PONTIAC Grand Am Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

The 1999 Pontiac Grand Am Coupe screamed for attention, and it deserved it if not for its styling than for its performances as a sporty, two-door vehicle.

It was the last generation of the Grand Am. A name that appeared and disappeared in Pontiac's lineup a few times. The 1999 model was the last car produced at Lansing's old Fisher Body plant. It also marked a significant evolution in nameplate history, featuring independent suspension in all corners and punchy engines.

The Grand Am sported a front fascia with tear-shaped headlights and the ram-air hood grille at the front, with the Pontiac badge installed on a vertical slat. The carmaker added a wide cooling grille flanked by two round fog lights in the lower side of the plastic, wrapped-around bumper. It looked more aggressive in the two-door shape thanks to its wider doors and triangular rear side windows. A short trunk with curved edges created the impression of a compact vehicle. It was shorter than its predecessor, but not by much. The wheelbase, on the other hand, was longer by a few inches.

Inside, depending on the trim level, Pontiac installed velour upholstered seats. At the front, the bucket seats looked carried over from a regular car, not suitable for a sporty coupe. In the back, there was hardly room for two passengers. In front of the driver, the carmaker installed a double-curved instrument cluster with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer and two smaller gauges.

Under the hood, the 1999 Grand Am started its journey with a choice of two gasoline engines: a 2.4-liter four-banger and a 3.4-liter V-6.

After retiring the successful previous generation of the Grand Am, the fifth generation of this nameplate came alive in late spring of 1998 and shared its underpinning with the Oldsmobile Alero and Chevrolet Malibu.

Pontiac named the concept of this new vehicle Solid Form Design, which had to be beautiful, practical, and reliable. The vehicle was built to satisfy customers looking for a nimble sedan with enough power under the hood and a comfortable ride.

The design was completely new and featured a pair of teardrop-shaped horizontal headlights flanked the Pontiac-specific grille with a vertical slat in the middle. In the lower bumper, the carmaker added a secondary air intake split by a flat bar to enhance the engine cooling. Thanks to the cab-forward design, the sedan looked more like a fastback due to its racked-forward rear windscreen. At the same time, the short and tall trunk was fitted with triangular, corner-mounted taillights that resembled a coupe.

Inside, the cabin provided enough room for four adults. Even the carmaker was reluctant to say that it was a five-seat vehicle. Since Pontiac was a brand focused more on the sporty side of GM's products, the dashboard featured a binocular-style instrument panel with individual clusters for the speedometer and tachometer.

Grand Am's platform was 32% more rigid than its predecessor, and the independent suspension in all corners with McPherson struts at the front ensured its customers that they would have a pleasant time behind the wheel on a winding road.