Revisiting Uncle Johnny's 400 4-Speed 1973 Pontiac Grand Am, Soon To Be Sold at Auction.

Quick review and test drive of a 1973 Pontiac Grand Am 400 4-Speed.
Review by Bill of Curious Cars
Vehicle owned by Uncle Johnny and soon to be put on Bring a Trailer

[@jamesmurmurzancone4532]

Bill the kind of guy to ignore Doug DeMuro at a car show.

[@JZ_Cars]

Lololol

[@VVT4ME]

I would too.

[@klasseact6663]

AS HE SHOULD ❗️

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Doug would make a point of telling you, he's Doug DeMuro and that he owns a Carrera GT as well as a Ford GT.

[@klasseact6663]

@@paulie-Gualtieri. ...and a goofy lookin' G-wagon

[@BoothsEurotrash]

I dont click on any notifiction faster than a Bill video!

[@timbullough3513]

From a blissful time before 'I like to sit up high' and 'I need a 3rd row' was listened to.

[@fboness368]

You Sir, are on the right side of history!

[@olikat8]

"I want a 3-way sunroof, heated/cooled seats, infotainment, leather massage chairs, want to feel enpowered sitting up high..."

[@Clearanceman2]

People now days are like Yertle the Turtle. The higher they sit the more in control they feel. Even cars have seats that sit higher than they used to sit.

[@ronniedale6040]

Like it or not vehicles are returning to the much more practical pre war layout.

[@garthhancock3373]

@@ronniedale6040 But they suck.

[@cashkenterprises5584]

Uncle Bill is back at it! Watch out for the birds my friend. And we still need the Q&A video!

[@grand73am]

Always enjoy seeing the 73 Grand Am, and enjoy your narrative. One small correction. In 73, the 5 mph front bumper was required. But the rear bumpers only had to sustain a 2 1/2 mph bump, so the rears didn't have bumper shocks like the front bumpers got. It wasn't until 74 that the rears also had to be 5 mph, so the rear bumpers got redesigned and got bumper shocks added too.

[@co9753]

The man, the myth, the legend is back!

[@bestattitude]

French guy here. It's so good to have you back Bill, and to be able to enjoy your content from the South of France. Keep your videos coming, we really appreciate you!

[@stoneylonesome4062]

I’ve offered him my Citroën SM to review. He hasn’t taken it yet.

[@bestattitude]

@@stoneylonesome4062 The Citroën SM is a very quirky and interesting car, and I'm sure that Bill would do a great job reviewing it. There's an entire story to tell about this model. Kudos to you for owning one! They must be really rare in the US. Even in France, we don't get to see one every day. But your nice reply on my comment makes me think : we haven't seen Bill in a while. It's been a month since he posted his last video. I hope he's okay.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

@@bestattitude Yes they are very rare here. I used to work at a shop called “SM World” in Los Angeles that specialized in Classic Citroën, namely the SM. My boss, Jerry Hathaway, was the foremost expert on the SM in the world, and was close friends with Jay Leno (we’d work on his Citroën’s and see his collection). My boss died so the business shut down, and now there are only 4 or 5 mechanics in the country who know how to work on the SM. And unless you count myself (I don’t have my own garage), none of them are under the age of 60.

[@bestattitude]

​@@stoneylonesome4062 It's cool to see that there are still people around the world, trying to preserve those old iconic French cars. The SM and the DS are fairly complicated indeed, because not only the suspension is hydropneumatic, but also the steering and the braking system. And people who really know how to deal with this stuff are getting older, and thus, they're getting rare, unfortunately. Here in France (and more widely in Europe), we've had hydropneumatic Citroëns up until the early 2010s (the two generations of the C5, and the big C6), so even though it's getting slightly more difficult over time, we can still find mechanics who can work on those cars. And sourcing the parts is no problem at all. And interestingly enough, there are quite a few younger people over here, who take over Citroën-sepcialized garages, because they're passionate about it. That helps preserve cars that would otherwise be scrapped.

