The 1973 Pontiac Grand Am has had an enigmatic life among Poncho fans for decades. As perhaps the best-looking of the Pontiac A-bodies (and arguably the same among all Colonnade models), it has made collectors wonder how many were built with a four-speed. Now, thanks to the work of two Pontiac experts, we have good evidence of the actual production number.
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 personal luxury as a Grand Prix, but it could attract the same buyer. Ditto the Grand Am compared to the GTO, as the Grand Am was more adult than the GTO yet copped the Endura nose, previously a trademark of the GTO. Imports? An import aficionado would likely gravitate towards a BMW 2002, a car much smaller and more tossable than a 4,000-pound American car—even one with a suspension geometry that was more advanced than most vehicles from Detroit.
Standard power for the Grand Am was the 170-horsepower 400 two-barrel paired with a three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic. Add dual exhausts and horsepower was nudged up to 185. Even better, one could opt for the 200-horse 400 four-barrel, and another 30 could be added with dual pipes, either setup with your choice of an automatic or a four-speed. There also was a 215-horse 455 available, with horsepower increasing to 250 with dual exhausts, though the 455 was only available with an automatic transmission. On top, there was the 310-horse 455 Super Duty, available with either transmission.
When production commenced, one Grand Am was built with the 455 SD for promotional purposes but, due to production and emissions difficulties, the engine ended up being limited to the Firebird. That left the 400 four-barrel as the only Gran Am engine truly available with a four-speed.
Pontiac records show 2,424 mid-size Pontiacs were built with a four-speed. That includes all LeMans and Grand Am models, including those ordered as GTOs. There never has been a breakdown how many were Grand Ams other than the number 187 that has been floating around for years but never verified. Noted Pontiac expert Rocky Rotella recently reached out to Fred Simmonds, a retired Pontiac employee who compiled unpublished numbers of Pontiacs way back in 1989. Could Fred have anything in his notes that listed Grand Am production numbers by engine? Hallelujah!
Now, for the first time in 50 years, we know how many 1973 Grand Ams were built with a four-speed. Would you believe that includes four-door Grand Ams, too? Plus, Rocky was able to score 1974 numbers! You can find the entire production distribution in Rocky’s blog, but allow us to announce for now that 971 coupes and 87 sedans were built with the 400 four-barrel and a four-speed in 1973.
