Lindberg 1/32 1974-1975 Pontiac Grand Am

The 1973-1975 Grand Am: A Brief History

The 1970s was an era of immense change in the auto industry. In an attempt to answer the threat from European and Japanese imports, the “Big 3” automakers tried desperately to offer the North American buying public a driving experience that was more typical of foreign automobiles. Characteristics such as smaller size, good handling and braking, etc., typically not the traits of domestic autos at the time, were beginning to receive more attention.

After unleashing the stunning 2^nd generation Firebird in 1970, Pontiac responded to the need for an American “GT” automobile by offering up the Grand Am in 1973. Based on the new “Colonnade”-style LeMans, the Grand Am sought to combine the best of American and European features. A standard 400 cid V8 (455 optional) and the relatively large size of the car left no doubt as to the car’s origins. However, “exotic” features like reclining bucket seats and column-mounted highbeam dimmer switch did add Euro-inspired substance to the car. “6.5 Litre” or “7.4 Litre” badging helped to further distance the Grand Am from its more New Worldly cousins. A distinctive, colour-coded nose/bumper section and louvered rear-quarter windows added some sporting flair, although whether these features looked European or not is up for debate.

Offered as a sedan or coupe from 1973 to 1975, the first-generation Grand Am never really accomplished what Pontiac had hoped it would. Undoubtedly, people who wanted a European car were not swayed by the overly-large, American nature of the GA; on the other hand, those folks seeking an American car probably did not care for the awkward incorporation of European touches to the LeMans that resulted in the more-expensive GA. Thus, in attempting to bridge a gap, it appears that Pontiac simply failed to please anybody. These days, first-generation Grand Ams are very hard to find in good condition, and are unfortunately very difficult to restore correctly due to their many unique components.

The Kit:

Model kits of the Colonnade-style, mid-size GM products of 1973-1977 are limited, as far as this reviewer knows, to a 1975 Oldsmobile Cutlass kit by Johan and this Lindberg Grand Am. Being a simple snap-fit item, it is not a surprise that Lindberg’s contribution has very few parts with only moderate detailing. On the plus-side, the badging on the car is quite accurate, as are the finned wheel covers. Details like chromed headlights, a separate piece grille insert and front bumper rub strip help add a lot of realism to the kit. On the downside, the raised lip around the fender-mounted turn signals is incorrect, the interior is horrendously proportioned, and the chassis has virtually no detailing. The metal axles that let the car roll freely tend to make it feel more like a toy. Perhaps, at one point, this kit was indeed a promotional model or toy of some sort: a stamping on the underside that declares the car to be part of “The Lindberg Line”, and the “Super Mini-Lindy” tires smack of mid-‘70s promotional tactics. The loud, neon-toned box in which the kit came befits the 1996 copyright date of this “Street Muscle” issue.

The moulding of the kit was quite good, although a few mould seams and a couple of severe “sink holes” did need to be filled and/or sanded before any paint could be applied. The quality of the chrome plating is first-rate and, except for a bit of guesswork with respect to steering wheel placement, the fit was exemplary: the chassis is a perfectly accurate, snug fit into the underside of the car, and the windows fit better and more easily than any other car kit I have ever built.

The simple pictorial instructions provided with the kit are not even necessary for a modeler with any experience whatsoever.

Building the Kit:

Most of the “building” activity for this kit was actually devoted to painting. After priming the kit in Mr. Surfacer, I chose to do the body in Humbrol gold. Although the colour looks nice for a mid-‘70s car, shooting the gold from my airbrush was such a headache that I don’t think that I shall ever spray gold again LOL! Even after a thorough cleaning, the airbrush was spewing gold flecks for a number of days afterwards.

The gold paint was sanded with 2000 grit and glossed with two coats of thinned Future Floor Polish (done by hand). Mother’s Scratch Remover was then used to buff out the remaining scratches before two more coats of Future were applied. The end result is pretty smooth, all things considered.

Although black or tan would be most people’s first choice for an interior, I elected to use a white/black two-tone. To be honest, I’m not sure if this was an available colour combo on GAs or not, but it was available on many ‘70s cars. Tamiya XF-2 white was airbrushed on the inside of the body and on the interior bucket, while Testors Model Master Aircraft Interior Black was hand painted on the dash and floor. Painted 350 grit sandpaper was used for carpeting on the floor and parcel shelf. A mixed brown adds a bit of wood-like finish to the dash and console, and silver dial outlines help to dress up the otherwise-empty cockpit. While the carpeting was left matte, the dash was coated in two thin coats of Future floor polish so as to give it a vinyl-like finish.

On the underside, there wasn’t much I could do: a silver exhaust system is the only break in the monotony of black J.

Details like the bumper rub strips, taillights, badging, etc. were all pained on by hand once the body was done. Soft pencil was used to outline the doors, hood and trunk. The wheels were painted with Krylon “original chrome," to bring down their mirror-like finish, and accented with black fins and red Pontiac arrowheads.

Conclusion:

Although Lindberg’s Grand Am isn’t terribly involved, it is the only way you can buy a model kit of a first generation GA. With this in mind, any fans of the Colonnade body style should definitely try to get a copy of this kit. If you can find one, it should be very inexpensive to buy and should prove to be a quick, entertaining build.