1986 · Pontiac · United States
1986 Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2: A NASCAR Special in Disputed Numbers
The NASCAR-driven Grand Prix 2+2 with its bubble back window, in disputed numbers.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
This record's own dek describes the NASCAR-driven Grand Prix 2+2 with its bubble back window as arriving in disputed numbers for 1986. This record's own overview states that MuscleCarClub, crediting the Standard Catalog of Pontiac, gives 1986 Grand Prix production as 40,584, split between a base hardtop at 21,668, a 2+2 hardtop at 200, an "LE" hardtop at 13,918, and a Brougham hardtop at 4,798, and that Pontiac offered the Grand Prix 2+2 for 1986 as a street version of the aero-bodied NASCAR Grand Prix, with a large sloping rear window and a urethane nose, made for homologation, using a 305-cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 and a four-speed automatic.1,2
This record's own keyFacts section states that how many 2+2s were built is disputed, the Standard Catalog lineage giving 200 while two retrospectives give about 1,200 and 1,225, with none of the three naming a factory record; it also states that the Standard Catalog gives the 2+2 an $18,214 factory price and a 165-hp, 245-lb-ft 305 V-8, and says dealers marked up the few cars, and it gives factory prices of $10,259 or $10,974 for the V-6/V-8 Grand Prix, $10,795 or $11,510 for the LE, $11,579 or $12,294 for the Brougham, and $18,214 for the 2+2. This record's own keyFacts section also states that fueleconomy.gov lists four 1986 Grand Prix powertrains, the 3.8 and 4.3 V-6 with a three-speed automatic, the 4.3 V-6 with a four-speed automatic, and the 5.0 V-8 with a four-speed automatic only.1,3,2,4,5
This record's own production section carries a disputed 2+2 row with a null value and status "disputed," its own note stating the figures range from 200 to 1,225; the same section's own notes state that the Standard Catalog of Pontiac contradicts itself, carrying both the 200-car figure in its table and text and a separate passage saying 1,229 "1986-1/2" 2+2s were made with no 1987s and four prototypes, and that the 40,584 grand total inherits whichever error the 200-car figure carries. This record's own conflicts section addresses the same dispute directly, showing all four claims, 200, approximately 1,200, 1,225 and 1,229, with a treatment note observing the 200 figure matches a homologation minimum rather than a count, that the roughly-1,200 figures agree with each other, and that no factory record was reached to settle it. This record's own unpublishedLeads section flags a further Wikipedia figure of 1,118, held back as a single unverified tertiary citation.1,4
This record's own engines section carries three entries: the 231 3.8-liter V6, the 305 four-barrel Chevrolet V8, and a separately listed 4.3-liter V6 certified with three- and four-speed automatics per fueleconomy.gov. This record's own conflicts section carries a second dispute over the 305's own rating: the compiled table gives 150 hp and 240 lb-ft for all Grand Prix, while two retrospectives and the Standard Catalog's own 2+2 text give 165 hp and 245 lb-ft for the 2+2 specifically, with this record's own treatment note suggesting the 2+2 may have carried a different calibration that a period Pontiac specification sheet would settle. This record's own transmissions section lists the Turbo Hydra-matic 200-4R four-speed automatic standard on the 2+2, and a three-speed automatic with the 3.8 and 4.3 V-6.1,5,2,3
This record's own options section carries a single entry, the Grand Prix 2+2 itself, described as an aerodynamic coupe built for NASCAR homologation with the 305 V-8, sold through dealers in the southeastern United States at a factory price of $18,214, with this record's own note clarifying that figure is the car's factory price rather than an option price. This record's own paint and interiors sections are both empty for the year.4
This record's own specifications section gives three V-6 shipping weights, 3,161 pounds for the Grand Prix, 3,178 for the LE, and 3,201 for the Brougham. This record's own performance section is empty for the year, leaving no period road test on record for the 1986 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, noting the 2+2's own row shows no body style number in the source's search text.4
Fact sheet · 1986 · United States
The numbers
1986 Pontiac Grand Prix — The NASCAR-driven Grand Prix 2+2 with its bubble back window, in disputed numbers.
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
- How many 2+2s were built is disputed: the Standard Catalog lineage gives 200, while two retrospectives give about 1,200 and 1,225; none of the three names a factory record.1,3,2
- The Standard Catalog of Pontiac gives the 2+2 a $18,214 factory price and a 165-hp, 245 lb-ft 305 V-8, and says dealers marked the few cars up.4
- Factory prices: $10,259 (V-6) or $10,974 (V-8) Grand Prix, $10,795 or $11,510 LE, $11,579 or $12,294 Brougham, $18,214 for the 2+2.4
- fueleconomy.gov lists four 1986 Grand Prix powertrains: 3.8 V-6 and 4.3 V-6 with a three-speed automatic, the 4.3 V-6 with a four-speed automatic, and the 5.0 V-8 with a four-speed automatic only.5
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Hardtop1,4 Base Hardtop · 2-door · not stated by source | 21,668 | built, model-year | Reported |
| "LE" Hardtop1,4 "LE" Hardtop · 2-door · not stated by source | 13,918 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Brougham Hardtop1,4 Brougham Hardtop · 2-door · not stated by source | 4,798 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Grand Prix 2+21,3,2,4 2+2 · 2-door coupe · 305 cid V8 (Chevrolet) · not stated by source Figures range from 200 to 1,225; see conflicts. | Unknown | built, model-year | Disputed |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix total1 not stated by source The source's total includes its 200-car 2+2 row; if the 2+2 figure is wrong, the total inherits the error. | 40,584 | built, model-year | Reported |
Production rows are the Standard Catalog of Pontiac lineage (read directly from the Standard Catalog of Pontiac, 2002, and as compiled by MuscleCarClub, which credits that book); the two are one lineage. The source presents the base, 2+2, LE and Brougham rows as summing to its total.
