 when the interior got a complete overhaul and new engines were added.
Links
The W-body Page (http://www.w-body.com/)
Club Grand Prix (http://www.club-gp.com/)
Muscle Car Club GP Page (http://www.musclecarclub.com/musclecars/pontiac-grandprix/pontiac-grandprix-pictures.shtml)
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