1973 Pontiac La Mans VS Malibu, Satellite, & Gran Torino Dealership Promotional Film ( Restored )

This 1973 Pontiac promotional film, titled " 1973 Pontiac La Mans Versus: Satellite Custom, Malibu, Gran Torino, Cutlass S ", was sent to the Pontiac car dealerships to be used as an in-house Sales and customer training film. This film highlights technical aspects and features of the new model year. The film compares La Mans to the Chevy Malibu, the Ford Gran Torino, and the Plymouth Satellite. This film is hosted by and features stunt driver Bill Hickman including footage of his driving in a major film release.
If you look up a different film I posted, titled "1974 Chevy Selling Monte Carlo ", you can see a rare glimpse of the film cartridge viewer that was used at the dealership where the customers and personnel were to view these films. The machine was made by Technicolor and called the " Chevrolet Mini Theater System "
This film came from my personal collection. This film was not downloaded from any website and is not reused content. This restoration is my work. The restoration process started with removing the super8 film from the Technicolor Cartridge. After removal the film was cleaned, repaired, and spooled onto a standard film reel. This film has scratches and dust marks along some color fade. The scanning to digital process and basic color correction was performed on the Lasergraphics Scanstation motion picture film scanner system in 2k resolution. Excess film grain noise was removed and the images upscaled to 4K resolution utilizing Topaz AI software. Then in 4K, color restoration was performed in Davinci Resolve. Advanced noise removal was performed using multiple processes in NeatVideo. Then a second and final color restoration, Image sharpening, and image stabilization was performed in DaVinci Resolve. Unfortunately, this film has quite a bit of warpage and some sunlight damage at the beginning and end of the film. This was the best results I was able to achieve with the time I spent on it. Finally, the film was downscaled back to 2k for uploading to KZbin. As I work on these films, I try to improve the process as I go along. Thanks for watching.

[@patrickmcgoldrick8234]

I don't think anybody looked as cool behind the wheel of car as Bill Hickman,one hell of a driver.

[@caseycassidy-k4z]

After owning 4 olds and buick I bought a rusty 73 lemans for 350 bucks in 85. Didn't think much of it, It was just a beater and I was going to beat it into the ground. After showing it no mercy for 7 months it was looking rough and needed some work. At that time I just could get rid of it. It was too good a runner. And I really started to like the looks of it. It really is an awesome looking car. And I felt sorry for it. I beat the hell out of it and it was just asking for more. I tuned up the 350 rebuilt the 2 bbl carb, ran a dual exhaust on it, new HD shocks, painted it flat black and that car would smoke the tire all the way down the street just stomping on the gas pedal. Had the starting instruction decal on the visor , cold engine, press gas pedal to floor, release, turn key, VROOM. Warm engine, 1/4 throttle- no throttle, turn key, VROOM. Instantly every time. What a car drove it for 2 more yrs then found a 73 GTO 4sp and bought it. Been a Pontiac fan ever since. Pontiac was not about transportation. Their looks styling and performance was on an other level.

[@LearnAboutFlow]

According to accounts of the film, the chase scene was actually not approved by the city and was illegal (no permits or even cordoning off the streets). In fact, the accident that takes place was a real one where the stunt driver hit an innocent motorist. Ah, the good ole days.

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

Nice Info!!!!

[@milfordcivic6755]

That's nuts. It definitely didn't look like it was staged.

[@ce9345]

Bill Hickman was also the stunt driver of the 1968 Dodge Charger in the famous chase scene in Bullitt!

[@georgewilson1184]

Bill Hickman now that guy was super cool & multi talented

[@Spennyman10]

One badass stuntman! Bullet, Seven Ups, French Connection just to name a few. He was also driving behind James Dean pulling the trailer his Porsche was supposed to be on right before he crashed.

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

cool info!!!!

[@OsbornTramain]

these pontiacs are so attractive and so rare...gone missing, in their graves such a shame

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

So many of them ended up in the scrap yards and demolition Derbys

[@josephackeret7911]

I bought a brand new 73 white over camel . First new car. I loved it. That white was so bright I could hardly wax it. I traded in my 68 green with black and black vinyl top. Automatic. Great car. After a short time my wife didn’t like the louvre rear side windows. I took the hint. I spotted a new blue over white 4 speed 75 trans am September 74. Took it home showed the wife. Next thing I knew it was in my garage what a fun car to drive

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

Good ol "Stoned" Mountain Georgia where I grew up in the '70s &'80s ✌💖☮

[@blautens]

Very strange to see a GM car compared to another GM.

