1973 Pontiac Grand Prix
The Grand Prix line started as a performance package for the Catalina coupe, which rode on the full-size B-body GM platform. It was distinguished by a unique grille and taillights, bucket seats, center console transmission shifter, and more. John De Loren was head of Pontiac’s Advanced Engineering, and tried to infuse performance into the entire Pontiac line. To that end he even OK’d the “Super Duty” 421ci performance package into a few Grand Prix’s for racing purposes. The clean 1963-1964 models featured smooth, unique hardtops that featured curved rear windows, and expanded on their performance engine options while adhering to luxury offerings for the interior. 1965-66 models continued with GM’s all-new boxed-perimeter B-body frame and shared sheetmetal, as well as continuing the unique stacked headlights, split grille, and performance/luxury image. 1967 saw the addition of the one-year-only Grand Prix convertible, and featured revised sheetmetal featuring hidden headlights with vents in the leading edges of the fenders for parking lights. 1968 saw a more baroque body restyle with a wide grille continuing with hidden headlights and a more formal top. 1969 was the introduction of the new corporate “G-body” which featured dramatically longer front ends ahead of the cowl. The new Grand Prix would have this exclusively for a single year before sharing it with the Chevy Monte Carlo. With a unique upright grille and headlights surrounded by body-color sheetmetal, it made for a dramatic personal luxury car, and sales shot up to over 112,000 units. Though sales slipped in 1970 and 1971, they rose past 90,000 cars in this version’s last year of production in 1972. For 1973 the third-gen based on the new “Colonnade” coupe abandoned the hardtop styling Grand Prix’s were known for to instead embrace the new coupe body adapted for pending federal roll-over safety standards. In spite of competition within Pontiac like the Grand Am, and outside with the Monte Carlo, Grand Prix sales were over 150,000 in 1973. Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards and safety regulations were changing the automotive environment, and the Grand Prix saw horsepower decrease. With GM corporate downsizing in the late-1970s, the Grand Prix followed by adopting the new 108-inch wheelbase A-body. Much more conservative with less sculpturing than the previous A-body, nevertheless sales ratcheted up to over 228,000 GP’s sold, and ended 1979 with a similar production of over 210,000 units sold.
1973 Grand Prix
A new, larger A-body was introduced in 1973, which the Grand Prix adapted. Gone were the hardtop bodies the Grand Prix had since the beginning. Instead, due to federal roll-over mandates, a pillared coupe became the basic body for the GP. The new body architecture was called “Colonnade” featuring a vertical opera window. The GP was on the formal-looking A-body that was more of a notch back as opposed to the other A-body, which was a semi-fast back. The 455ci big block made the transition to these new bodies, while the standard engine was still the 400ci. Power steering and brakes became standard equipment. Length was increased by three-inches, and weight gain was over 500-pounds on the SJ. Proportionally the formal roofline and beltline that kicked up at the top, combined with the familiar Grand Prix body details and front end made for a compelling personal luxury car, and as a result Pontiac sold over 150,000 units.
AVAILABLE MODELS:
1973 Grand Prix
- Engine Options
- 400-4bbl cubic inch, 230hp
- 455-4bbl cubic inch, 250hp
1973 Grand Prix VIN Decoder:
First Character: GM Division
Second Character: Series
Third and Fourth Characters: Body Style
- 39 ~ 2-Door Sport Coupe
- 57 ~ 2-Door Sport Coupe
Fifth Character: Engine
- T ~ 400-4bbl
- W ~ 455-4bbl
Sixth Character: Model Year
Seventh Character: Assembly Plant
- P ~ Pontiac, Michigan
- A ~ Atlanta, Georgia
- L ~ Van Nuys, California
- D ~ Doraville, Georgia
- C ~ South Gate, California
- X ~ Kansas City, Kansas
- Z ~ Fremont, California
- N ~ Norwood, Ohio
- G ~ Framingham, Massachusetts
Fifth through Eighth Characters: Basic Production Numbers
The sequential starting numbers.
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