Almost done a stupid trade
 

Was working on a big trade with a 77 Z28 4 speed car, why I don't know but it was fun for awhile.
The Z is right at 100k miles and was a driving car but looking at all the work I have done to the Prix in the last few months and then looking at all the money and time I was going to put in the Z to make it the way I like a car started to make it not a great deal after all.
Then this morning I peeked into the garage and looked at the Grand Prix and the new RPM intake I was going to install and knowing how good it runs I dropped out of the deal and won't look back.
The Grand Prix is not a show car but something about a black car really turns me on!
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...ictureid=12966

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...ictureid=12967

Swapper Remorse can/will always haunt you.
Ask me how I know.

Last month I almost traded my '72 for a Z28 4 speed car. I just couldn't get into a Chevy powerplant... Probably for the best!

Another Man-card narrowly escapes damnation!

GOOD ONE!

Good thing you guys didn't trade, you would have had to grow a mullet and talk like Joe Dirt. ;)

Unless it was a 71 Z28...rather have the GP. all day long.

That would have been the biggest mistake of your life. Thank goodness the Pontiac Gods guided you back to reality. :D that Prix. Is a beauty.

Everyone has a rain fart once in a while...

and said to myself, that's a beautiful car, what was I thinking!
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...ictureid=12966


Nuff said,
Frank

So much more character in the GP. I may be a biased Pontiac fan boy but I just don't see how that trade would have ended up some serious long-term regrets.

You make a wise choice.

Camaro = Cheap Wannabe w/ Fugly bumpers.

Grand Prix = Refined Style & Performance.

MaryAnn said it best.

And I say you would have kicked yourself afterwards for the rest of you life. I've been doing that myself for getting rid of my 66 Tempest Custom, 76 Super Glide, and for the final end to my 79 Formula that should not have happened. You did the smart thing SB and dropped the swap.

Ahhh a new phrase for anyone contemplating a swap for something else, and having doubts if it's a good move or not. "Drop the Swap!" LOL

I once traded a 69 Cougar, California car, 351 Cleveland 4bbl for a 1972 Opel station wagon. I still have night mares. :(

Yikes! Thanks for being brave enough to admit that! Lol

X2 Besides the GP rides so much better!

Trading away all that equity that you put into it would be painful. I do like the ‘77, though. That one year brings back memories of when the coolest guy in school’s dad had one and I remember him showing up with the car with its monochromatic bumpers.

I traded my very nice, regularly driven '69 el Camino once for a '68 Olds '88 convertible that hadn't seen the road in at least 10~12 years and had bald tires. I couldn't sleep that night and to this day, it shames me to say that I BEGGED that guy to give me my el Camino back. He was a very nice guy and said he understood and did it but I always felt like a real jerk for doing that.
But I slept pretty good from then on.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1518190633

One thing I've learned through others, is to never trade. If I want something, I'll sell one of my cars to buy the other. That way I make sure I actually want it, and I'm not acting on impulse.

The 77 Z isn't a bad car at all, but if you love the GP that much, it would have been a terrible trade on your end. Fun fact, 77 was the year Z28 returned, and the last year for steel bumpers.

The bumpers on a 1977 Z/28 were aluminum, and ghastly.

The 1978 Z/28 was a VAST improvement..

I'll be the first and only one here to say maybe the trade could morph into a very good deal in time. Considering market trend on 76-79 TA's now, I would think a 4 speed later 70's Z car has equity potential among the generations who are starting to have the $ to invest in old cars and their memories from high school. I don't think you would do bad in the end on a trade. I vote: Acceptable trade, if equal quality cars.

Let the bullets fly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like it has a cheap repaint and no decals. Not a fan of the color either. Nevertheless... I wouldn't mind having it... Not sure if I would've traded as that GP looks pretty nice.

A few years ago, I ended up with a '72 El Camino, cloned into an SS. It was better than average looking, and was a very reliable cruiser, decent performance,... The best comparison I can think of is: imagine having an attractive girlfriend, but you just don't like how she kisses. OTHER people enjoyed the Elky more than I did.

I traded it for the '73 T/A clone I'm now working on, and am VERY happy I made the trade :-)

Lee, I'm not an el Camino fan myself. I enjoyed the '69 for a while but the truth is, I needed a truck and I am a muscle car fan so it was the best compromise.
The big regret about the eventual trade was that I traded a nice driver, that I used regularly for transportation, for a long term project car that I wouldn't be driving for years. I wanted a big convertible but it just wasn't the right time for me to take on a project car.

Yes the Grand Prix is probably going to stay around awhile, I started it last night and its the smoothest running engine I have ever had. Im sure it would make a trip just about anywhere. It won't be very long and the weather will be good for driving it several times a week again. the more I looked at the Z28 and the more I thought about all the work I wanted to do to it and im not really up for that anymore.

For ride quality, I'll bet that GP would put that bow-tie to shame.

My thoughts EXACTLY.

But potential value aside, I would love a GP like the OP's

X2!!

I traded my brother a 70 Cutlass ragtop for a 71 Delta 88 years ago. that one still hurts....

Greg, you would have loved the 69 SS El Camino my uncle had. All black with a 396 and a 4 speed. No vinyl top or stripes on it. He ruined it as he was a plumber and used it for his business. The only thing on it that wasn't stock was a set of Gabriel air shocks. That thing would move.

I love the color, although I don't know if it would look less attractive in daylight. I had a '73 Laguna that was that color + a black vinyl top. I also actually prefer that 77 Z-28 front facia to the 78-81 Z, just because it's such a rare sight.

All that being said, 71-72 are my favorite years of all the big wheel base Grand Prix, so I would never trade one for a '74/up Camaro.

Well, I don't think anyone can argue with that trade! :D

from a money standpoint in a couple of years you will probably regret not doing it. from a car standpoint, the gp is twice the car the z is as far as quality and ride is concerned

Good decision. I almost traded for an 01 WS6. Altho very quick and I love those cars the deal breaker was how cheap it felt with all the plastic. That was about 7yrs ago and never regretted it regardless of value

I wouldn't have left the Z stock, already had a Summit wishlist ready to send if the deal went thru so the stock value of the Z would have been gone.

You made the choice IMHO

I was considering a GM G-Body trade like a 1978 Pontiac Grand AM or a an Olds 442 and then realized the same, what am I thinking? I just got my 66 Tempest back on the street with the four speed and power steering and upgrades and when I saw that OHC 6 in the engine bay, I stopped and realized.......I already have what I want. So I've walked in your shoes.