1978 Pontiac Grand Prix: The Downsized A-Body

This record's own dek describes 1978 as a downsized A-body Grand Prix with V6 and 301/305 V8 power. This record's own overview states that MuscleCarClub, crediting the Standard Catalog of Pontiac, gives 1978 Grand Prix production as 228,444, split between a base "J" hardtop at 127,253, an "LJ" hardtop at 65,122, and an "SJ" hardtop at 36,069, and that the compiled engine tables list a 231 cid V6 at 105 hp and 185 lb-ft, a 301 cid V8 at 140 hp and 235 lb-ft, a second 301 cid V8 at 150 hp and 240 lb-ft, and a Chevrolet 305 cid V8 at 145 hp and 245 lb-ft, all SAE net as compiled with no rpm given.¹

This record's own keyFacts section states that the downsized 1978 Grand Prix rode a 108.1-inch wheelbase and measured 201.2 inches long, with Radial Tuned Suspension standard on every Grand Prix; it gives factory prices of $4,800 for the V-6 or $5,030 for the V-8 Grand Prix, $5,815 for the LJ, and $6,088 for the SJ; and it states that Pontiac made the 3.8-liter 231 V-6 standard in the Grand Prix for 1978, with the SJ using a 4.9-liter 301 four-barrel V-8 outside California. This record's own prices section carries all four of these same factory prices by trim and drivetrain.²

This record's own production section carries four rows, the 127,253-unit J, the 65,122-unit LJ, the 36,069-unit SJ, and the 228,444 total, with a note that the Standard Catalog calls the 1978 body a two-door coupe, style 37, and that the source presents the base, LJ and SJ rows as summing to the total, and a second note stating plainly that no engine, transmission, paint or trim counts were found. This record's own transmissions section lists a single entry, Automatic, standard on the SJ.¹

This record's own options section itemizes a glass sunroof, an AM/FM stereo radio with digital clock, a 60/40 split front seat for the LJ, and Viscount leather seats across four seating areas, alongside the SJ's own equipment by name, accent stripes, sport mirrors, cast aluminum wheels, full rally gauges with clock and trip odometer, a custom sport steering wheel, bucket seats and console, the 301 four-barrel V-8, automatic transmission, and power steering and brakes; and the LJ's own equipment, body-colored mirrors and rocker moldings, hand-stitched-look dash vinyl, a luxury cushion wheel, velour loose-pillow seating, and added acoustical insulation. This record's own paint section is empty for the year.

This record's own interiors section carries three entries: the standard Grand Prix notchback seat; the LJ's own standard loose-pillow velour seating with a 60/40 split available; and the SJ's own standard bucket seats with center console, all three drawn from the same 1978 full-line brochure captions rather than from the separate Pontiac catalogue that is also cited elsewhere in this record's own text.

This record's own specifications section gives shipping weights of 3,101 pounds V-6 and 3,224 pounds V-8 for the Grand Prix, 3,216 pounds for the LJ, and 3,229 pounds for the SJ, along with a 201.2-inch overall length, 72.8-inch overall width, 108.1-inch wheelbase, front/rear track of 58.5/57.8 inches, front/rear head room of 37.6/37.8 inches, front/rear leg room of 42.8/36.3 inches, front/rear hip room of 51.6/54.9 inches, and 16.1 cubic feet of trunk capacity for the base coupe.²

This record's own performance and conflicts sections are both empty for the year, leaving no period road test and no disputed figure on record for the 1978 Grand Prix. This record's own identification section gives series 2G, body style J37 for the Grand Prix, K37 for the LJ, and H37 for the SJ, sourced to the same Standard Catalog tables that carry the production and price rows.²