Pontiac’s Grand Am, new for 1973, was inspired by the encroaching European brands like Mercedes and BMW into the U.S. car market. The idea was to combine sporty-car and luxury-car into the same package. So, the Grand Am would be a hybrid of the Grand Prix and Trans Am on a Colonnade intermediate platform. Even the name would be a hybrid of the two. The first generation of the car would run from 1973-75 and it would return briefly in 1978-80. This first year, one-owner Grand Am coupe is located outdoors in Summerville, Georgia and available here on Facebook Marketplace for $15,000. Thanks to Mike Berkemeier for bringing this tip to us!
The Grand Am’s initially short production run may be attributed to the OPEC oil embargo that happened just after the car hit the market. With its sports/luxury blueprint, fuel economy wasn’t part of the equation and sales suffered by the third year because it wasn’t an econobox. But, for its first year (1973), it was pretty popular at 43,000 units built, comprised of both two (34,000) and four-door (9,000) models. Engine choices amounted to different versions of the 400 and 455 cubic inch V-8s. The latter, with a 4-barrel carburetor, was good for 250 net horsepower using a TH-400 transmission, which is likely the set-up in the seller’s car. The 1973 edition had a unique flexible urethane front fascia center nose (known as the ‘Endura’ nose) that was squeezable and could return to its original shape following a minor collision.
Circling back to the European design influence, the handling characteristics of the Grand Am made it more spritely than other GM intermediates and the interior was appointed with goodies like Strato-bucket seats, wrap-around dash and Genuine Crossfire African Mahogany trim to add to the statement that Pontiac wanted to make. A fully decked-out Grand Am could be had for $6,000, which was much less than the European cars Pontiac was trying to emulate.
As the story goes on this ’73 Grand Am, it was purchased new in Lafayette, Georgia and is/was in possession of the original purchaser for 47 years. The car has no doubt spent a lot of time outdoors which has done more to the paint than anything else. The front clip looks to have been damaged at some point, given the absence of the Endura snout. The interior doesn’t look bad for its age or 68,000 miles except perhaps for one section of the seat bottom on the passenger side of the Pontiac. We’re told the 455 and tranny are matching numbers, but there is no mention as to whether the car runs at all. Given its current state, I’d say no, and it looks like both a cosmetic and mechanical project waiting to be tackled.
Online sources are undecided if the Grand Am is a classic or a used car. It isn’t flamboyant like American machines of the 1950s, nor does it possess the raw muscle of cars of the 1960s. The 1970s was a period of further change in the automotive industry and the Grand Am may be an exception in a sea of cars that haven’t yet reached the attention of collectors. Hagerty suggests that $24,000 is top dollar for one of these Pontiacs, with Fair condition being more like $5,000. Given the work that appears in store for this Grand Am, the seller’s asking price sounds awfully rich.
What is it with these ridiculous asking prices lately?
And no mention of why the front end is missing,or where it is.
I have a feeling this one will turn up again (& again &…).
I wonder if anyone would pay that price if it was in #1 condition?
Seriously overpriced!
To me, this car in its day did have a degree of interest. I liked the styling and the Pontiacs always seemed to have nice interiors. But as others have pointed out, as it stands it isn’t worth much.
That 73-79 Ford Flareside pickup in the background might be more interesting/valuable….
15K for a salvage yard find!
$15,000! HAHAHAHA! (Why not just leave the car where it is and watch the rust slowly creep up until it disappears?)
Five zeros to many
The trouble with buying this at any price and restoring it is you would end up with a ’73 Grand Am.
If what you want is a ‘73 Grand Am, I don’t see the problem.
Whatever the seller is smoking, I want some! If this is a $15k car, then my dad’s “well-loved” 2004 Impala [base] is worth $50k. If Pop’s Impala didn’t hold such sentimental value, I’d be on my way to a Barrett Jackson auction house with it!
While these cars are definitely cool, this one doesn’t have the valuable NACA hood or the hard to find nose. I’m normally a defender of car values but in this condition he’s asking 70 chevelle ss money.
