[SD73]

After reading the HPP article posted about the primered SD and seeing Norwood's new stance on his T/A, I got inspired to a post a little history on my car that I was fortunate enough to get with the purchase of it. I'm the third owner of this car. All the following is from the first owner who bought the car new and sold it within a year. The second owner had it until I purchased it in 2001. It's remained in California the entire time.

The first owners name is Mikal. It's on my Warranty card, and in a number of email correspondences I had with him. He ordered it pretty much stripped. The only options to speak of are Auto, Deluxe Interior, AM Radio, and the Trim. Mikal ordered it with the articles in mind he'd been reading to closely resemble the test cars he was following in the magazines of the time. The articles that inspired him where actually clipped and passed to each of us new owners too, along with all the other documentation. Mikal was a huge help to me in answering a lot of questions I had along the way and of course having kept all his documentation with the car.

Soon after purchase Mikal put in a Hayes electronic ignition conversion, worked the distributor, and did some carb jetting. On the outside, he added the mud flaps then later changed the blue decals to orange. That's pretty much the only changes that I undid once I got the car along with a general restore of everything that time had done to her. I was fortunate that most of the hard to find stuff was there, just worn down and needing freshening from the years that had past.

The letters have some interesting insight into the history of SD and the pictures show that elusive front valance and stance of these beasts when new. I know I'm leaving out some of the details due to my sometimers disease. If you guys have some stories and early pics to share, I sure would love to see 'em! Enjoy these. One day I'll followup with some present day pics of her.

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[Transamric]

That is terrific! Thanks. Nothing like those vintage pics to take a guy way back.

[schneidsd455]

Awesome! From the letters, one can sense the sheer anticipation/anguish/elation that the owner must have been feeling with each successive letter. At least I would have. Thanks for posting.

[cliffhanger]

my friend, great thanks to this wonderful reading! i have read with keen interest and just love the vintage photographs! This has been extremely interesting. would love to see pictures of it present day.

I am profoundly and happily amazed on the dedication on customer interaction on the Pontiac Motor Devision. Though I am not aquainted to how customer care has been in the 'good old days', I have experience in current day 'care'.

I have actually written various mails both electronic and in written, but have not recieved any feedback what so ever from Pontiac nowadays, regarding various suggestions, questions and interest in various current day pontiac models, in particulour the Solstice, which i had and still have a keen interest in (though, only outfitted with the Pitbull V8 conversion). I actually sent various home-brewed (professional 3D) 5th gen firebird & trans am suggestions, with various chassis suggestions on using either the new camaro, kappa or G8 platforms.

It troubled me quite to see no response was brought to effort nor any way of customer satisfaction on any matter regarding my interest in the Pontiac brand. no reaction to the above at all, except for only one line by mail: "Please contact your local Pontiac brand -authorized dealer for references to your questions".

that's all I ever got. Even though I've mentioned I am a EU-resident where no Pontiac dealerships are located.

It thus amazes me the difference in current-day customer care, and the one posted above, and only adds to the keen likelyness and love I have for the classic Pontiac brand. how times have changed.

The above can only adress me as to people who actually truly have knowledge of the branche they are working in, as well as the obvious love for the motoring / car indrustry, apposed to the 'schooled heartless profit-eyed managers' that we find nowayads, everywhere in the business, some minor private companies excluded.
I can only see somebody actually taking care of the customers wishes, and actually getting informed on state of business, and actually trying to get the customer what he is asking for, even if this might take effort, opposed to fainting interest and care as is now common.

So once again, thank U for this great reading. How I would love to get a time machine and travel back to the early seventies (71 to be precise) and order me a fully-optioned to my wishes 1971 Pontiac Firebird Formula Ram Air V, AND (yes, AND) A 1973 Pontiac Trans Am SD455 in brewster green........

[Brewster]

Great read indeed!
Would love to have Milts transcripts on tuning the old beast. That would be way cool!
I also liked the fact how Mikal was concerned about the -aka road test. Im sure that never happened?
Cant quit verify those fender vents colors but my money is on BLACK.

Jeff, love that new avatar. Awesome!

[1973Formula]

Great post. The letters are very interesting. I can only imagine that level of customer care ever existed. Experiences like that are few and far between now. You can really feel the level of anticipation. Post more info any time.

Thanks,
Tom

[Norwood]

Those are great..Thanks for posting all of this. Its great to see the "way back machine" Pictures. It shows the real delivered stance of the early 2nd gens, before the rear of the body started gowing up. One thing that I do remember about the hight of my car when I got it in 75 was that I could not roll my Craftsman floor jack under the front spoiler and I had to put the jack in from behind the front tire.