The original Pontiac Grand Am was designed as America's answer to European luxury/sport sedans. Coined as a perfect blend of GRAND Prix luxury and Trans AM performance, it was a pretty simple and successful formula. Just take a personal sized coupe with all the luxury accoutrements of European cars, throw in a healthy dose of performance that recalled the not too distant glory days of muscle cars and out comes a fun car that proved exceptionally popular. This restored to original 1973 Pontiac Grand Am has won multiple national awards and been featured on the cover of High Performance Pontiac magazine. It is probably the best 1973 Grand Am in the world and is one of the most unique and interesting Pontiacs in the classic car hobby.

Included with the sale is the car's original dealer shipping record. Here is a breakdown of the standard and optional equipment listed:

PONTIAC GRAND AM 2 DR COLONNADE HARDTOP ($4,332.50)

STANDARD EQUIPMENT NO EXTRA CHARGE
400 2 barrel V8 engine
Turbo-Hydramatic transmission
Power steering
Power disc brakes
Special suspension (including front and rear stabilizer bars)
Radial tires
Finned wheel covers
Lateral restraints
Bucket seats (with adjustable back angle and lower back support)
Instrument panel (with console and full gauges)
Custom sport steering wheel
Custom carpets
Louvered quarter windows
Endura pliable front bumper
Energy absorbing bumper system (front and rear)
Single buckle seat and shoulder belts with warning system

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT ($884)
Soft Ray glass All windows ($42)
Cordova top ($97)
Custom air conditioning ($397)
Body color outside mirrors Left remote ($26)
Accent stripe ($31)
Safe-T-Track differential ($45)
Heavy duty battery ($10)
AM radio + stereo and 8 track tape player ($195)
Firm Ride Package springs and shocks ($9)
GR 70x15 White wall steel belt radial tires ($32)

TOTAL VEHICLE PRICE: $5,216.50

Recently frame-off restored, this solid and surprisingly complete first year Grand Am was originally delivered to Friend Pontiac in Beaver Pennsylvania. Its European inspired design translates well in correct GM code 74 Florentine Red on top of bodywork that displays no signs of major repairs and was undoubtedly very straight before the restoration started. If you check out the photos closely, you can sight down the cars curvy flanks and see that there are no ripples in the sheetmetal and panel alignment is spot-on thanks to factory correct gaps and the 100% original seams. Take one look at the car in person and it becomes blatantly obvious that this Grand Am was a cost-no-object restoration with the ultimate goal being to create the best example of one of the most overlooked and underappreciated Pontiacs in the hobby.

The main goal of the new for '73 Grand Am was to provide customers with desirable European styling and performance in a less expensive, purely American package. With that in mind, Pontiac based the car on its stalwart LeMans model and turned the styling up from a 7 to about a 12. At the front of this Grand Am, an extremely hard to find urethane nose displays both Pontiacs traditional aggressive split grille appearance and the brands commitment to having the best bumpers in the industry. Behind that bumper, a large V-styled hood sits in front of a correct Soft Ray tinted windshield that is bordered by pristine stainless trim. Behind that windshield, an excellent looking correct Cordova vinyl top includes correct louvered quarter windows, more showroom straight stainless trim and a clear and clean rear window. The cars dramatic profile is accented with a correct red, white and blue accent stripe, great looking stainless rocker trim, impossible to find stainless fender trim and stylized "Grand Am" emblems that are located just behind the front tires. At the back of the car, spotless Grand Am exclusive tail lights are divided by a second red, white and blue accent stripe and sit below both a great looking "Grand Am Pontiac" emblem an interesting "6.5 Litre" engine designator that bucked Pontiac's long tradition of using the 6.6 litre moniker for their 400 cubic inch cars. Below the tail lights a showroom fresh chrome bumper that exceeded 1973 safety standards is complete with optional protective black trim.

