1972 Pontiac GTO Y Code Revere Silver

                                                           By: Patrick Smith
 

You can see the body is more or less complete but in need of repairs. The driver side fender has been punched
and the quarter panel has rust and damage. Vinyl top looks decent. It appears to have either a Dixco or 1967 Pontiac
hood tach installed. Pontiac ceased factory hood tach installs in 1972.

We have  another new entry to the Y Code Registry on record. This is our first car finished in Revere Silver metallic, which is a nice color. From the state of Illinois, this Pontiac plant assembled hardtop came through with some nice options. I understand it is now in Horace, North Dakota and for sale.The first of course, is the L75 455 four barrel d port engine with mandatory TH400 automatic transmission. The 12 bolt rear end completes the drive line package out back. 

 

It certainly appears that someone is getting this car mobile again. A lot of extra wiring and a junction block is on the
firewall. I notice more stuff in the trunk area. Perhaps a car alarm system?

  For options it has variable ratio power steering, power disc brakes, console, black expanded Morrokide vinyl custom bucket seat interior which also gave you the deluxe door panels with pull straps and carpet runners. The car also has the GTO option,  air conditioning, vinyl roof , tinted glass windshield,  electric clock, power windows, AM FM stereo radio, rear speaker, honey comb wheels, heavy duty battery and front floor mats. It is actually a later build car according to the VIN number but it  has the second lowest VIN number in our database.

The engine is said to be numbers matching and intact. Some attempt at repairs has been done. Note the newer
power brake booster, blue anodized alternator and valve covers. Just so you know, Pontiac never used those horrible Buick inspired air cleaner decals. The D port 455 came with black air cleaner lids and no decals except for the air cleaner
filter replacement decal.

  The car was sold new out of Cunningham Pontiac on Jamaica Ave. in Richmond, Hill, NY. The invoice was a stunning $4018.24 before sales tax and MSRP! A strange thing about the invoice billing is the it was given a Date of Note in June 23rd, 1972, which is when the dealer starts paying GM for the car. It was shipped on  June 15-72 from the Pontiac plant. This time period is right around when the last batch of GTOs were being assembled, yet the VIN is quite a bit lower than mine which suggests a lot of LeMans cars were made in between. Even stranger, the VIN is lower than my car but was shipped out later. What this suggests is the span between GTO builds and regular LeMans builds was growing over time, necessitating a switch towards batch building as demand for GTOs fell.

The trunk floor 

  The current condition of this GTO is clearly a restorable candidate. Not only is the drive line  intact, the engine is claimed to be numbers matching.The body isn't rust free, but then again  it isn't poor either. The trunk has seen better days, replacement is going to involve the whole trunk floor pan to do it right. You can see the black Cordova vinyl roof still and the body paint is still accurate although I suspect it is a later re spray. The honeycombs are long gone however. That electrical wire you see hugging the driver side wheel house arch was used for powering the rear defroster fan motor or the rear speaker. My car had both options and two connectors which goes into the main wire loom on the floor pan. This one has one connector. The two connector wire will be orange and purple.

The interior of this car shows some electrical handiwork and a more or less stock appearance. Note the
120 mph speedo used on cars assembled from January onwards.

  Another interesting detail shown in this rear seat view is the use of custom seat belts. In 1972, the custom seat belt option switched style from brushed stainless steel cases to black molded plastic cases, often called "exploding buckle" due to the heavy spring loaded behind the button release, flexing and cracking the case. A second version of the custom seat belt option used actual black painted steel cases which were tougher and more likely to survive usage. This car has the steel custom seat belt version. Also notice the lower arm rest panel appears to be padded with black vinyl. This is not factory. They were molded black textured plastic similar to the front door arm rest bases. Someone has done some upholstery work here.

Rear seat photo shows steel case version of custom seat belt option. Lower arm rest panel has been
customized with black vinyl wrap. Original appearance was molded and textured plastic like the front door
arm rest base.

