1973 marked the fourth model year of the second generation Firebird. It was the first year of the federally mandated 5mph front bumper and, while the Endura snout is externally identical to that on the '72 models, the grille inserts have been moved slightly forward in their opening to clear the structural reinforcement beneath the outer skin. Also, the previous year's honeycomb grille pattern is replaced with a rectangular eggcrate.
The Firebird trim levels remained unchanged for '73, with the base model, the plusher Esprit, the performance-oriented Formula, and the top-of-the-line Trans Am. The Formula came with a standard Pontiac 350cid 2-barrel V-8 motor with dual exhausts, rated at 175 SAE net horsepower. The car in the photos had the optional 4-barrel 400, which put out 230 horses. There were also two versions of 455 on the menu, the 250hp L75 version and the snarling LS2 Super Duty 455, based on Pontiac's racing motors and rated at 310 ponies, the last gasp of the Muscle Car era.
Formulas made up a little less than a quarter of the 46,313 Firebirds sold for 1973, and 4,622 of them were Formula 400s, like the Navajo Orange example in the photos. On a stock Formula the hood scoops were cosmetic dummies, but this one's had them opened up. Off the showroom floor with a 4-speed transmission, you could expect 0-60 times of about seven seconds flat.
The top photo was snapped in May of 2025 using a Nikon D300 and 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom lens, while the lower one was taken with a Nikon D7100 and 16-80mm f/2.8-4E zoom lens in the same month.
No comments:
Post a Comment