[@johncornell3665]

This is when a car, was a car. Great review and someone will get a nice one. Thanks Bill!

[@jamiemorgan4146]

No… this is when cars began to be crap

[@rickmarin1265]

I still own my 73 4 door with the 455 , I bought it in 74 I was 17 , traded a 73 vw bus even for it LMFAO , don't get me wrong I prolly should have kept the bus lol ... I built the 455 to around 450 Hp . black on black with all power ... I love that car as much as I did when I first bought it ... still so much fun to drive ... 18 k on the car ... I would never sell it , it's a time piece :) I have tons of cars from the late 60's and 70's .. all stored in climate ... love the show ..keep it up Bill :) :) :) ...here from MA

[@sidefx996]

Very cool! Certainly don’t see one of those every day. Bet it’s a great driving car.

[@rickmarin1265]

@@sidefx996 I was the talk of the towns in those days lol , I put Craigers on it , deep dish , still on it lol such a fun car ... Has buckets in the front , I think it was one of the first american 4 doors to do that ( don't quat me on it , if there was another I don't know of it lol

[@bobjohnson205]

You must be rich! lol

[@sidefx996]

@@bobjohnson205 HAHAHAHAHA

[@chrisnizer5702]

Those cars were supposed to have the 455 Super Duty as an option. Unfortunately management cancelled it at the last minute. Imagine what a 1973 Grand Am Super Duty 455 would be worth today??

[@daveleephoto]

That’s by far the coolest Grand Am ever. I had a blast in 1992 driving the rented Grand Am V6 coupe all over Washington state. Nice car. I really miss Pontiac.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Good day Bill hope you are well

[@peterhogan9537]

of the three years of the Grand Am 73 74 75 the 73 was the best looking.

[@ronmccullock1407]

Good evening Bill from Ron in a very cold Manchester England, glad to see you are living the dream

[@Future-Classic-Cars]

Manny must be colder than London I feel for you northerners literally! London was 1.5 degrees Saturday night 😂

[@michaelhoskins832]

I think if I lived in Naples,FL.. it would be pretty cool to be your neighbor, Bill.

[@12yearssober]

I live in Naples. Although im not his neighbor it is awesome living here. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Even with the weather he complains about!!!😂😂😂😂

[@charley95sheridan44]

Caution, he could go after your wife! 😆

[@12yearssober]

@@charley95sheridan44 He would get you a great deal on a car if that happened 🤣🤣

[@Future-Classic-Cars]

​@@12yearssoberDon't worry you're safe in prison or island or whatever 😂

[@stevenbeall9637]

My brother had one of these. Can't say the performance ever impressed me, but a heavy 400 V8 2-barrel putting out only 170 HP being slow shouldn't surprise anyone. Anyway, short story shorter, he drove it into the neighbor's kitchen.

[@79tazman]

The one I had was a 455 4 bbl it was 250hp. I think the 400 2bbl was the base engine that came in them cars and the best was the 455 Super Duty

[@sidefx996]

@@79tazmanthese were never made from the factory with the SD455 (or a manual 455) unfortunately.

[@maxr4448]

OMG!

[@Hapkido82AUS]

Richard Holdener tested a Pontiac 400, a mild engine, starting with a 2G 2 barrel, then a factory 4 barrel intake and Quadrajet. The difference was massive...

[@spotty67]

He didn't have a garage or a shed? Must of been a nice neighbour, let you park in the kitchen.

[@pathfinderdiscovery9395]

Hello Bill , man nice Pontiac gran am / GTO should have been , sounds great an love the red seats

[@outdoorsluvr]

This is still my favorite of all the cars you’ve reviewed. When these came out, I was 16 and would’ve given my left arm to own one.