 We hope this car has been restored or at least saved from further damage. Revere Silver with black is a nice combination. The car is quite savable from what the pictures show. That might even be original paint although metallic silver is known for fading fast and re sprays were common.There are no interior pics so we don't know the condition of the upholstery and dash. Hopefully it wasn't butchered or baked to a crisp. They can be redone with new pieces but it won't be cheap!
  * Article (c) 2017 by PHS Collector Cars  1972 LeMans/GTO Y Code Registry

 

1972 LeMans/GTO Options: HoneyComb Wheels

                                                                   By: Patrick Smith

    For 1971 Pontiac brought out a new 455 HO round port engine to show off in the Trans Am and GTO. What better time to bring out a new set of optional mag wheels? Billed as RPO 478/ PO5, the Honeycomb wheel was available as optional equipment on the Firebird Trans Am and Pontiac GTO. To get the wheels you had to order either a 2387, 2487 or 2687 sales coded V8 powered Firebird. For the GTO, the Honeycombs were optional equipment available in Firebirds, Esprits, Formulas with the Handling Package. The Trans Am did not have trim rings included. For 1971 only the center caps were plain finished without the arrowhead. The special pattern was molded using Goodyear Neothane bonded over a welded steel disc in the center of a mag wheel. It was supposed to look like a fancy forged alloy wheel which is what designer Bill Porterfield was going for looks wise. At the time it was decided that making the wheels as alloy forgings was too expensive and GM went with this concept instead.

A set of 15 inch honeycomb wheels with center caps and trim rings.

    For 1972. the polycast wheel returned and was offered as optional equipment on Firebirds. Esprits, Formulas and was standard issue with Trans Ams. Polycast wheels were optional on Grand Prix, LeMans, T-37, and GTOs. For 1972 a new centercap was issued with the Pontiac arrowhead included. As before, no trim rings were included with Trans Ams or any cars equipped with the Handling Package which was a mandatory option to get these wheels.

  For 1973, PO5 wheel is offered once again on the Firebird and LeMans series as well as the Grand Prix. A new model, Grand Am is offered this wheel as well. Of interest is the availability of Honeycombs on LeMans Safari which is a station wagon. This year the wheel is available with trim rings. 1974 continues the Honeycomb offering for Firebird, LeMans, Grand Am and Grand Prix. Some restrictions were made for the LeMans series. You had to order the Radial Tuned Suspension package to get the Honeycomb wheels. The Trans Am of course used these as standard equipment.

  1971 is the first year the Honeycomb is issued in both 14 and 5 inch sizes. Using the same RPO code, wheel difference is distinguished with the tire sales code.By 1975, the Honeycomb is available on all models except the Ventura, Astre and full size series which used a larger 5x5 bolt pattern which wasn't made for Honeycombs. This is the last full year of Honeycomb production as it isn't listed in the 1976 accessories catalog.
 

These are the 1971 honeycomb center caps. Note the plain surface areas. part number is 9791068.

Applications and ID: Honeycombs have been available on Trans Ams and Grand Prixs right up to the end of 1976. They were available LeMans cars as well. Was there a difference in codes between the wheels issued on GPs and those on TAs and GTOs other than the obvious date codes? If you find parts still in boxes or with tags on them you will be able to figure out what they're for, otherwise you're kind of stuck. For reference only, here are some part numbers on the wheels, center caps and trim rings from the 1971-72 era.
1971 15x7 honeycomb wheel pn 483084 center cap: 9791068 trim ring: 490771
1971 14x7 honeycomb wheel pn 484425-center cap: 9791068 trim ring:483250
1972 15x7 honeycomb wheel pn 484425-center cap: 9795568 trim ring: 490771
So yes, in 1971 the 14x7 wheel used a special trim ring. I don't know what the difference was between it and the superceded part. There were no full size car honeycombs made in the 1970s, none exist with a 5x5 bolt pattern.
 Sizes Part Numbers and Codes:
 14 x 7 inch wheel      sales code 478 RPO PO5
  wheel code, none given. part number: 483084 released 1971. Available on Firebird, Grand Prix, LeMans and Tempest.
 15 x 7 inch wheel sales code 478 RPO PO5
  wheel codes,  HP. KP, NP  released 1971 available on Trans Am model only initially as standard equipment, made optional due to fears of supply shortages.
part number: 497154
Available optional equipment for  Firebird, Grand Prix, LeMans, Tempest.
   

