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The Pontiac Grand Am has had three separate incarnations. Initially a mid-size sedan, it was introduced in 1973 and discontinued in 1975. It was rolled out again in 1978, but then again discontinued in 1980 when Pontiac brought out the 6000. The Grand Am once again came rolling off the assembly line in 1985 as a replacement for the Pontiac Phoenix, where the line was continued for twenty years.

The original Grand Am was intended to compete with luxury sport sedans then coming in from Europe. More than 43,000 vehicles were built and sold that first year. The engine was a massive 6.6 liter V8 with a two-barrel carburetor and single exhaust; for a few hundred dollars more, the buy could get a vehicle equipped with a four-barrel carb and dual exhaust, raising the horsepower by almost 50%. The transmission was GM's standard Tubo-Hydramatic three speed. A four-speed automatic was available, but failed to catch on with the auto-buying public.

One of the innovative features of the '73 Trans Am was a flexible hood section, made from urethane plastic. It could be dented and still return to its original shape. In addition, the Grand Am featured energy-absorbing bumpers that minimized damage in a minor fender-bender. The vehicle also came with Radial Tuned Suspension, radial-ply tires, Pliacell shocks and sway bars in front and back, giving the Grand Am exceptionally good road manners. Like its European competitors, the Grand Am was available with manual reclining seats and adjustable lumbar support mechanism - something virtually unknown in U.S. manufactured vehicles in those days. Other European features appearing on the Grand Am was hidden windshield wipers and a headlight dimmer switch integrated with the steering column- mounted turn signals (most dimmer switches were mounted on the floor at the time). It led to an ad campaign that touted the Grand Am as "The mid-sized Pontiac with Foreign intrigue and American ingenuity."

The Pontiac Trans Am proved to be one of the company's most popular models. According to a survey by Popular Mechanics, nearly 70% of owners considered the vehicle to be mechanically superior, while 80% enjoyed its excellent handling. However, its fuel consumption left something to be desired, and this proved to be its downfall. In 1973, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) staged a boycott that nearly doubled the cost of motor fuel and led to massive shortages across the country. Between that and the recession that followed in its wake, sales of the Pontiac Trans Am dropped by half.

In 1985, the Trans Am was reborn as a compact economy car, powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a choice between a manual five-speed or standard three-speed automatic. In 1988, a V-6 became available.

Complaints about the Pontiac Grand Am have been relatively few. There have been reports of intake manifold leaks on 2003 models, but this is a relatively easy fix with Pontiac Grand Am aftermarket parts. You'll find an extensive Pontiac Grand Am parts list at online suppliers such as PartsGeek.com.