[@tomtumulec2504]

Love the wheels one of the best looking alloy ever made

[@928gto]

...I had 15" Honeycombs on my GTO. They are a relatively heavy, polycast (stout rubber) material on steel wheel. Yes, very good looking

[@hiitsstillme]

Not alloy (infused polycast rubber on steel), but very nice.

[@grand73am]

Unfortunately, the original Honeycombs weren't/aren't an alloy wheel. I read somewhere that at the time, they decided it was too expensive to make real alloy wheels. But they liked the look, so they made it look like an alloy wheel, and even painted it to resemble aluminum. But as the other fellow said, it's really a steel wheel with a urethane polycast face bonded to it. It is pretty heavy. I have a set on my 73 Grand Am too.

[@egold2071]

Oh for the love of God... 3 weeks without a fresh piece, and all we get is a 25 minute 'quick take'?! Ah well, at least it's an Uncle Johnny special. Thanks Bill! PS- May I put in a request? Any chance Dave the Wholesaler has something exotic laying around? Maybe a Lotus Evora? Acura NSX? Would be fresh meat for your channel, and we'd love your take on 'em.

[@jhbb68]

A pleasant surprise when I clicked on my KZbin app today! Thanks Bill!

[@robertchristie9434]

Good review, Bill. I found a loaded candy apple red '73 Le Mans for my in-laws in early '74. It belonged to a Kmart executive who bought a new car once a year & it had only 9K miles. He was a died in the wool Pontiac man. What a gorgeous car. Mom passed away a few years ago & said that Le Mans was her favorite. Thanks for some great memories.

[@Yankee_Redneck6698]

Fantastic ride Bill. I love seeing the cars of my youth.

[@andrewpreston4127]

Those honeycomb wheels are lovely. Understated and classy. Bills' comments about the post-muscle car period absolutely spot on. In the early 80's here in the UK, I owned a 1974 Plymouth Satellite. 318ci ( 5.3 litres ). Enormous bumpers. And the engine strangled down to what was reputed to be only about 150bhp, though Chrysler never released any figures that I could find. It looked good, and made all the right noises. Just not much grunt.

[@beeenn649]

I had a 73 Pontiac Catalina with a 400 in it, let me tell you, it had serious balls, that car would motivate like you wouldn't believe..

[@gsjarvis6669]

Mine was a 1974. Forest green exterior, tan interior. 4 speed manual

[@waynemangan7200]

43,' huge car guy, just googled what animal Naugahyde is.

[@frankballendux8425]

I saw this exact same car when I was a young Marine stationed at Quantico, VA in 1972-73. I fell in love with it then and I still think its one of the most beautiful cars Pontiac ever made! Wish I could afford it now.

[@cpomeroy4685]

I had a '73 GTO 400, 4-speed with non-power disc brakes, 3.42 rear axle. It was a fun car to drive, but slow by today's standards. Thanks for the video.

[@TonyandSusie-MillersontheMove]

Man I dig this car!👀My brother had one back in the day black on black and a 4 speed! 🙌Sadly gave it away for pennies back then what an era right?

[@JZ_Cars]

Unc William! Glad to see you are doing well! Great way to start off a week seeing one of your vidjyas. Cool car for sure, thanks for sharing sir and have an awesome week!!!

[@vinnybruce2874]

Thats a great masterpiece origimal Grand AM muscle car. It looks like a Pontiac version of the Monte Carlo..

[@pennywise8182]

The whole 1973 GM colonnade lineup was futuristic when compared to the fuddy duddy 1972 GM lineup......It was like comparing the long,low and wide 1959 GM lineup to the super chunky 1958 GM lineup.

[@smileychavez8093]

She’s a beauty!!! Growing up guy in the neighborhood had one he was selling. Unfortunately I was 10yrs old! I day dreamed about driving it quite often. I was heartbroken 💔 when he sold it. I got butterflies in my stomach when I first seen your video!!! Thank you for the video.

