Not-so-Grand Prix vs Little Italy

NOT SO GRAND PRIX VS LITTLE ITALY

This is the 3rd and final installment of my Grand Prix triptych. We started strong but soon fell off a cliff in condition if not style. Finally the style has devolved too into this forlorn slab. Without further ado I present the following:

Ugh. This is a 1982 Pontiac Grand Prix LJ in two-tone Cameo White over Light Redwood. Some cars just look tired. This one looks to me as if it's lived a full, hard life and is now content to be roosting in a pasture. Nature agrees as you can see the ivy starting to consume it like the further car.

The LJ was the middle trim level between the base model and the overly plush Brougham. In literature it was listed as "the sportiest Grand Prix", mentioning incidentals like the body colored side mirrors as proof. 

Alright I have to give it up for an '80s ride that has T-Tops (called the Hatch Roof in their brochure). In addition this GP has optional bucket seats and full console with floor shifter. Whoever ordered this originally definitely checked a lot of pricey option boxes on the form.

It's slightly unnerving looking this thing in the face with its cataracts and bleak expression. That little chrome stripe down the middle of the hood pinpoints the year for us though. Both the '82 and '83 models are identical except for the fact that this '82 had a hood ornament while the '83 had no hood trim whatsoever. You have to squint but the remnants of the trademark Pontiac split grill is on display here in those double bumper openings.

I have no idea what causes this rust pattern. Perhaps this had an aftermarket bra on the front and wet leaves had gathered on the hood?

Under that hood was the tail end of Malaise-Era drivetrains. 1982 was arguably the low water mark for GM engines. This, the Sporty Grand Prix, wasn't available with a gas powered V8. There were 2 Buick V6 choices and an underpowered and expensive Oldsmobile diesel V8. No matter how many luxury do-dads you add to these rides they are SLOW.

Well we'll leave that slumped disaster as it sinks into the earth. However I couldn't help but notice the frugal little Italian sedan sitting next to it.

This is a Fiat 128 from somewhere between 1975-1980 in either Dark Blue or Black. These were produced without too much change from 1969-1985. Despite being older it looks more eager to drive off the lot than the dormant GP next to it.

This is a front engine front-wheel-drive car meant for the masses. Due to its smart design, reliability, and economy it is considered the grandfather of the modern small car.
*We know it's a North American model due to those massive front bumpers.

This car was so popular that it was licensed for production all over the world. Perhaps the most infamous was that of the Zastava Automobiles company. Zastava made the tiny Koral which was essentially a cheapened Fiat 128. A charlatan named Malcolm Bricklin brought them to the United States, called it the Yugo, and history was made!

Personal luxury sleeper from the go-go '80s

V6 WITH A NAPOLEON COMPLEX

Way out on some side street in deepest Brooklyn I passed this primer Regal. Then I noticed the black bumper and decided to pull a quick u-turn to satisfy my curiosity. I'm glad I did!

Would you believe that this was the fastest production car in the U.S. back in 1987? Not only that, but it managed the feat with a V6 engine!
What we have here is a 1987 Buick Grand National that started out wearing shiny black paint all over. This was the final year for the Grand National high performance package based on the Regal. All Grand Nationals sported a turbocharged V6 engine that could (and did) blow the doors off of any V8 powered car of the same year. Even the Corvette couldn't keep up on the dragstrip and that car is made of fiberglass! The Buick GN is old tech; big steel body on a full frame, and an engine up front powering the rear wheels.

There's that proud little emblem extolling the virtues of an under-4 liter engine!
Buick had been experimenting with turbos on their cars since the late '70s. In 1979 you could've walked into a Buick dealership and purchased a Century Turbo Coupe or a turbocharged LeSabre. The Century was a good idea but the LeSabre was too big and weighty for that first generation engine. This example from '87 featured an intercooler and other upgrades for a dramatic increase in horsepower and torque.

Finally in 1982 the GN was introduced looking much like the car above. In addition you could order a Buick T-Type which was a non-Grand National turbo Regal in white or gray. However the all shiny black GN stole the show. After a 1 year hiatus it would return from 1984-1987, with the most powerful and popular being the final year. There was a special top-of-the-heap GN in '87 called the GNX (the X stands for Experimental). At about 300hp and 420 foot lbs of torque they are the holy grail of all GN collectors. 
These wheels and the T-tops are hallmarks of a GN, as are the front and rear spoilers and the wing.

I'm not buying that single Georgia plate at ALL but if you want to park with impunity on the streets of Brooklyn 1 out of state plate is all you need. It somehow makes cars invisible to cops.

I tend to think this body style has held up very well in the grand scheme of things. It's boxy for sure but the long hood, short trunk look is a fine farewell to the cars of old. Almost immediately after this was built domestic cars took on the rounded, bulbous shape of the '90s. This still looks like a car from the previous 2 decades.

I figured I'd close this out with something I rarely do; post a photo from the internet. This is what the GN should look like; menacing, powerful, shiny, and BLACK. They never made tons of these and they've been popular since new so there are no real bargains out there. However you can probably find a decent driving example for under $10,000 and it will only go up.

Show Car Sunday returns with a quaalude era 'vette

SPIRIT OF '76

Out on Eastern Parkway I ran across this Boogie Nights era ride:

This is a 1976 Chevrolet Corvette in Light Blue. With hat big rubber schnoz you can immediately determine that it's at least a '73. Previously there was a trim chrome bumper just in front of the headlight doors, but federal safety regulations called for a more robust unit. Luckily this swooping body lent itself to the added bumper better than most.

It's a little unnerving to stare into these open eyes. Does this car want to fight?

This is perhaps the ultimate American sports cars; 2 seater, big engine, long hood short deck, and T-tops!

This swooping Coke Bottle design heralds back to the Mako Shark II concept car from 1965.

This represents one of the longest lasting body styles of any domestic auto, running from 1968 to 1982. In fact I can't think of another car that spans the '60s to the '80s without major changes. The Jeep CJ maybe.

If you're going to have a Corvette you might as well go all the way. For me this means T-tops! This era also cam in a full convertible which looks great.

Though the Corvette emblem has changed over the decades a few styling cues remain constant. They always have the crossed flags; one is the checkered flag meant for the winner of a race. The other is a strange amalgam of the bow-tie Chevrolet logo and a fleur-de-lis which was added only because the name of the car company is French.

'76 only steering wheel was hated because it resembled the same one used in the Vega. It actually created a little outcry from people who thought the mighty 'vette deserved a better wheel. They quickly changed course offering a "cooler" steering wheel for '77.
The cockpit of the Corvette is pretty great though, especially with that gleaming white upholstery. Too bad it's an automatic.

This ride is wearing the classic Chevy Rally wheels which could be found on Chevelles too going back to the late '60s.

1975 the rear urethane bumper became a large seamless unit incorporating the taillights. In 1980 they added a small wing to this rounded rump to make it a touch manlier.

In '76 the rear corvette emblem replaced individual letters spelling out the name.

1978 would see a larger fastback rear window as opposed to this recessed notch.Laugh all you want at that luggage rack, but if you went on a trip with a 2 seat sports car you might need it!

The temporary plate in the back window means somebody is gearing up for the summer months in this beast. Out of the entire history of the 'vette this isn't one of the best moments (though the '80s were the slowest and most derided) but this one is still pretty cool. To see a well-kept example these days is downright impressive. With the T-tops out this car would be hilarious fun to cruise around in.