My name is Andy and I live in Orange County, CA. I am trying to find a reputable shop to help with full frame off restoration of a 1972 Pontiac Grand Prix 2 door coupe? I would like to find a shop that has the experience, expertise and resources to restore the Grand Prix. Finding all the little exterior trim pieces and interior pieces will be very difficult. Aftermarket parts for this car seem to be non-existent. Here is why I am doing this. My dad is set to retire in the next year or two and I would like to get this car done for a retirement gift. The 1972 Grand Prix was the first brand new car he bought after college. Unfortunately, he decided to get married the year after that and had to sell the car to help with the down payment for a new house. I would like to get some help sourcing a project car that can be restored to showroom quality on the outside and install all new and updated items underneath. I would like to add up to date items under the car to make it handle, go and stop just like a new car. Here is my wish list of items to get done. Rebuilt LS5 455 engine with lots of power and reliability. Looking to get about 500 HP and 500 lb/ft of torque. The LS5 is preferred as it is the rarer and more powerful option, but I would take a L75 455 engine as well. New or rebuilt Turbo 400 automatic transmission with aftermarket 3 speed under/over drive unit, upgraded axles, upgraded suspension (maybe an air ride system and lower the car about 2 inches), big disc brakes on all 4 wheels to get this beast to stop, upgrade fuel system and tank, electrical wiring, heating and cooling, etc. I don't know what I want to do with the interior yet, except for some comfortable bucket seats up front. His car came with the factory yellow from Pontiac and he nicknamed the car "The Flying Banana". I understand that all this will cost money and probably alot of it. I have budgeted around $50,000 to start and hope that I will be in the ballpark to make the wish list a reality and not have to start cutting corners. If you can't recommend a good shop to help me out, can you at least point me in the right direction of how to research this out. Everyone seems to lie on the Internet and the yellow pages aren't any better.