[@jamessawyer8889]

What a rare video on the 73 Lemans, others feel they were ugly, I feel they were a different design then most, & everything changed in the early seventies, so it was all a matter of conformity!!

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

Style!!!! today everything looks the same

[@1983jblack]

I don't mind the coupes from the GM intermediates, but man I have never liked the sedans - Just not appealing to me. Only intermediate sedan I liked from the '70s were the 1971-78 Mopars

[@patrickmcgoldrick8234]

I always thought the 73 Gran Am 4 door was a good looking whose style has worn well to this day, particularly with 5 spoke Pontiac rally wheels.

[@rightlanehog3151]

After detailed study of this thorough comparison, I will definitely rank the Cutlass and Montego at the top. 😉

[@67marlins]

Thanks for posting- it's neat to see the everyday cars from my childhood.

[@cpellercpeller5463]

Bill Hickman was also George C. Scott's driver in "Patton" 1970.

[@travelingfool9096]

Bill Hicks is a Car Movie God!

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

Got to love those car chases

[@markothwriter]

I ahve a 1973 LeMans Sport Coupe. It's a very smooth ride.

[@DouglasWillinger]

1970-72 intermediate GM 4 door hardtops ought to have been cherished and kept with newer models boycotted.

[@melv1n_official]

So strange to see an ad of a GM car being compared to another GM car.

[@AnthonyEvelyn]

The way how GM dominated sales in the US they had to! And to think both the Chevelle Malibu and the LeMans shared the same platform.

[@albertbekassy2709]

Bill Hickman was The bad guy driver in Bullitt and The seven ups.

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

I have more he hosted. will be posting them too.

[@Waderizer]

Again, appreciate the uploading

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

Thanks again!

[@paulsheehan8185]

Plymouth had electronic ignition.

[@AnthonyEvelyn]

The Malibu and the LeMan's were platform mates and also share much of the body structure with the colonnade design, but thats where the similarities end. Back when GM knew how to GM the two cars were very different, both had a 350 V8, but dont think for a minute they were the same engine as the LeMan's was pure Pontiac. Although I loved the previous models of both GM cars, the 1973 models were much better engineered with more solid body structure and safety improvements.

[@johnnydodge]

I keep thining Sheriff Justice is gonna kick Bill outta the car and Him and Junior are off to make it a convertible

[@chasgantz7728]

Parents had the '73 Lemans 4 dr.

[@OfficeofImageArchaeology]

Hey you can’t beat that fool air induction. Lol this one turned out really nice. That was a great movie too by the way.

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

1970's cold air intake, it doesn't do much of anything

[@OfficeofImageArchaeology]

@@theemulsionalchemist5688 yep that’s what I was getting at. Lol

[@grand73am]

I believe the cool air induction is a benefit, taking cooler air from outside the engine compartment and feeding it to the carb. And since it comes in from the front, the air has some force behind it the faster you go. Better than sucking hot air from under the hood. I keep it connected on my Pontiacs.

[@97TransAm-ko5qg]

Cold air induction makes a noticeable difference. Drive the car on a hot day with the cold air duct connected, and then with it not connected. You will feel snappier throttle response and better overall acceleration. Not like having a supercharger, but in the smog era, you had to get whatever you could get.

[@paulsheehan8185]

All 1973 cars had 5 mph bumpers.

[@impalaman9707]

I had a 1976 Camaro, and that GM rear bumper saved my bacon more than once. A girl in a Honda rear ended me and bugered up her whole front end--my Camaro? Barely a scratch on my bumper!

[@jayelbee1111]

I understand the comparison against the Ford Gran Torino and Plymouth Satellite. But why the similar GM A-Body Chevrolet Malibu, Oldsmobile Cutlass and Buick Century? Silly comparison here!

[@sweetdaddy77]

Pontiac and Buick were probably the ones to beat back then.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Those louvered rear quarter windows were a joke...water spotted and impossible to remove snow and ice.

[@nlpnt]

Plus, the triangular ones as seen on the Olds here are clearly what the Colonnade coupes were intended to have from the start.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@nlpnt The opera windows of the 1974 Chevrolet Malibu Coupe used the same roofline and C-pillar.

[@grand73am]

I have the louvered quarter windows on my 75 Lemans Sport Coupe, 73 GTO, and 73 Grand Am. The louvers are sporty looking, giving the car extra character. I don't have any trouble keeping them clean.

[@DCRT-ot2bf]

1st Pontiac bill didn't destroy!!!!!

[@corgiowner436]

One of the best chase scenes ever.

