Bill Stephenson's SJ Grand Prix!

**Xplantdad** · #1 10-26-2010, 05:56 AM

Hi Bruce,,,Been meaning to send you the pics of my SJ.

------I bought this 1969 Grand Prix a little over two years ago. Ive wanted to find a very good 69 SJ with tons of options and leather interior for a long time. Perfect original leather interior is almost impossible to track down. Believe me, if you think tracking down a COPO car is any easier you just might be surprized!

------Finally after years of looking I ran across this car at a cruise right up in Port Huron about 15 miles from my house. A great guy by the name of Andy Gould had it and the GP was for sale. An absolutely loaded 69 Grand Prix in good, rust free condition, with only 29,500 original miles in Port Huron just doesnt happen, but there it was. Actually Andy has its equal at home with a 4-speed and HO, but thats another story.

------Although in nice condition I apparently cant leave anything alone and took the body off the frame and renewed everything including paint. I finished my project this summer after chasing a couple of gremlins for quite awhile. The resto has been left alone in several areas that were in extra nice condition such as the radiator support and 90% of the interior. Since these pictures were shot I have redyed a couple of interior pieces that came out wrong the first time around like the console and plastic seat backs.

------One missing option was the 390HP HO engine, so I changed all the external stuff like exhaust manifolds, etc., did a little head work, slid in a slightly bigger cam and went to two-and-a-half inch exhaust. It feels as though I more than made up for that missing 20 horsies. Of course I didnt restamp or alter anything and am completely open about the changes. Kind of like day two under the hood!

------So far, one thing I havent been able to bring myself to do is install the trim rings. Since this GP has a more muscular nature than most I thought it was in keeping with the theme to leave them off "Judge style"....And, once they go on once theres no going back, is there?

------Hope you guys like it as much as I do........Bill S

**mockingbird812** · #2 10-26-2010, 06:00 AM

Very nice Bill! I like these "big" Ponchos too. Boy is she loaded. Nice job and thanks for sharing your story. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

P.S. Yay! Members' rides are BACK!!!! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/laugh.gif[/img]

**RPOLS3** · #3 10-26-2010, 02:20 PM

Very nice ride Bill. Did I hear correctly that we might see it this fall?

Jake

**Tenney** · #4 10-26-2010, 03:18 PM

Nice find! What to take when you're going for steak ... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif[/img]

SBR · #5 10-26-2010, 04:24 PM

Bill, very cool car! My father owned a 70 J model and this brings back fond memories. Thanks for sharing.

**olredalert** · #6 10-26-2010, 07:18 PM

-----Thanks, guys!

-----The show is not in the cards this year. I really wanted to, but finances are a bit low at the moment and I had to cancel......Bill S

427TJ · #7 10-26-2010, 07:33 PM

Cool story and cool car!

**dykstra** · #8 10-27-2010, 01:16 AM

Way cool car!!

**TimG** · #9 10-27-2010, 11:15 PM

Bill, I'd be glad to drive it to Chicago for you..........
I'll even put new rear tires on it when I return it.

**Xplantdad** · #10 10-28-2010, 05:58 PM

Bill, Thanks for sharing your wonderful Grand Prix with us. I am so sorry that it took so long to get it up on the site.

There's nothing like luxury muscle [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Dedicated to the Promotion and Preservation of American Muscle Cars, Dealer built Supercars and COPO cars.