[@czechappy]

I can tell you none of us through European, It still look like a pontiac and to me it look more like upgrade from the 1969 Grand Prix We was not big fans of European cars back then and hated the small cars like the 1998 grand am and all four-cylinder., We was hoping it was coming back with the GNX, We wasn't really fond of turbocharger, But if it was making are cars faster then it was all right, Back then most people still wanted to but American cars and they were making cars more and more to look like European cars, I guess we gave in, But we got are horsepower back, Just look ar how many European love are old big cars. I've always love this 1973 body style, 442, H/O, GS Stage 1, Gran Torino Sport, Road Runner fitted with "GTX" logos. Those were the days

[@greytogray6070]

Thank you, Bill, for the awesome revisit! I bought my current 73 GA back in 1999, and i hope to never let it go. I've owned and driven a range of muscle cars and trucks over the years, and my GA is THE standout among all of them. Even in completely stock form, these cars are a pure delight to drive and are a giant leap forward from 1960s muscle cars. Overall handling, ergonomics, and "feel" are superior to most modern cars, in my biased opinion. Excellent job on the review, and thanks again for all of your excellent reviews!

[@Mr.Higginbotham]

HUGE improvement! Love the visuals while driving!

[@BeauQuillen]

HEYYYY BILL I LIVED IN NAPLES, AND WISH I COULD BE WITH YOU.🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@eddstarr2185]

Hey Bill, when the Grand Am was introduced all the car magazines and several major newspapers carried that famous GM press photo of a Cameo White 1973 Grand Am with the Super Duty 455 (S.D.455) decal proudly displayed below the front side marker light. Personally, that Grand Am photo made me forget all about the 1973 Grand Prix, but that magic faded when word spread that the Super Duty 455 was not available for retail orders. Still, that first Pontiac Grand Am was the star of the 1973 Mid-Atlantic Auto Show. Thank you, Bill - great video!

[@markwoodley712]

Great looking car IMO, the rear side window louvres remind me of a similar era 450SLC-C107.

[@michaelmancini5773]

You could put a Holly four barrel , hooker headers and Edlebrock manifold on that 400ci and bump HP up around 350-375 , that was the great thing about those early 70s muscle cars, and the 4 speed is awesome, just a really nice machine

[@sunspiral79]

What a great car...Classic Pontiac styling

[@kendavid891]

Remember these I was 9,my dad had a 68 Cutlass supreme with iridescent gold paint in the city,at nite it looked green, with black vinyl top

[@fhatuwaniglentonnetshivhul9202]

Hello Uncle Bill

[@soyounoat]

I love a classic American car with a manual tranny..... *sigh* ..... transmission.

[@austin99etc]

I can't believe Peter isn't having a fit over black marks in the driveway.

[@AnthonyPsomas]

Great video on the Grand Am!! Another car I’ve always loved!! Getting fancy now Bill with the GoPro cameras mounted outside! I’m impressed!!

[@dodgyg3697]

Dammit , that is one of Pontiac fine moments. An they had a few.

[@brucepietro6046]

Friend in High School owned a early Pontiac Can Am

[@davidkoon767]

IS IT ME THESE CAR ARE SO MUCH OF PERSONALITY THAN WE DRIVE NOW BORING PLASTIC

[@joeseeking3572]

How many were hoping Bill was going to drop a gear and hammer it on that night drive in?

[@simonvancoevorden295]

Can’t understand why Bill hasn’t got way more subscribers!

[@RussellNorris-h2c]

I miss all the cars from the past. It's nice to see this car very unique. It restarted or preserved.

[@WhittyPics]

Pontiac sure knew how to do interiors. How much does he want for it?

[@vinnybruce2874]

When when I heard the name Grand Am I thought this is one of those quad 4 lawn mowers from the 80s through out the 1990s.

[@MarinCipollina]

You must be quite young.

[@haircut2015]

Nice car before GM went to Hell....

[@henry12397]

Impossibly great looking great car w the best interior!!!!

