Pontiac Grand Ville

Pontiac Grand Ville
Overview
Manufacturer	General Motors
Model years	1971–1975
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	4-door hardtop 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible
Layout	FR layout
Platform	B-body
Powertrain
Engine	400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 455 cu in (7.5 L) V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	126 in (3,200 mm) [1]
Length	226.2 in (5,745 mm)
Width	79.5 in (2,019 mm) [1]
Chronology
Predecessor	Pontiac Bonneville

The Pontiac Grand Ville is a full-size car that was the top-trim model in the Pontiac line from 1971 to 1975. It displaced the Pontiac Bonneville, which had served as Pontiac's top-trim model since 1958.

The Bonneville was not discontinued during this period, but downgraded in status to effectively replace the discontinued Pontiac Executive. The Grand Ville and Bonneville shared a number of trim and design elements that distinguished them from the Catalina, but the 1971-72 Grand Villes were built on a stretched wheelbase version of the GM "B" platform that nevertheless had identical interior dimensions to all other full-size Pontiacs.

In addition to more luxurious interior trimmings, the Grand Ville had distinctive chrome up front and taillight trim at rear to set it apart. For 1974 only, the Grand Ville had its own parking lights, which wrapped around the corner of the front fender. The car was often seen with deluxe appearance options, such as sport wheels and vinyl tops. Rear fender skirts were featured on the 1973 to 1975 models.

Standard equipment on Grand Ville models included a 455 cubic-inch V8 engine (for 1971-74 models, a 400 cubic-inch V8 was standard and the 455 optional for 1975), Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission, power steering and power front disc brakes. Popular options included air conditioning, power windows and driver's seat, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, AM/FM stereo with tape deck and much more. One of the rarest options available on Grand Villes and other full-sized Pontiacs during this period was the adjustable brake and accelerator pedals offered from 1974 to 1976.

Grand Ville enjoyed moderate success from 1971 to 1973. However, the oil crisis of late 1973 and early 1974 led to gasoline shortages, long lines at filling stations, and skyrocketing pump prices. These factors would sharply cut into full-sized car sales in 1974 as Americans were shunning big gas guzzlers in favor of smaller more fuel-efficient cars. For 1975, the Grand Ville became the Grand Ville Brougham and included more standard equipment than in previous years, such as power windows and a carpeted trunk. This would be the final year for the Grand Ville series, which also included Pontiac's last convertible until 1983. For 1976, the Grand Ville nameplate was dropped and the lineup was renamed Bonneville Brougham, returning that nameplate back to its former flagship status.

Grand Ville convertibles were rare in the years from 1971 to 1975, never topping 5,000 per year during the model run. From 1973 to 1975 the Grand Ville was Pontiac's only full-size convertible offering, 1971 and 1972 full-size Pontiac convertibles were offered in both the entry level Catalina line and the posh Grand Ville line. There were no convertible Bonnevilles after the 1970 model year. The rarest of the rare Grand Ville convertibles was the 1971 model with just under 1,800 examples built. The final year 1975 proved to be the most plentiful with just over 4,500 cars built, as word had gotten out that this would be the final year of production. The Grand Ville convertible had the lowest production amongst its corporate cousins, the Oldsmobile 88 Royale, Buick LeSabre/Centurion, Chevrolet Caprice Classic and Cadillac Eldorado convertible lines.

1972 Pontiac Grand Ville, three quarter view  1974 Pontiac Grand Ville convertible  1975 Pontiac Grand Ville convertible  1975 interior

Notes