[rexs73gto]

I kinda went the other way I tried to put the G/A bumper on my 73 GTO to see how it would look with a bumper recessed in where it should be. It took a lot of doing but I did get it to fit pretty good. I didn't have as much time as I wanted during the winter to play with it before I put the correct bumper back on so I could drive it this year. I think I've got a coulpe of pics of it , I'll post them here if I can find them.

[rexs73gto]

I don't know what i did it only posted the one pic' but I;ll try again. Here goes. Yes this is ok, the only thing I didn't get done last winter was the side pieces & all around the park lamps. If I wuld have had about another month I think I could ahve finished it to where it would have looked like it came from the factory that way. I never really liked those big stick out bumpers on the 73 , but like all we got use to them. Here's what I would have liked it to look like at least completed. On the last pis I was getting ver close to having it complete as you can see, but the weather was getting warm & I wanted to get back out there. I think it looks pretty good, let me know guys????? How do you guys think it looks???

[Pontiacdaver]

That does look pretty cool Rex, a lot more like it belongs there than I would have thought.

[fast formula]

Originally Posted by rexs73gto

I don't know what i did it only posted the one pic' but I;ll try again. Here goes. Yes this is ok, the only thing I didn't get done last winter was the side pieces & all around the park lamps. If I wuld have had about another month I think I could ahve finished it to where it would have looked like it came from the factory that way. I never really liked those big stick out bumpers on the 73 , but like all we got use to them. Here's what I would have liked it to look like at least completed. On the last pis I was getting ver close to having it complete as you can see, but the weather was getting warm & I wanted to get back out there. I think it looks pretty good, let me know guys????? How do you guys think it looks???

It looks excellent!!! I hate that big old bumper. IMO - they reversed it. They should've put it on the GTO from the start with the NACA hood. Sweet!

If you end up selling that GA bumper - please let me know.

Awesome car BTW!

[fast formula]

Originally Posted by muscle_collector

that sounds really nice. got any pics especially of the phs. where did it sell new? grand ams were really popular around here when new.

Damn,having problems uploading photo.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by fast formula

Damn,having problems uploading photo.

To get it from your computer, as long as it is a bmp doc gif jpe jpeg jpg pdf png txt
format, and under 300 KB size, use the "manage attachments" button in the additional options section.

[rexs73gto]

I'm not done with the bumper yet as I want to get it to the point that the park lamps & the bumper with the rub strip all on it. I ran out of time last winter, & well I'll move it along a little more this winter. The way it goes on I don't have to do mch to remove the original bumper. I just unbolt the bumper shocks & slide the whole thing out & the G/A bumper is mounted solid to the frame horns. This year I have to look for a close out for the sides of the bumper. Because of the way the G/A bumper sits I don't have to have a close out on the top because it sits pretty much where it should so theres not a bug gap from the nose & the bumper. What really took the longest was the lower panal because the way it sat it was out farther then the front bumper so to make it fit where it should back far enough took what seemed forever. I think I had it on & off a thousand times. Lucky though I didn't have to cut anything I just had to notch the mounting holes & the mounting bracket for the G/A bumper. I think after goimg to the junk yards this summer I think I found a set of close outs for the sides of the bumper. Then it's on to the park lamp pieces . I had one just about right when I got done last winter but I had to trash one to make one now I need to get a couple more now that I know what & where to cut them so they will fit.

[fast formula]

Here we go again.

[77 Canamman]

[fast formula]

Thanks, Rick!

[Grand73Am]

Since you asked what we think of it....Sorry, but it doesn't work for me. The style and proportion of the car really needs to have the bumper more forward to remain proportional. The reason the 72 and older cars look fine with the bumper closer to the nose is that they were styled that way. The 73-77's were styled and proportioned to take into account the big bumpers, and changing the position doesn't work.

The GA bumper works on a GA since it blends with the nose, and the nose protrudes more forward than the Lemans/gto nose panel does.

So, it might look okay if you mount it more forward. As it is, it just looks pushed back, making the nose area look short and stubby. I've never liked it when people move the bumper closer to the nose on these 73-77 a-body cars because it just doesn't work asthetically.

[77 Canamman]

That is an impressive list of options! Probably the most interesting Grand Am this side of Phil Griffith's Black SD-455 4 speed..



They appear to be VERY closely optioned, and with the exception of the interior colors, almost identical. Phil's car has a Buckskin interior.

