[steve73]

I've been away from the scene for a while now being busy with work and school, but I went to look at a parts car for my black 73 and ended coming home with what may end up being another project.

The craigslist ad didn't say much, prettymuch it was the lady's grandfather's car and make her an offer. The ad only had a picture of the front of the car


Went to look at it and found it this



Dragged it outside to have more room to work on it. It ran rough, but good enough to drive onto the trailer.



It looks like it's a 1973 Lemans GT Sportcoupe, 350 auto with buckets and console. I've been looking for a build sheet and haven't found one in either front seat or the back seat. I dropped the gas tank and found most of one, but the ink's too faded to read anything.

I took a look at the cowl tag to see if I could get an idea of if everything was original to the car, especially since I've never seen a lemans in that color before. I compared it to what is listed on ultimategto.com and my other 73 and I've got even more questions now. Where there should be the paint code, there's just a dash, and the interior code says Z556 I couldn't get a good picture of it all, but I copied what it says here:



Swapped the stock intake and carb for an edelbrock performer and holley and put a new fuel pump on it, and it runs pretty good considering it's been sitting for 15 years. Goes into gear and drives decent as fast as I'm willing to take it, since the brakes need work.

[Alvin]

Congrats on your GR8 score!

[Alvin]

Don't forget to say hello and join the A-Body board too @ this main link:
http://users.boardnation.com/%7Eabodysite/

[Alvin]

Know yours is a '73... Here's a couple of '74s w GT striping:

[BillyGoat73]

Here is shot of my '73 GT next to Ray White's '73 GT a few years ago. Mine and Ray's are both documented Oshawa built GT models (a couple weeks apart). Mine is a 350 2bbl automatic with Oxblood interior. Ray's is 350 4bbl Chevy SB sold in Canada. I have the stripe kit for mine to install after I sort out some paint issues. Car is a nice solid driver with only 48K miles.

[steve73]

Thanks! I'll check out the site when I get a little more time to.

Since I'm having little luck with finding a build sheet for this one I may just get the PHS for it. Is there anywhere else I should take a look for a build sheet besides under the seats and above the gas tank?

[BillyGoat73]

I've heard another location for build sheets is behind the door panels. Not sure how it would survive after all this time.

[steve73]

well, I've had the upper door panels off on both doors trying to get the door handles/locks working right, and didn't see anything there. Maybe I'll pull the lower panels off and take a look in there. The window seals on the body and along the door are both rotted out, but the car was covered in a carport so maybe there's something left if there was one.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by steve73

...Where there should be the paint code, there's just a dash, and the interior code says Z556 I couldn't get a good picture of it all, but I copied what it says here:

Others feel free to jump in and correct me here:
IIRC - those " - - " dash's indicate "special order" "customer order" or "optional extra cost paint"...
Like these shown for 1969 Pontiac GP below - note the *s

[Alvin]

Another example from 1970 Olds colors HERE

[Alvin]

Two from the 1973 Lemans Sport Coupe brochure (second lists standard colors)

[rexs73gto]

I found what was left of my build sheet under the back seat in my 73 GTO. Have you looked there yet?

[77 Canamman]

That looks like Buccaneer Red, which wasn't normally available on an A body that year, hence the - - on your tag. The only place I have consistently found the broadcast sheets is on the top of the fuel tank. Too bad yours is illegible.

[steve73]

I checked under the front and back seats and haven't seen a trace of a build sheet under any. I was wondering if it was a special ordered color on this car. It does look a lot more like Buccaneer Red than Florentine Red. The paint inside the trunk is in good shape, but is more orange, like a carousel red, though. I'll see if I can get a picture of it.

I'm going back to college in a couple weeks. If I can I'll drive it down to their body shop and see what they can match the color to.

[steve73]

I went out and snapped a couple pictures of the paint. One is in the lower drivers door and the other is inside the trunk.

[77 Canamman]

I have seen the 556 code before on a GTO. It was a black bucket seat interior. I don't have any docs that show this code.

[Alvin]

No worries if you can't find the buildsheet IMO, fortunately there is Pontiac Historical Services aka PHS.

Here's their main link: http://phs-online.com/

Note:

The PHS office will be closed from September 20th and reopen on September 29th as we will be at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas.

Here's the link to order your very own using your VIN http://www.phs-online.com/order.htm

Edit: IIRC - A "Customer Ordered" and / or "Special Paint" should show up on the PHS documentation.

[steve73]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

I have seen the 556 code before on a GTO. It was a black bucket seat interior. I don't have any docs that show this code.

Looking for a build sheet I found a tag under the driver seat with the car's body #, style code, the 556 interior code, and A51 option code.

[steve73]

Originally Posted by Alvin

No worries if you can't find the buildsheet IMO, fortunately there is Pontiac Historical Services aka PHS.

I know I can get info on the car from them. I've just been hoping I could find one and not have to spend the $65 on it, but I'll probably end up ordering one for the car.

[trishieldchief]

Originally Posted by 77 Canamman

That looks like Buccaneer Red, which wasn't normally available on an A body that year, hence the - - on your tag. The only place I have consistently found the broadcast sheets is on the top of the fuel tank. Too bad yours is illegible.

Where is the Lemans GT option on this Wholesale Car order sheet?