Corey Behrens keeps posting his awesome finds at the Cohort, so how can I resist this? A last-year big Pontiac convertible, and the last year for the Grand Ville series too. The end of an era. And it’s found a loving home in Hoorn, The Netherlands. If you like big American ragtops, this is hard to beat; no wonder it was spirited off to Europe.
What can I add; there’s already so much here. It speaks very eloquently for itself. How’s this? All of 4,519 of these were made.
400 ci V8 standard; 455 optional. My bet is on the latter.
I bet it commands a bit of respect when it ventures out on those narrow cobblestone streets.
I’ve got nothing else…
I wonder what the breakdown of colors was on these. Almost every one I’ve seen has been this pale blue with the white top. Not complaining mind you, I think it works great on a big convertible.
I’ve always hated that color on a car, but I couldn’t tell you why. It predates living near Chapel Hill. Metallic light blue is fine. This car would look better without the optional fender skirts.
I’m not generally a fan of light blue, but conversely I love it on this car. I’d leave the skirts on but maybe lower it a smidge. No more than an inch and a half – still need suspension travel for those cobblestones.
I nearly bought one of these (in 1989) It was dark forest green, with black interior and top. And I recall several triple white ones around when they were new, as well as a maroon-ish dark red one, I’ve never actually seen a pale blue one…
I’ve lusted after these since I was 8 years old and a classmate’s parent pulled up in a brand new triple white one. I couldn’t take my eyes off that long, graceful side view, and I still can’t.
Great photos. I like that saying from “Forrest Gump” on the left side of the rear bumper.
Was the 1976 Bonneville Brougham built on the same C body as this car was?
Both the Grand Ville and the Bonneville used the B body (but the hardtops used the rear quarter windows from the C body). Early Grand Villes from this generation (’71-72) did have an extended wheelbase, but was still considered a B; I remain confused how that one differed from the real C bodies.
Thanks for your answer. I see what you mean by the fixed rear quarter windows on the ’74 and ’75 Grand Ville hardtops. The fixed rear windows in the sail panel of the ’74 and ’75 Grand Ville sedans look the same to me as the Olds 98, Cadillac Coupe DeVille and Buick Electra 225 sedans. The Grand Ville was not considered a true C but an extended B?
By 1974 they weren’t even extended. I thought the Bonneville and Grand Ville 2 and 4 door hardtops were C bodies when I was growing up too, fooled by the smaller opera windows on the sedans and lack of roll-down windows on the coupes, same as the 98/Electra/DeVille used.
No sail panel window in the ’74 4 door hardtop. Every division got them in ’75.
The fixed-windows started in coupes in ’74. Rear passengers’ breathing became dependent on the mercy of the front.
My first car was a 1973 4 door Catalina my grandparents bought new. It had the same wheels and the 400. I remember reading the owners manual and seeing the instructions for the convertible top on the Grand Ville. I couldn’t imagine having all that luxury as mine was an AC and FM radio only car without even a tilt wheel.
6558 cm³. That’s 400ci according to the registry. Imported in 2009, second owner in 2015.
The economical choice then.
I cannot imagine operating one of those things in an old city in Europe. It’s got to be like driving a tractor trailer on a go-kart track.
I love these big old beasts, but I don’t care much for the baby blue paint. What I really want to know, is where they got the period-correct whitewall tires?
coker sells white walls, redlines, any of the period stuff
A few mainstream tire manufacturers still make whitewall tires (white stripe that is, not full-face 1950s-earlier style whitewalls). These include Nexen, Toyo, and Cooper. Hankook apparently discontinued theirs recently but there may be some in the pipelines.
Nice well kept tank. Love it!
Much more of this, Corey, and we’ll all be hopping a flight to Nederland. Oh I forgot, there’s that Covid thingie…..
At first glance I mistook it for an Eldorado – I did say first glance. Then I realized how much cleaner and more cohesive it was. Really, if you wanted a big convertible from GM that year, why pay more?
In the Grand Ville’s day Pontiac offered a rare accessory, actuated by a dash control labeled “Pedals.”
The Pedals control adjusted brake and accelerator pedal height for driver comfort.
I love my 75 pontiac grandville I enjoy riding on weekend bt unfortunately I have to sell do to financial difficulties I’ve look around on webs an pickers an goin price is way higher than what I’m asking I want 19500 title in hand I’m in fla if anyone interested