[@JobyJoby-iw2wr]

I recall seeing a '73 Chevelle Laguna 4 door sedan with bucket seats, console and 4 speed at a dealer. These 'Colonnade' Cars are gorgeous.

[@LulaRoberts]

I enjoyed the memories. Did not see to many of these Cam Am on the road back in the early 70' s.

[@grand73am]

I think you made a typo 🙂. This is a 73 Grand Am. The 77 Can Am was different, made only in 77 and only about 1377 made.

[@jimmycline4778]

I only seen a few of these Pan Ams back in the day!

[@genesimons8368]

I remember buying "glass belted" radials around that time..

[@deanbarnette1602]

I remember when these cars when they were brand new. I was only 7 years old at the rime. God, how I loved the cars back then & still do at the age of 58 years old today!! 🤍

[@marksalani2600]

Great vid ! P.s, L\P bulb is out :).

[@Leo-DaGreek]

Good to see ya again sporting one of Uncle Johnnys Rides💥Bill I was 6 yrs old when my Father and I picked up my Mothers you car 🚗,1972 Grand Prix SJ Canary Yellow & Tan,so Beautiful and the Smell 👃 I can still smell it!!Fast ass car 4- barrel dual exhaust mags ,

[@kykeith4591]

man Mr Bill, I love that car!!! LOVE it. thx for letting us see it again, take care brother.

[@rayplott1144]

I must say you do the best job I have ever seen going over these cars. Me and my wife are addicted to watching your shows. Very educational plus laugh our ass off. It’s a shame I can’t come and buy one from you. Because I love 70s&80s to. Like you it brings back good memories to me awell. Keep it up man awesome job guy.

[@jameswhite9025]

You keep saying “if they would have made this a GTO” they did, they made 4800 GTOs in 73 in that body style w/NACA scoops.

[@johnplovanich9564]

Beautiful car.I miss Pontiac. My 1st car was a 67 G.T.O. convertible, Montero red ,black top and interior.400,Hurst dual gate shifter.Loved that car.You might be surprised, but there are quite a few collector cars in the Bahamas.I love your videos Bill.From 1 curmudgeon to another. As always cheers from Eulethra.

[@J.H.HOLLIDAY]

what was that? 0-40 mph in 12 secs Acceleration of a bicycle. And people thought it was fast?

[@whitsundaydreaming]

Still looks amazing 50+ years on. I’m shocked the Duraflex has survived.

[@12yearssober]

Such cool cars!!!

[@GregZentTrumpetMan]

Should have been the GTO

[@JernejSmalc]

BMW-inspired angled panel? Rather vice versa. First BMW featuring this was the E21 3-series launched in 1975.

[@lilmoris1]

Car industry really did peak back them. Sad times we live now with nothing but crappy FWD useless, 3 row SUV's and all that.

[@ejgrant5191]

Pontiac had a simular car in 76 as I recall with the Trans Am shaker scoop named the "Can Am".....Yes I agree this car along with the Chevy Laguna S3 was one of the best styled of the "Malaise Era" cars for GM.

[@misujerr]

I signed in just so I could comment here and I haaate signing in. This is so cool, my MOM had one. Auto of course, though. It was silver with the same red interior. Sooo... when is this going up on BaT??? (I just looked, not there yet.) Thanks for the vid/memories!

[@robertwright5487]

Reproduction pieces are now made for the Grand Am and Cam Am front-end bumper cover. They are made of fiberglass and very expensive. Forgot the name of the company. Just goggle it.

[@pcno2832]

When opera windows and louvers are mentioned, most people think of nothing but '70s and '80s kitsch, but on this car, they are combined to build a work of art. I also love the angled interior door pulls, something I'd like to see on today's cars. The only thing I'd be tempted to change is the chrome rear bumper; it looks almost as if it came from a different car. These cars must have been a response to be bad reception received by the flippy-floppy 1971 B and C bodies; the A's are tanks. But, I suspect that the Canadians would be grumbling about the 112" wheelbase; even the 4 door versions had back seats that were only tolerable.

