1973 GS Stage 1 Option Breakdown

Discussion in 'The "Paper Trail"' started by Eric B, Mar 3, 2007.

  1. Eric B

    Eric B John 3:16

    Now that's what I'm talking about! A 4000 lb car that runs 11 sec.
     
  2. 73Riviera

    73Riviera Well-Known Member

    WOW, Great Work!

    I wonder what happened to the Midnight Gray car?, 1 of 1!!! :eek2:

    So are the 1973 Riv GS emblems all GOLD?
    and if so I guess when cars get repainted they put red ones or none back on~
    So, where the heck can I get the correct emblems?

    What are the numbers for the MAX-TRAC option? or is that standard on the GS?

    Where can I get MAX-TRAC service info?
    Feel free to PM or email on the service info as I do not want to distract the topic.

    What did the "Rallye Steering Wheel" look like?

    thanks!
     
  3. Eric B

    Eric B John 3:16

    Thanks for the compliment!
    These numbers are for the Century GS Stage 1. They all came with 3.42 positive traction differential. MAX-TRAC was not an option on the Century. I know MAX-TRAC was available on the full size cars but I don't have any numbers. Pat Harmon has the daily reports for '73 and may be able to help with that.
     
  4. 73Riviera

    73Riviera Well-Known Member

    I feel stupid now, :Dou: , i did a search for Riviera GS and this had come up :Do No: so i just assumed it was for that.
    Who would have this kind of statistical numbers info for the Rivs?

    thanks again!
     
  5. ric

    ric Well-Known Member

    YES!!!!! They were gold. Had a '73 Riv. About 4 months back I saw a pair on e-bay it was going for under 100 bucks and it was gold the correct color. I didn't bid being I had sold my Riv some years back. I would say that about 70% of the boattails you see today all have them in red. But I will say firmly 100000% they were gold for the 73 models. Not sure about the other boat tail years. It would be nice to know the color code so that you can repaint a set of red ones to match.
     
  6. Eric Schmelzer

    Eric Schmelzer Well-Known Member

    You might try the Riviera Owners Assoc. or the the BCA.
     
  7. 73Riviera

    73Riviera Well-Known Member

    ok, been to Riv Owners site,
    and what does BCA mean?
     
  8. ric

    ric Well-Known Member

  9. 73Riviera

    73Riviera Well-Known Member

  10. Tom Miller

    Tom Miller Old car enthusiast

    Now that this Stage1 4speed thing is all sorted out, when are you guy's going to prove/disprove the "T" code 455 Gran Sport mystery??:Dou:
     
  11. philip roitman

    philip roitman Well-Known Member

    I have a T code:TU: Hopefully Pat, or Eric will figure it out:TU: Seems like what from what I have heard all T CODES (The ones that still exist, came with the Gran Sport decals?:Do No: ) Wow 4 SCO paint codes (My Suncoupe is one) Eric any info on the dealer cars I think I might have 1 or 2?
     
  12. Eric B

    Eric B John 3:16

    Mystery solved. I did some research on the T VIN vehicles (at Pat's request) and documented the first 28 T VINS. Not exactly representative or statistically significant sample size, but 98% of them were 455 Gran Sports.

    Here's what we know. The 5th letter in the VIN on '73 Century's means the following:

    H = 350-2 single exhaust
    G = option E1 350-2 dual exhaust
    J = option A7 350-4 single exhaust
    K = option A7+E1 350-4 dual exhaust
    T = Most were option A9 455-4 GS455, 99 vehicles were option A6 455-4 non-GS
    U = option A9 455-4 GS455
    V = option A1 455-4 GS455 Stage 1
    :Smarty:
     
  13. Eric B

    Eric B John 3:16

    None of the invoiced demonstrator or fleet cars are accounted for based on my latest information. But it is difficult to keep up with your fleet Phil, did you buy any more in the last few months?:Do No::Do No:
     
  14. gsxnut

    gsxnut Well-Known Member

    Eric,

    Thank you for the huge effort and dedication to getting this information. I know all to well the countless hours and effort that it takes to gather data and present it in a meaningful way. The work that you have done is truely outstanding and is an excellent service to the Buick Community. Please condiser sending this information to the BPG and GSCA to have it published in their newsletters. It is very noteworthy work. I am thankful that Sloan has the information but it takes someone of great dedication such as yourself to make the information avaliable for the masses.

    EXCELENT WORK ! ! !

    Mark
     
  15. Eric B

    Eric B John 3:16

    Thanks Mark. Rick Martinez is going to publish this info in the next BPG newsletter. Thanks Rick!:beer I was planning to send the info to the GSXtra but just haven't done it yet. It requires more work since I have to put a stamp on it. They don't list an email address. :idea2: I may just plop it on their website and let them take it from there.
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2007
  16. sharkmonkey

    sharkmonkey Give me something to hit!

    Great work Eric!
    I enjoy reading anything about the 73-77 a-bodies.
    MARK
     
  17. 442w30

    442w30 Well-Known Member

    What are the differences betweenn the T and U engines? They're both 455-4, right?

    As much as the general public thinks the post-72 cars are turkeys, I think a 4-speed Stage 1 from '73 would be sweet. Still goes like stink, but has the style and comfort of a Monte Carlo. Imagine if that combo of features came out in 1969! (I guess it did with the '69 Grand Prix? That's for another thread . . . )
     
  18. 442w30

    442w30 Well-Known Member

    'ello? Anyone? Bueller?
     
  19. sharkmonkey

    sharkmonkey Give me something to hit!

    I believe the T was for single exhaust and the U was for dual.
    But I don't think this applied to the GS though. Weren't they all duals? My 73 Regal has a U for dual exhaust.
    MARK
     
  20. Eric B

    Eric B John 3:16

    We have yet to identify any difference between a T code GS455 and a U code GS455.
    We can only speculate, maybe it has something to do with when they were built or where they were built.
     

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