Pontiac Grand Am The Pontiac Grand Am was originally a mid-size car and later a compact car that was produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors. The Grand Am had a 3-year run from 1973 to 1975 and again from 1978 to 1980. It was based on the GM A platform. Production of the Grand Am was canceled in 1980 when it was replaced by the Pontiac 6000. The Grand Am was reintroduced in 1985 when it replaced the Pontiac Phoenix. On that particular point, the Grand Am was based on the GM N platform, became a compact car, and was replaced by the Pontiac G6. All Grand Ams between 1985 and 2005 were built in Lansing, Michigan.
1973-1975
The original Grand Am was introduced in the fall of 1972 as a 1973 model. It was placed on the GM A platform along with other cars such as the Pontiac Grand Prix, Pontiac LeMans, Pontiac GTO, Chevrolet Chevelle, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Buick Century, and the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, among others.
The Grand Am was available as a sedan or coupe. The Grand Am had a variety of engines; 147 Grand Ams had engines with a four-speed manual transmission during its first year. The four-speed automatic transmission was available only with the 400 in³ engine. 43,186 Grand Ams were built during the first year of production. Pontiac also produced a Grand Am station wagon during its first year of production. Some Grand Ams had a built on ram-air induction for a sporty look. The 1973 Pontiac Grand Am style had a total of 6 grille openings with vertical bars, round front turn signals, horizontal rear taillights, and chrome rear bumper. 1974 Grand Ams were the same as the 1973 model but had a minor cosmetic change on its grille with 12 openings with horizontal bars, and vertical rear taillights. The 1975 model looked the same as the 1974 model, but with a total of 12 openings with vertical bars, vertical rear taillights, and a body-colored rear bumper. 1975 was the last year for the original Grand Am, due to its poor sales and low production.
Engines
• 1973-1975 400 in³ (6.5 L) V8 with 2-barrel carburetor
• 1973-1975 400 in³ (6.5 L) V8 with 4-barrel carburetor
• 1973-1974 400 in³ (6.5 L) V8 with 4-barrel carburetor(was not available in California)
• 1973-1975 455 in³ (7.4 L) V8 with 4-barrel carburetor
Notes:
• 1973 engines may have point or unitized ignition.
A 455SD equipped engineering prototype Grand Am has been built, but supposedly was dismantled and destroyed.
• 1974 engines may have point or unitized ignition or starting from May 1, 1974, HEI ignition.
• 1975 engines have HEI ignition.
• 1975 was the first year for the catalytic converter.
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