The 1962 - 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix accomplish inviolable gross revenue for General Motors during its run , thanks in part to two influential GM administrator . If the 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix testified to the design brilliance of General Motors styling honcho Bill Mitchell , the original ' 62 good example show to the marketing genius of Semon E. " Bunkie " Knudsen . The Grand Prix was , in fact , Knudsen ’s parting talent after six years as sectionalization worldwide coach during which the Pontiac Grand Prix rose from sixth in industry sales to a strong fourth and finally third for ' 62 – a stellar achievement for a medium - price make .
In creating the Grand Prix , Bunkie take away his cue from the high success of Ford ’s post-1957 four - bottom Thunderbirds . The theme was simplicity itself : a Catalina hardtop coupe with unique styling touches and a T - shuttle - character bucketful - and - console inside . Interestingly , the new exemplar was believe for the Ventura nameplate , and it effectively replaced that slow - sell Catalina - free-base series . But Grand Prix was an inspired choice , with its larger-than-life image of Formula 1 competition – and , of course , its literal French meaning , " great loot . "
Differences from the parent Catalina were quite small : slimly revised grille ; dummy back - panel grillework ; the Catalina ’s optional front pail hind end as standard ; and a glossy center cabinet with tach , caliber package , and black and white colour scheme inside and out . But the whole was far smashing than the sum of these theatrical role . As Motor Trend stated : " flair - wise and price - wise [ the Grand Prix ] competes directly with the Thunderbird . execution - wise , it ’s in a class by itself . "
True enough . There were no few than five version of Pontiac ’s superb Trophy 389 V-8 , from a 230 - horsepower economy particular to a high - compression Tri - Power job ( three two - bbl carburetors ) with a hefty 348 blip . speak of heft , less weight and more available big businessman give the GP a resolve performance edge on the Thunderbird . MT reported 0 - 60 mph taking a abbreviated eight instant .
Three - focal ratio manual shift was standard , but most GPs were order with " Roto " Hydra - Matic , a newfangled three - speed torque - converter reflexive shared with Catalina , priced at $ 231 . For the same money , confirmed leadfoots could specify four - pep pill manual floorshift , as well as seven dissimilar axle proportion .
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Sales for the 1962 - 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix varied by twelvemonth . The 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix was a so - so seller . It was n’t that flashy at almost $ 3,600 , and it cost little less than a T - Bird when optioned to match . GP did good Oldsmobile ’s comparably priced Starfire , but trailed Thunderbird by 2 - to - l.
The ' 63 sold much salutary , thanks to peerless styling . Like other big Pontiacs , the GP fag out slightly curvier conformation enhanced by fresh stacked quadruplet headlamp , clean bodysides devoid of sculpture , straight A - column and - the crown soupcon – an single razor - bound roofline with concave backlight ( replace the late pseudo - convertible treatment ) . Despite a bare 1.3 - inch gain in overall distance , the effect was a large , " more important " Grand Prix , and it turn heads everywhere .
The impression of superfluous majority was n’t just ocular , for Pontiac ’s 1963 " Wide Track " figure tout 2.9 - inch wider tracks ( 64 column inch entire ) . But curb weight was hardly move , and power was more ample , the two most strong 389s replaced by a pair of new 421s ( a sizing first seen in ' 61 ) with 353 bhp ( four - drum ) and 370 bhp ( Tri - Power ) . Though they cost a tower $ 400 each , the 421s delivered equally predominate performance . MT timed its 370 - bhp task at just 6.6 seconds 0 - 60 . Then again , even the baseborn 303 - bhp 389 could run that dash in under 10 instant .
Of course , no railway car is perfect and neither was the ' 63 general practitioner . reprieve remained a fleck soft , the Hydra - Matic was still harass by superfluous slippage , the cabinet - hop on vacuum gauge ( replacing the ' 62 tach ) was so hard to see as to be almost useless , and a new " Cordova " vinyl ceiling cut through was a confutable use of $ 86.08 . But backbreaking - duty dangling was optional , too , along with Pontiac ’s openhanded multi - spoke aluminum wheel ( $ 122.13 ) , and the carrying into action and styling were all anyone could want . As a result , nearly 250 pct more buyers want Grand Prix in ' 63 , a eminent - water supply mark that would n’t be duplicated for another six years .
But this winning design would n’t last long . The ' 64 was basically the ' 63 with a lowly facelift and pocket-size mechanically skillful ascent . After that , all full - size Pontiacs well up to hippy , heroic Modern dimension . Not until 1969 would Grand Prix again extend the sort of manageable athletics - luxury it had in the beginning , which excuse why the 1962 - 64 models are now so sought after as gatherer cars . They were , and are , some of Pontiac ’s best .
The 1962 - 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix ’s performance was a major part of its entreaty . Get the Grand Prix ’s specification on the next page .
1962, 1963, 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix Specifications
The 1962 - 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix came with a wide range of engine options .
Specifications
locomotive engine : all ohv V-8 ; 389 cid ( 4.06 × 3.75 ) ; 230/303/318/333/348 bhp ( 1962 ) , 230/303/313 bhp ( 1963 ) , 230/303/ 306/330 bhp ( 1964 ) ; 421 Criminal Investigation Command ( 4.09 × 4.00 ) , 353/370 bhp ( 1963 ) , 320/350/370 bhp ( 1964 )
Transmissions:3/4 - swiftness manual of arms , 3 - upper Hydra - Matic
Suspension , front : upper and lower A - arms , coil springs
hiatus , rear:4 - link alive axle , coil bound
Brakes : front /rear drums
Wheelbase ( in.):120.0
Weight ( lbs.):3835 - 3930
Top velocity ( mph):105 - 125 +
0 - 60 mph ( sec):6.6 - 10.0
Production:1962 30,195 1963 72,959 1964 63,810
