The Big Three's Car of The Year that wasn't after all? Clue = A planned SD/455cui with 4 speed manual.

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Who knows? Who remembers? Who CARES ? Motor car magazine named this beloved , famous American muscle car .... The 1973 Car of the year only to learn after the usual long out ahead print time, that there would be no 1973 ___________ / SD 455cui- 4 speed car built after all.

So: Pontiac never built a production SD455 GTO in 1973, and the magazine had honored a car that didn’t exist. The engine did see production, but only in the Trans Am and Formula in 1973 and 1974

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/the-car-of-the-year-that-wasnt/

A Pontiac GTO fan that built his very own "One Of None." Built to honor the 1973 GTO SD455 Ram Air that was planned yet none built for sale.
I love the special (less than 5 produced-but never sold or installed) Ram Air set up he found for his car. Special Pontiac 73 Ram Air set up planned but not ever released for sale to the public.
Lots of owners of the later SD455 engines would cut open the closed off air scoops. Then adjust the distributor timing up and re-jet the rochester 4/carbs to get the most out of the (by then) anemic de-tuned from factory engines. Those changes really put a jump in the horses one could get out of the late 455cui engines despite Uncle Sam's fun killing regulations.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/on...73-pontiac-gto-sd-455-would-have-looked-like/

 

[wemay]

Wow! Interesting bit of history, and a gorgeous example of early 70's muscle coupes.

 

[Kira]

but only in the Trans Am and Formula in 1973 and 1974

I know the Trans Am is a Firebird, but what is a "Formula"?

In the last picture, there's intake air from the snorkel and the foam cushioned cowl air intake.
Were they thermostatically mixed?

Love the PCV pipe and V-belts.
Love the profile but always despised those louvered quarter windows (and louvered panels on the 2-door Novas).
No rear windows or windows which only went partially down into the door marked the beginning of the decline of Western Civilization.

Thanks for the great post.

 

[CharBaby]

I know the Trans Am is a Firebird, but what is a "Formula"?

Thanks for the great post.

The FORMULA is also a Firebird .
They’re just different trim levels.

 

[spasm3]

Beautiful styling.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Beautiful styling.

I think many cars look simply awesome in white paint with minimal trim options.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I recall a Car Craft Magazine article from way back where they transplanted a 454 Chevy big block into a Trans Am. One of the tip offs IIRC was that the dipstick was on the opposite side of the engine.

 

[Kira]

I think many cars look simply awesome in white paint with minimal trim options.

Yup. Elegance and simplicity go hand-in-hand.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

I know the Trans Am is a Firebird, but what is a "Formula"?

In the last picture, there's intake air from the snorkel and the foam cushioned cowl air intake.
Were they thermostatically mixed?

Love the PCV pipe and V-belts.
Love the profile but always despised those louvered quarter windows (and louvered panels on the 2-door Novas).
No rear windows or windows which only went partially down into the door marked the beginning of the decline of Western Civilization.

Thanks for the great post.

The 70s and late 60s really did release some wild looking factory colors as well as body styles. One that folks really laughed about & hated at the same time were known as Opera Windows. LoL. MOPAR loved those things for a time. I know a guy who rebuilt an SE Charger from ground up who actually closed up/welded plates on to eliminate the windows on the car he was doing for himself! The wife demanded the go! LMAO.....

Some Pontiacs and their Buick cousins as well as the AMC muscle cars came from the factory with "air extractors" on the front fenders and even some on the front bumpers. Oldsmobile actually had front scoops under the front bumpers on each side with old fashioned dryer vent hoses piped straight into the carbs on their big cui engines.

Factory literature of the day claimed those extractors were to release hot air from the engine compartment. In some racing applications back then, those front , lower ones were to cool the brakes to avoid fading in the tough stops and turns.....it was said?

How good were they in racing? Some drivers said they did actually help out in the tough spots on the tracks. Especially the road tracks.

We do know for a fact that "ram air" which feeds the cooler outside air into the carbs really did affect engine horse power quite a bit.

 

[Kira]

the plastic bumper fillers

Those plastic surfaces were indeed vile.

 

[dfarr67]

I'm good from about '61 to '71/72 then they lost me.

 

[ls1mike]

I have always liked those. There is lady, probably in her late 60's early 70s that drive one pretty often around here. It is exactly the white one. I have always wanted to ask her about it.

 

[dnewton3]

Guys - several posts had to be deleted due to quoted profanity.
Knock if off, please.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Those Pontiac engines were torque monsters. My favorite was the 400 with 96 heads.

 

[MCompact]

I have a copy of the 1973 Hi Performance Cars New Car Special issue; At one point Pontiac stated that the SD 455 would be available in the Grand Prix SJ, GTO and Trans Am.
Edit: I believe that the Grand Am was also going to get the SD 455.

 

[srfdude]

Stock clip, I bought new in '67, in Wilmington, NC. Drove it across country to Phoenix, but the lack of AC led me to unload it. One of the absolute best cars I ever owned, out of many.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Stock clip, I bought new in '67, in Wilmington, NC. Drove it across country to Phoenix, but the lack of AC led me to unload it. One of the absolute best cars I ever owned, out of many.

I think that's a fake 1967 Goat. The front fender badge should be low on the fender trim. That car has the badge in the '66 position.
The 65 thru 67 were the best, IMO.

 

[srfdude]

I think that's a fake 1967 Goat. The front fender badge should be low on the fender trim. That car has the badge in the '66 position.
The 65 thru 67 were the best

You're right about the badge, but the rest is 67. The 67 had the wide rocker trim, comparatively, also the tail lights were noticeably different. Maybe they couldn't find the right badge? A resto' often has slight mods due to hard to get stuff. Maybe they would take an offer on a bastard resto.

 

[JeffKeryk]

You're right about the badge, but the rest is 67. The 67 had the wide rocker trim, comparatively, also the tail lights were noticeably different. Maybe they couldn't find the right badge? A resto' often has slight mods due to hard to get stuff. Maybe they would take an offer on a bastard resto.

I would have to take a close look at the car to believe it is a Goat vs a LeMans or Tempest. You can build a fake that is really hard to tell. A vin search could help; I believe the GTO became its own model in '66? Don't remember for sure. Great cars!

 

[Kira]

I love the Mustangs which were converted into Cobras with a horn button and fuel filler cap.
Now I love a LeMans GTO even more!

GTO story, anyone?
Neighbors of a guy I knew got a "first year GTO". The guy said, "If ever you sell it, call me please".
Decades later, they did. It was essentially untouched when he got it.
There was engine paint on the plugs and original everything else, including the belts-one of which broke on a Christmas morning.
I gave him a very hard time over that one. He deserved it.
He parked this gem high up in a multi-storied municipal parking structure in Jersey City, NJ.
Ten or so months later when he went to look at the car....it was gone.
EZ come, EZ go.