None of the muscle cars of the 1960s saw demand fall off faster than the Pontiac GTO. From a peak of 97,000 units in 1966, Pontiac couldn’t find 6,000 buyers in 1972. The 1973 model year brought renewed hope with an all-new body (the Colonnade), yet sales would decline by another 1,000 units. The seller has a restored ’73 GTO “coupe” (the “sport coupe” would have had louvered side windows) that is 1 of 282 coupes with a 400 cubic inch V8 and automatic transmission. Located with a dealer in Milford, Connecticut, the current bid is $15,000 here on eBay. The reserve is unmet at that amount, but a Buy It Now price of $47,000 has been set to cut to the chase.
The GTO wasn’t the only GM mid-size muscle car to join the Colonnade ranks in 1973. The Chevelle SS, Olds 442, and Buick GS all shared the new A-body platform. In general, the design was a huge success, with cars like the Chevrolet Monte Carlo reaching new sales highs over the 1973-77 run. After that, downsizing began in an effort to improve fuel consumption, so the later cars were smaller but kept the same passenger compartment dimensions. Of the 4,806 GTOs built in ’73, 90% used the F37 LeMans Sport Coupe body. The seller’s car is rare in that it’s part of the other 10% that went with the D37 shell.
While the 455 V8 was still available, this and most other 1973 GTO came with the 400 – and the setup in the seller’s car is numbers matching. Though the car has 84,000 miles, it was treated to a frame-off restoration (per a couple of the seller’s photos), though we don’t get the impression that it was recent work. It’s a fully equipped car with the exception of a front bench seat where you would otherwise expect to see buckets. The seller rates the condition of the automobile as 9 out of 10 or better.
During the restoration, the engine was tweaked a bit to increase the compression ratio to 10.5:1 (remember, starting in 1971/72, detuning had begun for lower emissions). The last owner had this Pontiac for 26 years and it was a resident of Florida during that time. The ’73 GTO would prove to be a one-year iteration as the name was shifted to the compact Ventura platform with a 350 V8 for one last year (1974). After that, the GTO would become part of history. Our thanks to Barn Finder “Bruce” for the tip!
Good looking GTO. Few and far between!!
Of all the GM colonnade coupes these ponchos were my favorite. This car in black is gorgeous. I agree the $15k offer is low, but the BIN is high. This should sell in the high $20k to low $30k range imho. It will be interesting to see how far it goes.
Liked pretty much the whole Colonnade lineup Rusty 👍
Interesting…. I’m a Pontiac lover through and through, but this body style never did anything for me. To each their own!
Its a cursed ” column shift , bench seat “GTO ” at that rate it may as well be a Bonneville . And THATS why they couldnt give them away .
I feel it is a 25k / 28k car.
I had a 73 LeMans with a 400 4 barrel with a 4 speed. It was a blast to drive, but i remember having throwout bearing issues with it. It was a burnt orange color with a black vinyl top. It was not a GTO. Sold it in 1976, but I replaced it with a 70 Z28.
I had 69 and 70 GTOs in the 80s and 90s. They are great of course, but the ride and handling of the 73 is light years better. 68 to 72 cars are a dime a dozen today, but finding a 73 this nice is very hard, almost impossible. The BIN is high, as mentioned, but this car is worth in the high 20s I would say. Buckets and a console would help. Restoration looks very fresh and well done from the pics.
Bought this same car about 30 years ago, minus the vinyl top for $400. As so many people, if only you had known.
2nd 1 i saw with no window louvers on it. mecum just auctioned a 73 the other day not sure what sold for but may have been close to this ask price. not a fan of this year Pontiac
Rear bird indeed. Beautiful in black. Love the bench and roll down glass.
My dad had the ’73. It was awful. The lines were unique in the world of production cars with a pontoon look. It not only looks front heavy, it is. In a few years the door bottoms were dust and he couldn’t give it away
A lot of dealers as well as buyers had the cars rustproofed and most rustproofers drilled holes in the end of the doors and sprayed the rustproofing inside the doors. That stopped up the drain holes in the bottom of the doors which created the rusted out doors.
I knew who had cars rustproofed and stuck straws thru the drain holes to eliminate that issue. It didn’t work.
I agree. Coming from the rust belt. (Northern Illinois) it seemed to me that the aftermarket rust proofing was in most cases detrimental to preventing rust. Drain holes plugged up, undercoating “slapped on,” to where there wouldn’t normally be a place for salt water to be trapped it created one. I can see undercoating being a positive thing. But, most people applying it just didn’t care, or know the correct way to apply it. And the car dealership selling it definitely didn’t care about the rust prevention quality. So in my book, rust proofing/prevention was a scam. When my 1978 Honda Civic was recalled for rust issues. The service manager (who was a long time friend) called me asked how my car was perfect underneath with absolutely no rust. As I explained to him. Every spring once the snow goes away. I spend a couple of hours on the lift with a high pressure hose. Rinsing out every spot under the car that can possibly hold any dirt or water. If I’m still getting anything other than clear water. Then I’m still flushing. Including pulling back the belt/door weather strip to make sure that the drain holes are clear.
1973 GTO should be an oxymoron.
I had a 1973 white on white GTO loaded with a 455 CID engine. Only 544 of thses were built. Although it handled well it was not a quick car. Pontiac/GM put the 455 SD ( super duty) engine in the Firebird/Trans Am and not the GTO???? Could never understand why since the GTO was the staple of muscle, big mistake!
