Pontiac Grand Am
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| Pontiac Grand Am | |
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| Manufacturer: | General Motors |
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| Production: | 1973-1975 1978-1980 1985-2006 |
| Assembly: | Lansing, Michigan |
| Predecessor: | Pontiac Phoenix (for 1985) |
| Successor: | Pontiac G6 (2006) |
| Body style: | 2-door coupe 4-door sedan |
| Similar: | Dodge Stratus Ford Contour Honda Accord |
| First generation | |
| Production: | 1973–1975 |
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| Class: | Mid-size |
| Platform: | FR A-body |
| Related: | Buick Century Buick Regal Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Pontiac Grand Prix Pontiac LeMans |
| Second generation | |
| Production: | 1978–1980 |
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| Class: | Mid-size |
| Platform: | FR A-body |
| Related: | Buick Century Buick Regal Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Monte Carlo Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Pontiac Grand Prix Pontiac LeMans |
| Third generation | |
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| Production: | 1985–1991 |
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| Class: | Compact |
| Platform: | FF N-body |
| Engine: | 2.3 L I4 2.4 L I4 2.5 L I4 3.0 L V6 |
| Transmission: | 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase: | 103.4 in |
| Length: | 179.2 in |
| Width: | 66.5 in |
| Height: | 52.6 in |
| Related: | Buick Skylark Buick Somerset Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais |
| Fourth generation | |
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| Production: | 1992–1998 |
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| Class: | Compact |
| Platform: | FF N-body |
| Engine: | 2.3 L I4 2.4 L I4 3.1 L V6 3.3 L V6 |
| Transmission: | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase: | 103.4 in |
| Length: | 186.9 in |
| Width: | 68.3 in |
| Height: | 53.5 in |
| Related: | Buick Skylark Chevrolet Malibu Oldsmobile Achieva Oldsmobile Cutlass |
| Fifth generation | |
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| Production: | 1999–2006 |
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| Class: | Compact |
| Platform: | FF N-body |
| Engine: | 2.4 L I4 3.4 L V6 |
| Transmission: | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase: | 107.1 in |
| Length: | 186.3 in |
| Width: | 70.6 in |
| Height: | 54.5 in |
| Related: | Chevrolet Malibu Oldsmobile Alero Oldsmobile Cutlass |
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The Pontiac Grand Am was originally a mid-size car and later a compact car that was produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. The Grand Am had a 3-year run from 1973 to 1975 and again from 1978 to 1980. It was based on the GM A platform. Production of the Grand Am was canceled in 1980 when it was replaced by the Pontiac 6000. The Grand Am was reintroduced in 1985 when it replaced the Pontiac Phoenix. On that particular point, the Grand Am was based on the GM N platform, became a compact car, and was replaced by the Pontiac G6. All Grand Ams between 1985 and 2005 were built in Lansing, Michigan.
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[edit] 1973-1975
The original Grand Am was introduced in the fall of 1972 as a 1973 model. It was placed on the GM A platform along with other cars such as the Pontiac Grand Prix, Pontiac LeMans, Pontiac GTO, Chevrolet Chevelle, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Buick Century, and the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, among others.
The Grand Am was available as a sedan or coupe. The Grand Am had a variety of engines; 147 Grand Ams had engines with a four-speed manual transmission during its first year. The four-speed automatic transmission was available only with the 400 in³ engine. 43,186 Grand Ams were built during the first year of production. Pontiac also produced a Grand Am station wagon during its first year of production. Some Grand Ams had a built on ram-air induction for a sporty look. The 1973 Pontiac Grand Am style had a total of 6 grille openings with vertical bars, round front turn signals, horizontal rear taillights, and chrome rear bumper. 1974 Grand Ams were the same as the 1973 model but had a minor cosmetic change on its grille with 12 openings with horizontal bars, and vertical rear taillights. The 1975 model looked the same as the 1974 model, but with a total of 12 openings with vertical bars, vertical rear taillights, and a body-colored rear bumper. 1975 was the last year for the original Grand Am, due to its poor sales and low production.
[edit] Engines
- 1973-1975 400 in³ (6.5 L) V8 with 2-barrel carburetor
- 1973-1975 400 in³ (6.5 L) V8 with 4-barrel carburetor
- 1973-1974 400 in³ (6.5 L) V8 with 4-barrel carburetor(was not available in California)
- 1973-1975 455 in³ (7.4 L) V8 with 4-barrel carburetor
Notes:
- 1973 engines may have point or unitized ignition.
- A 455SD equipped engineering prototype Grand Am has been built, but supposedly was dismantled and destroyed.
- 1974 engines may have point or unitized ignition or starting from May 1, 1974, HEI ignition.
- 1975 engines have HEI ignition.
- 1975 was the first year for the catalytic converter.
