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John V. · 04-10-2015, 04:42 PM

Once more, "forced" to defend the 1st car I bought new, '80 Phoenix SJ, 4 cyl, 4 speed.

Don't recall the V-belts but it was still carbureted in '80.

The 13" cast aluminum "snowflake" wheels were stolen when the car was about a year old. Pic attached is how I found it in the apartment complex parking lot up on bricks one morning.

I loved it despite its flaws. Special ordered it from Haggerty Pontiac in Villa Park, IL. I purposely chose the 4 cyl over the V6 for better fuel economy. Had over $3000 in options. Sold it in '87 and still wish I had kept it.

I thought the X-11 was toady looking, never liked that sloped roof line. Don't recall seeing the notchback version. Also thought the 4 door Phoenix was ugly. But my 2 dr. coupe was sharp looking, much more formal roof line than even the Citation notchback in the pic Keith posted.

The '80 SJ decals were pretty mild. When I saw the '81 SJ graphics, I wished I had waited.

I'm enough of a sicko that I really think if they had continued the GTO nameplate on the X body from '75 on and the '80 had been a GTO instead of an SJ, I think I would have loved it all the more.

Full disclosure, if I had not managed to get myself broadsided by a Dodge p/u truck (my fault), I would have continued driving my '73 4 spd TA and never thought about the Phoenix. Such is fate.

Alvin · 04-10-2015, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

I do like those wheels, though -

I can only imagine why.

K

Keen Styling Eyes Keith!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

Supposed to showcase the "special" parts used on the X-11, and perhaps intimidate the competition (Dodge Omni 024?) to show that the X-11 had many unique parts not found on a regular Citation.

But the scariest thing I see about this is the accessory belt arrangement. This thing had 4 v-belts? Ah..the days before serpentines....

With so little power, they probably would have seen a 20% increase in hp if they threw the belts.

Funny, I thought someone would mention the standard shift clutch disc option shown!

Quote:

Originally Posted by John V.

Once more, "forced" to defend the 1st car I bought new, '80 Phoenix SJ, 4 cyl, 4 speed.

Don't recall the V-belts but it was still carbureted in '80.

The 13" cast aluminum "snowflake" wheels were stolen when the car was about a year old. Pic attached is how I found it in the apartment complex parking lot up on bricks one morning.

I loved it despite its flaws. Special ordered it from Haggerty Pontiac in Villa Park, IL. I purposely chose the 4 cyl over the V6 for better fuel economy. Had over $3000 in options. Sold it in '87 and still wish I had kept it.

I thought the X-11 was toady looking, never liked that sloped roof line. Don't recall seeing the notchback version. Also thought the 4 door Phoenix was ugly. But my 2 dr. coupe was sharp looking, much more formal roof line than even the Citation notchback in the pic Keith posted.

The '80 SJ decals were pretty mild. When I saw the '81 SJ graphics, I wished I had waited.

I'm enough of a sicko that I really think if they had continued the GTO nameplate on the X body from '75 on and the '80 had been a GTO instead of an SJ, I think I would have loved it all the more.

Full disclosure, if I had not managed to get myself broadsided by a Dodge p/u truck (my fault), I would have continued driving my '73 4 spd TA and never thought about the Phoenix. Such is fate.

Cool story John. Thxs for sharing.

John V. · 04-10-2015, 05:16 PM

My wife might tell you the Phoenix was fast.

Around '85, she got her one and only speeding ticket while driving it. She was heading to work and was trying to beat a red light.

IIRC correctly, she was nabbed for doing 45 in a 35.

When she got home that night, she told me the story. She was sure she couldn't have been going as fast as the cop claimed because she was in 2nd gear. She wanted to know if I thought it would go 45 in 2nd gear. I assured her that I was certain it could which probably wasn't the first time I didn't agree with her and I'm certain wasn't the last.