1962 Grand Prix 421 Super Duty
The Grand Prix is a line of automobiles produced by the Pontiac Division of General Motors from 1962 until 2002 for coupes and 1989–2008 for sedans.
First introduced as part of Pontiac’s full-size car offering for the 1962 model year, the model varied repeatedly in size, luxury, and performance during its production. The Grand Prix was the most expensive coupe Pontiac offered until the 1970s, when the Bonneville Brougham and the Firebird Trans Am became more exclusive. Among the changes were positioning in the personal luxury car market segment and mid-size car offering from the second generation to the fifth generation for the sedan and from the second generation to the sixth generation from the coupe. The Grand Prix, which is French for “grand prize”, returned to a full-size car from the sixth generation to the seventh generation for the sedan, positioned below the larger Bonneville in Pontiac’s model lineup.
The 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix Super Duty was equipped 421 cubic-inch V8 rated at 405 horsepower engine with either a single four-barrel carburetor producing 320 horsepower, or the far more potent dual four-barrel setup. The 421 was backed by a four-speed manual transmission (an automatic was optional) that fed power to a ten-bolt rear differential. Handling duties were carried out by the independent front suspension with A-arms and coil springs. The Super Duty rolled on aluminum eight-lug wheels.
Inside, the car presents equally well with a white interior of upscale Grand Prix-specific Morrokide vinyl bucket seats and a center console. Although an automatic was an option, most were equipped with 4-speeds and all were built with an independent front suspension with A-arms and coil springs, a 10-bolt rear axle and lightweight 8-lug aluminum wheels among a smorgasbord of other available options. The Super Duty comes with extensive documentation, including the original window sticker, title and bill of sale along with a PHS letter, comprehensive restoration photos and books. This beauty provides an exciting opportunity for any performance car enthusiast to acquire one of the rarest early muscle cars ever built.
To most hobbyists, the term “421 Super Duty” conjures up thoughts of a stripped-down Catalina ruling the high banks of Daytona or the finish line of the nearest dragstrip. But rarely is the engine equated with the sporty yet luxurious Grand Prix of that same era.
