1985 Pontiac Grand Prix: The 165-hp 305, One Year Only

This record's own dek states that the 305 four-barrel is listed at 165 hp for this year only. This record's own overview states that MuscleCarClub, crediting the Standard Catalog of Pontiac, gives 1985 Grand Prix production as 59,783, split between a base hardtop at 30,365, an "LE" hardtop at 21,195, and a Brougham hardtop at 8,223, and that the compiled engine tables list a 231 cid V6 at 110 hp and 190 lb-ft and the 305 cid V8 at 165 hp and 250 lb-ft, both SAE net as compiled with no rpm given.¹

This record's own keyFacts section states that Pontiac's 1985 brochure lists two Grand Prix engines, the 3.8 V-6 code LD5 standard and the 5.0 four-barrel V-8 code LG4 optional, with a four-speed automatic code MX0 offered only with the V-8, and that the diesel is no longer listed; it also gives factory prices of $9,569 for the V-6 Grand Prix or $9,959 for the V-8, $10,049 or $10,439 for the LE, and $10,749 or $11,139 for the Brougham. This record's own prices section carries all six of these same factory prices by trim and drivetrain.²

This record's own engines section carries these same two entries, cross-sourced to fueleconomy.gov as well as the compiler and the brochure: the LD5 standard with a three-speed automatic, and the LG4 optional with a three- or four-speed automatic, produced in the USA or Canada. This record's own conflicts section flags a dispute over the LG4's own rating: the compiled table gives 165 hp and 250 lb-ft, while the brochure's own Pontiac Power table gives a range of 150 to 170 hp and 235 to 250 lb-ft across Pontiac models generally and tells buyers to see the dealer for the figure specific to their car, with this record's own treatment note observing the 165-hp figure falls inside that range even though no Pontiac source reached states the Grand Prix-specific rating. This record's own transmissions section lists a standard three-speed automatic with torque converter clutch on all models, and an optional four-speed automatic with the 5.0-liter V-8 only.^1,3

This record's own options section itemizes a Rally Tuned suspension requiring P205/70R14 tires, Rally gages, a lamp group, air conditioning, two named radio configurations by their own content, a Brougham Landau option by its own full content, padded landau top with opera lamps and formal windows, a lamp group, front and rear bumper guards, luxury-level acoustical insulation, rear quarter courtesy lamps and Tampico carpet, restricted to the Brougham; specific two-tone paint requiring sport mirrors, sport two-tone paint requiring wide rocker moldings, a removable glass-panel hatch roof, a power glass sunroof with manual sliding sunshade, Turbo-finned aluminum wheels, Rally II wheels, wire wheel covers with locking package, P205/70R14 white-lettered tires, puncture sealant tires, a cold weather group not offered with the V-6, a digital quartz clock, electronic cruise control, a limited-slip differential with an optional performance axle ratio, a heavy-duty battery, cooling and generator, bucket seats with recliners and console not offered on the Brougham, a 55/45 split seat standard on the Brougham, a power driver's seat, a reclining passenger seat, a tilt steering wheel, and a power antenna, power door locks and power windows.

This record's own interiors section carries a single entry: the luxury notchback front seat with fold-down center armrest on the Grand Prix and LE, the 55/45 notchback standard on the Brougham, cut-pile Trianon carpet on the Grand Prix and LE against luxury Tampico carpet on the Brougham, and an instrument panel with simulated teakwood woodgrain trim, all drawn from the same Interior Features page of the 1985 prestige brochure.

This record's own specifications section gives three separate V-6 shipping weights, 3,148, 3,168 and 3,186 pounds, a 108.1-inch wheelbase, 201.9-inch overall length, 72.3-inch width, 54.7-inch overall height, front/rear tread of 58.5/57.8 inches, front/rear head room of 37.6/37.8 inches, front/rear leg room of 42.8/36.4 inches, front/rear shoulder room of 56.7/55.9 inches, front/rear hip room of 51.7/54.9 inches, 16.4 cubic feet of trunk capacity, an 18.1-US-gallon fuel tank, P195/75R14 standard tires, and an overall top gear ratio of 2.29 for the LG4 with the standard three-speed automatic.²

This record's own performance section is empty for the year, leaving no period road test on record for the 1985 Grand Prix. This record's own identification section gives series 2G, body style J37 for the Grand Prix, K37 for the LE, and P37 for the Brougham, sourced to the same Standard Catalog tables as this record's own production and price rows.²