Filled with the spirit of automotive innovation, power, grace and a deep
appreciation of the "car guys" who came before me, I left the
National Automobile Museum with a renewed sense of purpose and energy.
I had my own classic and I was taking her home. Next stop, Provo, Utah.
To the left: Here is the entire 73 GTO Odyssey map. Remember, I flew from Memphis to Los Angeles.
| 73
facts about 1973
Skylab was first launched to prove that humans could live in space. Three-man crews experimented there until 1979 when it fell back to Earth. See the NASA Skylab site. |
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73
GTO Odyssey Music
Last Train to Clarksville....The Monkees |
Up until 1970, GM had an internal ban on engines larger than 400 CID in its intermediate size cars. In the face of 426 and 440 CID Mopar V-8s and 428 and 429 CID Fords, GM lifted the ban and allowed the 400 engine to be stroked and bored to 455 CID. This car had the same 360 hp rating as the RAM AIR 400, but it put out an astounding 500 ft-lbs of torque--the most of any GTO ever.
The 455 immediately found its way into the Old 442 and the Buick Skylark GS too. The "arms race" of cubic inch displacement finally reached its absurd limit in 1970 and set up the industry for a dramatic fall the next year.