1975 Pontiac Grand Ville Brougham Coupe: Pontiac’s Cadillac
The Pontiac Grand Ville was only available for five model years, but it made an impression on your author from an early age. I loved domestic land yachts starting around the age of 2 or 3 years old, believe it or not.
As the 1975 Pontiac brochure advised: “Don’t even consider it, unless you have a taste for luxury. A well-cultivated taste. Because this is Pontiac’s most luxurious car. Ever.”
Yes, folks, this is another column full of Broughamage! If that’s not to your liking, feel free to flee now. Flee for your lives!
But wait, you may be thinking. What’s a Grand Ville? Wasn’t the Bonneville top-dog?
Well, yes, for most of its life. But there was a brief period during which the Grand Ville snuck in above it. The Bonneville remained, but was just a little bit less fancy, had just a little bit less chrome, and got slightly less ostentatious seats.
Although the Bonneville remained in the lineup throughout the ’70s, it was bumped a notch with the appearance of the Grand Ville in 1971. But for whatever reason the name never really found a following, and starting in 1976 the Bonneville Brougham would return as the flagship. The Bonneville would remain Pontiac’s nicest car until its demise in 2005, with the exception of the Caprice-based Parisienne somewhat outsizing it during 1983–86.
1975 was the last year for the Grand Ville and at its last appearance, it became the Grand Ville Brougham, rather than just the plain Grand Ville.
Well, it was 1975 …
The ’75 models were handsomely restyled with a squared-off nose with new quad rectangular headlamps, which gave it a very Cadillac-like appearance from the front. Some of our younger readers may not be aware, but square headlights were a really big deal circa 1975 and ’76. Before ’75, everything had round lights.
Out back, handsome dual-level wrap around taillights dolled up the rear deck. The nose and tail were shared with the Bonnevilles, but plainer Catalinas retained round headlights, a less flashy grille, and shorter taillights out back.
And inside, perhaps the Grand Ville’s best feature (or was that the exterior?) were the sumptuous velour button-tufted seats that you could just sink into like your favorite recliner after a hard day at work. They were also available upholstered in Morrokide at no extra charge.
By the way, Morrokide was Pontiac’s incredibly durable vinyl upholstery that dated back to the ’60s. But I’d have chosen nothing else but the velour, oh yes! And the red is just perfect with this car’s Cameo White paint and matching Cordova vinyl roof.
The ’75 Grand Ville Broughams were available as a four-door hardtop, two-door hardtop, and a convertible. In addition, there was the related Grand Safari station wagons that came in six- and nine-passenger versions. They had Grand Ville noses and button-tufted seats but weren’t strictly Grand Villes.
Grand Ville coupes, like our featured gorgeous, white-over-red Brougham Coupe, had a base price of $5729, weighed 4404 pounds, and only 7447 were built. So you didn’t see many even when new.
You see even less now, naturally. In fact, this was the first coupe I ever saw in person … so far!
In addition to the coupes, 15,686 four-door hardtops and 4519 convertibles were built. The topless Grand Ville was the last full-size Pontiac convertible ever built, though Sunbirds, Sunfires, and Firebird convertibles would last into the 2000s. And with that, the Grand Ville came to the end of the road.
The 1971–76 GM B- and C-body full-size cars were the biggest GM built. Along with their Bonneville and Catalina siblings, they had an overall length of 226 inches, of which 123.4 were wheelbase.
A 400-cubic-inch, four-barrel V-8 was standard on Grand Villes, with a four-barrel 455 V-8 optional. Of course, GM’s terrific Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission was standard equipment.
The 1975 Pontiacs debuted on September 27, 1974, and in all 523,469 Pontiacs were built for the calendar year. Not bad, especially considering it was a recession year. But the bulk of sales were not Grand Villes, despite their gorgeousness and luxury and fine appointments.
Oops, rambling a bit there. But I warned you I love these!
I spotted this one at the Pontiac-Oakland Club International (POCI) meet held at the Isle of Capri in Bettendorf, Iowa, back in the summer of 2016. It was great having a national meet right here in the metropolitan area. I haunted the show for all three days, taking way more photos that I needed. I believe I was walking around with a stupid look on my face the whole time. It was great!
There was also a very nice ’75 Grand Ville convertible at this show, but my favorite was the coupe, complete with cornering lamps, Pontiac Rally II wheels, and that decadent red interior. I’m happy to finally share its sheer Broughaminess with you all!
Had the opportunity to get a gold with brownish interior CONVERTIBLE as my first car. 400 cid V8…. it was beautiful. And in my price range… but Mom, Uncle and family friend that worked on all Mom’s cars said it was a gas hog and get something sensible………… got a new……………..Chevette…………… I am now sad….. sigh… there is nothing to be said.
