Phoenix 301 V8

STORY

Pontiac introduced the Phoenix for 1977 as an upscale version of the Ventura on the rear-wheel-drive X-body, and the Ventura name was gone entirely for 1978, the year a three-door hatchback joined the coupe and sedan. For 1980 the car was downsized onto the front-wheel-drive X platform, built as a coupe and a five-door hatchback with the 2.5 L Iron Duke four or a 2.8 L V6. The SJ became a full trim level in 1982, and LJ and SJ were renamed LE and SE for 1984. Model years ended with 1984, and a revived Grand Am on the N-body took over for 1985.