[Brian Baker]

Was at a local cruise last night when a couple of guys took interest in the Can Am. One of them, having never seen one before, thought it was a custom. I assured both it was a factory car. The other fella then proceded to tell us how he had a '73 LeMans GT back in the 70's. He said he bought it used off a car lot in about 1975. Told me it had a 305 Chevy in it. I asked if he lived in Canada and did he mean a 307 and he said no, it was a 305 and he bought it here in the States. Was this guy mistaken? I thought the base engine in those was the 350P 2-barrel?

[2 73's]

Brian, I'am not 100% sure, but I think they didn't put the 305 in them ontill 76.
When Ray see's this, he should be able to confrim this, he's more up to sniff on this stuff then I am.

[BR57]

I will say that the fellow was mistaken. I can say with 100% certainty that no 1973 LeMans GT purchased in 1975 has a 305 V8 factory installed.

First and foremost the 305 was not put into production until 1976 on either side of the border. GM Canada did put 305 sbc in LeMans built in Oshawa in 1976 and 1977.

As for a 307 sbc, it was never offered in GM Canada A body Pontiacs in 1973. The last year for a 307 in a Pontiac A body in Canada was 1969, in the Beaumont.

The GT option reguired a V8 and in Canada there were two version of the sbc offered, a 350 2bbl and 350 4bbl in 1973. (Pontiac 400 2bbl, 400 4bbl & 455 4bbl also offered) Export cars were built with 350 2bbl Pontiac engines and the 400 and 455's as well.

When Bill Markowski and I met in Hamilton in June we had two Oshawa built cars side by side, one sold in West Virginia with a Pontiac 350 and one sold in Toronto with a Chevrolet 350 . It was interesting comparing the underhood differences.

No 305 sbc in 1973, that's a for sure.

[77 Canamman]

This is another example that most people at car shows and cruise ins do not know half of what they think they do...

[Brian Baker]

Thanks for the info, guys...I kind of figured he was full of $h!t. He probably never owned the car, but knew somebody that did and was just talking me up to impress, I guess...like the time my wifes Uncle brought a friend over the house to help with carpentry work and he told me about the Boss 302 Mustang he and his Dad had that they bored and stroked out to a Boss 429...I said "well now, that must have really been something"...LOL.