The legendary Pontiac Super Duty SD-455 Trans Am -- a rare bird indeed. As we all know, what makes the SD car special is its glorious unique factory race engine and the low production numbers; only 252 Super Duty T/A's were made in 1973, and likely less than 50 remain. 72 had 4-speeds, and the rest (180) had automatics. Super Duty owners could expect 13.5-second quarter-miles at 104 mph from the factory.
This is your opportunity to own one of the rarest Pontiac's made and a true vestige of the muscle car era.
Factory optioned automatic, air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, AM/FM Delco radio (with Pioneer internals), "air cushion" deluxe interior and factory console options. Restored original factory "fat" 1973 steering wheel, hood bird decal, and factory OEM honeycomb wheels, trim rings, and centers.
This all original, numbers matching 1973 Super Duty Trans-Am is private collector owned for 30 years. And yes, the owner is older than the car. Restored with all OEM body parts and original color. The undercarriage is undercoated. One hundred miles on new BF Goodrich Radial T/A's.
Original numbers matching engine and transmission match the VIN. Original 800CFM Rochester Qudrajet carb, factory SD manifold, GM distributor, and differential.
The car received new paint during restoration in the original white and is gorgeous. Chrome has been redone, and all stainless polished. The factory Endura front end is beginning to show the typical spider webbing as the paint dries out and does flex with the original Endura bumper. Owners can expect to refinish the front end every 10 to 15 years, even with the flex agents/thinners added to the paint – which I have done twice.
Unique to the Super Duty model was the all-new 4-bolt main engine block. The Super Duty was an engine that should never have seen the light of day for all intents and purposes, but on March 15, 1973, permission was given to release the engine into production cars. Virtually hand-assembled with forged aluminum pistons by TRW and forged connecting rods, a reinforced engine block including additional main webbing support and forged crank. Pontiac included provisions for dry sump oiling and baffled oil pan to round out the package for racing.
The SD cylinder heads are of round port Ram-Air IV design, with special round port exhaust manifolds and a unique intake manifold. The "X" coded Trans Am received a one-year-only high-performance 455cid motor with forged aluminum pistons, massive 7/16 rod bolts, a carefully engineered intake, 800cfm carburetor, and the special high-performance heads.
Real Super Duty's can be identified by an "X" VIN code replacing the normal Trans-AM "Y" identifier in the VIN number.
Cast iron reproduction exhaust manifolds are installed, however, the original cast iron manifolds are included. 2 1/2” dual exhaust pipes terminate into a crossover Ultra Flow welded stainless steel muffler in the factory cross-mounted position for a pure factory Super Duty sound. No Flowmasters here!
This was a venerable beast of a car that could strike fear into the most powerful muscle cars. Prices are soaring. Own an investment that is a piece of history
