31pontiac

If it had more power it probably would be more desirable now and in the future. Low production numbers have sure helped other cars skyrocket in value. There are numerous stories of Dodge Daytonas, Plymouth Superbirds, Torino Talledegas, and even our beloved ‘69 Trans Ams as new cars going unloved and sitting in showrooms when they were new and are currently unobtainium for a lot of us. I can’t quite see that happening for the 2+2.

Can’t speak to the classic question, but there is a little more to the story on these cars. The 1986 Grand Prix 2+2 and the Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe were designed for Nascar. Even though they look alike, they do not share the same fastback rear window or trunk lid. I can’t verify it, but I had heard that Pontiac put a lot more wind tunnel time in on the 2+2 than Chevy did on the Aerocoupe which resulted in lower drag coefficient numbers for the 2+2. Chevy was more interested in getting the car to market. Unfortunately the Grand Prix 2+2 suffers from the same build quality and questionable materials issues that many of the vehicles built in that decade had.

Thanks for comments Last Indian and Kiwi ! A little back story about those long branch manifolds. I had a ‘69 Trans Am in the early ‘80s and the RAIII lost compression in 2 cylinders. My buddy had just found a RAIV in a local junkyard so we installed it in the TA. Long branch round port manifolds were hard to find so to get the car on the road I had to get a pair of tube headers from Nunzi. Always hated the tinny sound of them, and eventually found the round ports to replace them. They had a much better mellow tone. Fast forward to this build. I needed manifolds to fit inside the narrow frame of the ‘31 and remembered that I still had the RAIII manifolds. They worked perfectly! May not mean much to other people, but it’s kind of cool to have original ‘69 TA RAIII long branch manifolds from a car that I owned on this ‘31 Pontiac.

IMG_5564.MOV Here’s another video for those who didn’t see the first drive. I am hoping to blow it apart and paint it this year, but our upcoming septic system replacement may dictate otherwise.😖

I received the new gas tank in February. Even though it it looks and measures the same as the original, it didn’t fit like the original. I had to modify the upper tank supports and relocate the filler neck hole in the tank cover.

More time-consuming details completed. First I made my own column tilt and turn signal stalks from a small length of stainless rod and 2 old knobs I had found years ago. Installed a pocket and cover plate for the dimmer switch. Next 2 pictures show the tube I made to retain the battery cable crossing over the transmission to the starter. I flared the ends of a piece of copper water pipe and soldered steel brackets to it to mount it to the toeboard. Last is the cover I made to protect the wires running under the carpet.

The Keystone State Chapter POCI will once again host our annual all GM show at Macungie Memorial Park, Macungie, PA on Sunday, June 4th 2023. All years GM vehicles are invited. No judging, dash plaques for the first 100 vehicles. Door prizes will be awarded by drawing. Also a flea market, food and DJ. You can copy this flyer to pre-register or do it online at http://www.kscpoci.org

Congratulations Kiwi !!

Early ‘50s fuse cover I picked up at Hershey last year. I used to see them at flea markets regularly, lately not so much.

I like the feathers on the head, and the necklace is OK with or without. Again, just my opinion.

Welcome! Such a tragedy to lose a nice car like that. I hope you will like this site and maybe even find another Pontiac to enjoy!!

Welcome from another POCI member (47 years). I’m sure your site will be of interest to many here. We all need to help each other out to insure our great cars can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Congrats!!! Great looking car, great picture!!!

IMHO, like the copper on the feather tips, not so much on the head. Looks too much like a helmet. Again, only my opinion.

More cool Pontiac stuff! A selection of Pontiac performance car posters that were available through magazine ads of their era.

Impressive craftsmanship and attention to detail !

Thanks guys !

I constructed a housing to mount the wiper switch on the header above the windshield. The chrome bezel is a Bronco piece and the chrome arm is from a mid-‘60s Pontiac power antenna switch. Also added an early ‘60s VW backup light and my brother fabricated 2 plates to cover the areas where the spare tire mount was bolted.

It did Last Indian. Nothing wrong with it not being a Bonneville. Looks like a very well built car, but I prefer my older Pontiacs not to have “corporate” engines or modern oversize wheels. Don’t dislike mods, just prefer a more period look.Just my thing. I also understand that he built (or bought) it for himself not for me, and I am good with that.👍

Thanks for posting the pics! And good luck with the Grand Am, great color combination!

Thanks Ringo and Kiwi! I appreciate the win but all 3 finalists this month could have won. They are all great cars and significant in the history of our favorite brand.

The second set (without the red center) are 1959.

Thanks for the comments guys! Justa, the tach is a Bosch made reproduction of a vintage style I got from Summit. And you are right, it doesn’t fit in the dash. I modified the supplied mounting bracket to bolt to the bottom of the dash, no room to mount it on the tilt steering column.

I found these 1964 Cadillac A/C vents at Carlisle this spring and created these housings (with much help from my brother) by hand to mount them under the dash. They fit the ‘60’s period feel for the car better than a lot of the plastic aftermarket vents I looked at.

My 1959 Bonneville early one morning warming up to leave for a show several years ago.