1963 seemed to be the real starting point for the Pontiac Grand Prix. Featuring a new design that would influence other domestic automakers, sales for the two-door coupe practically doubled over the year before. The 1963 Grand Prix was considered a luxury personal performance car with V8 heft and simple, yet classic styling. Most of the changes for 1963 centered around exterior design. The 1963 Grand Prix recieved a Coke bottle design with a more angled, rather than sloping roofline. It was the only Pontiac to feature a concave rear window. In the front sat two sets of stacked headlights bordering a split grille which housed the turn signals set off by a chrome strip. Taillights and the end of the trunk lid were hidden by molding at the back.
In the cabin and under the hood, things were little changed. The standard engine was the 389 V8 hitting either 230-hp or 303-hp with a 2-barrel or 4-barrel carb, or 318-hp with a TriPower. The 425 Trophy V8s were replaced with various 421 engines. A 4-barrel carb rated 353-hp and a High Output TriPower didn't disappoint with 370-hp. A rare three Super Duty 421s were produced at 390 and 405-hp. While obviously appealing to the sports performance fan (the 1963 Grand Prix got 0-60 in 6.6 seconds), the coupe was nicely outfitted for personal comfort as well, with power windows, vinyl bucket seats, center console, air conditioning, and cruise control.