Ever hear a rumor, only to be disappointed by the actual manifestation of it? That’s my story of the 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2. In the 1980s, Pontiac was my favorite American brand, and having a Pontiac version of the Monte Carlo Aerocoupe was exciting news!
Alas, when the NASCAR-influenced Poncho was finally revealed, it was disappointing to learn that it was not an equal to the Aerocoupe under the hood. While the Bow Tie offered 180 horsepower with dual exhausts, the 2+2 managed 165 with a single exhaust. Yes, muscle was slowly coming back, but in the Pontiac world, you had to go to the Firebird for a thrill.
Richard Petty was driving for Pontiac and the King didn’t like seeing Monte Carlo SSs and Ford Thunderbirds run faster on the speedway. The Grand Prix 2+2 was Pontiac’s answer to this, the last homologation special from Detroit. All were silver over charcoal with red and orange stripes. Out back, the aero rear window was fixed, so a new trunk lid needed to be fashioned. Note how much real estate the spoiler takes up.
Muscle Car Campy joined Norm MacAuley for a ride in his low-mileage 1986 Grand Prix 2+2. It’s one of 1,225 built, with all sharing the same trim configuration. Take a peek at the video below and relive the memories of when the horsepower wars were just starting to crest 200 horsepower.
If this kind of content is right up your alley, be sure to check out Muscle Car Campy’s past videos.
