1970 · Pontiac · United States
1970 Pontiac Grand Prix: The SJ, the Hurst SSJ, and a Series Number in Dispute
The SJ took a 370 hp 455, Hurst built the SSJ, and production fell to 65,750.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
This record's own dek states that the SJ took a 370-hp 455, Hurst built the SSJ, and production fell to 65,750. This record's own overview repeats that for 1970 the SJ designation meant the 455, rated 370 hp with 500 lb-ft, replacing the 428, that power front disc brakes became standard, and that a bench seat returned as a no-cost option; it also states that Hurst offered the SSJ package, listed at $1,147.25, with Fire Frost Gold accents, Rally wheels, an electric sunroof and a vinyl half-top, and that the compiled table records 65,750 Grand Prix built at $3,985.1,2
This record's own engines section lists three entries: a 400 two-barrel economy engine at 265 hp and 397 lb-ft, automatic only; the standard 400 four-barrel at 350 hp and 445 lb-ft; and the SJ's 455 four-barrel at 370 hp and 500 lb-ft. This record's own transmissions section lists a standard three-speed manual, an optional four-speed manual at $226, and an optional Turbo-400 Hydra-Matic also at $226. This record's own production section carries a separate row noting only 329 Grand Prix were built with the four-speed manual across both J and SJ trims, sourced to a single article that this record's own note states gives no basis for the figure, and treated as a subset of the 65,750 total rather than a confirmed count; the same note states no SJ 455 count was found in a source that states its basis.1,3
This record's own options section itemizes the SJ package itself from $223, the Hurst SSJ package at $1,147.25, a Leather Trim Group at $199, a Rally gauge cluster at $84, capacitor ignition from $104, an air conditioner at $422, automatic level control at $79, a Cordova top at $105, cornering lamps at $34, cruise control at $63, door edge guards at $6, an electric clock at $16, a hood-mounted tachometer at $63, a glare-proof tilt mirror at $4, a remote outside mirror at $12, power brakes at $42, a power bucket seat (left-hand) at $69, power steering at $105, power windows at $104, an AM/FM stereo radio at $239, a push-button AM radio at $89, a push-button AM/FM radio at $151, Rally II wheels at $63, a rear window defogger at $41, a remote deck lid release at $14, a Ride and Handling package at $9, a Safeguard speedometer at $16, tinted glass at $43, a tinted windshield at $29, an under-hood utility lamp at $7, and a visor vanity mirror at $4.1
This record's own interiors section carries three entries: standard Strato bucket seats with a no-cost bench-seat option and an optional Leather Trim Group; a second, fuller description of Strato bucket seats with integral console and floor shift standard, a no-cost bench with center armrest restricted to column shift with three-speed manual or automatic (not available with the four-speed), carpeted lower door panels and special upholstery trims; and a third entry specific to the Hurst SSJ conversion, whose interior colors this record's own text limits to black, brown, gold, saddle or sandalwood depending on seat type and surface.1
This record's own specifications section gives an 118-inch wheelbase, 210.2-inch overall length, 52.0-inch overall height, 75.7-inch overall width, 62.0-inch front track, 60.0-inch rear track, G78 x 14 standard tires with G70 x 14 optional, and a 3,784-pound shipping weight for the Grand Prix sport coupe, plus transmission ratios and rear axle ratios that vary by engine: 3.55:1 for the 400 with four-speed, and for the 455, 3.07:1 automatic (3.31 optional), 3.31:1 three-speed, or 3.55:1 four-speed. This record's own specifications section also states power front disc brakes were standard and new for 1970, and separately gives the Hurst SSJ's own base colors as Cameo White or Starlight Black, though this record's own text notes the same fact sheet elsewhere calls them Polar White or Starlight Black, both with Fire Frost Gold accents.1,2
