The primary difference was the Chevrolet V8. In 1973 & 74 Canadian built cars got either a 2bbl or 4bbl with duals, 350 Chevy. Chevy 350 was availble up to 1977 but by that time it was a corporate V8. 305 was also available in Canada. In US cars had only a 2bbl 350 Pontiac available in 73 then later versions had 260 Olds or 301 Pontiac V8's as well. Both countries offered 400 and 455 Pontiac engines but 455 ended in 75 I believe. 400 in 76 but not 77 I think. Safaris would continue with large motors longer.

Oshawa was the production facility for Canadian cars and also included GTO's in 73.

There were minor variations in dash and interior trim and seat patterns. Remember metric speedometers in Canada after 74 too. Primarily the dash cluster was the same as Firebird's although Grand Am and Grand LeMans clusters were direct from the Grand Prix, (ditto Can Am). There were also different models available in Canada and US. For example the Can Am was never offered for sale in Canada. The Canada Cup GT and 76 Olympic models also come to mind as Canada only cars. Also a very rare Quebec market Blue and White GT offered at same time as Canada Cup car.

All Canadian cars carry a Z49 option code which stipulates Manadatory Canadian Equipment. I can't state for sure what that was from year to year but you will see that code on all documentation for Canadian built and sold cars. Oshawa did export cars to Australia which had amber in the tail light signals as well as the US so it is not that uncommon to see a Pontiac 350 in a Oshawa built car exported to neighbouring states like New York and Michigan.

Doing this from memory, may be more details if I sat down with my reference materials.





-- Edited by 73SC on Wednesday 15th of December 2010 01:08:22 AM

For sure subtle, just remembered that the battery tray on Canadian orange engined cars is on the right side with washer bottle on the left to accomodate alternator on right side of Chevy engine. Pontiac engine has it the other way round.

If you like them as I do you are in the minority. When I park at a cruise I can tell you that virtually nobody stops to look at my car, I've stood back and watched, they walk right on past. It doesn't really bother me though, it qualifies me to get in and look at all the others. You can purchase them very cheap BUT there are no restoration parts reproduced so beware.

-- Edited by 73SC at 18:55, 2008-05-22

I am sure but not making myself clear. I'll try to clarify, the Firebird and the LeMans 73-77 share the same cluster layout from 1970 to 1981 Firebirds with three main pods with Speedo, Idiot Lights/Clock /Tach and small fuel. Firebirds had an additional two pods to the centre of the dash for oil and water guages, idiot lights if not ordered on left pod. LeMans Rally had Tach on left with Gen light, fuel, oil, water in small pod and Speedo on right. Firebird and LeMans clusters interchange, in fact I am running a 1973 Firebird cluster in my 73 LeMans, Clock with idiot lights on left, fuel in small centre and 160 mph speedometer on the right.

Confused yet? There are three and probably four styles of LeMans clusters if you count optional clock. Standard has idiot lights on left, fuel in centre, Speedo on right. Rally clock puts a big clock in left, guages in small centre. Rally Guages puts Tach with clock and Gen light on left, fuel, oil pressure, water in small centre and Speedo on right. Optional clock lets you add a small clock to the idiot lights on left like the photo below.

In 1976 the Grand LeMans got the Grand Prix cluster or Grand Am cluster depending on your point of view. Two Large pods left and right with four small pods in centre. Can Am's also have this. Clock or Tach on left, speedo on right, fuel, water, volts, oil in four small pods. This was also optional on Sport Coupe in Canada in 77. Sometimes the tach or clock was replaced with a vaccum guage in 77 labeled as Power on one end and Economy on the other. They even worked the Vaccum guage into the standard LeMans cluster with a small clock on the left pod.

So yes, the 74 is a LeMans dash but the cluster interchanges with Firebird.
Also just a note on Model names. The 74 is a Luxury LeMans not a Grand Lemans. The Grand LeMans name was used after the demise of the Grand Am thereby explaining why the Grand LeMans got the Grand Am interior

In photos you see LeMans on Left Firebird on Right. the cluster is identical.

These links shows a dash pad and bezel for sale listed in description as Grand Prix, Grand Am and Grand LeMans, best I can do on short notice!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1976-GRAND-PRIX-DASH-PAD-1975-GRAND-AM-1974-1973-1977


http://cgi.ebay.ca/1973-77-Dash-Grand-Prix-Grand-Am-GTO-Lemans_W0QQitemZ260157621843QQihZ016QQcategoryZ10076QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

I can show you some time Hillar as I have sales and option booklets. Sorry if this is all confusing but I know this stuff cold for this era of LeMans, have owned 3 (73, 73, 76) & 76 FB plus one 73 GA in family and two GP's, (73,77) 



-- Edited by 73SC at 22:43, 2008-05-22

73SC wrote:

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For sure subtle, just remembered that the battery tray on Canadian orange engined cars is on the right side with washer bottle on the left to accomodate alternator on right side of Chevy engine. Pontiac engine has it the other way round.

