Taking Delivery
Holding true to its stated production schedule, Butch's Grand Prix was built at the Pontiac, Michigan, assembly plant during the first week of March 1969, and was delivered to McKenzie Pontiac in mid-March of that year. "It arrived right around my birthday, and I paid $4,850 for it," he recalls. Within a few weeks, the first modification was made. "With 311 miles on the odometer, I replaced the dual-exhaust system's original mufflers with glasspacks, which were very popular at the time."
The '69 Grand Prix's cockpit...
The '69 Grand Prix's cockpit styling was an industry first. A floor-mounted shifter was standard, and while a three-speed manual trans was standard equipment on the J, the SJ package required an M40 Turbo 400 automatic, or M20 or M21 Muncie four-speed-all subsequently added $227 to the price tag. Butch wanted a four-speed, but opted for the automatic at the salesmen's urging for improved resale value. The Custom Sport steering wheel was an option, and the Dixco tach was added.
Morrokide bucket seats with...
Morrokide bucket seats with knit vinyl inserts and a center console were standard Grand Prix features that year. A combination of cloth and vinyl, or Custom Trim featuring leather seating was available.
The Grand Prix was driven daily the first year, but it wasn't driven in the rain or snow. "It was always garaged and wasn't ever dirty. It's only been washed a few times its entire life. About a year later, I installed aftermarket wheels and tires, and modified the suspension to raise it up at all four corners. It became a toy at that point, and was driven sparingly after that," he adds.
Butch was acquainted with many of the area's top racers, and he often found himself at the track with them. "I kept hearing, 'Why don't you see what that big boat will do in the quarter-mile?' Well, one summer day at Cornhusker Raceway Park just outside Omaha, I made a few passes with it. It turned a best of 15.49 at nearly 92 mph in the summer heat, setting a J/Stock Automatic track record. I remember that it was so hot that day, I even made a pass with the A/C on-and it slowed down considerably."
Retirement Years
By the mid '80s, Butch officially retired his Grand Prix from service with just 12,000 miles on its odometer. He began showing it in local shows, and found that it was quite the attention-getter. "I reinstalled the Rally II wheels and original tires, and suspension pieces, but left the glass-packs in place. I regularly attended a number of local shows including the annual Pontiac-GMC-Oakland show in the Omaha area."
Butch says that he's added 25 to 30 miles to the Grand Prix's odometer each year since its retirement, and sees about that many added each year in its future. There is some preservation required with any vehicle that's nearing 40 years old, however. "A few years back, the glasspacks and tailpipes rusted through, so I had modern turbo-style mufflers and stock-replacement tailpipes installed. I've still got the original mufflers I took off when it was new, and may reinstall them some day, but I chose the turbo mufflers thinking it may be a little louder when I do drive it."
When asked what he likes best about his Grand Prix, Butch replies, "Everything! The beautifully styled body and cockpit-type dash panel couldn't complement each other any better. The bronze exterior and black-and-white interior are the perfect combination in my eye. But I really love the power of the 428 H.O. Looking back, I should have never let the salesman talk me out of the four-speed manual, but who knew I was going to keep it this long!"
Conclusion
Butch says the fact that he bought it new, its rarity, and his sentiment toward it are all reasons he plans to never part with his Grand Prix. And when asked what its future holds, he replies, "I plan to own it as long as I can drive. My 4-year-old grandson, Garrett, loves cars already, and I'm hoping he and my son, Anthony Jr., will take an interest in the Grand Prix so I can pass it on to them." With the GP's long hood, 428 H.O., cockpit-interior styling, and low mileage, what's not to like?
The U84 reverb speaker was...
The U84 reverb speaker was a $52 option controlled by a dash-mounted switch.
In an attempt to keep costs...
In an attempt to keep costs down, Butch opted for a U63 AM radio when placing his order, knowing that he'd add an aftermarket unit later. This Ranger eight-track unit from Tenna was installed shortly after taking delivery.
The trunk was rarely used...
The trunk was rarely used and remains in flawless condition today. The spare tire has never been removed.
While the 400 four-barrel...
While the 400 four-barrel was standard on the Model J, the Y97 SJ package retailed for $244 and included a 370-horse 428ci engine. It also added an underhood lamp, cornering lamps, Rally gauge cluster, automatic level control, and specific exterior and interior identification.
Adding $119 to the cost of...
Adding $119 to the cost of the SJ package, the 428 H.O. boasts a 4-bolt main block with a 4.09-inch bore, a 4-inch stroke crankshaft, No. 62 cylinder head castings yielding 10.75:1 compression, long-branch exhaust manifolds connected to a 2.25-inch dual exhaust system, and a chromed air cleaner lid, valve covers, and oil fill cap. It was gross-rated at 390 hp at 5,200 rpm and 465 lb-ft at 3,400 rpm. The XG-code engine was specific to automatic transmission applications and featured a No. 067 camshaft with 273/289-degrees of duration. A total of just 986 '69 Grand Prixs were built with the 428 H.O. backed by a Turbo 400.
The original No. 7029268 Rochester...
The original No. 7029268 Rochester Quadrajet carburetor is mounted atop a typical No. 9794234 cast-iron four-barrel intake manifold. Its original No. 1111946 points-type distributor was treated to a NAPA Gold-series contact set and canister-type coil shortly after purchase. Air conditioning was only available when combining the 428 H.O. with an automatic trans. The disconnected ground wire attaches to a carb stud when the air cleaner is installed, and the yellow paint on the vacuum break was applied by the owner.
This pump mounted on the passenger...
This pump mounted on the passenger side of the core support is part of the G67 Automatic Level Control. Though it was included in the SJ package, it was otherwise a $78 option. It features adjustable rear shock absorbers that maintained ride height when heavily loaded.