In the early morning light at the 2013 Art Center College of
Design Car Classic in Pasadena, California, with the red-rich rays of the sun
illuminating dozens of vintage and classic cars being positioned onto the
concours field, one solitary car drew our eye. At first glance, from the rear,
it was unmistakably a ’69-’72 Pontiac Grand Prix, but it was unlike any we had
ever seen. Customized, its olive pearl reflecting light at odd angles, we moved
closer for a better look.
Crook’s Grand Prix
is something of a chameleon, as the Eye of the Tiger hue changes color when
exposed to sunlight.
Starting at the rear, its bumper was recessed into the
refashioned bodywork, with the red lenses of the lights flanking a black,
in-period, California-issued manufacturer plate. This set our minds racing. Was
this some long-lost Grand Prix prototype? Looking at the roof line, it was
immediately obvious the top had been chopped, giving the car radically
different proportions, but it was ... how can we say this … subtle.
Crook’s original
400 now features a 4.00-stroke crank for 428 cubic inches.
The driver-side door was open; looking in, we could see that
the interior was mildly modified. All of the established Third-Generation Grand
Prix design cues were intact, including the wrap-around instrument panel facing
the driver with the center console. All were wrapped in three tones of buttery
soft leather—Spin nybeck Leather’s Sabrina (white), complemented by Ultrasuede
Graphite and Taupe—with hand-stitched surfaces. We wondered how many cows gave
the skin off their backs to trim this cockpit? Moving to the front of the
vehicle, its front fenders unadorned, we were confronted by what turned out to
be its signature design element—a set of modern reflector-style projector
headlights set within custom-fabricated lenses. Gone were the ’69 Grand Prix’s
quad headlights. We quickly dismissed the thought that this was some
long-hidden Pontiac prototype from deep within the basement of the GM Heritage
Center .
As we were admiring each and every line of the car, owner
Dave Crook popped the trunk, and got out his rags and detailing supplies to
prepare the vehicle for judging with his wife, Lorraine, at his side. We
introduced ourselves and exchanged contact details, and then moved on as we wanted
to take advantage of the shadow-free light that was quickly fading. But since
Mr. and Mrs. Crook lived in Southern California, this was a car we wanted to
pursue.
Crook’s Grand Prix
is something of a chameleon, as the Eye of the Tiger hue changes color when
exposed to sunlight.
More than 45 years ago, Crook was personally selected by GM
Styling Chief William “Bill” Mitchell to join the GM design team. It made a
life-long impression on him, and as a way of saying thanks, he built this
one-off custom Grand Prix in conjunction with renowned designer Harry Bradley.
Crook grew up in Buffalo, New York, and bought his first
car, a ’48 Plymouth,
when he was just 11 years old. That started him on a road to
building more than a dozen cars over the next 50-plus years.