[@bobjohnson205]

Back in '72, when this car was introduced, if I had wanted to buy a BMW - which I probably wouldn't - I would not have bought this or any GM vehicle instead. But that's just me.

[@waynegood9233]

Well from 1976-1978 I had a 455 all black Pontiac Grand Am automatic black vinyl roof

[@edwardallan197]

I was late to appreciating these Pontiacs. They have grown on me. The pinched tail is epic.

[@DavidH-D]

My next door neighbor had a fantastic red 73 Buick Century GS in the 70’s. Classic colonnade style. No guts, all begging for a transplant motor and exhaust to realize their potential.

[@shelbysolko7783]

Those '73 Grand Ams raced in NASCAR. And Texan H.B. Bailey was one of those drivers.

[@divinarocal6361]

Wonderful car! It should have been the end of the 70's GTO. Instead of a Ventura with a shaker hood. GTO was a european name, appropriate for Pontiac's euro offerring.

[@Normanx964]

Detroit made the first angled instrument panel...NOT BMW.

[@OathTaker3]

I only find a few cars from GM to be nice enough to own, a buick, 3 Pontiacs & 2 Oldsmobiles, this Pontiac is one of them. That's right, no chevys.

[@jackthereefer1]

I would have bought a 1973 Trans Am instead of the Grand Am. I remember when they came out in 1973.

[@johnwhitneykokalis9990]

Growing up in the Pontiac Michigan area in the 70s, and at the time that area was the richest County in the USA but now that has changed to the Washington DC area, I remember alot of my neighbors buying these exact cars back then and after 5 years they all disappeared. Sad. You could lift your Chick up on the hood without leaving a dent from her butt. Cars were durable back then.

[@tripyramidpictures9224]

A lot of Pontiac was geared to compete against BMW, lastly, the G8 looked very similar to BMW.

[@MH-53E]

You hit the nail right on. Those non functional aeronautic air scoops from the non functional space agency. I'm certain that Barely Space X appreciates the launch facilities though. That's crazy, I remember going to a 38 Special Concert in a car very similar to this one. Automatic though. You're right.

[@Leo-DaGreek]

Bill let me know if you need a assistance/salesman,I’m on break from 10 yrs selling RVs!!Decompressing

[@newdefsys]

Thats the trap you set on yourself, ladies. You make your man sell all of his possessions so that you can have all of his attention. And then you get all of his attention, (and thats the trap). Its best to just let him dawdle in the garage. At least you know where he is.

[@packard5682]

These are the best looking of all of the 1973 GM A bodies! Pontiac really had it going! GM now is just a shadow of it's former greatness. That's what happens when you turn over the reins to a 'broad'.

[@jimmysuperduty1484]

These were so cool looking

[@thepatchface7236]

I'm odd, I really like the look of that GTO though I've always liked the Grand Am up into the 90s even

[@fogeyes]

Looking forward to seeing what the "changes" end up being. Don't worry Bill we support your" transitioning".

[@adams7405]

Is Bill having a sex change?

[@drewbiedoobie1416]

i like how the guy in the honda thought it was a race. PS... Bordello Red vinyl interiors NEED to come back

[@darnoldie]

"Uncle Johnny has met some broad..." And the rest is history. Rides before brides Johnny.

[@hotroddave7597]

Hey Bill 🏎️🏁⚡️

[@michaelmancini5773]

Had a 69 GTO 400ci, Hurst 4 speed, so I can so relate to this 73 Grand Am ( WITH A MANUAL),, and I gotta say the styling and interior, just holds up.

[@rufstr_racing]

This car is now part of the Team RUFSTR stable. She's every bit as awesome as she looks on video. We'll get some content up on our socials.

[@chrisnizer5702]

Those cars were supposed to come with the Super Duty 455 as an option. Unfortunately management pulled the plug at the last minute. Would have been a great car, and worth a damn fortune today!