This record's own identification section carries two entries that disagree: the compiled production table's own series 266, body 26657, and a separate fact-sheet identification of series 276. This record's own conflicts section addresses the same disagreement directly, extending it to the wheelbase, noting the compiled table's 121-inch figure is certainly a carryover from the 1968 B-body Grand Prix and that the series and body entries on that same row are therefore suspect too, while keeping the table's row as the record's own identification entry with the conflict attached. This record's own performance section is empty for the year, leaving no period road test on record for the 1970 Grand Prix.2,1
Fact sheet · 1970 · United States
The numbers
1970 Pontiac Grand Prix and SJ 455 — The SJ took a 370 hp 455, Hurst built the SSJ, and production fell to 65,750.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix 2-door sport coupe2,1,4 Grand Prix · 2-door sport coupe · not stated by source Standard Catalog lineage. | 65,750 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix with four-speed manual3 Grand Prix (J and SJ) · 2-door sport coupe · four-speed manual · not stated by source Single secondary source; the article states no basis for the figure. A subset of the total. | 329 | built, model-year | Reported |
The four-speed row is a subset of the 65,750 total. No SJ (455) count was found in a source that states its basis.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix 2-door sport coupe2 | $3,985 | factory price as compiled, 1970 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 2-bbl economy1 400 cu in · 2-barrel, 8.6:1 | 265 hp @ 4,600, 397 lb-ft @ 2,400 (SAE gross (period advertised rating)) | automatic only | Not yet sourced |
| 400 4-bbl1 400 cu in · 4-barrel, 10.25:1 | 350 hp @ 5,000, 445 lb-ft @ 3,000 (SAE gross (period advertised rating)) | standard | Not yet sourced |
| 455 4-bbl1 455 cu in · 4-barrel, 10.25:1 | 370 hp @ 4,600, 500 lb-ft @ 3,100 (SAE gross (period advertised rating)) | SJ | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Three-speed manual1 | standard | Not yet sourced |
| Four-speed manual1 | optional, $226 | Not yet sourced |
| Turbo-400 Hydra-Matic1 | optional, $226 | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SJ package (price range as listed)1 | $223 | Not yet sourced |
|
Hurst SSJ package1 | $1,147.25 | Not yet sourced |
|
Leather Trim Group1 | $199 | Not yet sourced |
|
Rally gauge cluster1 | $84 | Not yet sourced |
|
Capacitor ignition (price range)1 | $104 | Not yet sourced |
|
Air conditioner1 | $422 | Not yet sourced |
|
Automatic level control1 | $79 | Not yet sourced |
|
Cordova top1 | $105 | Not yet sourced |
|
Cornering lamps1 | $34 | Not yet sourced |
|
Cruise control1 | $63 | Not yet sourced |
|
Door edge guards1 | $6 | Not yet sourced |
|
Electric clock1 | $16 | Not yet sourced |
|
Hood-mounted tachometer1 | $63 | Not yet sourced |
|
Mirror, rear view glare-proof tilt1 | $4 | Not yet sourced |
|
Mirror, remote control outside rear view1 | $12 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power brakes1 | $42 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power bucket seat, left-hand1 | $69 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power steering1 | $105 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power windows1 | $104 | Not yet sourced |
|
Radio, AM/FM stereo1 | $239 | Not yet sourced |
|
Radio, push-button AM1 | $89 | Not yet sourced |
|
Radio, push-button AM/FM1 | $151 | Not yet sourced |
|
Rally II wheels1 | $63 | Not yet sourced |
|
Rear window defogger1 | $41 | Not yet sourced |
|
Remote control deck lid release1 | $14 | Not yet sourced |
|
Ride and Handling package1 | $9 | Not yet sourced |
|
Safeguard speedometer1 | $16 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tinted glass1 | $43 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tinted windshield1 | $29 | Not yet sourced |
|
Under-hood utility lamp1 | $7 | Not yet sourced |
|
Visor vanity mirror1 | $4 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
10 |
Polar White1 | Not yet sourced |
14 |
Palladium Silver1 | Not yet sourced |
19 |
Starlight Black1 | Not yet sourced |
