Did you know that back in ’79, you could have bought a V8-powered, four speed manual equipped Grand Prix? Neither did I – and I thought I knew a lot about classic Pontiacs.
Turns out you discover things you didn’t know about pretty regularly.
I knew that, in ’79, it was possible to get a Trans-Am with this particular V8 (the 4.9 liter 301) and a four speed manual transmission as a kind of consolation prize in lieu of the much more desirable (at the time) 6.6 liter, 400 cubic inch Pontiac V8 that was optional with the Trans-Am and paired exclusively with the four speed manual that year. It was much more desirable because it was much bigger and much stronger. It carried a 220 horsepower rating – which was a big number in ’79 – but Pontiac had stopped making the 400 during the 1978 calendar year; it was selling off the relative handful of 400s left over from ’78 in ’79 Trans-Ams. These sold off quickly, which left Pontiac (and its dealers) with a problem. There were buyers who’d either ordered a 400 with the four-speed Trans-Am or wanted a Trans-Am with a manual transmission and were not interested in buying a TA that came with the standard 403 (also 6.6 liters but 403 cubic Oldsmobile) inches and the automatic that was the only transmission available with this engine.
Enter the 4.9 liter/301 V8 – which was much smaller and made only 150 horsepower – but was available with a four speed manual. Trans-Am buyers who wanted the 400/four speed combo were offered the 301/four speed combo and given a discount. I wrote another article about this a couple of months ago.
Well, while cruising around YouTube, I found the video embedded with this article, which details a basically brand-new 1979 Pontiac Grand Prix with the 301/four speed combo. According to the guy who did the video, the car is extremely rare – and not just because it only has 500-something original miles. 
Go back a few years – to the earlier ’70s – and manual-equipped iterations of what are known as personal luxury coupes were fairly common. These cars were muscle cars for grown-ups. They were often opulent as well as brutal; the two best example are probably the Grand Prix SSJ that was personally designed by John Delorean – it was available with a high-compression 428 and a four speed – and the Buick GSX Stage I (and II), which came with a 500-plus ft.-lb. 455 Buick V8 and was also available with a four speed.
But after about 1975, these personal luxury coupes had become much less muscular. They were chiefly seen as stylish two-doors for the buyer who didn’t need four doors. If you weren’t around in the mid-late ’70s, you’d probably never believe how hugely popular these cars once were. The Oldsmobile Cutlass (which was closely related to both the Pontiac Grand Prix and the Chevy Monte Caro) was one of the top one or two best-selling cars in the U.S. at the time. The Chrysler Cordoba – introduced in ’75 – was another. It was a smash hit.
It’s not a wonder why they were so popular. They were big – relative to today – for openers. Relative to today’s cars, that is. Five people could sit pretty comfortably inside a Grand Prix, which could be had with three-across bench seats. The trunk was huge, relative to the purse-sized pouches you get with a typical modern car.
And you got (or could get) a V8 engine at an affordable price. Check out the window sticker that’s still sticking to the side glass of this ’79 GP. How’s $6,800 grab you? Yeah, it grabbed me also.
I put that number in the ol’ inflation calculator and the number that came back is about $33,000. Rattle that around in yo’ head for a bit. Would you be interested in a brand-new mid-sized, rear-wheel-drive personal luxury coupe with a V8 engine and a manual transmission for $33k? Is a frog’s bunghole water-tight?
Well, maybe it’s just me. It is possible I’m demented and that I not fully appreciate the magnificence of a turbocharged 1.5 liter-is engine driving the front wheels through a CVT automatic in a crossover shaped transportation appliance. That I am a kook for not wanting to be “assisted” while driving. I do not think I need “assistance.”
What I need is a car like this – and maybe you do, too.
. . .
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You just had to do this! My daily driver from 1984 to 2005 was this car, in that awful pale yellow paint with ‘camel’ interior. Mine was an automatic though behind the 301 V8. Same wheel covers. Bench seat with fold down center armrest, though contoured each side it was very comfortable. Two doors = no pillar next to your head excellent visibility. Excellent brakes, no ABS then. I put gas shocks, a boneyard sourced rear sway bar and Goodyear Eagle ST 70 series tires & it was a blast to take long trips thru the mountain pass twisties.
Some other notes, although downsized from the 1977 behemoths it was still body on frame so with decent tires it was Caddy quiet inside. Mine had the extra sound deadening panels under the dash. AC, tilt, cruise like every decent car should have!
Miss you Old Yeller.
I would love that car (for thet price) especially now that my body is getting creaky on my 80th journey around the sun. The very first car that I bought was a ‘62 Olds Cutlass F-85; was smallish in size but had a 4 barrel V-8 and was fun to drive but eventually the rust got to it as it did to most cars back then.
If one found a decent car from that era I wonder how it would run on ethanol polluted gas if it could be kept away from road salt.