Pop this cars beaked hood and you'll find an original 400 cubic inch L65 engine that hasn't been torn apart since it left GM's Pontiac Michigan plant almost 40 years ago. It's an extremely strong running engine which idles so smoothly and drives so well that the previous owner decided to err on the side of authenticity and leave it untouched. At the top of the engine, a satin black air cleaner displays a correct "400-2" decal and sends air into a correct 2 barrel carburetor that is fed through a correct AC fuel filter. Below the carburetor, Pontiac's tried and true 400 wears correct blue paint from its valve covers to its oil pan and displays correct reproduction decals and chalk marks. On the right side of the engine, the cars custom Harrison air conditioning system has been restored to its proper state and includes a correct Frigidaire compressor, and on the left side of the engine you'll find a fresh brake booster and master cylinder. The engine compartment itself is very clean and every non-durable part appears new, from the fresh V-belts and reproduction AC Delco battery to new hoses and correct tower clamps. The inner fenders, radiator support, and firewall are in exceptional condition and carry a nice coat of GM satin black. And the bottom of the hood has been dressed for show with nice custom embroidered insulation.

As a purpose built cruiser that prioritizes luxury over all out performance, this is a car that was designed to eat up vast stretches of interstate while providing supreme comfort. Behind the big 6.5 liter engine you'll find an original Turbo-Hydramatic 400 3-speed transmission that sends power to a Safe-T-Track Posi-traction rear end with comfortable 3.23 gears. Holding that smooth drivetrain off the ground is an optional special suspension with the firm ride option which includes computer selected springs, firmer shocks, taller front spindles that were borrowed from the F-body, and 1.125 front and .94 rear stabilizer bars. On top of that serious handling hardware is a variable ratio power steering system that has good feel and GM's standard power front disc and rear drum braking system. The cars passive stock exhaust has been upgraded to a welded aluminized true dual system that features an H-pipe and two chamber Flowmaster mufflers which provide an ideal basso-profundo voice for this sports coupes luxurious demeanor. The suspension, steering and brakes have all been properly maintained and the chassis looks exceptionally clean given the age and authenticity of the car. At the corners, great looking 15 inch Pontiac snow flake wheels wear new stainless trim rings and center caps inside of 225/70 Goodyear Eagle GT IIs. However, if you're more of a traditionalist, the cars original finned hubcaps (which it wears in the High Performance Pontiac cover picture) are included with the sale.

Inside this Pontiac, high style is the name of the game. The original Oxblood vinyl interior is 100% intact and in spectacular condition with rich looking Morrokide buckets that include both reclining backs and twist adjustable lumbar support. The beautifully detailed dashboard houses a great looking African Crossfire Mahogany gauge pod that contrasts well against the cars highly detailed gauges and chrome trimmed air vents. At the center of the dash, controls for the cars custom HVAC system and an original Stereo Eight 8-track player sit above a pristine console that is slightly canted toward the driver. At the sides of the seats, the nicely preserved padded door panels include chrome handles for the doors and windows next to upscale (for the time) angled pull straps. The steering wheel is the cars original optional sport wheel that features bight satin aluminum spokes and a factory fresh Pontiac branded horn button. The original nylon blend loop carpet looks great under heavy duty rubber floor mats, and the burgundy headliner is exceptionally nice with no glaring issues or signs of age. Out back, the trunk is nicely finished in gray spatter paint and includes a covered full-size spare tire, a correct jack assembly and, as with every other part of the car, features a mix of correct and original decals.

This car's show history is pretty extensive, and the list of awards it has won is impressive:
High Performance Pontiac Editor's Choice at the 2002 Ames Pontiac Nationals
Best in Class at the 2002 Ames Pontiac Nationals
First Place at the 2003 Ames Pontiac Nationals
Best in Class at the 2004 Ames Pontiac Nationals
First Place at the 2005 Ames Pontiac Nationals
First Place at the 2006 Ames Pontiac Nationals

This Grand Am also includes a great deal of documentation. Not only do we have the original dealer shipping record highlighted above, we also have the original owner's manual and warranty booklets, Pontiac Historical Society paperwork, an original brochure, original magazine ads, the issue of High Performance Pontiac in which the car was featured, a second laminated copy of that article, a reproduction window sticker, an awards summary and an unopened replica model.

GTOs are nice and Trans Ams are fun, but when was the last time you saw a Pontiac that is as unique and cool as this 1973 Grand Am? With the luxury and flair of a European sports sedan and the style and grunt of a fire breathing American muscle car, this is one old Pontiac that has personality by the buckets. And thanks to its slightly controversial styling, very well done interior, sophisticated suspension and smooth drivetrain, you'll NEVER experience a dull moment on the road or at the show fields. Call us today!