[edit] 1978-1980
The Grand Am returned in 1978, based on the A platform. The Grand Am's interior contained new features including power windows, locks, sunroof, an automatic transmission, full gauges, and power seats. The Grand Am had either Pontiac V6 or V8 engines. This generation of the Grand Am is very rare. In 1979, the Grand Am was featured in the NASCAR Grand National circuit. 1980 was the Grand Am's last year and only coupes available. The Grand Am was discontinued after 1980 and was replaced by the Pontiac 6000 for the 1982 model year.
[edit] 1985-1991
The Grand Am was reintroduced to Pontiac as a modern compact car by GM in 1985 to replace the Phoenix. It began its third generation and was based on the N platform, along with its siblings are the Buick Somerset (later renamed as the Skylark) and the Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais with a new smaller appearance and finer look. In 1986, a four-door sedan was added to the lineup. The third generation Grand Am was offered in two trim levels, the LE, and SE. The SE wasn't available in 1985. In 1989, the LE became the base model. The 2.5 L Tech IV engine was standard from 1985 to 1991. Although the engine was noisy and a bit underpowered in earlier models, it received balance shafts and an upgrade in power for 1989. A 3.0 L V6 was optional from 1985 to 1988. Since the Pontiac Sunbird's redesign in 1989, it surpassed the Grand Am in length. From 1987 to 1989, a turbocharged 2.0 L four-cylinder making 165 hp was optional on SE models. The 2.3 L Quad-4 was optional in 150 hp form from 1988 to 1989 on all models. A high output version of the Quad-4 that produced 180 hp was initially offered as an option on mid-1989 SE models and remained the top engine choice through 1991.
[edit] 1992-1998
In 1992, the GM N platform was redesigned, resulting in a newer-looking Grand Am which led to its fourth generation. The redesign was radical compared to the 1989 refresh of its mid-size cousin, the Pontiac 6000, due to the fact that it no longer bore a resemblance to its X-body ancestors. The Grand Am shared the GM N platform with the Buick Skylark and the Oldsmobile Achieva. The Grand Am had standard anti-lock brakes and driver's side airbag from 1994-onwards, with an optional passenger's side airbag after 1995.
This generation was available with various four or six-cylinder engines. The top engine choice from 1992 to 1994 was a 2.3 L 16-valve High Output Quad-4 which produced 170-180 hp (130 kW) at 6200 rpm and 155-160 ft·lbf (210 N·m) at 5200 rpm depending on year. The other engine of choice for 1994 and 1995 was the 3.1 L V6 that produced 155 hp.
There were some cosmetic changes made in 1996, and the last year of this Grand Am was 1998.
[edit] 1999-2006
In 1999, the Grand Am was redesigned again and entered its fifth generation, with its only identical sibling being the Oldsmobile Alero. It was reported that the very first 1999 Grand Am rolled off the assembly line on June 15, 1998; however, it is more likely that this occurred even earlier, perhaps April or May, as 1999 Grand Ams had been spotted on lots as early as late May 1998. The standard engine remained the DOHC 2.4 L I4 with the 3.4 L V6 optional. The 2.2 L Ecotec I4 replaced the 2.4 L as the standard engine in 2002. In 2003, the design was further refined by removing the ribbed body cladding for a "cleaner" appearance.
This generation of the Grand Am was sold in five variants, the SE, SE1, SE2, GT, and GT1. Each variant added various features such as power windows and locks, dual rear exhausts, a rear spoiler, a more powerful engine (3.4 L V6) than the Ecotec, or alloy wheels. Safety features such as dual front airbags and anti-lock brakes were now standard throughout the line, as well as traction control (ETS). However ABS and ETS (Traction Control) were optional on the 2003 to 2005 Grand Am SE, but standard on SE1, SE2, GT and GT1 models. The Grand Am enjoyed success as a compact car filling a niche as a comfortable, affordable, reliable, yet sporty car.
In the American market, when the Sunfire sedan was dropped for 2003, the Grand Am sedan was the only compact sedan in Pontiac's lineup.
Despite its success, the Grand Am finally came to an end. The last Grand Am sedan rolled off the assembly line on December 10, 2004. The coupe was dropped at the end of 2006, with the Grand Am being replaced by the Pontiac G6, which is based on the GM Epsilon platform. It is interesting to note that the Grand Am was Pontiac's best-selling car before being replaced. The last Grand Am rolled off the Lansing, Michigan assembly line on May 6, 2005, because GM had reportedly closed the plant.
| Pontiac road car timeline, United States market, 1960s-present - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Subcompact | T1000/1000 | LeMans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact | Astre | Sunbird | J2000/2000 Sunbird/Sunbird | Sunfire | G5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact/Mid-size | Ventura | Phoenix | Grand Am | G6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | Coupe | Tempest | Grand Am | Grand Am | Grand Prix | GTO | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sedan | 6000 | Grand Prix | G8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Intermediate | LeMans | Bonneville | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal | Grand Prix | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Bonneville / Catalina / Star Chief / Executive | Parisienne | Bonneville | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover | Vibe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aztek | Torrent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Trans Sport | Montana | SV6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports | Firebird/Trans Am | Solstice | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2-seater | Fiero | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