There were I believe 2 prototype Grand Ams built with the SD-455. Both destroyed as per common practice. Pontiac did intend to build them (the 1974 LeMans/Grand Am owners manual even cites the SD as an option). Sadly, never made production.
The SD-455 is listed as optional equipment in both the Grand Am and LeMans brochures for 1973. So undoubtedly, they intended to offer it in the GTO and Grand Am. I have no idea why they didn’t follow through. My guess would be production costs or limited supply.
There was every intention of offering the SD-455 in the GTO, Grand Am and possibly the Grand Prix in the Spring of 1973. This appears in the brochure and a number of advertising reels. If you can find it watch the Grand Am endura bumper in a TV commercial that clearly shows 455-SD on its LF fender. They went as far as trotting out a mule for select magazine writers to evaluate. High Performance Cars magazine went on to award their Car of the Year honors to that car. The issue went to press in January for the March edition. In January ’73 Jim McDonald was transferred from head of Pontiac to run Chevrolet. Martin Caserio came to Pontiac from GMC and AC spark plug. Seeing a need for fuel economy and safety over performance he canceled the program. Only a few hundred would make their way into Firebird Formula and Trans Am.
Nelson – Great insights here. Makes perfect sense. Also just watched the commercial you are referring to. Would have been the collanade to have to sure!
Connecting some more dots here on the SD and the “why” it never made it to these cars…
Pontiac actually developed a fairly “advanced” emission system that used electronic timers to disable the vacuum advance control system (TCS) and the EGR system on the SD-455. The timers literally only allowed those systems to operate during the official EPA timed intervals, so in essence the systems were disabled during real world operation. In early 1973, the EPA caught on, before the SD actually went into production. Pontiac had to fit the SD-455 with the standard systems before the SD could be released. Somewhere in that melee, the decision was made to drop the SD-455 on all but the T/A and Formula.
Another fun fact about the SD-455 was that its HP rating of 290 net was purposely taken at a lower RPM to underrate its actual output.
The engine was known as the “Hemi Hunter” and “Rat Eater” within Pontiac engineering at the time.
Was not aware of the timers but emissions certification was the reason for the late introduction. I also read that the hp rating was reduced from 310 to 290 to pacify the insurance types. The Hemi left quite an impression on everyone.
Good to hear of another 455 GTO owner. I ordered mine in Nov. 72. Took delivery in Jan. 73. Drove it 4 years then traded it off. Kept track of it all these years and bought it back in Sept. 2025. It was still in excellent condition.
Lucky!! Wish I knew where mine was. It had every option including a leaky sunroof. White on White with that awesome accent stripe, Wide Ovals on the Wide track platform, great handling!
Mid-seventies to mid-eighties will always be a pariah. For those that want true beauty and power from a muscle car, this one only clicks one of those boxes. Sellers often forget that rarity does not equate to value or desirability. Still, it is a nice car and worth probably half what they are asking
A pariah? Your opinion, but a lot of good looking cars in the mid 70’s as well as the mid 80’s as well as decent performance. Ever heard of the Buick GNX for both beauty and power, as well as rarity and desirability?
Last April I was in contact with this seller about a ‘73 4spd. car he claimed was “one of 101” when in fact it was one of 101 built in Canada, as if that added value. This one is listed as a “Sport Coupe” which it isn’t…
Love it, but BIN is way too high. I have seen very nice examples of these recently at about $30K.
The whole collanade body style is a design disaster!
Plastering it with a GTO badge does not make it better.
For this money–just look for a real GTO!
Hear hear, Jim!
Jim – I think you will find more than a few here will disagree with you. The collanades sold incredibly well for a reason…
Having worked in a Pontiac store while in college. (1972-1975) I was fortunate enough to be able to drive many hot and cool Pontiacs. It helped alot the part owner and general manager to adopt me into his family. He was also a racer at heart. So it is him I blame for my racing habit. When ever a hot car of any kind (usually Pontiacs,but not always) he made sure that I at least drove that car home at night. Or took it to the auto cross that weekend. So 400 HOs, 455SDs, GTOs, Trans Ams, Corvette, 455 GrandAms, Porsche, even a Fiat Dino and an Abarth. So I feel qualified to make the following statements. I love most GM cars, but have a large distaste for GM corporate. I love the pre ’73 cars, but yes, the Colonade cars handled better. But I always felt that they were not built as stiff. (meaning more chassis flex than the older cars) and seeing a ’73 LeMans get rear ended right in front of the dealership as the car left the lot for the first time and both frame rails ended up touching the street with very little body damage. Reinforced my feeling/opinion. In my opinion, the build quality was in no way better than the older cars. But the newer ones (Colonade cars) sure hugged the road better.
Probably a one of one with those Mack truck tail pipes. You have got to be kidding. Advise: do not let your children install your exhaust system.
Those are, actually, factory and correct. I can’t get a good enough view from the pics to comment on whether, or not, they are installed properly but, they look to be.
The 1973 GTO shop manual also referenced the 455SD engine so it definitely was planned and taken away, shame.
The march of the Collonades continues in 2026!
N
Napoli Classics
(110)
Seller’s other itemsSeller’s other items
US $24,900.00
17 bids
Ended
Reserve not met
US $47,000.00
Buy It Now
Immediate payment of US $250.00 is required.