Pontiac Muscle Lives On The Pontiac Grand Prix underwent a lot of changes over the years. It began production in 1962 as a full size model and evolved into a personal, sporty rival to its competitors. It stayed in production until 2002. The Grand Prix was also produced as a four-door sedan from 1989 to 2008. Steve Plunkett’s Grand Prix was manufactured in what was arguably its pivotal year. When it came time to design the third-generation model for 1969, Pontiac added the “SJ” trim package. But it was much more than trim. SJ essentially turned the mild-mannered vehicle into a muscle car. It combined performance with the vehicle’s established luxury roots. The body had been getting rounder and sleeker over the years. They beefed up the grille and added more aggressive-looking chrome, toned down the back end, and gave it Pontiac’s longest-ever hood. And it’s under the hood where further enhancements were made. Two engines were offered with the manual transmission, which itself set it apart from all the automatics on the road. The buyer just had to decide whether they wanted to go fast, or faster. Steve’s has the “faster” SJ option, with a four-speed transmission and a 428 cubic inch, 7 litre V8, kicking out 375 HP. Inside is all about a sporty look with a wraparound cockpit-style control panel positioned toward the driver for easy access. Front dual “Strato” bucket seats are separated by a console. Seatbelts were optional then, but power steering and brakes came standard, as did pop-open exterior door handles. New for 1969 was the radio antenna embedded in the windshield. Another innovation was the optional rear-window defogger, not yet a common feature on vehicles of the day. A new 1969 Grand Prix with the SJ trim package cost $4,182. That’s more than $35,000 today. Pontiac sold 41,000 of these cars in 1969. Much of the credit for the Grand Prix’s redesign and success is attributed to John Z. DeLorean, who also designed the Pontiac GTO. DeLorean eventually left Pontiac for Chevrolet and then founded his own company whose signature vehicle was made famous in the movie, Back to the Future. DeLorean also became tabloid fodder for his many marriages and some brushes with the law. But his automotive legacy was assured when in 1956, he took the job of assistant to Pontiac’s chief engineer. DeLorean died in 2005 at the age of 80.
For fifteen years, Steve Plunkett turned his love of cars into the Fleetwood Country Cruize-In, an event that supported local Charities and raised over $1.7 million. “Taking a passion that I love and creating an event that benefits so many people has been a blessing,” says Steve. The event attracted thousands of people and cars from across North America. When not at home on his estate on the outskirts of Komoka, Steve tours invitational car events and shows across North America, showcasing his classic cars.
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KKD Villager July/August 2026
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