Biack inside and out with power everything and the 455. Heaven for me.
Great car.
There was a brief moment in time when we could tell the car following us at night was a police cruiser if it had square headlights, only the cruisers had them.
I have a 75 Vert just waiting to be restored. I have fond memories of cruising down the road top down without a care in the world. I know a lot are not fond of GM VEHICLES of this era but they do it for me.
Get to that restoration ‘L’ you won’t regret it.
Loved my ‘76 4 door Bonneville in college in the ‘80’s. Awesome road trip vehicle. Seats 10, sleeps six (2 in the front, 2 in the back, 2 in the giant trunk)
My Dad bought a 75 Bonneville 2 Door with a 400 new in 75. It was loaded and was a beautiful car. I was able to drive that car several times including a long 500 mi day trip. I was a Camaro guy back then and couldn’t believe how well that car handled for such a LARGE vehicle. He loved that car and regretted trading it for a Caprice Wagon in 79. Thanks for this Grandville Article as I had forgotten how nice those BIG Pontiacs were back in the 70’s.
Did you mean “rectangular” headlights?
My buddy purchased a 1975 Grandville convertible in 2002 and convinced me to look for a similar GM 1975 car due to good pricing and parts availability. He found a Grandville with a 455 that was nicknamed “Shermy” like the tank. I found an Oldmobile Delta 88 convertible with a 350. Unfortunately he died of Covid last year and the car was sold off. I still have mine after 20 years. It’s a summer only car here in MN and I love cruising with such a beast.
Hi Thomas, thanks for the article, I don’t come across many articles on the ‘B’ cars from the 70’s.
In 1987 I took ownership of my Dad’s 1975 Pontiac Parisienne Brougham 2-Door HT Coupe, it was only driven in summer and I kept it as a summer only car. From May to the end of September it is my daily driver (I live in Canada where they dump tons of road salt) it has the original engine and tranny – never rebuilt – and the clock is at 185,000 miles. These cars are super reliable, easy to fix and mechanical parts are inexpensive and easy to find, and there are no computers on-board.
This generation of cars has several advantages over the earlier 1970’s B cars, it is designed for unleaded gas, the car’s suspension is engineered for radial tires, disc brakes on the front, 3-point seat belts, HEI electronic ignition, and other ‘modern’ features. Another bonus – my 1975 GM finally managed how to deal with smog controls.
The Parisienne Broughams were the top of the line Pontiacs in Canada, they were built in Oshawa with Chevy engines. We also had the lower cost Pontiac Laurentians which were built with Chevy engines in Sainte-Thérèse Quebec. The Parisienne Brougham came with significant sound proofing, super comfortable seats – not velour, GM even put an additional U-Joint at the back of the drive shaft strictly to reduce vibration and noise. The ride comfort of this car is equal or better then my 98 Riviera.
These cars had options up the ying yang, there was several stiffness options for just plain old steel wheels, different options for suspension. My Parisienne has the handling package, front and rear anti-sway bars, special springs and shocks. This car does not fall into the mushy land yacht category, the handling is actually quite amazing, and at highway speeds of 60-70 mph the car starts to really shine. I also owned a 76 Impala, a 78 Parisienne and an 87 Caprice Classic – The Pontiac has a very low centre of gravity compared to other B bodies and because of it’s stability at high speeds has likely saved my life and my kid’s lives a few times over the years.
I wish it were possible to buy new cars like this now.
Thanks,
Bill
Basically the same car as the Catalina I had in 73. I still have fond memories of that car. Nice ride.
What a beautiful car. I loved Pontiac since my high school days. My uncle owned a 75 Bonneville he bought new and had the dealer put a Grandville hood ornament on it. I would like to own a 75 Bonneville or Grandville.
is the 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville Brougham coupe Pontiacs Cadillac car send me a message back please form Chris Waterhouse where is the 1975 Pontiac Grand Ville Brougham coupe Pontiac car is for sale
I love that beauty,it reminds me of my 79 Bonneville that i use to own.It was white with tan interior and was loaded.It had bucket seats,automatic with console landau top and power everything. It had the 301 cube engine but had a lot of get up and go surprisingly.I absolutely loved that car it was the best riding car i’ve ever owned.
Great article! My great-aunt and great-uncle had a 1975 Pontiac Gran Ville Brougham. I can still remember riding in that car. It was a maroon color with white vinyl top with black Morrikide interior. I think about that car often. I didn’t really appreciate it’s sheer luxury until I was in my 30’s. Now, I wish I had that car now. It was considered their “Sunday” car. It sat in the garage during the week and only came out on the weekends. They bought it new when I was 5 and finally got ride of it when I was in college for a new 1990 Lincoln Town Car.