[Grand73Am]

Interesting... mine has the same list of options, except with a 455 auto.

[fast formula]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

That is an impressive list of options! Probably the most interesting Grand Am this side of Phil Griffith's Black SD-455 4 speed..



They appear to be VERY closely optioned, and with the exception of the interior colors, almost identical. Phil's car has a Buckskin interior.

SD 4 spd Grand Am? Damn, that's awesome!

I have the original receipt for the car from Charlie Harris Pontiac in Clearwater, Florida. I also have the original receipt somewhere for the dealer installed cruise control. I was told that it wasn't an option for 4 spds but the owner/ manager? wanted it.

[Brian Baker]

Originally Posted by Grand73Am

Since you asked what we think of it....Sorry, but it doesn't work for me. The style and proportion of the car really needs to have the bumper more forward to remain proportional. The reason the 72 and older cars look fine with the bumper closer to the nose is that they were styled that way. The 73-77's were styled and proportioned to take into account the big bumpers, and changing the position doesn't work.

The GA bumper works on a GA since it blends with the nose, and the nose protrudes more forward than the Lemans/gto nose panel does.

So, it might look okay if you mount it more forward. As it is, it just looks pushed back, making the nose area look short and stubby. I've never liked it when people move the bumper closer to the nose on these 73-77 a-body cars because it just doesn't work asthetically.

Agreed...I just didn't want to be the first one to say "it don't look right".

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by fast formula

SD 4 spd Grand Am? Damn, that's awesome!

I have the original receipt for the car from Charlie Harris Pontiac in Clearwater, Florida. I also have the original receipt somewhere for the dealer installed cruise control. I was told that it wasn't an option for 4 spds but the owner/ manager? wanted it.

That's correct. Cruise control was available from the factory only on Hydramatic equipped vehicles. I would imagine that a clutch release switch, in addition to the electrical and vacuum brake release switches, would have to be engineered into the system to prevent engine damage.

[fast formula]

[QUOTE=77 Canamman;4802150]That's correct. Cruise control was available from the factory only on Hydramatic equipped vehicles. I would imagine that a clutch release switch, in addition to the electrical and vacuum brake release switches, would have to be engineered into the system to prevent engine damage.[/QUOTE

Gotta check it out this weekend and take pictures.

[rexs73gto]

When I first put the G/A bumper on the car I wasn't sure about it but when I was able to put the trim pieces on (temp) it looked more like it belonged there. Before I put the trim on it it looked like it was out of place & incomplete. After I put the trim on to see what it would look like when all the pieces were on it to give it the semi-finished look it did look better & different. The trim pieces gave some depth to the front while adding some defination to it to. I was omly able to get the trim on in a temp way but I know that when I get back to it , to finish it as I see it in my mines eye I do think you may look at in a different light. I know it won't suit everyone but I do think it will look correct when done. It may be that your just not up for any change in the car as your happy with the way Pontiac designed it but for me the big bumper don't do anything for the car. Also as you are aware I'm sure , that Pontiac had to do something to get the 5mph rating on the bumpers & that no one in the upper design area liked the bumpers because as in one of the comments that Jim Wagners made to me at the 1985 GTO nats was he hated the 73 for 2 reasons, one it looked like 2 people designed the car & met in the middle & that the front of the car looked like it was sticking its tounge out. Again I know it won't work for everyone but I'm sure that there will be as many who will like it. This is because when I was able to get one of the guys on the A-Body site put those pics up there were some very postive comments at that time. It's just a matter of taste, thats why I asked I wanted to know. Plus I may get some ideas from the comments about the front end.

[77 Canamman]

Wangers is a contradiction. He likes the Can Am because he had a hand in it, but does not like the 1973 GTO...They are a very similar car.

I don't mind the bumpers. I think PMD did a much better job on these cars than that ugly monster Chevelle Malibu from the same era. Those cars were awful. It is hard to believe they were corporate siblings. The one I had was terrible in just about every way.

[chicagoland]

Per Pontiac History, the GA front was supposed to the the GTO only, but the whole 'anti-supercar'* backlash made them rename top sporty car Grand Am. Left GTO to be option on plain LeMans. If the 73 Goat had the GA front, it would have sold better.

* Back in the day, factory performance cars were called Super Cars, not Muscle cars as today.

Funny, nowadays, there are no 5 mph bumpers at all on new cars. They added weight and MPG took precedence, so in the trash they went. [by 1990ish.] Only took 20 years tho!