Made for only three model years, 1973, 1974, and 1975, the first-generation Pontiac Grand Am is a car that we (or I) rarely see in person anymore. It probably has Pontiac’s most unique grille configuration and is my personal favorite. This first-year 1973 Pontiac Grand Am is listed here on eBay in Ramona, California, and the seller is asking $7,000 or best offer. Thanks to Curvette for the tip!
This car is sharp both in design and condition – or it looks like it’s in nice condition. As always, I’d prefer regular factory wheels, but that’s just a personal preference. I get why people like to dress up their vehicles and personalize them, but for me, it’s about the memories, and reliving someone else’s dream isn’t the same as reliving my dreams. Enough of that, nobody cares, and nobody should care what I like. I mean, other than not putting ketchup on a hot dog (kidding) (sort of). We saw this exact car a few months ago here on Barn Finds, and the seller was asking $19,700. Hmmm…
I rarely, if ever, see a first-gen Grand Am in the wild anymore, but every day I see at least one fourth or fifth-generation Grand Am. They must have sold millions of those cars, and they did. The colonnade GMs were an interesting bunch, as some (most?) had inoperable rear side windows, so when the old man was working on a heater (smoke) with the windows closed, yeah, good times. This one has louvers back there, so for sure don’t go down. Here’s a 1973 Grand Am brochure.
Beige, black, and saddle were the interior colors available with this beautiful “Golden Olive” exterior paint color, and by the looks of the driver’s seat cover, I hope you have a good upholstery shop on speed dial. Speed dial? Everyone under 50 just rolled their eyes. There was a 4-speed manual available with the 400 V8, but this one has a Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic, as seen by the selector on the center console. The dash is incredibly cracked, which may be one reason for the ultra-low asking price, when combined with work that may be needed on the driver’s seat. Still, this car is a steal at the asking price if it isn’t rusted out under the new (looking) paint.
Sadly, the seller didn’t bother to pop the hood, which is rare for an eBay auction. This car is said to have a “6.5 liter,” according to their very, very, very short description. It’s a Pontiac 400-cu.in. OHV V8 (according to the VIN) with 230 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, with a four-barrel carb and dual exhaust. Backed by the THM-400 transmission sending power to the rear wheels, they say it runs strong, and that’s it for an operating condition report. Maybe that’s enough when you’re asking a fraction of Hagerty’s value for your Grand Am. Hagerty is at an eye-watering $27,000 for a #3 good-condition Grand Am with a 400 four-barrel, and the seller is asking $7,000. Is this one real? Why is the asking price so low, or maybe Hagerty is too high, or a combination of both?
Hard to believe that someone bought this new (and possibly ordered it)
in this ugly color.
Maybe it was only driven after dark,so nobody would notice.That would
account for the low mileage.
That’s funny, I think the exact opposite about the color, I think it’s spot-on for this car.
It is a bit avocado-bathroom-suite, though…
Very much of its time.
Color is like weather, some like it hot, some like it cold. Red, blue, green, brown, white, black, etc. We all like what we like, and there’s nothing wrong with not liking this color. I don’t know if I’d say it was ugly, though, especially since I like it, ha.
I guess I was thinking the discussion might go towards how the asking price is $12,700 less than it was four months ago. I didn’t even give the 1970s color a thought.
I’m with you Scotty on the color not sure why just feel it works on this car. I had a 1975 Grand Am same car except the tail lights were vertical on the fenders. First car I financed bought it in 1977 off the Pontiac dealer down the road from my parents house I was 17 my stepdad cosigned for me loved that car black with a dark red interior and a 400 engine center console.
I agree Scotty, this color takes me back to childhood, and Mom having everything in the house painted some shade of green…trim and all! Then there were those humongous drapes with the tiebacks and sheers. We always felt like we were in a funeral parlor.
Also agree on the wheels as a nice set of PMD rally 15″ X 8″ wheels would sit nicely under those wheel wells. I would even consider leaving the beauty rings off to give it a bit of GTO persona.
If the engine and transmission are as stated, this car will be a pretty strong runner, and you won’t have to worry about someone parking another one just like it at your local Cars N Coffee.
To funny. Ya made my day.
That low price, especially the “obo” part, raises a lot of questions for me. I dig the car, but it’s like someone offering me a Rolex for $250. Color me skeptical.
Russ Dixon wrote this one up on March 18th. I didn’t think that the Army ordered two of them 😆🤣😆.
You are correct, sir. I mentioned that in the second paragraph.
Ugly colors mean less theives.
Powertrain > color
’73 Is my favorite year for the Grand Am. Geeat engine choices and I like the nose and tailights the best too. Like it or not, this is a color that was very popular in the early 70’s. It looks amazing, but there’s definitely a little red flag with that severe price drop.
The only thing more ridiculous than the tail pipes is the color.
I’ve never seen this color on the LeMan’s bodies, and on the big Catalina bodies it looked very different.
I’m sure it doesn’t look so military green in person .
You know times were bad, when even GM was producing cars this homely.
not a good color and it looks worse with the wheels that are on it. be a good 4k car but it needs a color change.
This is a true favorite of mine from day one. I like all four greens from ’73 and maybe only Brewster may have been better on this car. My question is to where the NACA duct hood went. That was shared with the GTO.
Same photos as the previous eBay listing, same location, seller has limited feedback, price has been slashed, but not to the point of absurdity. Anyone interested would be wise to proceed with caution. There’s a reason it hasn’t sold yet, even at this bargain price.
Ha, ha… given the comments on the colors… One can tell who experienced the 70s and who did not. Some of us grew up and have a soft spot for avocado fridges and burnt orange counter tops ;-)
Really one of the ugliest GM designs after the beauties of the late ‘60s
GM at its lowest point when this was produced—like the color or not-this thing is UGLY!
I have never been accused of having great taste but, I love these colors!
I like this and LOVE the price…lol
Would that be fresh olive oil on the upholstery?
There’s gotta be some monkey business gong on here for that car to still be available.
Says its got one active offer. I wouldn’t even try to talk the guy down. Don’t even care it looks like a pile of cow dung on 4 wheels. I’ll paint it…chartreuse!
We used to call this shade “baby puke green.” Yech..
Nice write up Scotty! Grand Am’s are cool…I like color and the saddle interior…and by the way-there is a restaurant in Raleigh that does not allow ketchup on it’s hot dogs.
I lived through the ‘70s. I was 19 when this thing came out. Ugly body style. I remember my friends and literally being shocked when the awesome designs of ‘68-‘72 were followed by the Colonnade style. Ugly color. I mean, the worst. Smogmotor. Significantly lower horsepower, and worse fuel economy. $9.97 seat cover from Walmart. Yep. This car has it all. If you held a gun to my head to force me to accept it as a gift, I would need to consider the caliber of the bullet before making a decision.
I find it fascinating that the older I have become the easier it is for me to appreciate the radical idea of ketchup on a hot dog.
“This listing was ended by the seller on Tue, Jul 14 at 12:05 PM because the item is no longer available.”
I forgot just how ugly these cars looked with that grille.
Who in the design dept. came up with that. No wonder it was three years and done.
Three words.
Pea
Green
Soup
I really wanted one of these when I graduated from HS in the spring of 74 (yes I had saved a lot of money to buy one) but the dealer stocked and sold very few and I could never find one, new lor used I liked. I finally bought a new 74 FB before the 75s came out with a big price increase and unleaded fuel.