You know things are getting bad when you get excited to see a clean, well-kept late 1980s Chevy Cavalier in a parking lot, only because it’s not another silver or dark gray crossover. Yeah, that happened recently, and I’m not proud of that fact. The idea of the car is disappearing in favor of station wagons sport-utility vehicles silver lumps that all have the same shape, nearly the same features and color palettes, and the same Ambien-like effects on the author. A Cavalier made my day. Never, ever in a million years did I think those words would come out of my mouth. But it’s the truth, and the truth is that everywhere I go anymore, it’s either a fleet of Chevrolet trucks or a fleet of cute-utes that make me wanna gag. 
That’s why the idea of this 1974 Pontiac Grand Am as a daily driver makes me laugh like a maniac. Hear me out: this four-door Colonnade Poncho has all the benefits of the big A-body (surprisingly good handling, room, 400ci Pontiac mill) and all of the charm of 1970s vehicles that not one single CR-V can attempt to have. Some of the Grand Am’s styling is a little polarizing, but have you seen a Toyota C-HR? It looks like someone took a Scion coupe, hit it with a sharp hatchet a few times, and lifted it’s body up. Compared, with the right stance and wheels, the Grand Am can come off looking positively badass by comparison. Room for all, a trunk that can eat up just as much room as a compact crossover, and performance you just won’t see out of an appliance with a CVT.
Remind me, again, why anyone would take on a car payment over shelling out $3,500 for this car and throwing the rest of the money into upgrades?
You gotta love that old high school trick of flipping the air cleaner lid. Sweet sounds of quadrajet!
Yeppers!
I’m always looking for 73-75 Grand Ams, hoping someday to own one. If this was a 4spd model, I’d be all over this like gravy on potatoes!
I guess the Cavalier example may be proof that ANY car can become interesting if it survives long enough.
The Grand Am has that PLUS 400 cubic inches of V8 power
PLEASE Don’t call it a classic. 400 cubic inches does not equate to any kind of horsepower in 1973. At the end of the day you still have a 4 door jelly bean.
I’m on my second 73 two-door GA. Sold the first one years ago and regretted it immediately. It was a 400 4-barrel, dual exhaust car. The first one was completely stock save for an 068 factory cam and a Q-jet recalibration. That car was surprisingly fast, and I mean FAST. That’s a subjective opinion of course, but I’ve owned several musclecars and that GA would have kept pace with most of them. After my selling mistake I set out to locate another and found a rust free model in Washington State. Another 400/T400 car that I converted to a built 455/462 with a TKO 5-speed and some suspension work. It’s now under construction again for further upgrades. These cars defy physics and handle amazingly well, IMO. They share the same suspension geometry as the F-bodies of the period and accept the same upgrades. The other 73-77 A-bodies are also excellent platforms for a cool car. If I had the room I’d like to buy another, but I need to reduce inventory before considering that. I don’t understand why anyone would dismiss these as not being a “Classic”, but that’s just a label, so, … whatever. Anyway, awesome cars, speaking from experience, and would buy another in a heartbeat if I was looking for my next project.
” The idea of the car is disappearing in favor of station wagons sport-utility vehicles silver lumps that all have the same shape, nearly the same features and color palettes, and the same Ambien-like effects on the author.”
That right there perfectly sums up what all modern cars look like to me also. Well said, Bryan.
The GA was easily the best looking of the GM colonnade series. While the 4-dr is nowhere near as attractive overall as the coupes, they have what it takes to be a pretty cool piece. They handle well, and lend themselves well to handling upgrades. They look great with TransAm wheels and bigger rubber. The bucket seat/console cars have a great dash and the seats are both comfortable and good looking. A nicely built pump gas 400 with injection, leather guts, discs all around, and some big 15″ rubber on TA “snowflakes would be a real 4dr GT.
I happen to know of a survivor black 1974 coupe, black interior, with a 455 SD. It’s a nice piece.
I would love to have that baby to tow my 74 Grand Am opera window car.