[sdx455]

Anyone have a pictures of the original 73 GOT PONTIAC trunk letters . It just came to me this week that back in the 80's mine broke or something and I went to the dealer and they kept giving me this plastic one piece job and I was telling them no that's not it ,mine where more individual letters. there is only 2 mounting holes in my trunk but the letters were much cleaner looking that what I got

[sdx455]

looking at the ultimategto a site alot of cars dont even have them . and there are some different styles/types . what was it an option? the word PONTIAC spelled out under the trunk key hole

[rexs73gto]

The word Pontiac was a metal script that was just under the key on the trunk lid , it was a 1 piece script that has just 2 mounting studs. It is NOT shiney but a dull finish that is all 1 piece. It doesn't come as seprate letters as you are suggesting. The ONLY way they came / come is the 1 piece mounted script. The top of the letters are a dull finish & has black on the outer edge of the letters to hepl make the dull silver finish. But it comes as a 1 piece script only NOT single letters , ever. Now as far as the word GTO is on the lower rught corner of the trunk lid & that is a vinyl letters only. The GTO vinyl letters came in 3 colors red, white & black.

[77 Canamman]

Here is an ass shot of my 58k mile original paint GTO:

[77 Canamman]

RARE opportunity here on everyone's favorite auction site. Be aware that GM kept the same part number but changed pin locations in the mid-70's. The emblem itself is the correct one but you may have to drill different holes than what is originally there

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-Pontiac...ec0c4e&vxp=mtr

[77 Canamman]

Another chance:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-PONTIAC...bf4e9f&vxp=mtr

[rexs73gto]

I like the looks of your 73 GTO but am wondering why it has the 73 Lemans tail lamp lens in it. The correct tail lamps should have the 1/8 inch silver painted trim on the edge of the tail lamp. Did you have to change them for some reason??

[77 Canamman]

There were two thickness of painted edges on 1973 LeMans/GTO tail lenses. One was 1/8" and the other 1/4". The lenses in my previous photo were cracked, so I have since replaced them with NOS 1/8" lenses. LeMans and GTO used the same taillamp lenses. Luxury LeMans used another style, as did Grand Am.

[BR57]

For what its worth, my taillights appear to be identical to the ones in Rick's photo above. My car is an Oshawa Canada built Sport Coupe.

[rexs73gto]

If you look in the part book there is 3 part numbers listed for the tail lamps. The one for the lemans then one for the GTO & the last for the Grand Am & LLM. The GTO used the thin 1/8 inch edge & the Lemans used the thicker 1/4 inch one and then the G.A & LLM used the thin 1/8 inch with the metal frame around the edge & through the center of the lens. That is how we use to be able at a little distance wheatheer it was a Lemans Or a GTO back in the day. Other then the sportcoupe emblem & the GTO decal it was the second eaisest way to tell for sure. Even though some put the GTO decal on to try to clone it even back then.

[77 Canamman]

The wide painted lens 5949288 right side:



Some superceded numbers:



Thin painted lenses:



NOS Grand Am lens:




Part numbers:



My car today with the "correct" 1/8" lenses.

[BillyGoat73]

Originally Posted by rexs73gto

If you look in the part book there is 3 part numbers listed for the tail lamps. The one for the lemans then one for the GTO & the last for the Grand Am & LLM. The GTO used the thin 1/8 inch edge & the Lemans used the thicker 1/4 inch one and then the G.A & LLM used the thin 1/8 inch with the metal frame around the edge & through the center of the lens. That is how we use to be able at a little distance wheatheer it was a Lemans Or a GTO back in the day. Other then the sportcoupe emblem & the GTO decal it was the second eaisest way to tell for sure. Even though some put the GTO decal on to try to clone it even back then.

Rex, I have to disagree with your theory about GTO versus LeMans taillight use. I had 3 Oshawa built cars (2 LeMans and 1 GTO) that all had the 1/8" taillights. My Framingham built GTO had 1/4" taillights (that I replaced with good used 1/8" style), and I had a Lakewood built LeMans with 1/8" taillights. I also had a Pontiac built GTO that I believe had the 1/8" taillights, but could not find a picture of the car to verify.

I believe Guide made the two styles and they were randomly supplied to all the assembly plants and the 2AD and 2AF body styles got whatever taillights were on the assembly line.

We could do a poll and see what board members have based on their car's assembly plant.

[rexs73gto]

I've had 3 73's & all were built in the Pontiac plant a florintine Red Met. 400 auto which I have now & bought new , # 2 was a Dk. blue 455 auto w/ac , # 3 was a white w/ red top auto w/ac . All 3 of these cars had / have the 1/8 inch tail lamps. According to my old parts book the 1/8 inch lens were for the GTO & the 1/4 inch were for the Lemans , & then the G/A got the chrome trim w/ the bar that ran through the center & the LLM got the chrome trim that split them into 3 sections. My parts book is an old on, the first printing. On the front it says Parts for 59-75. Possibley for monatary reason they went to use both the lens in the later builds so they didn't have to use up the ones that were for the G/A as they were building a lot of them in difference to the GTO. ?????

[77 Canamman]

Please post the info from the parts book. This would be good info to have for future reference. I changed mine because I don't like the wide painted edge, they were cracked, and the 1/8" design was more readily available.

[BR57]

The first 1973 LeMans Sport Coupe we had was delivered to us in October 1972 from Oshawa and it had the wide painted edges. I have always had a preference for this type since I thought they looked better. I later saw the thin ones on cars which had to be from Oshawa since I live in Canada. I just figured it was a cost saving measure. Then my current car is a March production car with wide ones. I suspect Bill is correct in that the use was random depending on what was there at the time.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by sdx455

Anyone have a pictures of the original 73 GOT PONTIAC trunk letters . It just came to me this week that back in the 80's mine broke or something and I went to the dealer and they kept giving me this plastic one piece job and I was telling them no that's not it ,mine where more individual letters. there is only 2 mounting holes in my trunk but the letters were much cleaner looking that what I got

Originally Posted by sdx455

looking at the ultimategto a site alot of cars dont even have them . and there are some different styles/types . what was it an option? the word PONTIAC spelled out under the trunk key hole

Did the posts so far give you the answer to your OP's?

[Alvin]

These 1973 parts found here: http://www.frankspontiacparts.com/us...s/gtoparts.htm

1973 Luxury Lemans Tail lights

1973 Luxury LeMans Tail Light & Rear Panel Set $195. Great condition.
Chrome has no pits. Lenses have no cracks but are a little sun faded.

1973 GTO, LeMans Tail Light Assys

Pair 1973 GTO, LeMans Tail Light Assys $120.
Great condition housings & bezels. Lenses are in poor condition.

Pair 1973 Grand Am Tail Light Assys

Pair 1973 Grand Am Tail Light Assys $150. Good condition. Sun cracks.

Pair 1973 Grand Am Tail Light Assys

Pair 1973 Grand Am Tail Light Assys $175. Good condition. Sun faded.

[sdx455]

Yes ,For some reason I had individual letters stuck in my head ( like the firebird). I thought I still had the plastic one , some where after I got it painted I must have found the potmetal one which is on it now.

[zeebo]

mine was taken off when the car was painted..luckily they gave it to me--attached with four barrel nuts..which like just snap into the hole..part number 9882700 stamped on the back. the sales brochure shows a green lemans with a larger pontiac emblem that was not used.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by zeebo

mine was taken off when the car was painted..luckily they gave it to me--attached with four barrel nuts..which like just snap into the hole..part number 9882700 stamped on the back. the sales brochure shows a green lemans with a larger pontiac emblem that was not used.

Thanks for that info. Good to know.