1962 Pontiac Grand Prix

Personal luxury powered by 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix Trophy V8 family.

Exact-year stock-presenting view retained for body, trim, glass, lamp, bumper, and wheel context; condition and restoration details remain specific to the photographed car.

Series 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix

Body range Two-door hardtop Sports Coupe

Engine family 389-cid Pontiac Trophy V8

Wheelbase 120 inches

Reported production 30,195

Story

1962 Pontiac Grand Prix

The 1962 Grand Prix combined Pontiac's Wide-Track chassis with the division's Trophy V8 family. This page keeps the complete model-year family together while preserving body, drivetrain, chassis, finish, and cabin differences.

Bodies and production

Two-door hardtop Sports Coupe shared the Grand Prix name. Reported production is 30,195 for the stated scope. That total does not establish engine, transmission, axle, paint, trim, options, plant, or survivor counts.

Engine and transmission

The principal engine family was Pontiac's 389-cubic-inch V8, with limited 421 applications kept separate. Two-barrel, four-barrel, and Tri-Power paths used different compression, calibration, output, transmissions, cooling, and axle ratios. Visible induction or badges alone cannot establish a factory configuration.

Chassis and cabin

Independent coil-spring front suspension and a four-link, coil-sprung live rear axle supported the Wide-Track stance. Drum brakes, power assist, Safe-T-Track, steering, springs, wheels, tires, and cabin equipment varied by body and option.

Identity

Start with serial and body records, title, shell, and ownership history. Then reconcile engine, induction, transmission, axle, brakes, suspension, protected finish, upholstery, instruments, trim, dated components, and factory records. A restored engine bay, Tri-Power setup, eight-lug wheels, or Grand Prix trim is supporting evidence, not proof by itself.

**Exact-year stock-presenting view retained for body, trim, glass, lamp, bumper, and wheel context; condition and restoration details remain specific to the photographed car.**Greg Gjerdingen via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

Base MSRP $3,490

1962 Pontiac Grand Prix base price (1962)
Published base price before delivery and optional equipment; configuration totals vary.
1962 Pontiac factory sales and specifications literature First-generation Pontiac Grand Prix history and production

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

Restored 1962 Grand Prix engine bay showing a 421 Tri-Power installation, air-cleaner arrangement, valve covers, brake booster, radiator, and underhood layout; finishes, service hardware, and restoration details remain specific to the photographed car.Charles via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Standard Grand Prix Trophy V8 389 cu in; four-barrel; 303 gross hp · 1962 Grand Prix regular-production path · engine assembly / specification
Economy Trophy V8 389 cu in; two-barrel; 230 gross hp · 1962 Grand Prix where ordered · engine assembly / specification
Tri-Power Trophy V8 389 cu in; three two-barrel carburetors; output varied by transmission and tune · 1962 Grand Prix performance option · engine assembly / specification
421 Super Duty 421 cu in; competition-oriented dual-quad package reported at 405 gross hp · Very limited 1962 factory-built cars; serial-specific evidence required · carburetor / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission Three-speed manual
Factory transmission Four-speed manual
Factory transmission Roto Hydra-Matic automatic

Options

Engines and Induction summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

HYDRA-MATIC Hydra-Matic automatic factory · performance · Engine tune, controls, and axle ratio remain application-specific.
TRI-POWER Tri-Power induction factory · performance · Three two-barrel carburetors require matching manifold, linkage, calibration, engine, and records.
SAFE-T-TRACK Safe-T-Track differential factory · performance · Carrier, ratio, axle, dates, and records define one installation.
POWER-BRAKES Power brake assist factory · safety · Assist hardware does not establish brake originality.
POWER-STEERING Power steering factory · comfort · Steering gear, pump, brackets, hoses, and records remain model-year specific.
AIR-CONDITIONING Factory air conditioning factory · comfort · Cooling, controls, pulleys, brackets, trim, and axle implications must agree.

Paint

A Starlight Black factory · solid
C Cameo Ivory factory · solid
E Ensign Blue Metallic factory · solid
J Silverleaf Green Metallic factory · solid
L Belmar Red Metallic factory · solid
V Mandalay Red factory · solid

Production

Transmissions summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

1962 Pontiac Grand Prix Sports Coupe total · 30,195 · reported

Authenticity

Rear Axle and Ratios summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Model-year identity 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix series, body style, assembly identity, and trim evidence consistent across serial plate, body tag, title, shell, and records · VIN or serial plate, body or trim plate, chassis, title, build records, and ownership history · fraud detection
Engine and transmission Configuration-correct engine, induction, transmission, controls, stampings, castings, and dates · Engine, induction, gearbox, shifter, pedals, stamp pads, castings, dates, and records · numbers matching
Axle, brakes, and suspension Application-correct axle, ratio, brake system, steering, springs, links, and dampers · Axle housing and carrier, brakes, steering, suspension, dates, service records, and build evidence · date correctness
Paint, exterior trim, and cabin Plate- and record-supported finish, moldings, badges, wheels, upholstery, instruments, and controls · Body and trim plates, protected paint, upholstery, hardware, dashboard, and restoration records · trim correctness

Still Researching

production No audited public ledger reconciles all 1962 Grand Prix production by engine, transmission, axle ratio, paint, trim, option, plant, build date, and surviving-car status.
paint colors Reviewed references establish representative factory colors but not a complete body, trim, stripe, special-order, plant, and build-date compatibility matrix.
interior Broad cabin equipment is documented, but the complete upholstery color, material, body, option, and production-date matrix is not publicly reconciled.
authenticity markers Public model references cannot prove one survivor's born-with shell, drivetrain, chassis components, paint, trim, options, or component dates.