Pontiac Grand Am

Origins: Grand Prix + Trans Am = Grand AM

The Pontiac Grand Am will be remembered as one of the last sporty offerings from Pontiac, and, looking back, it has had quite the history. The first Grand Am debuted for the 1973 model year. Working on GM's A-platform, Pontiac wanted to offer the best of both worlds in the Grand Prix and Trans Am. Buyers no longer had to vacillate between luxury and performance, and this also made the name choice incredibly easy.

Available as a rear-wheel drive, four-door sedan or a two-door coupe, it sported a standard 400ci V8 that kicked 170 horsepower, but buyers could upgrade to a 4-barrel carbureted version with dual exhaust that kicked 230 horsepower or a 455ci V8 that kicked 250 horsepower. Just like the Firebird, it had GM's "Endura" nose, designed to return to its original shape should the driver bump into something. It also came with a six-slotted grille for an added, uniquely Pontiac image. Vinyl or corduroy bucket seats were another unique feature, and one that aimed to steal a few European sport/luxury car buyers. Other optional top class features included a stainless-spoked steering wheel, a rally gauge cluster, and mahogany trim.

If you thought six slots on a grille was plenty, Pontiac begged to differ. The 1974 model tacked on six more slots to bring the total to twelve, and the only other changes helped the car adhere to new 5 mph crash standards.  This resulted in moving a few key components and parts around. The 1975 model saw a drop in the top engine options' output from 230 and 250 horsepower to 185 and 200 horsepower as engines were detuned to comply with 1975 emissions regulations. Times were tough during this era, especially for a performance car, and so Pontiac had to be selective about which models to include in their lineup, and with a steady decrease in sales, the Grand Am wasn't one of them.

The Return

When the Grand Am returned for the 1978 model year, it sat atop a platform based on the recently downsized Grand Prix's A-body (later known as the G-body). It joined Pontiac's mid-sized offerings with the Le Mans and the Grand Le Mans, and featured a vertical grille to differentiate itself from its siblings. The new batch still came as a coupe or four-door sedan, and offered a 301 ci V8 with 140 horsepower as the standard engine. Buyers could opt for a 4-bbl with 155 horsepower, as well as other upgrades, like power windows or a sunroof. The 1979 model saw only minor changes except for its new standard engine that dropped to a 231 ci V6 with 105 horsepower. Power output dropped in the 301ci V8 to 135 horsepower and 150 horsepower in the 4-bbl. Unfortunately, the Grand Am once again experienced a steady decline in sales. As the four door option was dropped for 1980, it was clear that not many buyers were interested in the car, and GM once again halted any further production.

The Return, Part II

Like a tough engine that just won't die, the Grand Am returned again for the 1985 model year, this time generating enough success to last for another 20 years. It replaced the Pontiac Phoenix, which, if you look at one and compare it to previous Grand Am models, doesn't look all that different, save for maybe the size. Since people were really only buying the coupe version in the model's last days of the early ‘80s, it makes sense that the all-new 1985 Grand Am would enter the compact class.  Now atop GM's brand new N-body, the front-wheel drive coupe offered only two trims: base and LE. Power output still shrunk with a standard 2.5L engine with 92 horsepower and an optional 3.0L V6 with 110 horsepower.

 A sedan and SE trim joined the lineup for 1986. The V6 came standard on the SE, as it was meant to be a sportier trim than the others. Thankfully, the engines would improve as newer models came out. 1987 brought a 2L turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an output of 165 horsepower. The 3L V6 dropped from the lineup in 1988. Its replacement, a 2.3L inline-4, bumped up the horsepower from 110 to 150, and it later replaced the standard 2L in the SE for 1989. A new fascia, revealed for 1989, would form the image we normally think of when picturing a Grand Am, with its smooth front end that bolstered kidney grilles and slimmer headlights. Minor changes occurred for 1990 and 1991 to finish off the generation.

1992 brought a new age.  Pontiac adopted the previous generation's fascia upgrade with a bit more styling. Sleek lines carved into the hood and also protruded from the sides for a sportier appearance. The 2.3L inline-4 remained, and a 3.3L V6 option with 160 horsepower was available. Much of this generation spent its upgrades on safety features like driver's side airbag, dual airbags, and simpler display controls. While many engine options fluctuated throughout this generation, the horsepower consistently rated between 150 and 160.

The final and most recent generation launched for the 1999 model year. Buyers could choose from five trim levels (SE, SE1, SE2, GT, and GT1).  A 3.4L V6 with 175 horsepower was available in the GT, which also came with Ram Air induction to give it an extra 5 horsepower. Other engine options included the standard 2.2L inline-4 with 140 horsepower or the 2.4L with 150 horsepower. For the 2003 model year the 2.4L engine was dropped and ABS became standard on Grand Am all models. Some Pontiac enthusiasts may tell you that the Grand Am never died and that the G6, its replacement, is "Generation 6." Many consider the G6 as a superior work of art to the Grand Am, but the Grand Am did serve an important part in Pontiac's history as it helped keep the company afloat during some troublesome years.

Need Pontiac Grand Am Parts?  

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Although discontinued, the Pontiac Grand Am is still a popular car, known for its constant reliability, sporty good looks, affordability, and for being just plain fun to drive. Our premium aftermarket Pontiac Grand Am parts are exactly what you need to keep your favorite compact sedan on the road. Our product development team spends 8,000 hours a year researching our new Grand Am parts. 1A Auto Parts displays 4 times more information, per part, than our competition. The Pontiac Grand Am has survived 30 years of cancellations only to come back with more refinements every time. However, with its replacement by the Pontiac G6, Grand Am parts are harder to find than before. 1A Auto Parts supplies new aftermarket Grand Am radiators, exhaust manifolds, headlights, taillights, weather stripping, window regulators, and more. Our in stock Grand Am parts are backed with the industry's only 'No Hassle' return policy. Go ahead and get the 1A Advantage, buy your new Pontiac Grand Am parts from 1A Auto Parts today.