If you like them as I do you are in the minority. When I park at a cruise I can tell you that virtually nobody stops to look at my car, I've stood back and watched, they walk right on past. It doesn't really bother me though, it qualifies me to get in and look at all the others. You can purchase them very cheap BUT there are no restoration parts reproduced so beware.

-- Edited by 73SC at 18:55, 2008-05-22

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Thanks, I've never been very mainstream in my automotive tastes and to be honest I've never really cared whether other people like my car, but also the fact that the '73 Lemans was my favourite high school car gives them special status with me.

I've heard about the lack of repro parts for these, but I've always been old school in the hobby and am accustomed to digging up parts the hard way.

If I find a good one some day, I might just go for it!

 

73SC wrote:

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Here are a couple of shots of my cluster. I can guarantee you, no 73 LeMans left the factory with a 160 mph speedo. This cluster is out of a 1973 Firebird Esprit, base cluster with clock option because it has the fuel guage in the centre and idiot lights. I bought it on eBay for $15.00. It was a floor shift car so we had to make the decal for my shift pattern by scanning the original one. 65 Camino and I worked on it one winter night. It was dremelled a bit to adapt the shift indicator. It is calibrated properly as well and we set the odometer to my original one. I'll also say that it was a straight plug in with the wiring harness too. If my car was a floor shift it would have popped right in with no mods.

-- Edited by 73SC at 22:49, 2008-05-22

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Kewl!  I'll have to check it out in person if I ever manage to make it out to Eglinton Square; it just seems like every Wed. night I have something booked.

Just wondering, if you were going to go to all this trouble to change the cluster, why didn't you wait until you could find a rally cluster with the tach?
I know, you were probably worried about hitting a 160 mph before that!
Also, how did you calibrate it?

I love 73 Lemans    mine was FAST and smooth and quiet   We loved it...We bought it on a trip 'home" to Sackville N.B. The dealer made a big deal about it being only 1 of 2 in N.B   I forgot about the stripes, until I looked up old pictures..   I bid on the '74 up to 6600   I wonder if I will get 2ND CHANCE OFFER FROM SELLER?  guess not  I just looked and it went to 7900.00 and it didnt meet reserve..

-- Edited by 427carl at 00:27, 2008-05-24

-- Edited by 427carl at 00:28, 2008-05-24

-- Edited by 427carl at 00:31, 2008-05-24

I've always liked the taillight treatment on the 73's. Dad's 77 was the most reliable car we ever owned. I don't recall it ever breaking down (even with a then 16 year old taking it cruising several times a week). Fuel economy was decent with that 4bbl 350.

Here was my '73. Owned it in '83 when I was in high school. Other than some minor rust issues it was a real creampuff. 27000 miles, mint interior, original paint, 350 Chev 2bbl. Just a nice clean tight car. Sold it to help fund university - I still remember the lump in my throat as I watched it drive away. I still really miss it!



-- Edited by MC at 20:19, 2008-05-25

427carl wrote:

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you should jump on the 74 luxury lemans 35,oooo southern car with air..

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I'd love to but I'm not in a position to buy anything just yet.  It's a beautiful car, even the right colour for me but the timing isn't good right now.

I do prefer the '73s and for nostalgia I'd prefer to have a Canadian one with a Chevy drivetrain, but if one like this '74 came along at the right time for the right price I'd jump on it for sure.

But if I were ready to buy something I probably would've already bought that '68 427 Grande Parisienne by now...

 

Nice car, thanks for the post.

Yes, the 1973 Pontiac A bodies are recognized as the best handling. The Handling Package that was standard on the GTO was available on the LeMans also. This package did not use radial tires and had front and rear sway bars with G60x15 wide ovals. These cars are also wider than the 70-72 Lemans/GTO which also aids in the cornering abilities.

Most sources cited 4,806 GTO's being built in 1973. which is 2% roughly of total LeMans production. I believe that this figure is for US production only as Canadian production facilities are rarely considered. GM Canada did not keep production figures on option codes and in 1973 GTO was an option. GM Canada will show 3,761 F37 models as being built, sport coupes like this silver one and mine. GTO was also available on the Colonade Hardtop which is D37 model but this accounted for 494. I would think the 500 Canadian figure posted it is probably well overstated. If the 2% production ratio holds true then the figure is less than 100 F37 GTO's out of Oshawa.

How many have you ever seen?

-- Edited by 73SC at 08:04, 2008-06-13