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?

  • 28-Cars-Later Nissan will be very fortunate to not be in the Japanese equivalent of Chapter 11 reorganization over the next 36 months, "getting rolling" is a luxury (also, I see what you did there).
  • MaintenanceCosts RAM! RAM! RAM! ...... the child in the crosswalk that you can't see over the hood of this factory-lifted beast.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Yes all the Older Land Cruiser’s and samurai’s have gone up here as well. I’ve taken both vehicle ps on some pretty rough roads exploring old mine shafts etc. I bought mine right before I deployed back in 08 and got it for $4000 and also bought another that is non running for parts, got a complete engine, drive train. The mice love it unfortunately.
  • Statikboy I see only old Preludes in red. And a concept in white.Pretty sure this is going to end up being simply a Civic coupe. Maybe a slightly shorter wheelbase or wider track than the sedan, but mechanically identical to the Civic in Touring and/or Si trims.
  • SCE to AUX With these items under the pros:[list][*]It's quick, though it seems to take the powertrain a second to get sorted when you go from cruising to tromping on it.[/*][*]The powertrain transitions are mostly smooth, though occasionally harsh.[/*][/list]I'd much rather go electric or pure ICE I hate herky-jerky hybrid drivetrains.The list of cons is pretty damning for a new vehicle. Who is buying these things?
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