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The brand new era represented by the 1973 Pontiac Grand Prix had to share some key model and engineering elements with many Common Motors intermediates. That was a blow to the GP's famous distinctiveness, but it was hardly a fatal one. ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. The T-prime removable roof panels, opera windows, landau vinyl roof, and stand-up hood ornament on this 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix have been typical trappings all U.S. 70s. See extra basic automotive pictures. Typical knowledge has it that the Seventies had been dismal years for American cars. So long confident in its capacity to master the general public's tastes and wishes, Detroit immediately found itself whipsawed by sturdy competitors from abroad and new layers of regulation at house. Trying to adapt the vehicles it had readily available to fulfill these challenges didn't always outcome in the happiest outcomes. Tremendous positive aspects in performance, as measured in raw horsepower, had been swept away with a rising tide of security and exhaust emissions standards. With that avenue closed to them, automakers turned to luxury as a selling level.
All sorts of cars have been newly dolled-up in plush trappings. The trick labored particularly well on mid-sized, two-door "personal" cars that sustained the massive Three by means of these difficult times. The Oldsmobile Cutlass grew to become the country's most popular nameplate, spurred by sturdy demand for its formal-roofed Supreme coupe. New designs launched in 1977 resulted in one of the best sales years ever for the Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar XR-7. Chrysler, staunchly devoted to nothing however full-sized vehicles, could resist now not and brought out the Cordoba in 1975. It was an instant hit. That the 1973-1977 Pontiac Grand Prix would additionally become one of these successes appears to be no positive factor in retrospect. The automotive arrived under lower than excellent circumstances. Via a collection of delays triggered by the notorious Basic Motors strike within the fall of 1970, Pontiac was compelled to delay its launch. Instead of popping out for 1972, the all-new GP was held over to 1973. Although it did a very good job of persevering with the Grand Prix tradition of non-public luxury combined with sporty flair, it represented the start of GM's homogenization of its mid-measurement automotive platforms.
The bold individual statement the GP had beforehand made was beginning to be quieted. The Grand Prix's fundamental body was now shared with Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Buick. Moreover, 5 Step Formula the brand new GP was pressured into sharing a 116-inch wheelbase used by the Monte Carlo and all intermediate 4-doors. Additional watering down the Grand 5 Step Formula Prix's distinctive taste was the truth that the brand new G-body for "personal coupes" was quite similar to the redesigned A-physique for mainline intermediates. In truth, the Buick Century Luxus and Regal, as properly because the Olds Cutlass Supreme, were A/G-body crossbreeds that grafted the G-body roof onto the 112-inch-wheelbase platform utilized by A-physique coupes. Including to the confusion was the new Pontiac Grand Am, which was additionally competing for the performance-oriented portion of the GP market. Unfortunately, this overlapping marketing would achieve momentum in subsequent years and would come in for its share of blame for declining GM gross sales. Continue to the next page for specs and options on the 1973 Pontiac Grand Prix.
With the onset of new authorities safety laws, the roof design mixed the graceful look of a hardtop with the extra rollover safety of a pillared coupe. Up entrance, the headlight and grille design recalled the look of the earlier-technology GP, with its giant vertical-slatted grille and dual headlamps completed off with squared bezels. As on the sooner cars, the flip indicators were reduce into the main edge of the entrance fenders. Suspended by energy absorbers that bounced again from minor impacts, the Grand Prix's slim front bumper jutted forward of the grille in one other bow to the new safety standards. ©2007 Publications International, Ltd. When the brand new Grand Prix lastly made it to market as a 1973, it surrendered its distinctive 118-inch-wheelbase chassis of 1969-1972 for a 116-inch stretch. Perhaps the most apparent distinction was within the Grand Prix's new proportions. Gone was that super-long, nearly exaggerated headline of the earlier technology.
In its place was a more conventional interpretation of the "long-hood/brief-deck" styling theme that became standardized among other GM G-our bodies. In keeping with tradition although, the hood featured the familiar "ironing board" sculpting that got here to some extent on the grille. The rear of the 1973 Grand Prix featured a brand new interpretation of its predecessor's sculpted rear deck. Whereas the slotted taillamps were now not set within the rear bumper, the design was an evolutionary 5 Step Formula and integrated the protruding rear bumper in addition to attainable. Two variations of the Grand Prix were supplied for 1973, the bottom model and the sportier, upscale SJ. The SJ differed from the entry-level Grand Prix by advantage of its larger customary engine and its "Radial Tuned Suspension," which included particular coil springs, stiffer shocks, and a larger entrance sway bar. Inside accoutrements for each models included a custom-padded steering wheel and African crossfire mahogany instrument panel inserts.