I do not know where to start here.
I am not sure if it was late 06 or verry early in 07 I decided I would like to get into a 97-03 body Pontiac Grand Prix. Preffering a Black GTP with a moonroof. It could not be Red and it could not have tan interior were the only real no no's. After looking for awhile I came to the conclusion that I would have a tough time finding what I wanted. I was being flexible on the exterior color, number of doors, cloth or leather, even year or miles was not a problem. After awhile though I decided against a 97 due to first year issues and I thought 02 and 03's were going to be too spendy for me. It seemed that 99-01 were the main ones in my sites, but many recomended the 02's as being the best of this body style.
John was a HUGE help in my search. I was looking daily online and if I happened to find one I would link him and he would look at it as well. Looking back it seeemed Silver and White were the colors that we looked at the most. With me not wanting to give on moonroof many cars were eliminated. Black was definitely a tough color to find.
After about 2 months of looking I found the car I was going to get. I just had to find one that was still available. It took about month to find one that was still available. The first problem was that the price i was finding for them was more than what I had set for a high end. After I decided on getting a 40th Annivarsary Edition i got even more excited. I thought it was only available as a 4dr and I thought they were all GTP's. I found out later that was not the case. There were 2 and 4dr versions as well as both of those versions came in GT and GTP models. About the time I bought my last car, Sapphire, I had seen a 40th on a Dealer's lot in Morris, MN. I was in LOVE, but never thought I would actually own one. If memory serves me the sticker price was about 30grand for it. It was still new on the lot.
When I was coming home from a friends place i was doing my dealer drive bys and saw one on a lot with the tag hangin from the rearview and got ALL excited. took all the info and when we called the next day it had sold, they just did not remove the tag yet. BUMMER. so the hunt was on. When I saw the 2dr version I got even more excited, but still did not care if it was 2 or 4dr. The 40th is close to Black, as well as having some things with the package that I liked and or was gonna end up with eventually. The main item being the roof rails.
The Color of the 40th is called Dark Cherry Metallic. In low light it looks Black. In good light I get told all the time it is Purple or Maroon. I always have to correct and it seems to be quite the conversation piece.
Here is a pic the day I took delivery. I got Punked for sure when John delivered to me. John and Nathan were supposedly dropping off another vehicle North of me and were gonna stop by to sign the papers on the way back to Kelly's Chrysler of Ada where they both are salemen at. I thought nothing of it. They got to my place and we did all the signing and all that other fun stuff. We head out to The Black Cat to get some eats. As we get closer I see a 40th like mine and comment on it. Hey there is a car like mine. The speed limit just went up to 55 from 45 and almost immediately you have to slow to make the turn just after the black cat. Driving by I saw a yellow tag hanging from the window. He pulls in and parks 2 spots from it. I almost flew out the Jeep to go check it out. I was not even thinking much or paying that close attention, as I was looking at it the panic went off. So I stepped back and as I looked up John said it is yours. I was speechless for sure. It did not even cross my mind that it could have been mine as the tag hangin in the window was an unfamiliar number, the mileage was 69k on the tag. I do not remember what the price was on it. I had not made a complete trip around the car yet nor had I had a chance to really take it in yet. John said he could not wait any longer to tell me it was mine. So yes I got punked. I thought I was signing papers to make it faster the next day when they delivered my 40th. That was not the case at all. John thought I was gonna drive it immediately. I wanted to, but was toooo excited to. So I figured it best to sit down and eat first. Then we went for a drive.
My computer recently crashed on me so I am stealing pics I already had online at mnclubgp.com for here.
I took delivery of my 40th and after supper we went for a quick drive. I stopped by my place to grab my camera then I went for a solo drive. Immediately falling more in love then I had expected to. I had driven a few GT's and a Regal GS (which has the same L67 engine as the GTP does). So I had some idea of what I was getting into. Yes I never test drove or even saw the car that I now call Ruby. I made the deal sight unseen. I never looked back or regretted it in the tiniest bit. I had to get out on the open road so I did. I was pleasantly surprised that the speed limiter was higher than Sapphire was. Sapphire was at 118, the 40th was 126. Yes I said was, at the first track visit I had that taken care of by Mike. I have still yet to go above 135 with it, but at least I am not limited to 126 now.
Yes the odometer reads 109k. I keep hearing why did you buy a high mile car? I just say I do not consider it high mile. Then I hear for a 5yr old car that is high mile. Then again when I bought Sapphire she had 115k, she was 12yrs old at that time. When I parked her 5 yrs after I bought her she had 309k. Now I call that high mile. I drove 200k in the 5yrs I had Sapphire. What can I say....I like to drive and a car in my possession will be driven.
I have left comments on guest books here as well as I get into conversations online and in person with ppl who say this car is Purple in color. It is NOT Purple. As I said above and on page 2 it is Dark Cherry Metallic in color. I love that it can look different colors in different light conditions. In lower light conditions it looks black (my all time fav car color). In brighter light it looks its name. I do not say much when it is called Maroon, but I do when it is called Purple.
I was lucky too that the previous owner had tinted the windows. It looks so much better tinted.
I have been asked about the decal on the Special Edition Spoiler as well as the exhaust tips. They are both part of the 40th package. The decal is reflective. The dual round rolled tips look so much better than the flared oval ones that come stock on GT and GTP's.
The engine bay is pretty clean, but within a month I took a bottle of Simple Green to it and it looked even better. I also did my first mod to Ruby in the engine bay. I removed the supercharger cover.
I love the roof rails. They are NASCAR inspired and whatever GP I ended up with it was going to get them. I got lucky as they are part of the 40th package.
The radio, climate and steering wheel controls were the only wore parts on this otherwise clean 40th. I figured for a 100k+ mile car I can deal with that.
I was also lucky with Ruby, turns out I am the second owner.
It is also odd that I did not name my 40th til I started workin on this page. Usually i either name my cars shortly after getting them or they never get a name. Sapphire was named within a few weeks of owning her. I have had Ruby for 10 1/2 months now and she finally got a name. Sapphire was chosen for the name of the paint, which was Med Sapphire Blue Metallic. Ruby is named for the Interior color Ruby Red and Graphite two tone leather.
Monty
Page 1...Intro
Page 2...40th Anniversary Info from www.Clubgp.com
Page 3...Hot Summer Saturday Nite Cruis-in
Page 4...Some background to me and Ruby's brag page
Page 5...Pics of Ruby
