Results 1 to 1 of 1

Thread: Pontiac Grand Am (2nd gen) 1977-1980

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    4,218

    Pontiac Grand Am (2nd gen) 1977-1980

    The Pontiac Grand Am is a mid-size car and later a compact car that was produced by Pontiac. The history of Grand Am starts with Pontiac executives noting incursion into the US market by Mercedes and BMW. Notably, the American sports car was usually without luxury features and the luxury car without sport features. Foreign makes mixed these features. Pontiac hybridized the Trans Am with the Grand Prix to create the Grand Am. Built on the A-body platform, the intended GTO body was re-badged and fitted with the Grand Prix interior. As the 1973 was produced, OPEC levied an oil embargo to the USA. This resulted in a dichotomy of buyers: total luxury or total economy. Since Grand Am was a “in-betweener “, its sales died and it was discontinued in 1975. The Grand Am had two separate three-year runs in the 1970s: from 1973 to 1975, and again from 1978 to 1980. It was based on the GM A platform. Production of the Grand Am was canceled in 1980 when it was replaced by the Pontiac 6000. The Grand Am was reintroduced in 1985 when it replaced the Pontiac Phoenix. It became Pontiac's best selling car and was later replaced by the Pontiac G6, so named as it was intended to be the 6th generation of the Grand Am.

    All 1973–1975 Grand Ams were built in Pontiac, Michigan at Pontiac's main assembly plant. The 1978-1980 Grand Ams were built in Pontiac, Michigan at Pontiac's main assembly plant and in Atlanta, Georgia at GMAD Lakewood. All Grand Ams between 1985 and 2005 were built in Lansing, Michigan at the Lansing Car Assembly.

    Second generation (1977-1980)
    1978
    The Grand Am returned for 1978 based on the Grand Prix's G platform, downsized from the previous generation, and offered in both two- and four-door models featuring a vertical bar grille and other trimmings to differentiate it from the LeMans, upon which it was based. Like the 1973-75 models, this generation of Grand Ams also featured standard radial tires plus an upgraded Radial Tuned Suspension with front and rear sway bars. Interiors were similar to the Grand LeMans with either a standard notchback bench seat, optional 60/40 bench or Strato bucket seats with console and recliner on passenger side, an optional tachometer, and a choice of either cloth or Morrokide vinyl upholstery.

    Standard equipment included power steering, power front disc brakes, Turbo Hydra-matic transmission, full instrumentation and Pontiac's 301 cu in (4.9 L) V8 engine with two-barrel carburetor producing 140 hp (104 kW; 142 PS). Optional was a 4-bbl 155 hp (116 kW; 157 PS) version, along with numerous extra cost items such as snowflake wheels, whitewall or white-lettered tires, power windows and seats, tilt steering wheel, sunroof, and cruise control.

    In California, where more stringent emission regulations made Pontiac V8 engines unavailable since 1977, Chevrolet V8 engines were substituted including a standard 135 hp (101 kW; 137 PS) 305 cu in (5.0 L) V8 with two-barrel carburetor or optional four-barrel version with 145 hp (108 kW; 147 PS).

    1979
    Very few changes were made for 1979 other than the normal trim revisions and the demotion of the standard powertrain to a Buick 231 cu in (3.8 L) V6 and floor-mounted three-speed manual transmission as standard equipment. The 301 V8, rated at 135 hp (101 kW; 137 PS)[ with a two-barrel carburetor or 150 hp (112 kW; 152 PS) with four-barrel, and Turbo Hydra-matic transmission were now optional. In terms of appearance, the only difference was that the park/signal and marker lenses were changed to amber ones.

    New for 1979 was a four-speed manual available with the 150-horsepower 301 four-barrel in 49 states. In California, only an automatic transmission was available and engine offerings included the standard Buick 231 cu in (3.8 L) V6 engine with two-barrel carburetor and 115 hp (86 kW; 117 PS) or optional Chevrolet 305 V8 rated at 160 hp (119 kW; 162 PS) with four-barrel carb.

    The woodgrained instrument panel was replaced by brushed aluminum trim, while the gauge faces changed from silver with black letters and numbers to black with white letters and numbers. The same seating choices in either cloth or Morrokide trims were offered including the standard notchback bench seat, or optional 60/40 bench or Strato bucket seats with console. An AM/FM CB radio combo was available and a heated rear window was optional.

    In 1979, the Grand Am was featured in the NASCAR Grand National circuit.

    1980
    The year 1980 was the finale for the second-generation Grand Am. The four-door sedan was dropped, leaving only the two-door coupe, which received only minor appearance changes. Strato bucket seats in cloth or Morrokide upholstery were standard equipment along with a center console with floor shifter for the Turbo Hydra-matic transmission.

    The V6 engine, two-barrel V8s and manual transmissions were dropped leaving the four-barrel Pontiac 301 V8 with 170 hp (127 kW; 172 PS) the only engine offered in 49 states or, in California, the 160 hp (119 kW; 162 PS) Chevrolet 305 V8. Slow sales of the Grand Am led to its discontinuation after the 1980 model year.

    In the first year of the NASCAR Busch Series (1982) the championship was won by Jack Ingram, in a 1980 Grand Am.

    Source: Wikipedia
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by Man of Steel; 03-23-2020 at 11:41 PM.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Pontiac Can Am 1977
    By Man of Steel in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 03-17-2020, 11:53 PM
  2. Pontiac Grand Prix (3rd gen) 1972-1977
    By dracu777 in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-03-2020, 03:11 PM
  3. Pontiac Grand Prix (4th gen) 1977-1987
    By Man of Steel in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 03-03-2020, 02:36 PM
  4. Lincoln Versailles 1977-1980
    By Man of Steel in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-29-2020, 11:56 PM
  5. Chrysler Sigma (GE) 1977-1980
    By Ferrer in forum Matt's Hi-Res Hide-Out
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 11-21-2014, 12:41 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •