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FLEX 24 Volt Tool Testing - Test Car - 1970 Pontiac Grand Prix Model SJ by Mike Phillips
Thank you to my long-time friends at FLEX for setting my up with the brand new 24 Volt FLEX Polishers! Plus, multiple batteries and battery chargers!
Tool Testing Car - 1970 Pontiac Grand Prix Model SJ
This car was recently purchased by my long-time friend Mike and after it was unloaded from the car hauler, the first thing he did was bring it by for me to take a look at the paint and determine if it can be fixed or if it will need to be repainted.
Here she is in the shade, looks good parked here.
Personally, I had never heard of the Model SJ Gran Prix so I looked it up.
Typing into Skynet, the first results took me to this blog thread
What does the SJ stand for on the Grand Prix SJ??????????????
Here's the first post in the thread,
JMS answered 17 years ago
The basic trim level for the Grand Prix was called "Model J"; the "SJ" trim designation was for "Sports J", and the "LJ" trim was the "Luxury J". Some people say that the "Model J" name was meant to remind people of the supercharged Duesenberg Motors "Model J" cars of the 1930s.
Here's the 4th reply to shed more insight.
GuruDZX42Y answered 10 months ago
Many people believe that the Model J was named for John Delorean's initial. However, it has also been said that the models were named after Duesenberg. If one looks at some of Pontiac's history, we see model name designations borrowed from other manufacturers of exotic vehicles.
For example, the GTO and the 2+2 nameplates were "borrowed" from Ferrari. In looking at the Duesenberg models in the late 20s and 30s, one will find that there was a Model J, a Model SJ (supercharged) and even a few Model SSJs. In addition, these models sported long front ends with rear of the car being short. Take a look at photos and you'll also see the inspiration for the boat tail rear end of the 71/72 and later models.
So, from my perspective, since these are also the exact same model designations for the 69 to 72 Grand Prix, with the Hurst models bearing the SSJ moniker, I am more inclined to believe the theory that they were "borrowed" from the Duesenberg line and have nothing to do with John Delorean's name.
I have also seen reference that the grill design for the 69/70 models was inspired by a vintage Miller race vehicles of the 1920s,
I'll have to defer to the Pontiac Gurus to settle the controversy, I'm just here to do some tool testing and try my best to fix the paint on this Model SJ
Full, bright overhead sunlight
I moved the car out of the shade and into full sun to capture and document the current condition of the paint.
The WORST case of holograms I've ever seen in a paint job!
The entire car was buffed out using a wool pad on a rotary polisher and what looks to me to be some cheap, Caveman Compound. I only took pictures of the horizontal surfaces, but all the vertical panels look the same.
Moved into the Dr. Beasley's Operating Room
After capturing the before shots using full, overhead sunlight, I moved the car into the shop and further documented the condition of the paint using overhead LED lights and a Lake Country Hand Held Light.
The strange circle pattern in the paint on the hood
While inspecting the paint, I found a strange looking section where there's a distinct circular pattern with holograms on the inside and the outside of the circle. Would love to have been a Fly-on-the-Wall, when whoever buffed this did whatever they did to create this strange looking pattern. Regardless, I'll do my best to remove it.
Tool Testing Process
Here's the tools and the order I'll test them.
24 Volt FLEX Rotary Polisher - Part number tool only FX3311 - in kit form FX3311-2C
24 Volt FLEX CBEAST - Part Number tool only FX3331 - in kit form FX3331-2C
24 Volte FLEX FINISHER - Part Number tool only FX3321 - in kit form FX3321-2C
I'll also be testing some new Dr. Beasley's NSP Primers.
Stay tuned...
Mike
Thank you to my long-time friends at FLEX for setting my up with the brand new 24 Volt FLEX Polishers! Plus, multiple batteries and battery chargers!
Tool Testing Car - 1970 Pontiac Grand Prix Model SJ
This car was recently purchased by my long-time friend Mike and after it was unloaded from the car hauler, the first thing he did was bring it by for me to take a look at the paint and determine if it can be fixed or if it will need to be repainted.
Here she is in the shade, looks good parked here.
Personally, I had never heard of the Model SJ Gran Prix so I looked it up.
Typing into Skynet, the first results took me to this blog thread
What does the SJ stand for on the Grand Prix SJ??????????????
Here's the first post in the thread,
JMS answered 17 years ago
The basic trim level for the Grand Prix was called "Model J"; the "SJ" trim designation was for "Sports J", and the "LJ" trim was the "Luxury J". Some people say that the "Model J" name was meant to remind people of the supercharged Duesenberg Motors "Model J" cars of the 1930s.
Here's the 4th reply to shed more insight.
GuruDZX42Y answered 10 months ago
Many people believe that the Model J was named for John Delorean's initial. However, it has also been said that the models were named after Duesenberg. If one looks at some of Pontiac's history, we see model name designations borrowed from other manufacturers of exotic vehicles.
For example, the GTO and the 2+2 nameplates were "borrowed" from Ferrari. In looking at the Duesenberg models in the late 20s and 30s, one will find that there was a Model J, a Model SJ (supercharged) and even a few Model SSJs. In addition, these models sported long front ends with rear of the car being short. Take a look at photos and you'll also see the inspiration for the boat tail rear end of the 71/72 and later models.
So, from my perspective, since these are also the exact same model designations for the 69 to 72 Grand Prix, with the Hurst models bearing the SSJ moniker, I am more inclined to believe the theory that they were "borrowed" from the Duesenberg line and have nothing to do with John Delorean's name.
I have also seen reference that the grill design for the 69/70 models was inspired by a vintage Miller race vehicles of the 1920s,
I'll have to defer to the Pontiac Gurus to settle the controversy, I'm just here to do some tool testing and try my best to fix the paint on this Model SJ
Full, bright overhead sunlight
I moved the car out of the shade and into full sun to capture and document the current condition of the paint.
The WORST case of holograms I've ever seen in a paint job!
The entire car was buffed out using a wool pad on a rotary polisher and what looks to me to be some cheap, Caveman Compound. I only took pictures of the horizontal surfaces, but all the vertical panels look the same.
Moved into the Dr. Beasley's Operating Room
After capturing the before shots using full, overhead sunlight, I moved the car into the shop and further documented the condition of the paint using overhead LED lights and a Lake Country Hand Held Light.
The strange circle pattern in the paint on the hood
While inspecting the paint, I found a strange looking section where there's a distinct circular pattern with holograms on the inside and the outside of the circle. Would love to have been a Fly-on-the-Wall, when whoever buffed this did whatever they did to create this strange looking pattern. Regardless, I'll do my best to remove it.
Tool Testing Process
Here's the tools and the order I'll test them.
24 Volt FLEX Rotary Polisher - Part number tool only FX3311 - in kit form FX3311-2C
24 Volt FLEX CBEAST - Part Number tool only FX3331 - in kit form FX3331-2C
24 Volte FLEX FINISHER - Part Number tool only FX3321 - in kit form FX3321-2C
I'll also be testing some new Dr. Beasley's NSP Primers.
Stay tuned...
Mike
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