Where is bucket seat option for 73?
 

We have a 73 LeMans Sport Coupe (F37) that has been in the family for over 30 years yet we just recently ordered the PHS docs for it.

Car has D55 center console but the note says "w/ bucket seats only". However, I don't see bucket seats on the option list anywhere. Are buckets part of some other option package such as W62 GTO, WU2 GT or W70 Sport?

you dont see code A51?

No A51 on the option list for 1973. I'll try and attach the order form 516 that was sent with the PHS paperwork.

However, I think I figured it out. At the top of the wholesale car order form lists the (D) LeMans or (F) LeMans Sport Coupe. There are 4 (D) models and only 1 (F) model. If you want the (F) model then you need to order the W70 Sport Option which isn't listed on the order form but shows up on the Billing History Card/Manifest (whatever you want to call it...)

Once you order the W70 Sport Option package, then you get to choose between bench or bucket seats. That choice is made when the interior color is selected. In our case, code 571 was chosen which is Burgundy for Bucket Seats. (The code for Burgundy Bench Seat is 575...)

I presume this means the only way to get bucket seats in a 1973 LeMans is to order the Sport Coupe (F37). There must be a different order form for the Luxury LeMans and Grand Ams since those aren't even discussed on this form.

I further presume that it's possible to order the W62 GTO and WU2 GT package on the (D) model which only the bench seat is available.

The options list on our car is strange. The person who ordered this car specifically went to the trouble to order all the GTO options except the hood and decals.....and they paid $133.00 more to do it (vs simply checking the W62 option for $368.00). Then they ordered many of the GT options less the GT identification. They even ordered the body stripe kit D98 separately (the stripe that is listed as part of the GT package....)

I guess they were going for the stealth approach. ? :)

"I further presume that it's possible to order the W62 GTO and WU2 GT package on the (D) model which only the bench seat is available."


True, there were/are bench '73 Goats around. Some wonder why, but there were bench seated GTO's during the muscle car glory days ['64-'72]

Found 1973 LeMans base model brochure scans, shows base model was bench seat only, GTO package available.

http://oldcarbrochures.org/index.php...tiac-LeMans-06

LeMans Sport coupe had its own brochure, bench seat with center armrest standard, buckets optional. Shows bucket color list. GTO package avail, too.

http://oldcarbrochures.org/index.php...Sport-Coupe-04

Any mid year changes known, please post. [besides the SD455 being dropped from A bodies]

The '73 LeMans Sport Coupe was offered on the 2D37 (LeMans 2 door) bodystyle beginning in the late winter of '73, thus factory buckets were avail on a later production AD37 LeMans Sport Coupe. Earlier '73 LeMans Sport Coupes were only built as AF37 body styles.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=655215

There are several references on this site from both Bill Morgan, as well as myself, as we both owned manual transmission golden olive (think cow manure green) big side window (AD37 bodystyle) LeMans Sport Coupes. Bills was a GT, as well. Mine was just a big window Sport Coupe, but had the tricolored stripes on its NASA hood & top of doors. Bill's had white bucket interior & console, mine had black bucket interior with 4spd ITM shifter, no console. It was rusty in the bottom of the quarters, so I ended up parting it. def from out of state, 350/Saginaw 4spd w CA emissions/ smog pump, factory no AC car, rally guages/tach, rear window defroster, 15x7's, big sway bars, & the clinker, had a '69-70 wood wheel, still finding interior pieces boxed up from this odd '73

Very interesting info OPH, thanks for sharing. Do you happen to have a copy of the order form used for these cars? Our '73 has a ship date of 1-31-73 and the Form 516 that PHS sent for our car shows that buckets are only available on the F37x models. That form says "revised 12-1-72" so there might be another revision released later that shows how buckets could be ordered for the D37x models.

Another very interesting thing you mention is your Le Mans had the NASA style scoops in the hood (as spelled on the order form), which my version of Form 516 shows the hood was only available as part of the W62 GTO package. I presume the later form must have a way to order that hood on the non-GTO models. Would be curious to see what that looks like...

I do see a choice for WU3 Hood Ram Air (634) on my form but I think that is for the ram air components itself. It says it's optional with the GTO package and mandatory with the LS2 (455 SD) engine....(which I don't think ever made it to production as best as I can tell).

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

"(455 SD) engine....(which I don't think ever made it to production as best as I can tell)."


Correct, 455SD never made into factory built A bodies.

One did in 1973, presumably an engineering car.

I have heard there were two.

One was a Grand Am

One was a GTO.

Both were driven by members of the press, and were later scrapped.

Weren't they hand built prototypes? Without real VIN's?

One with a LS2 in the 1973 production records. No one knows what it was. Probably very early production.
It's certainly possible another or others may have been built as engineering cars before then without a VIN.
PHS can't look it up since billing sequence is different than production sequence.