[@georgewilson1184]

It was very good but The Seven UPS from 1973 beat it and Bullitt from 1968 I really like Bullitt but I do a 1 A 1 B thing it’s a toss up Bullitt vs Sevenups but I am partial to Sevenups because of the Pontiacs and the whole Plot line of the movie I do like McQueen but the plot of a fleeing syndicate thug that swaps identity with another in Chicago then goes out to SF Cal is ok but I like seven ups NY setting with Money laundering Shylocks and several Scenes like at the Funeral Home and where Buddy meets Vito by the Water front and my favorite nostalgia trip threw the old neighborhood and the old Barber signals him to come into the shop because he has street information to tell him any how it’s just my opinion and both movies are equal but because of Pontiac and a few scenes and basic plot I dig the Seven UPS over Bullitt

[@nlpnt]

Surely the Sloan Ladder hadn't so completely rotted that the Dodge Coronet would've been more directly comparable than the Plymouth Satellite? The Dodge with its' loop bumper was certainly more stylish than its' stablemate.

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

love the late 60's early 70's Mopar styling

[@andreg4460]

In a similar vein, they probably should have used the Mercury Montego instead of a Ford Torino. To be fair though, by '73 I don't think a Coronet was really much of a step up from a Satellite. It looked different, but to me just didn't seem any more upscale. There was only about a $40-50 price difference by that time. Similarly, I don't really see the Montego as being much of a step up from a Torino, either. It has that wanna-be Lincoln styling, perhaps, although I actually think the Torino looks nicer. To me, the interior doesn't really seem any nicer though. In this case though, the Montego was about $200 more than the Torino, so it really was a step up, price-wise. With GM, the LeMans started about $200 more than the base Chevelle, although if you got the Chevelle Malibu, I think that gap narrowed to around $30-40.

[@impalaman9707]

I happen to notice that Pontiac tries not too hit their GM cousin too hard. Chevrolet, on the other hand, goes vicious on their promo films, particularly with non-GM cars

[@Heavenlydaz]

Funny they go against the Malibu, another GM product with many features with the same GM product. Back when divisions still competed with each other.

[@JohnShinn1960]

👍👍

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

Glad you are enjoying these. more to come

[@brianbayer9746]

Awesome driver, poor salesman, not biased at all...

[@landyachtfan79]

GM competing with themselves was one of the chief reasons they got into such deep trouble in the '70's & '80's. Of course, their build quality & reliability were the others.

[@justintyme7213]

You nailed it,Sir! Years later, I believe it was Bob Lutz that admitted that GM put out crappy quality cars in the 70’s and 80’s. I know I owned a couple of them.

[@jasonhsu4711]

The unintentional comedic highlight was explaining why the buyer should pick the Pontiac over the Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Buick. If Honda were like this, it would have three other brands below Acura selling an additional three versions of the Accord. The Honda Accord and each of its 3 clones would be available in everything from base level trims to top-of-the-line trims and sell for similar prices. How did GM's redundant brands last so long? How did it benefit GM? How did so many redundant dealerships make a profit selling these cars? As I see it, the main beneficiaries were GM car buyers looking for a good deal, because having so many dealerships competing for their business provided negotiating leverage.

[@jasonhsu4711]

@@az-vx2cw GM did the most badge engineering, but Chrysler did the worst job of distinguishing its brands. I always knew that a Mercury was a slightly fancier Ford. I always knew that (in theory) Chevrolet stood for economy, Pontiac stood for sportiness, Oldsmobile stood for entry-level luxury, and Buick stood for entry-level luxury just above Oldsmobile. While I always knew that Chrysler was supposed to be the top brand, Chrysler brand cars looked nearly identical to the cheaper Dodge and Plymouth versions. GM and Ford at least modified the front and rear ends of their cars for each brand. Chrysler seemed to put much less effort into this. Additionally, it wasn't until around 2000 that I found out that Plymouth was Chrysler's "budget" brand (like Chevrolet and Ford) and Dodge was Chrysler's "sporty" brand (like Pontiac). I only found out through the articles and news stories about the death of Plymouth.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Yes and No. GM had over 40 percent market share at that time which was helped by intra divisional competition. There was a lot of similar engineering on all platforms. But styling was slightly different with some minor differences in engines (think Oldsmobile Rocket V-8) and optional accessories (think Pontiac adjustable brake and accelerator pedals). Some of the blame of poor build quality was the result of a militant UAW who tolerated their workers intentionally sabotaging vehicles on the assembly line.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

@@jasonhsu4711 Often Plymouths and Dodges had different grilles, taillights, and badging...but the fenders, bumpers and body sheet metal were exactly the same. Blame it on Dodge dealerships wanting equivalent Plymouths sold at Chrysler-Plymouth dealerships and vice-versa. Explains why the Plymouth brand is gone for good.

