Pontiac Grand Am
| Pontiac Grand Am | |
|---|---|
| Production period: | 1973-2004 |
| Class : |
Upper middle class (1973–1980) Middle class (1985–2004) |
| Body versions : | Limousine , coupe |
| Previous model: | Pontiac LeMans |
| Successor: | Pontiac G6 |
Pontiac Grand Am was the name of several models produced by the US automobile manufacturer Pontiac between 1972 and 2004. The first two model generations were sporty versions of the mid-range Le Mans model at the time . In contrast, the vehicles offered from 1985 to 2004 belonged to the lower middle class (by American standards) as the successor to the Phoenix model .
Grand Am, 1972-1975
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 Pontiac Grand Am Coupé, 1973 |
|
| Production period: | 1972-1975 |
| Body versions : | Limousine , coupe |
| Engines: |
Gasoline engines : 6.6–7.5 liters (126–186 kW) |
| Length: | 5270 mm |
| Width: | 1970 mm |
| Height: | 1340-1380 mm |
| Wheelbase : | |
| Empty weight : | 1840-1880 kg |
The first Grand Am (the name was based on other names used by Pontiac at that time, such as Grand Prix and Trans Am ) appeared in the fall of 1972. It was a sporty version of the Pontiac mid-range Le Mans model . A special feature of the Grand Am was the front section made of flexible polyurethane plastic. The Grand Am was available as a two-door coupé and a four-door sedan . A 6.6-liter V8 engine (172 hp / 126 kW) was installed as standard; a 233 hp (171 kW) four-carburettor version of this machine and a 7.5-liter V8 (253 hp / 186 kW) to choose from. The Super Duty high-performance variant of the large V8 (314 PS / 231 kW) was on the list of options, but was not delivered in the case of the Grand Am. In 1974 minor changes were made to the body and engines. In the 1975 model year, the engine range consisted of the 6.6-liter (now with 172 or 188 hp / 126 or 138 kW) and the 7.5-liter (now 203 hp / 149 kW). At the end of the model year, the Grand Am was taken out of production.
Quantity (model years):
- 1973: 43.136
- 1974: 17,083
- 1975: 10.679
Grand Am, 1977-1980
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Pontiac Grand Am 1977-1980 |
|
| Production period: | 1977-1980 |
| Body versions : | Limousine , coupe |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 3.8-5.0 liters (78-112 kW) |
| Length: | 5060 mm |
| Width: | 1839 mm |
| Height: | 1359 mm |
| Wheelbase : | |
| Empty weight : | 1395-1494 kg |
With the appearance of the smaller Le Mans in autumn 1977, the Grand Am returned to the range. Once again there was a choice of a coupé and sedan in a sporty design, but now powered by a five-liter V8 with twin or four-way carburetors (142 or 152 hp or 104 or 112 kW). The Grand Am was only available in 1979 with a 3.8 liter V-6 (106 PS / 78 kW). The front section, which differed from that of Le Mans, was again made of plastic.
In 1980 the Grand Am was only offered as a coupé and at the end of the model year it was removed from the range due to weak demand.
Quantity (model years):
- 1978: 10,608
- 1979: 5886
- 1980: 1647
Grand Am, 1984-1991
After a four-year hiatus, Pontiac launched a completely new front-wheel drive Grand Am in 1984, which remained in the range for three generations until 2005, ranks between the Pontiac Sunbird and Pontiac 6000 and was the best-selling Pontiac model for many years. This model was based on the N-platform of the General Motors company and was the parallel model to Oldsmobile Calais (later Achieva and Alero ) and Buick Skylark .
The first front-wheel drive Grand Am was built as a coupé and sedan (from 1985) from 1984 to 1991 in 1.27 million copies. The drive was a 2.5-liter in-line four-cylinder (initially 93 HP / 68 kW, later up to 112 HP / 82 kW) or, until 1988, a three-liter V6 (127 HP / 93 kW); in some years a 2.3-liter four-cylinder with a four-valve head (152 hp / 112 kW or 183 hp / 135 kW) or a two-liter turbo (167 hp / 123 kW) were also available. In most cases, basic models and more extensively equipped SE and LE models were offered.
Grand Am, 1992-1998
With a length of 475 cm by 16 cm, the successor was built from 1992 to 1998 in a total of 1.51 million copies.
The model range again consisted of sedans and coupés, now in the SE and GT equipment. The basic engine was a 2.3-liter four-cylinder (122 PS / 90 kW), there was also a four-valve version of this engine (162 to 183 PS / 119-135 kW) and a 3.3-liter V6 producing 162 PS (119 kW).
In 1993 the four-cylinder lost 5-6 hp, from 1994 the six-cylinder only made 157 hp (115 kW).
In 1995 the basic two-valve engine was discontinued. The base engine was now a 152 hp (112 kW) version of the 16 V engine, with only the V6 available. Furthermore, the Grand Am was given a visual facelift that made the edges softer.
In 1996, the 2.3-liter was replaced by a new, equally powerful, DOHC four-cylinder with a displacement of 2.4 liters.
Grand Am, 1998-2004
| Fifth generation | |
|---|---|
 Pontiac Grand Am Coupé (1998-2003) |
|
| Production period: | 1998-2004 |
| Body versions : | Limousine , coupe |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 2.4–3.4 liters (112–126 kW) |
| Length: | 4732 mm |
| Width: | 1793 mm |
| Height: | 1384 mm |
| Wheelbase : | |
| Empty weight : | 1389-1435 kg |
In the spring of 1998, the third front-wheel drive Grand Am appeared, again as a coupé and sedan in SE or GT equipment.
The 2.4-liter four-cylinder was taken over from its predecessor, and a 3.4-liter V6 with 172 hp (126 kW) could also be ordered.
In autumn 2003 the Grand Am received slight optical retouching.
Production of the last generation of Grand Am ended in December 2004.
The successor to the Grand Am is the Pontiac G6 .
Web links
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- John Gunnell: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 . Krause Publications, Iola 2002, ISBN 0-87349-461-X , pp. 751ff.
- James M. Flammang and Ron Kowalke: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976-1999 . Krause Publications, Iola 1999. ISBN 0-87341-755-0 , pp. 830-915.
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