1973 GTO - what could have been

[RAIIIT/A]

There's a '73 Grand Am 4 door at the local pick-n-pull. Its a burg on burg 400 automatic with buckets console floor shift gauges etc... It was kind of intresting that the horsecollar bucket seats didn't tilt forward. As of a week and a half ago.... the car was still there.

[69hurstSC]

Great pics of the clay Javelin from Iconografix! That line of books really digs deep into a particular make and gives you something new and fresh!

[StealthBird]

Very cool 73 Grand Am. The Grand Am nose was supposed to be on the new 1973 GTO, but Pontiac marketing decided to create an entirely new model called the Grand Am instead. They hoped the Grand Am would appeal more to a European-style buyer.

That NASA-duct Ram Air setup is ridiculously rare. None were installed at the factory, about a dozen ended up in the Pontiac Parts bins.

The original intent of the SD-455 engine was to make them available on the 1973 Lemans, GTO, and Grand Am. And the Ram Air setup was supposed to be exclusive to the SD-455 option. With delays in engine production, orders for SD-455 cars began to pile up. Halfway through the year, still no SD-455 cars were built. Then without warning, Pontiac announced that the NASA-duct Ram Air setup would not available on the 1973 A-bodies at all, and the SD-455 would only be available on the Firebird Formula and Trans Am.

The people that ordered SD-455 Grand Am's and GTO's must have been pretty ticked off. Not only did they not build the SD-455 GTO or SD-455 Grand Am they ordered, but Pontiac took the Ram Air system AND the SD-455 away from the A-bodies, all in one memo.

[olredalert]

The people that ordered SD-455 Grand Am's and GTO's must have been pretty ticked off.

-----I was!!!.....Bill S

[StealthBird]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: olredalert</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The people that ordered SD-455 Grand Am's and GTO's must have been pretty ticked off.

-----I was!!!.....Bill S </div></div>

[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/haha.gif[/img]

Bill, I have the original Pontiac memo if you're interested.

[olredalert]

----Mike,,,Thanks for the thought but I am now a died in the wool Grand Prix slappy (SJ style).....Bill S

[RAIIIT/A]

It is nice to see that the early G-body GP's are finally getting some well deserved recognition...... On the subject of '69 Grand Prixs.... About a month ago this black plate 1 family owned original paint '69 428 SJ fell into my lap.... The elderly owners saw my '71 GP parked in front of my business and asked if I would be intrested in buying a '69.

[smallblockhero]

had 2 of them in my shop some years back .i did a little resto work on them and then the guy sold them both. i have no idea what became of them.

[RAIIIT/A]

olredalert - You have a PM.... sorry for the delay.... I was out of town.

[1970Bluel78]

Was't the 73 GTO with the SD-455 Car of the Year for &quot; CARS &quot; Magizine. Pretty sure Pontiac made 2 or 3 for mule reasons