Junkyard Find: 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix Model J

Murilee Martin
by Murilee Martin

We all know about John Delorean‘s big home run for Pontiac, the GTO, but Delorean’s Grand Prix probably made more money for The General during the 1960s. Here’s a thoroughly trashed ’69 that I spotted in a Denver self-service yard earlier this week.

The engine is long gone, so we can’t know whether it was a 400, a 428, or a 455.

The driver of the ’69 Grand Prix sat surrounded by this wraparound dash and console.

You could get a base Grand Prix, a J, or an SJ. This is the mid-level J.

A full set of hubcaps is still in the trunk. They’re pretty well banged up, but it’s rare to find any 1960s hubcaps in a yard like this.

You like patina? This car’s got it!

Break away with a ’69 Pontiac!








Murilee Martin
Murilee Martin

Murilee Martin is the pen name of Phil Greden, a writer who has lived in Minnesota, California, Georgia and (now) Colorado. He has toiled at copywriting, technical writing, junkmail writing, fiction writing and now automotive writing. He has owned many terrible vehicles and some good ones. He spends a great deal of time in self-service junkyards. These days, he writes for publications including Autoweek, Autoblog, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars and Capital One.

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  • Nick Nick on Sep 16, 2013

    Not surprised the engine is gone. 455s are getting hard to find (if that's what it was).

    • NoGoYo NoGoYo on Sep 16, 2013

      Probably a 428 (likely even HARDER to find) or a 400 (not exactly hard to find, but still prized and thus likely to be pulled if in good shape).

  • Earl Earl on Jan 13, 2023

    Is this for sale?

  • Redapple2 Cadillac, Acura and Infiniti have very tough rows to hoe.
  • Redapple2 First question: How do you define Sales Success?1 they ve lost more than 35% of all dealers in the last 5 years.2 transition to BEV will cost Billions. No money for new designs3 cars for #2 above have already been designed in BEV form and wont be redone significantly for - what- 10 years? 3b-Lyric and whatever its called are medusa level ugly. How could this design theme be fuglier than arts and science? Evil gm did though4 the market is poisoned. 1/3 of folks with $ would never consider one/ridicule the product. Under 40 yr olds dont even know the brand exists.It is dead and doesn't know it. Like a Vampire.
  • Redapple2 Focus and Fiesta are better than Golf? (overall?) I liked the rentals I had. I would pick these over a Malibu even though it was a step down in class and the rental co would not reduce price.
  • Teddyc73 Oh good lord here we go again criticizing Cadillac for alphanumeric names. It's the same old tired ridiculous argument, and it makes absolutely no sense. Explain to me why alphanumeric names are fine for every other luxury brand....except Cadillac. What young well-off buyer is walking around thinking "Wow, Cadillac is a luxury brand but I thought they had interesting names?" No one. Cadillac's designations don't make sense? And other brands do? Come on.
  • Flashindapan Emergency mid year refresh of all Cadillac models by graphing on plastic fenders and making them larger than anything from Stellantis or Ford.
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