Once production was back in full force, a running change to standard equipment was made midyear. Sales Information Bulletin 71-16 was issued on April 23, 1971, announcing the cancellation of the manual transmission on several models including the Grand Prix. It stated the Turbo 400 would become the only transmission available on vehicles in the affected model lines shipped on or after May 1. It went on to add that base prices would be changed accordingly.
Production records indicate that just 116 manual transmissions had been installed into Grand Prixs up to that point (64 400 three-speeds and 52 400 four-speeds), so sluggish sales may be partially responsible for the midyear cancellation. But the 67-day strike and resumption delays caused total production to dip to just 58,325 units for the model year. The Model J represented 53,441 of those, while 4,884 SJs were produced. Another 2,365 455 four-barrel engines were installed in Grand Prix Js.
1972
Major changes to the A- and G-body platforms were scheduled for 1972. But because of the lengthy UAW strike the previous year, the changes were delayed and the '72 model year was a virtual carryover for the Grand Prix. Like 1969 to 1970, the '72 Grand Prix saw little more than minor changes to areas like the grille and taillights. Interior and drivetrain combinations remained much the same. Gross horsepower ratings, however, were no longer published.
The SJ package retained all the same components from 1971, but a new option was limited to the Grand Prix Model SJ only. As we learned in the article "Unitized Ignition, Anyone?" that appeared in the March '04 issue of HPP, the K65 Unitized Ignition was a self-contained, breakerless distributor that was virtually maintenance-free. Grand Prix advertising claimed that when Unitized was ordered, it, along with the Delco X battery and integral charging system, gave the Grand Prix SJ an entirely maintenance-free electrical system-with the exception of normal spark plug replacement. Production records indicate that 4,618 buyers purchased this $75 option.
Another Grand Prix option to emerge during the '72 model year was a radial tire package. Until this point, bias-belted tires and 14-inch wheels were standard. But on February 16, 1972, Car Distribution Bulletin 72-70 was issued stating that a package containing white-lined radial tires, 15-inch wheels with deluxe wheel covers, and special suspension components was available for $148. It added that when Rally or Honeycomb wheels were ordered with the radial-tire package, 15-inch units were supplied.
Production for 1972 increased over 30,000 units from the previous year to a total of 91,961-all of which were equipped with the Turbo 400. Of that total, 82,563 were Grand Prix Model Js. Including the 9,398 SJs, the 455 four-barrel engine was installed into a total of 13,560 Grand Prixs. In all, just 1,024 Grand Prixs rolled off the assembly lines with radial tires. It's unclear how many of those received 15-inch Rally II or Honeycomb wheels.
Conclusion
Although the Firebird and GTO were the division's hard-core performance models, they were considered by many as young-adult vehicles with high insurance premiums. The Grand Prix was much more elegant and nearly as sporty, but it wasn't within everyone's budget-which made owning one prestigious.
Next time we'll take a closer look at the special Hurst-derived SSJs.
Though power ratings and compression...
Though power ratings and compression ratios varied over the years, the 400 four-barrel engine was the standard powerplant in the Grand Prix Model J from 1969 to 1972. A 400 two-barrel was available as a no-cost option in 1969 and 1970. Sporty SJs received a 428 four-barrel in 1969 and then the larger 455 four-barrel from 1970 to 1972. The most powerful factory-rated engine available during these years was the 390hp 428 H.O. available in 1969 only. As an extra cost option on both the Model J and SJ, only 1,105 were installed that year.
A floor-shifted three-speed...
A floor-shifted three-speed manual was the standard transmission for the Grand Prix from 1969 to 1971. During that time, the four-speed manual and Turbo 400 were extra cost options. Beginning in May 1971, both manuals were cancelled, leaving the Turbo 400 as the only transmissions available. Less than 2,000 manual transmissions were installed during those years.