He’s probably hoping there’s a sucker out there that will pay the money. LOL
Honestly, I can see someone looking for a car like this thinking it’s an easy fix. Suckers are out there….plenty….
Sorry, but even if it had the NACA hood and the nose it’s not a $15k car.
This car is and always was a turd. Smog bog crap wagon.
This car has been around.the first post it was complete. The owner took parts needed .hopefully someone is loose with money.aka sucker.
If the nose could be replaced, this Grand Am might be a candidate for a Pro-Touring project involving an Art Morrison chassis and an E-Rod Corvette engine with a Tremec TKO-600 transmission.
$15K?! Seriously? Crack is whack!
$15,000? You’ll need some weed!
Can’t expect people to understand these cars unless you’ve driven one – lately. That said, this one looks like a basket case, one owner or not.
Agree. I had one and it was a very decent car. Plenty of power from a base 400, a flamboyant Evel Knievel presence, nice interior/dash and exceptional handling for a ‘70s American car. Pontiac did these right. Timing couldn’t have been much worse though.
I’ve never really encountered anyone smoking weed having any unrealistic expectations like asking $15K for this former parts car basket case.
I have yet to encounter any sucker who needs anything so bad they’ll pay me stupid money for it. It’s rare I’ll find someone to even pay reasonable money!
The Seller is obviously on another Planet. It’s a $5000.00 car maybe. It’s a Project, and one would be North of a big number to save it but to what end? I will say that Pontiac had some interesting Colonnade cars in this, its Bizarre Period, that would be unique to own.
I wouldn’t pay 1,500 for this pile.
Looks like they should leave this turd right where it is sitting in the junk yard.
I had one just like this, same color combo, 400/4bbl. It was a very comfortable cruiser with good tight handling. I remember being on I-95 somewhere between Richmond and Washington, D.C. running around 95-100 mph when a Virginia state trooper pulled along side and just motioned for me to cool it down a bit. Wish I still had it, but not at this price even if it was pristine.
I get that you wouldn’t want it at $15k even in “pristine” condition, but if it were it would easily bring the money.
If this car is worth 15 large, then what is my 73 Black Grand Prix w a white half top white interior 455 motor, it’s an SJ w every option in the book including sunroof, has Spokes and Vogues, pristine condition worth, maybe I’m gonna sell it
I’m thinking it should worth a million and a half, based on what other cars here are offered for. ;-)
Why is it so many people who comment here sound so unhappy?
If someone buys this car and are needing parts, I have a 1974 Pontiac Grand AM that I am parting out. Call 573-541-1970 or email collectorcarsandparts@yahoo.com
Your parts car looks almost as good…. list it for $8000 and you’ll steal that guy’s buyer away!🤣🤣🤣
Gotta be a “typo”. $1,500 sounds like a more reasonable “asking price”. I’d counter at $600 and that’s for parts only. Not worth restoring but, this car could make another car complete. Too bad it’s in Georgia or I would make an offer but, shipping would triple the cost.
These sure were lookers when they were new.
$850 max. This guy’s a crack addict.
This was not a special car even back in the ’80s. A friend had one in the ’80s and I think he paid a couple hundred dollars for it in good condition.
Crunched out in rust. Needs doors, rockers and quarters. Too bad, it was nice with black interior and the 455. Looks like the fake wood stuff was ripped off the dash and only the smegma glue is left.
I was in high school working at a Pontiac dealer as a lot lizard when these cars came out. The owner ordered a 1974 demonstrator with everything and let me drive it in our local parade and use it that night. That car was a blast and I’ve wanted one ever since. But not this one. Even if it was cheap or free I don’t see anything but a parts car.
roflmao!!!
That’s pretty good. He doesn’t even know what a lot lizard is.
This car is, actually, really rare with the 455 in it…can’t be too many left. That being said, it is priced high.
Hopefully the potential buyer will read these comments and realize that this is strictly a parts car, and probably worth $500 at the most if the guy has the title for it for what it is. I’ve tried so am I near rust free Malibu from this era for three grand and I can’t even sell it, so how the heck does the guy think he’s going to get anything for this scrapyard condition car?