In this post, we’re once again revisiting interesting versions of mass-market eighties vehicles that just about nobody bought. This one is on the sportiest version of Pontiac’s X platform entry, which means I have now treated every GM marque’s X car entry at least once.
“… for people who absolutely love to drive.”
For the 1982 model year, the sporty SJ version of Pontiac’s Phoenix compact became its own model, instead of the trim option it had been for the previous two years. Aside from being a specific model, the biggest news was almost certainly that the 2.8 liter High Output V6 was standard for the SJ.
That new standard engine was the GM corporate LH7 135 bhp 2.8 liter/173 ci V6 with a Rochester E2SE two-barrel carburetor. It was paired with either a standard four-speed manual or an optional three-speed automatic. With the manual, 0-60 came in about 9 seconds—respectable for 1982.
Standard exterior and mechanical equipment on all Phoenix coupes included body-color front and rear bumpers, front-wheel-drive, single rectangular halogen headlamps, rack-and-pinion steering, front disc/rear drum brakes, and 185/80R13 tires on 13-inch wheels with hubcaps. Inside, Pontiac included a full-width front seat, a Deluxe steering wheel, and a Delco-GM AM radio with dual front speakers.
The mid-range LJ coupe included custom wheel covers, additional acoustical insulation, a Luxury cushion steering wheel, and a full-width luxury notchback front seat with center armrest.
For $8,723 (about $29,800 in today’s dollars), the top-of-the-line SJ coupe added two-tone paint and specific graphics, a front air dam, power brakes, power steering, a special suspension, and 205/70R13 tires (now essentially unavailable) on 13-inch cast-aluminum wheels. Inside, additional standard features for the SJ included gauges (rally cluster, clock, tachometer, and trip odometer), a Formula steering wheel, and bucket seats.
Options & Production Numbers
Exterior and mechanical options for the SJ coupe included a removable glass sunroof, tinted glass, and a rear deck spoiler. Inside, Custom air conditioning, an electric rear window defogger, power door locks, power windows, a six-way power driver’s seat, a tilt steering wheel, and a Delco-GM AM/FM stereo with a cassette stereo tape player were among the many options available.
Of course, the SJ designation had been around for a long time—and not just for Pontiac. Duesenberg had used SJ in the early 1930s to describe the supercharged versions of their spectacular cars. By 1969, Pontiac had started (shamelessly—no surprise) using SJ for the top-of-the-line version of their Grand Prix coupe. The SJ designation for the top-of-the-line Grand Prix continued through the 1980 model year.
Despite Pontiac’s evident efforts to market the Phoenix SJ, it simply did not sell. With 994 produced, it was less than 6% of Phoenix coupe sales, with the vast majority going to the base version. Obviously, Pontiac had other things going on in 1982, including the introduction of a brand new Firebird and Trans Am.
The View From 2025
Front-wheel-drive Phoenixes of any sort have now almost completely vanished from the nation’s roads, and they rarely show up in the Hemming’s Motor News classifieds or eBay Motors. Bring a Trailer has sold a grand total of one front-wheel-drive Phoenix. The Phoenix does have one differentiator for me—it’s the single most commented post on Eighties Cars.
Make mine Dark Jadestone Metallic over Gray, please.
Other X platform cars I have written about include the 1980 Chevrolet Citation hatchback sedan, the 1981 Chevrolet Citation X-11 hatchback coupe, the 1983 Buick Skylark T Type coupe, the 1984 Oldsmobile Omega sedan, and the 1985 Chevrolet Citation II hatchback sedan.
Last updated March 2025.
Eighties Cars 
My dad bought an SJ coupe 1982 for my sister brand new. He paid like $9,500 which includes a 30% shipping and taxes applied to all PR cars. I was 11 years old.
I have never, ever, seen another Phoenix in person. Even back then I never saw another one quite like hers. Now I know why… they just didn’t sell all that well.
It was traded in at some point. Wish I knew where / if it still exists. There are zero pictures of it, nor do I have any documentation with VIN numbers.
I bought my SJ for my 40th birthday in 1982. I paid over $13K! I still have her and she just turned 40 and still runs great. I just turned 80 and still get compliments on her. I have only seen one other in black, mine is white.
Carole,
Wow! Thank you for your comment!
Two questions:
1) Did you deliberately decide to keep your SJ, or did those forty years of ownership just sneak up on you?
2) Do you have any photos of the SJ you could point me to? I’d love to do a short separate entry on you and your car—a single-owner Phoenix SJ still being driven has got to be the rarest of rare.
Just bought a barn find 84 version of the SJ, 84 Phoenix SE. My 4th Phoenix. Let me know when you’re ready to sell Carol.
Well Bruce I’m looking at t a 1982 Pontiac Phenoix in a Colorado springs junkyard right now
Did you take a photo of it?
It’s not so much that they didn’t sell well as it is that they only made the SJ in the hundreds and only made 701 of the 84 SE. https://www.automobile-catalog.com/model/pontiac/phoenix_2gen.html#gsc.tab=0
Steve can you share some photos of your cars?
Bruce, Thank you for your very description of the ’82 Phoenix SJ. I wish I could postpix of mine but alas it is not possible.  I paid $13,500 for mine, which I named”Pasha”! I just love her and wouldn’t get rid of her as long as I am breathing. I’m 80 now and still get comments on her when we go out cruising. As a matter of fact we have gotten 5 “beautifuls” in the last few months. Oh, I know they are talking about Pasha and not me. I drove her off the dealership lot in1982. She was a present to me for my 40th birthday. I still love her. Take care and maybe some day I will be able to post some pix. Since this is email I am going to try to send a couple of recent pix and see if it works. Keep your fingers crossed! Well they’re there at the bottom of message. Don’t know if you’ll be able to see them. Take care, Carole E. Vanacore Shaffer
would it be possible for you to email me the photos? bruceinmiami@gmail.com
WHat a fantastic story good for you! Maybe one day you will sell it to me.
Carol I was not able to open the photos you sent but I will try contacting you via Facebook Messenger.
I spoke to Carol on FB, the car goes to, I think she said her daughter, when she’s gone. Are you on the X-Body group on FB Bruce? I have pictures of it on there.
Steve I don’t belong to the FB group but I will look it up.
whats the name of the FB group? I found you on FB but not the photos of any cars.
The group is public so anyone can see posts and pictures. If you found me on there, all you have to do is look at my posts and or content.
The 1982 Phoenix SJ if ordered correctly could out accelerate the fastest 1982 Trans Am that Pontiac offered.
Graham,
So embarrassing! I have covered the 1982 Trans Am here:
Things were very different by the end of the 1980s: