#1  
Old 07-04-2020, 02:26 AM
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Default 1973 CARs Hi-Performance Cars Car of the Year SD-455, 4sp RAM AIR GTO




Yeah, I know they never made them, but I saw one today.

Of course its a clone, but you can't tell by looking at it. I know I'll get crap for the picture quality, but space was tight!!







I get emotional when I see a 73 this nice!

Just thought you guys might appreciate seeing it.

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Mark S
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Who needs nice and pretty, when you can have mean and nasty?
KRE Aluminum headed 463CID 73 LeMans. Used to run 10.6x @ 124.55. 3700lbs
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So much for 2020...shootin for 9s in 2021...and in 2022 apparently.....looks like 2023 as well.
>>My 73 Build thread
  #2  
Old 07-04-2020, 05:44 AM
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Brian Baker Brian Baker is offline
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Beautiful color.

That ram-air setup looks factory. Could you tell if the lid was factory or reproduction? There is one bloke out there who reproduced a lid from metal that at quick glance is a dead nuts on copy of the original. I've been trying to contact him through private messages here but it seems he's either ignoring his messages or he rarely comes to this page.

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  #3  
Old 07-04-2020, 08:52 AM
cdrookie cdrookie is offline
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WHOA!

  #4  
Old 07-04-2020, 09:24 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Baker View Post
Beautiful color.

That ram-air setup looks factory. Could you tell if the lid was factory or reproduction? There is one bloke out there who reproduced a lid from metal that at quick glance is a dead nuts on copy of the original. I've been trying to contact him through private messages here but it seems he's either ignoring his messages or he rarely comes to this page.
I wouldn't even know what to look for in a repop, but I did ask him that. Its all factory parts. The lid was even run over once and he had to restore it.


Short blurb on a a Local TV show on the car from a few years ago - I told him if he ever wants to sell, to call me.

https://youtu.be/5vqmutv5Ok8?t=1257 (Cruisin New England is a local show for us Nor-Eastas)

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Mark S
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Who needs nice and pretty, when you can have mean and nasty?
KRE Aluminum headed 463CID 73 LeMans. Used to run 10.6x @ 124.55. 3700lbs
.
So much for 2020...shootin for 9s in 2021...and in 2022 apparently.....looks like 2023 as well.
>>My 73 Build thread
  #5  
Old 07-05-2020, 12:39 AM
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The original lids were made from a "plastic" fiber material similar to what the NACA scoop inserts were made from, but thicker and more robust. Probably the material the air-conditioning evaporator "doghouse" is made from would be a closer representation. Very easy to tell from metal.

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  #6  
Old 07-05-2020, 03:29 PM
PurelyGTO68 PurelyGTO68 is offline
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Love it! Very nicely done. Something to be very proud of for sure.

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Old 08-03-2020, 08:58 AM
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@Brian Baker - I got a chance to clarify with Paul on this car yesterday. You know these cars cars better than I, so I knew I must have mixed up the facts.

The lid in the pictures, is a metal reproduction of the original he had that was the fiber material. THAT was the piece that was run over.

__________________
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Mark S
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Who needs nice and pretty, when you can have mean and nasty?
KRE Aluminum headed 463CID 73 LeMans. Used to run 10.6x @ 124.55. 3700lbs
.
So much for 2020...shootin for 9s in 2021...and in 2022 apparently.....looks like 2023 as well.
>>My 73 Build thread
  #8  
Old 08-03-2020, 11:03 AM
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cnc cnc is offline
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Wow ....beautiful car wouldn't it have been great if this was an option back in the day..... LOVE the color...any idea what it is......

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1973 Firebird Navajo Orange w/shaker,1973 400/461,1972 Intake SD CNC'd,1977 Q-Jet 800 CFM w/ Cliffs Kit,Tanks Inc PA4 255 Walbro intank pump ,-8an feed/return,RobbMc Regulator,RobbMc 40 micron filter,253 CFM 6x-8's w/H.S 1:5 Roller Rockers,SD Stump Puller H/R Cam 230/236 @.050 112 lobe separation 565/.570 lift,Crower Solid Rollers,28150 Hedman Headers,3" exhaust,full tailpipes,350 Turbo,9.5" 3200 Converter,3:42 gear,8.5 posi,C/E slide-alinks,Koni adj frt shocks,Best 12.18@110.55 Lookin for 11's
  #9  
Old 08-03-2020, 03:33 PM
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73LeMans 73LeMans is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cnc View Post
Wow ....beautiful car wouldn't it have been great if this was an option back in the day..... LOVE the color...any idea what it is......
I'm trying to talk him into letting me drive it someday. If I promise to clean it when done, he says he might. I certainly wouldn't lean on it of course, but Id love to say I drove a SD 455 at some point in my life. He did start it and it sounds quiet a bit raspier than the typical HO, or 455 I'm used to.

