The 200-horse, 455-cube four-barrel was now an possibility for all models. All advised, 1973 Grand Prix production soared to 153,899 units, 20,749 of which had been the upscale SJ fashions. It shared many basic block dimensions with an experimental 303 Trans Am race engine from 1969, though the new production powerplant was not nearly as beefy. The top GP engine choice for 1977 was the “6.6-liter” V-8, which was normal within the SJ. The ever-tightening California and federal emission standards contributed to probably the most complicated engine roster the Grand Prix had ever seen. On the following web page, read about how OPEC’s 1973 oil embargo impacted the 1974 and 1975 Pontiac Grand Prix. Hobbled by the OPEC oil embargo that despatched consumers in search of smaller, more gasoline-efficient 1974 automobiles, Grand Prix orders dipped to only below the 100,000 mark. In its place was a extra conventional interpretation of the “long-hood/brief-deck” styling theme that grew to become standardized among different GM G-our bodies. Wood-grained plastic trim took their place.

The Grand Prix was now divided into three trim levels. The Grand Prix’s basic body was now shared with Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Buick. Out back, the taillamps were now paired vertical items, and the sides obtained sculpting lines. The taillamps have been additionally up to date barely. On the next web page, learn the way Pontiac updated the 1976 Grand Prix lineup. The brand new styling successfully up to date the look and significantly broke with tradition. As a substitute of popping out for 1972, the all-new GP was held over to 1973. Though it did an excellent job of persevering with the Grand Prix tradition of private luxury combined with sporty aptitude, it represented the beginning of GM’s homogenization of its mid-size car platforms. That the 1973-1977 Pontiac Grand Prix would also grow to be one of those successes appears to be no positive thing in retrospect. The reshuffling of normal and non-obligatory gear was precisely what the market demanded, and Pontiac was rewarded with a new Grand Prix manufacturing record in a model 12 months when sales of larger cars had been generally on the rebound. Mannequin-12 months production came to 288,430. A big portion of the GP’s report-setting sales figure could possibly be attributed to the fact that the public knew that this was the final 12 months for the “massive Grand Prix.” The 1978 mannequin yr would usher in a much smaller automotive that can be powered by a brand new technology of V-6 and small V-eight engines.

They took again the cars in question solely after setting a mileage cost that would cost the buyer as much as $2,000. The trick labored especially effectively on mid-sized, two-door “personal” automobiles that sustained the large Three via these troublesome occasions. Typical knowledge has it that the Seventies were dismal years for American cars. Up entrance, the acquainted twin round headlamps have been changed with four rectangular units. Up entrance, the headlight and grille design recalled the look of the earlier-era GP, with its giant vertical-slatted grille and dual headlamps finished off with squared bezels. With the onset of latest authorities security rules, the roof design combined the graceful look of a hardtop with the additional rollover protection of a pillared coupe. In truth, the Buick Century Luxus and Regal, as properly as the Olds Cutlass Supreme, have been A/G-body crossbreeds that grafted the G-body roof onto the 112-inch-wheelbase platform used by A-physique coupes. Whereas it isn’t widely identified, the legendary 455 Super Responsibility V-eight was originally supposed to be supplied in the Grand Prix, as well as in the GTO and Grand Am. Regardless of the claims of better efficiency and space utilization, in addition to improved fuel mileage, many patrons may instinctively sense that issues would not be the same for the Grand Prix and the remainder of the GM intermediates.

And isn’t that what owning a Grand Prix was supposed to be about? The rear of the 1973 Grand Prix featured a new interpretation of its predecessor’s sculpted rear deck. The wonderful vertical bar treatment used in 1976 was replaced with 5 thick bars on each facet. The GP and a companion 1976 Sunbird — with one other impending engine, the 4-cylinder “Iron Duke” — have been a part of a publicity marketing campaign sponsored by Pontiac and National Automobile Rental. All Pontiac V-8s received the brand new GM High Energy Ignition System, which was claimed to ship thrice the firing power to the spark plugs, permitting for a large (.060 inch) plug gap. For these areas, the division substituted the Oldsmobile-designed 350. Because the Olds engines have been cleaner operating than the other GM V-8s, there was an excellent demand for them. The resulting shortage of Olds 350s meant that not even Oldsmobile had enough of them for its Cutlasses. The 455 V-eight with four-barrel carburetion was down to simply 200 horsepower; it remained commonplace within the SJ. Equipped with a Rochester Quadrajet 4-barrel carburetor, it was rated at 230 net horsepower at 4,four hundred rpm, with 325 pound-feet of torque at 3,200 revs. Whereas the base GP’s transport weight rose “solely” 125 pounds from the earlier yr, the scales beneath a totally loaded SJ might register 4,400 pounds, a achieve of more than 500 pounds.