[@pl5624]

Just 4 years after thrashing a dodge charger...

[@JohnnyAloha69]

Neat video, too bad it’s such a fugly car!

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

glad you enjoyed the film. yes, just a little fugly

[@joserafaelgrangefuenmayor7744]

Me gustan los tres carros Chevrolet Malibú, Ford Gran Torino, Plymouth Satellite, y Pontiac Le Mans 1973; en el Ford Gran Torino (Fairlane 500) 1973; me pongo a imaginar a las dos muchachas; solteras, libres, sin compromiso, sin hijos, sin tatuajes, ni piercings, ni implantes en sus cuerpos; la pelirroja y la rubia; la pelirroja es blanca, ojos verdosos, cabello rojizo, la cara maquillada, los labios rojos, el cabello arreglado; ella viste un vestido azul oscuro de jean; con una blusa blanca manga larga; calcetines canilleros blancos y gomas blancas; la rubia viste una blusa blanca manga larga; minifalda azul oscuro de jean; calcetines canilleros blancos y gomas blancas; ella es blanca, ojos azules oscuros y cabello rubio; pero la pelirroja va manejando el carro; la rubia va en el asiento del pasajero; yo voy en el asiento trasero del carro; cuando se estabilize todo en Venezuela; si Dios quiere; me voy para Mérida por asuntos de trabajo; me voy por San Cristóbal solamente para pasear por los pueblos del Estado Táchira; para descansar también; me voy para Mérida para trabajar con Alexis Montilla Los Aleros y La Venezuela de Antier (turno mañana) y La Montaña de Los Sueños (turno tarde); las dos me van a llevar e ir a buscar al trabajo; voy a trabajar con Alexis Montilla y sus parques temáticos; para ganar mucho dinero; no voy a tener vacaciones ni descanso; voy a trabajar sin parar; cuando es temporada baja; voy a trabajar normal; cuando es temporada alta; voy a trabajar fuerte; me voy de Maracaibo; porqué es una ciudad aburrida y hace mucho calor; me voy para Mérida porqué es una ciudad divertida y hace mucho frío; me voy para Mérida por San Cristóbal si Dios quiere; saludos y buenas noches.

[@ManiaMusicChannel]

When Pontiac dissed all the other GM brands, comparing them just to a Chevy even though they all looked the same including this Le Mans

[@gmerchant11]

Hickman would say anything they'd pay him to say. Those Colonade GM cars of the era in 4 door form were as ugly as ugly gets. The Torino and Plymouth were far better looking and their powerplants were far superior to those wheezy low compression GM engines.

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

Yes, he sounds like he is reading the script

[@grand73am]

All the manufacturers' engines were lower compression in 1973. Size for size, the Pontiac 350, 400, and 455 engines for 1973 Lemans had more horsepower than any 1973 Ford engine, and were on par with the 1973 Plymouth engines available for the Satellite, which had a 318 or 400. So the Pontiac engine was hardly inferior.

[@ss396rip]

They didnt make them uglier.

[@JPIndustrie]

Imagine being in a business so dominate your only rival are 'sister brands' that still use the same exact platform however you have so much budget and market share it doesn't matter how much you cannibalize ... the American big three were never going to be able to survive into the 21st century

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

GM is not just Gm anymore

[@bertram46]

With him in the 71 LeMans was that in chicago? If it was Lori Lightfoot would have prosecuted him to the very end degree. Now if he were a different color and killed somebody he would have been out on bail that day. My aunt had a LeMans exactly like that but it was stripped same color and it had a 6 cylinder with a three on the floor in a four-door talk about a rare car those things were all junk. That's why you don't see them on the road. So ugly but I love the videos it brings back memories keep them coming

[@milfordcivic6755]

You're so racist that you even hint around at it with a hypothetical situation. Typical Qklux Klan member.

[@trudygreer2491]

No one is here to listen to your racist b*llsh*t. Enjoy the cars, remember all the family members who drove them, but keep politics out. Please. And The French Connection was set in New York City.

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

glad you enjoyed the film, times have sure changed

[@peterhogan9537]

I had a 74 Lamans sport coupe, it was the worst car Ive ever owned.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

These 4-Doors have zero collectability. I prefer the 2-Door 1973 Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna.

[@theemulsionalchemist5688]

not many 4-door cars do. Hard tops and convertibles, that's where the money is

[@paulsheehan8185]

6 cyl., had a two speed auto.