Jay Leno's Garage
Driving a "Unicorn": 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ 4-Speed
2025 • E36 Sep 8, 2025 30m
Jay Leno gets behind the wheel of a truly rare "unicorn"—a 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ with a 4-speed manual transmission. This "banker's hot rod" combines the comfort and luxury of a big car with the performance of a muscle car. The SJ designation is a nod to the Duesenberg supercharged J model, the most powerful American car of the 1930s.
Jay is joined by the owner, Scott Mansour, who brought the car all the way from Cincinnati, Ohio. Scott shares the incredible story of how he found the car, which had been parked on jack stands in its original owner's garage for 27 years with only 13,000 miles on the odometer. It was the rare 4-speed transmission that sealed the deal for him.
With only 302 of these cars ever made with this engine and transmission package, this is a rare treat. Jay and Scott discuss the car's original components, from its 428-cubic-inch engine rated at 370 horsepower to its factory vinyl roof and Mag Look wheels. Jay praises the car's "talking motor" and low-end tor
Jay is joined by the owner, Scott Mansour, who brought the car all the way from Cincinnati, Ohio. Scott shares the incredible story of how he found the car, which had been parked on jack stands in its original owner's garage for 27 years with only 13,000 miles on the odometer. It was the rare 4-speed transmission that sealed the deal for him.
With only 302 of these cars ever made with this engine and transmission package, this is a rare treat. Jay and Scott discuss the car's original components, from its 428-cubic-inch engine rated at 370 horsepower to its factory vinyl roof and Mag Look wheels. Jay praises the car's "talking motor" and low-end tor