25 |
Bermuda Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
26 |
Lucerne Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
28 |
Atoll Blue1 | Not yet sourced |
34 |
Mint Turquoise1 | Not yet sourced |
43 |
Keylime Green1 | Not yet sourced |
45 |
Palisade Green1 | Not yet sourced |
47 |
Verdoro Green1 | Not yet sourced |
48 |
Pepper Green1 | Not yet sourced |
50 |
Sierra Yellow1 | Not yet sourced |
51 |
Goldenrod Yellow1 | Not yet sourced |
53 |
Coronado Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
55 |
Baja Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
58 |
Granada Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
63 |
Palomino Copper1 | Not yet sourced |
65 |
Carousel Red1 | Not yet sourced |
67 |
Castilian Bronze1 | Not yet sourced |
75 |
Cardinal Red1 | Not yet sourced |
78 |
Burgundy1 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
|
Strato bucket seats standard; bench seat with armrest a no-cost option; Leather Trim Group optional1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Strato bucket seats with integral console and floor shift standard; bench seat with center armrest a no-cost option (column shift, three-speed manual or automatic only, four-speed not available with the bench). Carpeted lower door panels and special upholstery trims.1 | Not yet sourced |
|
Hurst SSJ conversion: interior colors limited to black, brown, gold, saddle or sandalwood, depending on seat type and surface.1 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase1 | 118 in | Grand Prix |
| Overall length1 | 210.2 in | Grand Prix |
| Overall height1 | 52 in | Grand Prix |
| Overall width1 | 75.7 in | Grand Prix |
| Front track1 | 62 in | Grand Prix |
| Rear track1 | 60 in | Grand Prix |
| Tires1 | G78 x 14 standard; G70 x 14 optional | Grand Prix |
| Shipping weight2 | 3,784 lb | Grand Prix sport coupe |
| Transmission ratios1 | 3-speed 2.42/1.61/1.00; 4-speed 2.52/1.88/1.46/1.00 (special order 2.20/1.64/1.28/1.00); Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 2.48/1.48/1.00 :1 | Grand Prix |
| Rear axle ratios1 | 400 350 hp four-speed 3.55; 455 370 hp automatic 3.07 (3.31 optional), three-speed 3.31, four-speed 3.55 :1 | Grand Prix |
| Brakes1 | Power front disc brakes standard (new for 1970) | Grand Prix |
| Hurst SSJ base colors1 | Ordered in Cameo White or Starlight Black (the fact sheet also says Polar White or Starlight Black) with Fire Frost Gold accents | Hurst SSJ conversion (not Pontiac factory production) |
Identification
- Series and body
- Series 266, body 26657.2
- Series (fact sheet)
- The Over-Drive fact sheet identifies the 1970 Grand Prix as Series 276; the compiled production table shows series 266, body 26657 and a 121-inch wheelbase (see conflicts).1
Where the sources disagree
1970 Grand Prix series, body and wheelbase in the compiled production table
The 121-inch wheelbase in the table is certainly a carry-over from the 1968 B-body Grand Prix, so the series and body entries on the same row are suspect too. The record's identification row from the table is kept, with this conflict attached.
Identification
Read a 1970 Pontiac VIN
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Same model year
Also in 1970
- AMC AMX The last two-seat AMX: a restyled nose, a 360 base V8 and a 325-hp 390. At 4,116 cars it was the rarest of the three two-seat years.
- AMC Javelin Penske and Donohue brought the Javelin to Trans-Am, and the showroom answered with 2,501 Mark Donohue Javelins and 100 red-white-blue Trans Am Javelins, while total production fell to 28,210.
- AMC Rebel and Rebel Machine AMC's intermediate supercar: a 340-hp 390, four-speed and Hurst shifter in the Rebel hardtop, first in white with red-white-blue stripes. Totals reported for the one-year run range from about 1,200 to 2,326.
- Buick Riviera The 455 (370 hp gross) arrived with a restyle; production fell to about 37,300 with some 3,505 GS cars.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX Buick's GS went to a 455 rated at 510 lb-ft, the Stage 1 option added 10 advertised hp, and a mid-year GSX package was built 678 times in two colors.
