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

    Over 100 hours of research and number crunching has come to fruition. The attached summary is based on the research of 728 individual vehicle records. My hope is that this will spark more interest in the 73-74 Gran Sports.

    There is a combination of options listed on the table: engine, transmission, Sun Coupe, and A/C. This is usually the most popular combination desired. I would love to hear from anyone wanting a different combination of options. All of the records are in a database so the possibilities are endless and easy to create.

    I wasnt sure it would be worth the effort, so thanks to Jeff Britton, Pat Harmon, Brian Albrecht, and Marco for providing needed encouragement. Thanks to Jeff Taylor of the Sloan Museum for supporting this research. I am sure this information can also be included on Pats and Marcos website soon. Please realize I must keep the data secure so the Sloan museum is still the only source of documentation for your 73 Stage 1 vehicle.

    Here are some interesting '73 Stage 1 fun facts:
    The most popular color was burgundy (my personal favorite).
    The most popular interior was white buckets; more cars were built with white buckets than all others combined.
    92 were built with 4-speed.
    14 were built without power steering.
    22 were built with wire wheel covers.
    16 were invoiced as dealer "demonstrators", including two 4-speeds.
    17 were invoiced as "Fleet" sales (Rental?), including one 4-speed.
    The second '73 Stage 1 built at Flint still exists and belongs to Benny U. (based on info in Marco's registry).
    The last '73 Stage 1 built still exists and belongs to me.
    :3gears:
     

    Attached Files:

    Dano likes this.
  2. philip roitman

    philip roitman Well-Known Member

    Great stuff Eric. Thank you so much for your time and effort.:beer Really interesting to see the real #'s, WOW. :Smarty: :Smarty:
     
  3. david

    david covair nut

    Are you going to do the 74 stage 1 cars? Would like to see that also. Nice work. Thanks.
     
  4. Rich Johns

    Rich Johns Platinum Level Contributor

    Nice job Eric
    I guess your work proves the exact # of 73 GS Stage 1 4 speed cars
    Way to go!
     
  5. bignastyGS

    bignastyGS Maggot pilot

    I think the Non A/C production is the thing that sparks the most interest in me and the fact that all 728 had bumper protective strips is another interesing thing..
     
  6. Skyhawk

    Skyhawk Well-Known Member

    The blue one I had that Jerry Derise owns now came as a stripper with no power steering, poverty hub caps and really the only option was the rear defroster which was mandatory in NY. Power disc was standard for Stage 1's.
     
    Dano likes this.
  7. BUQUICK

    BUQUICK I'm your huckleberry.

    Wow that is awesome that you have provided this info! I think it is great that the claim of "1 of 7" 4-speeds can finally be proven to be absolutely wrong, and not even close to correct.

    Thanks a lot...now I want a '73 Stage 1....
     
  8. Tom Miller

    Tom Miller Old car enthusiast

    Wow, who woulda thunk it? 92 Stage1 4spds:eek2:
    Man thats great news, my standard GS455 4spd just became rarer by about 85 cars:TU:

    Great job guy's, looks like mine is coming off the market:3gears:
     
  9. Roberta

    Roberta Buick Berta

    So my rotted out white Stage 1 was one of 73 white ones, $500 car drove for a year, till it spun #6 bearing in the middle of an intersection going to get pizza, #6 piston was missing an oil ring when I took the engine apart. Car is gone, lots of parts, but one of the 979 GS 455's is sitting in my garage still, my brother's first car(1983), and I haven't remembered to ask him if he wants me to keep it for his kids to play with or dump it to someone that will do something with it. :Do No:
     
  10. bignastyGS

    bignastyGS Maggot pilot



    Hmmmm...Well I guess now that I have absolute proof there were more than 7 Stage 1 4 speeds built, I wont have to mess with a registry anymore. I actually have documentation of 8 in my possession.

    Tom, If your deal would have come up before I got the crazy idea to build a racecar,That Silver Cloud car would be in Pa a long time ago..That is a real awesome color and super tough to find one in that condition. I say if you can...KEEP IT!
    I may even consider selling my 73 GS 4 speed since there can't be many survivors left and since there were 73 total 65 Burnt Coral cars built and of them6 were Stage 1's,that means mine was 1 of at the most 67 made. I wonder how many of the 67 were 4 speed cars then??


    I think what Eric has done was a terrific thing for the 73 owners. He went out of his way and spent alot of his free time to gather this data for all Stage 1 owners. He needs to be commended!Its too bad Sloan wouldn't break the whole reports down of all the years, so it could be easier to look them up,as well as save the microfische.It would take some time,but it would only have to be done 1 time.Thank You Eric....You are the MAN!!!!
     
  11. Eric B

    Eric B John 3:16

    Gary you need to get one of these to park next to your '72 Stage 1!

    The only reasonable estimate was 70-80 Stage 1 4-speeds built. This is what most people would believe. The way I figure it, it would be better for an owner to have the actual number to quote as fact rather than a number based on speculation or urban legend. Because that number is less than 100, it can still be considered extremely rare by any comparison. There are only 11-12 known to remain therefore they will continue to become more desirable; only with a little less mystery.
     
  12. BUQUICK

    BUQUICK I'm your huckleberry.

    Strangely there were exactly 728 Stage 1s built both in 1972 (hardtops) and 1973. And the 4-speed #s are almost the same also, 101 in '72 vs. 92 in 1973. I think we have all been seeing that figure of 7 4-speeds in '73 at least since the 80's. So I wonder how this bogus # of 1 of 7 ever got started?

    I love seeing production figures and this is about as good as it gets...a mystery solved. Great job.
     
  13. kevin mcculloug

    kevin mcculloug 72 GS 455 Convertible

    Thanks for the interesting reading. And by the way , NO ! Gary doesn't need one of these. He's too busy doing his 72 Stage 1 . ( HINT , HINT ) . Anyway, the effort in research is appreciated. :beer :beer :beer
     
  14. Marco

    Marco Well-Known Member

    [size=+3]WOW[/size]

    GREAT work ERIC :beer

    Pat - you'll be keeping these figures on your website? Please send me a link so I can add it to my website

    :bglasses:
     
  15. Marco

    Marco Well-Known Member

    :confused:

    Say it ain't so!
     
  16. bignastyGS

    bignastyGS Maggot pilot

    I have too much time invested in things to stop now Marco...I will get updating my site soon,but I am thinking of going another route soon that have no popups.My daughter is willing to help out so that will be of help. I need this month to be over so I can get back to a more normal work schedule. This 3 am getting up and plowing the roads deal is really taxing on an old man...lol
     
  17. Brian Albrecht

    Brian Albrecht Classic Reflections

    Excellent work Eric! If not for your dedication and effort this information may have never been made known. Congrats on completing it and thanks for putting it in a very easy to read format. Every '73 owner / enthusiast owes you a debt of gratitude as far as I am concerned. But then again, it must have made the whole thing worth while finding that you for sure own the very last, in the history of all human kind, 1973 GS Stage 1 car.

    :TU:
     
  18. philip roitman

    philip roitman Well-Known Member

    Racer pics for eric Great job. To pat and Marco too
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Mar 7, 2007
  19. boneill

    boneill Active Member

    I heard the rumor started when a guy buying one early in the production year asked how many were made, the dealer said records showed 8 or 9. He should have checked back at the end of the year! After I heard why that was false, I heard it was more like 80-90, right on Eric. Thanks again for the great job.
     
  20. philip roitman

    philip roitman Well-Known Member

    Sorry the pics did not come thru before Eric. I seem to have edited it to work (see previous post?)
     

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