“My love and appreciation of the early 70’s Pontiac started when I was 5 years old. My Dad purchased a 1974 Grandville 4 door hardtop in a light metallic green. When my Mom and I went out to see him (and the new car), I remember standing by the front fender and thinking ‘This car seems to go on forever’. I guess I was hooked from that moment on. My first car was a 1975 Catalina, a beater, but it got me around.
In the next 15 years as my jobs got better, I started the search for my ultimate Grandville. I didn't want a convertible, which made my search harder, but a 4-door hardtop in mint loaded condition. I searched for the last 6 years on the internet and in Hemmings Motor News, always hoping to find a pristine Grandville (I passed on many Bonnevilles, Catalinas, and even some Grandvilles of less than perfect specs). Low and behold on CollectorCarTrader.com a little more than 1 year ago I found her. At first I thought the ad was a typo. I thought ‘this car can't have only 5500 original miles’ but I thought I would call the number.
I talked to the dealer selling the car and he told me that he had purchased the vehicle, among others, from the original owner's estate in Florida. The dealer explained the history of the car (which is that the original owner purchased the car from Pontiac Motor Division on 11/30/74 and that it was a “Brass Hat”, which was the terminology of the day, meaning the car was driven by an executive at Pontiac and usually that those vehicles were fully loaded in options). He then sent me pictures. We agreed upon a price, and it now resides in my garage.
When I first saw the car in person, I was stunned; it looked like new. I had it inspected by my friend who is a mechanic who summarized the car in the following sentence. ‘I guess this is what they must have looked like on the showroom floor in 1975’. The car is fully loaded with every available option except adjustable pedals and a rear defogger. The car also came with an amazing amount of documentation including the original bill of sale, original build sheet, and a full owners manual package.
I have seen and owned many early 70’S B-Body cars, but I have yet to find a Grandville in the condition of my car. My Grandville, to me, is the culmination of a 15 year search and I look forward to driving it for years to come.”