Good question on the paint. Most of his cars are a factory color. Not this one apparently. All I know is its termed the following in a blurb he wrote for his street rod group.

1973 Special Order Paint GTO- 455, 4speed w/ rare Ram Air

What kind of paint would" special order" be? Any color? Maybe another line's color if so desired? Or a color from a previous year? I don't see how that's feasible for GM to do and make money, but who knows?

I'll ask next time I talk to him.

__________________
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Mark S
.
Who needs nice and pretty, when you can have mean and nasty?
KRE Aluminum headed 463CID 73 LeMans. Used to run 10.6x @ 124.55. 3700lbs
.
So much for 2020...shootin for 9s in 2021...and in 2022 apparently.....looks like 2023 as well.
>>My 73 Build thread
  #10  
Old 08-04-2020, 08:05 AM
Grand73Am Grand73Am is offline
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My bet is that it's Navajo Orange metallic. It's a 73 Pontiac color that was supposed to be only used on the smaller Firebird and Ventura, and not one of the colors normally offered on the A and B bodies in the 1973 "buyer's guide" dealer brochure. Since it's a 73 Pontiac color that was available at the time, it would make sense that it could be special ordered for use on a GTO. Buccaneer Red was another color that wasn't offered on the A-body in 73, but was also probably special ordered a number of times. Below is a PPG paint chart showing the Navajo Orange color.

73 PPG CHIP CHART by grand73am, on Flickr

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  #11  
Old 08-04-2020, 10:24 AM
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I like the logic, but it looks darker than CNCs firebird. Could be lighting.....

__________________
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Mark S
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Who needs nice and pretty, when you can have mean and nasty?
KRE Aluminum headed 463CID 73 LeMans. Used to run 10.6x @ 124.55. 3700lbs
.
So much for 2020...shootin for 9s in 2021...and in 2022 apparently.....looks like 2023 as well.
>>My 73 Build thread
  #12  
Old 08-06-2020, 04:35 AM
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Brian Baker Brian Baker is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 73LeMans View Post
@Brian Baker - I got a chance to clarify with Paul on this car yesterday. You know these cars cars better than I, so I knew I must have mixed up the facts.

The lid in the pictures, is a metal reproduction of the original he had that was the fiber material. THAT was the piece that was run over.
If he or anyone can make a repop of his metal one shown here, I'd sure like one. My friend Phil has an original on his Grand Am and I've tried twice in the last 23 years to repop one from fiberglass but couldn't get anyone interested.

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  #13  
Old 08-07-2020, 10:32 PM
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Navajo Orange Metallic is the color. Show'em what he's won Johnny!


A resurrected Facebook post had a picture of Paul's storyboard he pairs with the car at a show. It reminded me I took the same picture last week picking up my quarter. On that board he lists the color, among other interesting details of the car.

Sorry for the crappy picture. I had to zoom and take snapshot. Original shot was 8 feet away. And when you're surrounded by his awesome collection, the stuff on the walls seem to play 2nd fiddle to anything with wheels on the ground.
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__________________
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Mark S
.
Who needs nice and pretty, when you can have mean and nasty?
KRE Aluminum headed 463CID 73 LeMans. Used to run 10.6x @ 124.55. 3700lbs
.
So much for 2020...shootin for 9s in 2021...and in 2022 apparently.....looks like 2023 as well.
>>My 73 Build thread
  #14  
Old 08-07-2020, 10:43 PM
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So the 2555 fromPPG is Navajo Orange Metallic.....nice

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1973 Firebird Navajo Orange w/shaker,1973 400/461,1972 Intake SD CNC'd,1977 Q-Jet 800 CFM w/ Cliffs Kit,Tanks Inc PA4 255 Walbro intank pump ,-8an feed/return,RobbMc Regulator,RobbMc 40 micron filter,253 CFM 6x-8's w/H.S 1:5 Roller Rockers,SD Stump Puller H/R Cam 230/236 @.050 112 lobe separation 565/.570 lift,Crower Solid Rollers,28150 Hedman Headers,3" exhaust,full tailpipes,350 Turbo,9.5" 3200 Converter,3:42 gear,8.5 posi,C/E slide-alinks,Koni adj frt shocks,Best 12.18@110.55 Lookin for 11's

Last edited by cnc; 08-07-2020 at 10:51 PM.
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