The Standard Catalog of Pontiac itself carries both the 200 figure (table note and text) and a separate passage saying 1,229 "1986-1/2" 2+2s were made, no 1987s, plus four prototypes; see conflicts.
No engine, transmission, paint or trim counts were found.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix (J37), V-64 | $10,259 | factory price as listed by the Standard Catalog, 1986 model year |
| Grand Prix (J37), V-84 | $10,974 | factory price as listed by the Standard Catalog, 1986 model year |
| Grand Prix 2+2, V-84 | $18,214 | factory price as listed by the Standard Catalog, 1986 model year |
| Grand Prix LE (K37), V-64 | $10,795 | factory price as listed by the Standard Catalog, 1986 model year |
| Grand Prix LE (K37), V-84 | $11,510 | factory price as listed by the Standard Catalog, 1986 model year |
| Grand Prix Brougham (P37), V-64 | $11,579 | factory price as listed by the Standard Catalog, 1986 model year |
| Grand Prix Brougham (P37), V-84 | $12,294 | factory price as listed by the Standard Catalog, 1986 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 231 cid (3.8L) V61,5 231 cu in · 2-barrel | 110 hp, 190 lb-ft (SAE net (per source's note that post-1972 ratings are net)) | Not yet sourced | |
| 305 cid V8 (Chevrolet)1,5 305 cu in · 4-barrel | 150 hp, 240 lb-ft (SAE net (per source's note that post-1972 ratings are net)) | Not yet sourced | |
| 4.3 litre V-65 4.3 L | certified for the 1986 Grand Prix with 3-speed and 4-speed automatic | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 200-4R · Turbo Hydra-matic 200-4R four-speed automatic2,3,5 | standard on 2+2 | Not yet sourced |
| Automatic 3-speed5 | with the 3.8 and 4.3 V-6 | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Grand Prix 2+2: aerodynamic coupe for NASCAR homologation, 305 V-8, sold through dealers in the southeastern United States4 | $18,214 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping weight, V-64 | 3,161 lb | Grand Prix (J37) |
| Shipping weight, V-64 | 3,178 lb | Grand Prix LE (K37) |
| Shipping weight, V-64 | 3,201 lb | Grand Prix Brougham (P37) |
Identification
- Series and body
- Series 2G; body style J37 for the Grand Prix, K37 for the LE and P37 for the Brougham; the 2+2 row shows no body style number (N/A).4
Where the sources disagree
1986 Grand Prix 2+2 production
Show all claims with attribution. The Standard Catalog of Pontiac contradicts itself (200 in the table and text, 1,229 in a separate passage); 200 matches a homologation minimum rather than a count, and the 1,200-1,229 figures agree roughly with each other, but no factory record was reached to settle it.
Identification
Read a 1986 Pontiac VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1986
- Buick Regal Turbo, Grand National and GNX An air-to-air intercooler lifted the turbo 3.8 to 235 hp, and Grand National production jumped to 5,512 of 7,896 Regal T Types.
- Buick Riviera Downsized, unibody, transverse front drive; the T-Type now meant handling and trim, not a turbo (2,042 built).
- Chevrolet El Camino SS RPO Z15 SS Sport Decor trim on the fifth-generation El Camino; no production count from a verifiable source was found.
- Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS The Aerocoupe appears: 200 cars for NASCAR eligibility, beside 41,164 notchback SS coupes.
- Ford Thunderbird The last Turbo Coupe before the 1987 reskin and intercooler; the catalog weighs it at 3,172 lb.
- Lincoln Mark VII LSC Renamed Lincoln Mark VII; the LSC gets a 200-hp sequentially injected 5.0 V8 while the diesel and the Versace edition are dropped.
- Mercury Capri RS and ASC/McLaren The last Capri: the 5.0L at $10,950 with a 200 bhp fuel-injected V8, and 115 ASC McLaren coupes and 194 convertibles.
- Mercury Cougar Outside the muscle focus: 135,904 Cougars for 1986 per Wikipedia's table.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The W42 4-4-2 on the rear-drive Cutlass Supreme, with a 307 V-8 and a four-speed automatic.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The S/E's last year: 110,463 Firebirds, 48,870 Trans Ams.