- Buick Wildcat The final Wildcat, Custom trim only, with the 370-hp 455; 23,645 built.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The year the Chevelle Super Sport split into RPO Z25 SS 396 and RPO Z15 SS 454, with the LS6 454 rated at 450 gross horsepower.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Last year the source engine table lists the big-block (as 402) in the Nova. Enthusiast-compiled production: 307,280 cars; Super Sport 19,558.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS The Malibu/Custom El Camino could carry either RPO Z25 SS 396 or RPO Z15 SS 454, including the 450 hp LS6; the El Camino share is not separately published.
- Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS The first Monte Carlo, with the SS 454 as RPO Z20: 3,823 of 145,976 Monte Carlos per Chevrolet-report-derived tables.
- Dodge Challenger Dodge's first pony car arrived as a 1970 model with nine advertised engines, base, SE, R/T, and R/T SE hardtops, two convertibles, and a one-year Trans-Am homologation special, the T/A.
- Dodge Charger The last year of the second-generation body: a new full-width grille, three series (Charger, 500, R/T), the 440 Six Pack added to the R/T, and production roughly half of 1969's.
- Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The final Coronet-based R/T and Super Bee: the R/T fell to 2,615 cars, while the Super Bee added a 3-speed manual and kept its Six Pack and Hemi options.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon With the GTS gone, the Swinger 340 was the only performance Dart; it kept front discs, Rallye suspension and a twin-scoop hood and sold about 13,800 beside the new Challenger.
- Ford Fairlane The last Fairlane year: the name survived only on the Fairlane 500 beneath the new Torino, with a mid-year Falcon sharing the body at the bottom of the range.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The Grabber appearance and tire package arrived in mid-1970 on the new two-door Maverick; no Grabber count for 1970 was found.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Torino-based Ranchero GT could take the 429 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet; reference counts give 3,905 GTs, while Barn Finds rounds the GT figure to about 3,600 of 21,640 Rancheros.
- Ford Thunderbird The 429 at 360 hp was the standard and only engine listed in the 1970 catalog.
- Ford Torino A new, longer body on a 117-inch wheelbase; the Torino Cobra became its own model with the 429, offered in 360, 370 (Cobra Jet) and 375 (Super Cobra Jet) horsepower forms.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone A new, longer Montego-based Cyclone in three versions: the 429 Cyclone, the small-block Cyclone GT that outsold both others, and the Ram Air 429 Cobra Jet Cyclone Spoiler.
- Mercury Cougar The last first-generation Cougar moved to the 351 Cleveland, kept the Boss 302 as an Eliminator-only engine, and built 2,268 Eliminators.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 The second and last year of the 1969-70 Marauder: production fell to about a third of 1969's, with the X-100 near half of it.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 got a standard 455 rated at 365 hp, the W-30 went to 370 hp, and the small-block W-31 moved to the Cutlass and F-85 coupes.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The E-body redesign split the line into Barracuda, Gran Coupe, and 'Cuda hardtops and convertibles, put every Chrysler performance engine through the 426 Hemi on the order form, and added the one-year AAR 'Cuda for Trans-Am homologation.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 Plymouth's new Valiant-based fastback coupe arrived with a 275 hp 340 performance model priced at $2,547; the Standard Catalog lineage counts 24,817 Duster 340s among 217,192 Dusters.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite Now hardtop-only, the GTX fell to 7,748 cars while its 440 Six Barrel option cost just $119.
- Plymouth Road Runner Production halved from 1969, the 440 Six Barrel became a regular option, and the winged Superbird was built as a Road Runner hardtop to put Plymouth back on NASCAR superspeedways.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am A late-arriving, coupe-only second generation: 48,739 Firebirds, 3,196 of them Trans Ams, and 88 Ram Air IVs.
- Pontiac GTO A new Endura nose, a 455 added beside the three 400s, and GTO production falling to 40,149.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The T-37 and GT-37 bring budget performance to the Tempest.