The 1973 Pontiac Grand Am has had an enigmatic life amongst Poncho followers for many years. As maybe the best-looking of the Pontiac A-bodies (and arguably the identical amongst all Colonnade fashions), it has made collectors marvel what number of had been constructed with a four-speed. Now, due to the work of two Pontiac specialists, we now have good proof of the precise manufacturing quantity.
The all-new 1973 Grand Am was touted as having “the feel of a Grand Prix…the response of a GTO…the qualities you’ve admired in the desirable imports.” The Grand Am was not as formal or private luxurious as a Grand Prix, however it might appeal to the identical purchaser. Ditto the Grand Am in comparison with the GTO, because the Grand Am was extra grownup than the GTO but copped the Endura nostril, beforehand a trademark of the GTO. Imports? An import aficionado would doubtless gravitate in direction of a BMW 2002, a automobile a lot smaller and extra tossable than a 4,000-pound American automobile—even one with a suspension geometry that was extra superior than most automobiles from Detroit.
Standard energy for the Grand Am was the 170-horsepower 400 two-barrel paired with a three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic. Add twin exhausts and horsepower was nudged as much as 185. Even higher, one might go for the 230-horse 400 four-barrel with obligatory twin pipes along with your alternative of an computerized or a four-speed. There additionally was a 250-horse 455 obtainable with twin exhausts, although the 455 was solely obtainable with an computerized transmission. On prime, there was the 310-horse 455 Super Duty, obtainable with both transmission.
When manufacturing commenced, one Grand Am was built with the 455 SD for promotional functions however, due to production and emissions difficulties, the engine ended up being restricted to the Firebird. That left the 400 four-barrel as the one Gran Am engine actually obtainable with a four-speed.
Pontiac data present 2,424 mid-size Pontiacs had been constructed with a four-speed. That contains all LeMans and Grand Am fashions, together with these ordered as GTOs. There by no means has been a breakdown what number of had been Grand Ams apart from the quantity 187 that has been floating round for years however by no means verified. Noted Pontiac knowledgeable Rocky Rotella lately reached out to Fred Simmonds, a retired Pontiac worker who compiled unpublished numbers of Pontiacs method again in 1989. Could Fred have something in his notes that listed Grand Am manufacturing numbers by engine? Hallelujah!
Now, for the primary time in 50 years, we all know what number of 1973 Grand Ams had been constructed with a four-speed. Would you imagine that features four-door Grand Ams, too? Plus, Rocky was capable of rating 1974 numbers! You can discover the complete manufacturing distribution in Rocky’s blog, however enable us to announce for now that 971 coupes and 87 sedans had been constructed with the 400 four-barrel and a four-speed in 1973.
