#21  
Old 02-03-2021, 12:57 PM
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fiedlerh fiedlerh is offline
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According to Pontiac production records one SD-455 Ram Air A-body with a production VIN was built in 1973. It might have been the Grand Am engineering car that was crushed.

Any SD-455 in a Grand Am would have been installed after it left the factory.

Chrome valve covers were not an option on these. It was a popular owner upgrade as they were readily available from the parts department or the used market.

As Brian said, swivel bucket seats were not an option on the Grand Am in any year, but and easy parts change.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the owner's car. I just want to put some known information out there. As we all know in this hobby "never say never." Some dealers would 'customize' cars before they left the lot and many of us have added options to our cars over the years.
A highly optioned Grand Am was likely special ordered rather than dealer stock.

It sounds like a very interesting car and we'd like to see more.

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  #22  
Old 02-03-2021, 01:40 PM
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Brad Pringle Brad Pringle is offline
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Just run the PHS and you will know how it is built.

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1973 SD 455 TA Auto
1974 SD455 TA 4 Spd
  #23  
Old 02-05-2021, 05:14 PM
Baron Von Zeppelin Baron Von Zeppelin is offline
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The VIN will tell which engine option it was built with - from 1972 upwards.
You could get the "regular" 455 in the Grand Am's , probably the Y vin code character.

Have seen some really nice ones.
And known of several converted to SD455 ,,, 30+ years ago.

In the 80's - 90's there was a 4-door Grand Am with 455 and Honeycomb wheels in my girlfriends neighborhood. They bought it new.
Was a sharp looking/odd looking 4-Door
7.4 Liter chrome emblems on it

  #24  
Old 02-05-2021, 05:23 PM
Baron Von Zeppelin Baron Von Zeppelin is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Adecco View Post
I know the SD455 option is rare on these cars
Rare might not be the best term - unborn is probably closer

But you can expect the engine to be worth probably at least 10k depending on how many factory pieces are present.
Intake, carb, EGR valve, PCV valve cover cap, just those pieces add up pretty substantial if they are SD pieces.

  #25  
Old 02-05-2021, 08:31 PM
joegpho joegpho is offline
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Many years ago there was a 73 Grand Am advertised as a SD455 car. This was probably in Hemmings. I called on the car and got the VIN. It had the code for the regular 455 - Y code in the VIN, not an X. I ran the PHS just for fun; it was a very high optioned burgundy 2-door and was I think a "brass-hat" car. I didn't follow up with the seller but I don't think it had the SD engine in it.

It amazes me to look at the 1973 car order form and see how many cars could have come with a SD455 - if such was allowed; even the Grand Prix. But, that Martin Caserio sure had a bug up his behind about selling such.

  #26  
Old 02-10-2021, 01:14 PM
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fiedlerh fiedlerh is offline
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Quote:
Martin Caserio sure had a bug up his behind about selling such.
He came from the truck division and knew fleet sales and bread-and-butter vehicles, not so much about the value of image and performance. Very much a numbers guy.

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  #27  
Old 02-10-2021, 02:42 PM
grandam1979 grandam1979 is offline
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It’s not so bad the SD never made it into a Grand Am but it’s a shame it wasn’t offered in a 74 GTO that would have been a runner.

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