Blended Models: 1973 Pontiac Grand Am
The Grand Am debuted in 1973 as Pontiac’s response to the growth in popularity of European cruising sedans. As Pontiac’s goal was to introduce both luxury and performance in a single package, the car got its name by borrowing from the Grand Prix and Trans Am. Initially, it only had a three-year production run between 1973 and 1975 when the new Colonnade styling of GM’s intermediates was brought out. This ’73 edition comes with a 455 cubic inch V8, which was ordered less often than the standard 400 (according to the seller). Located in Saint Charles, Illinois, this Pontiac project is available here on eBay where the no-reserve auction has reached $3,550.
Pontiac offered the Grand Am as either a 2-door coupe or 4-door sedan, with the latter generating far less interest. It used the same A-body platform as the LeMans, but with the GTO’s body and wearing the Grand Prix’s interior. Public interest in the Grand Am was strong initially, but quickly waned after the impact of the 1973 OPEC oil embargo took hold. Production figures for the coupe would begin at 34,400 coupes in 1973 and dwindle to less than 8,800 two years later. The sedan fared even worse at 8,700 to 1,900 units.
This edition of the Grand Am is said to be numbers-matching and a TH-400 automatic transmission is along for the ride. The mileage is approaching 100,000 but the odometer has not yet turned over. The car starts, drives, and stops, but you won’t want to do much more than take it around the block. It will move along to its next home with a collection of parts, some new (NOS) and some used. The seller modified a hood to accept a scoop from the 1974 GTO, plus the original bonnet is still around. Apparently, the seller has owned this vehicle for some time and has done a fair amount of periodic work.
There is a fair share of issues with the body and paint. For example, there are rust holes inside the passenger compartment above the rocker panels. The passenger side door is rough, and the front fascia has been damaged. The interior looks somewhat worn, although the carpeting is newer. Also, a few gremlins are lurking within the electrical system, but the seller doesn’t go into any details there. The seller has kept some of the paperwork from the previous owners and there has been a PHS report prepared on this Pontiac. GM’s PR guru Jim Wangers added his autograph to the glove box at a car show. Is this a project you’d like to take on?
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Comments
Got some serious rot.I wouldn’t do a thing to it aesthetically but at 3500 it’s topped out imo.I’d just dial it in and get it running safe and dependably and repair the electrical issues.Wonder what’s up with the engine miss since he just tuned it up.Make a cool driver to beat up and do posi burnouts with. Glwts.
Had a 73 LeMans,350 Engine and Transmission All stock white on black I was a teen Two Barrel but didn’t smog pop Had some good dates in Trany went out at 100000 salt from winter storms killed quarter Panels floor boards still ran but no body or metal left
Electrical problems, rust inside the car, new carpet and excessive rust under the hood. Have to wonder if it ever took a bath.
The firewall and plumbing ain’t pretty.
I own one of these when I was in the military. I traded a gal I know for her 240Z in 1981. She wanted to trade up for 240Z for a brand new RX7 but the dealer wouldn’t give her $1,700 for her car. I had just painted my 73 Grand Am, very similar to this one with a black iridescent Lincoln Continental color. All in lacquer, several coats of primer, several coats of color and then four or five coats of clear. All hand sanded in between coats and then polished out. When the Pontiac was finished the body was like glass and I could go down the road at 55 miles an hour during a rainstorm and never even turn on the windshield wipers! It was a great ride and I had a kicking stereo in it but it was time and the fun was over and I really wanted that little 240. Thanks to our base having a paint and body hobby shop I was able to do the same thing with the 240 as I did with the Pontiac and put many hours of love and sweat into giving it a new paint job as well. I believe at the time the 240 was probably my 15th or 16th car ride over at the tender age of 21. But I’ll never forget that Pontiac! That being said I’m afraid this thing’s just a little too rough for me to tackle today. But it sure does invoke some wonderful memories.
I bought a 1973 Lemans right after I got out of the Army after spending 3 years in Germany.
I was working at a Pontiac dealer akter my discharge.
I could have gotten a 1972 but I was talked into a ’73. It was forest green with a black vinyl top 350 cid 350 trans and rally g60X14 wheels. It was one of those cars that needed a ground strap by the trans. Not having that ground strap caused the trans to fail and needed to be rebuilt. The cars that had a floor shifter would eat up the shifter instead. The car looked.
I sold it to have money for a deposit on our home.
Is this 73 Grand Am still Available
Like the prom queen after a couple years on meth.
I wanted her sooo bad and I’d be tempted to take her even with missing teeth and holes in her underwear!
The asking price is about $1200 too much. How does the inside of a car become rusty? A major leak. The engine compartment looks as if it hasn’t been touched in years. What does the trunk look like? The interior is the worse. Bottom line, this car has not been taken care of.
Indeed.. I’m thinking 1000 tops. It’s basically crusher bait. At 1000 , after scrap price and what parts you salvage you might break even. But it’s not even a desirable motor so … Yeah just crusher bait
It’s a 73′ rustbucket with a 455.you will quickly go upside down with the $$$$ you’ll spend on metal work.just save the trans and the 455 for a Pontiac that isn’t made mostly of rust.
Best thing about this car, it’s NOT in my driveway.
This car can be brought back from it’s
current condition. But if this is a numbers matching it might need a second look. This would be at least a 100,000 dollar restoration .