[Wyatt]

1973 Pontiac A-Body (GTO/Grand Am), casting #858, date 2004.

Known variations:

GTO and Grand Am.
Flat Hood & NACA-style Hood Scoops.



JLCollector link: http://www.jlcollector.com/858.html

[James]

This is a casting where I actually like the Grand Am over the GTO, but then so did I in real life too. That over done honkin' nose on the Grand Am is just the real thing, a symbol of the times when bigger was better. And the white Grand Am is especially nice, however it could of had side mount mirrors.!

This post has been edited by James: 03 November 2007 - 11:51 AM

[Jeff Koch]

I kinda like that brown one ... very 70s!

This casting may never have happened had we not wanted to do the '04 GTO so bad.

This was one of mine. No massive recollection here except a look of surprise when I brought it up, and some grumbling about whether it was a real musclecar or not.

But I also recall that Pontiac was trying to figure out which diecast places were "deserving" of casting the 2004 GTO in those days, and we had to figure out how many GTOs we'd be doing in the months previous to help show GM licensing that we were committed to doing Pontiac and GTO things. We were already doing the 68-9 casting at that time, mixed in this one ... between these and past castings out commitment to GTO was obvious, and JL got the license for the 04, at least partly on the promise that we'd be doing '73s too. Also, my suggestion for a Can Am nose/hood/rear spoiler was nixed. Or maybe I suggested it be nixed, since there's really only one way to do a Can Am. I don't remember. But it didn't get done.

First release was white with that Import Heat hard wheel in grey. In retrospect, not a brilliant choice--not sure what I was going for there, maybe some sort of Pontiac Snowflake vibe? I dunno.

Little did we know that the both diecast AND the real 04 GTO would be slow-selling turds in the stores and showrooms. This, coming from one of the 04 GTO's biggest proponents, so don't go grumpin' that I'm a hater. The '73, meanwhile, seemed to do OK ...

jk

[James]

I think it was the roof line, those slits in the back roof always annoyed me, ANd I wasn't a fan of the cars either.

[lummox]

Kinda kewl for a post-'72 car. I allways liked the pointy back end on these.
Didn't they make Can Am 4-drs? An old nieghbor had something like that!

[seveland]

i just got the silver one in the mail yesterday. It was from either Muscle Cars V 3, 5 , or 8 since those are the three sets I bought.

[accobra64]

This is my favourite version of this casting:


From Poncho Power release 1.
Image courtesy of JLCollector.com. Thanks Wyatt.

Jeff, thanks for some more insight into the thought process with things that went on in your days at PM.
Always an interesting read. And most definitely a big thank you for sharing.

Cheers. Cobra

[69Stang]

Well, count me as a fan. Both the 1:1 and the diecast. I looked at a 73' real hard in the late 70's but just did not go through with it. Still like those cars.

[60sMetal]

Thanks for the "weekly" Wyatt - excellent choice! And thanks Jeff for the insight into your work on this one. I like the white GTO the best of this lot.