These are the 1972 and later style honeycomb center caps. The 1971 center cap is plain and has a different part number.

           1972 and up Wheel center caps part number: 9795568 with arrowhead.
Problems and Usual Wear:
 It's fairly common to encounter worn paint surfaces on honeycomb wheels. They were sprayed onto a dull black polycast mold over a steel wheel. Distortion of the center cap hole is also common. Some can be repaired and put back into service, others cannot. Repainting the wheels usually involved blasting away the old paint and prepping the black polycast medium for new paint with a flex agent. The correct paint formula for your honeycomb will depend on the original finish., Some such as the Hurst Grand Prix and SE Trans Ams were gold. Most were argent silver.

A honeycomb wheel with distorted center cap hole. These are repairable to some degree but I consider this one
to be marginal. This, paint loss and damaged holes from nuts cutting into the polycast material can make
restoring a set expensive. Find the best condition wheels you can.

  The trim rings for honey comb wheels look similar to the style used on the  1970s Chevrolet Camaro Z28 wheels but are not interchangeable. The Camaro trim ring is shaped differently and will not fit the wheel properly. Reproduction Pontiac Honeycomb wheel trim rings are available now. They aren't cheap but at least it is out there. The Parts Place sells them as do other vendors.There is a trick to installing these trim rings. See the following text below for a smooth, drama free install. 
   There's a trick to it. The secret is in the trim ring tabs on the back. The ring has four tabs. Each tab has two outer fingers and one curved inner finger. The inner finger is what you have to get pushed under and inside the steel lip of the rim. The outer fingers grab onto the outer wheel lip.

 

Trim rings are available now but costly.

So, how do you do this feat? You start by pushing in the inner clip on one side. The wheel trim ring will be elliptical at this point, going on a rising arc and away from the rim. Slide along to the next tab, using a rat tail file with wooden handle and a hammer, tap the middle finger hard while applying light pressure on the steel trim ring above that tab. If you do it right, she'll pop int place. A tip to help you; rub a small amount of vaseline on the center tab. This will make it slip below the rim lip easier. You could have someone use gentle foot pressure on the trim ring as you pop in that center tab with the hammer and drift. Try it first alone using your free hand. It shouldn't take much pressure.

I used clear RTV sealant on each center cap finger and on the inner core to hold these in place. It also keeps
theives from walking away with your center caps. They aren't going ANYWHERE once it dries. Yet, it is easy to free
them using an Xacto knife blade when you change tires.

  Another useful hint. Those center caps are something like $70 apiece. Only three fingers hold them in place against the inner steel hub. Centrifugal force will hold them in place at speed but there's nothing to guard them from prying five finger discounters from stealing one. You can keep those center caps to yourself by using dabs of clear bathroom RTV sealant on each finger before installing and adding more dabs on the inside and spreading it around to meet the initial dab on the finger contacting the steel hub. That way it's 360 degree surrounded by silicone. When it dries, no one is going to cut those loose without a hassle. Unless you leave it out overnight or something. It should piss them off enough to give up. Will definitely buy you enough time to catch the creep and give him a knuckle sandwich.
  * Article (c) 2017 by Patrick Smith PHS Collector Cars Y Code LeMans and GTO Registry

 material collated from "Hot Options: Honeycomb wheels" by Patrick Smith and 

research.

 

   

Y Code LeMans Sport convertible Special Order Cumberland Blue!

                                                                 By: Patrick Smith
     

This car had a pretty good option list from the factory. The phs docs and VIN
is in our database. Cumberland Blue was special order for LeMans that year.

  We recently discovered a Y Code hardtop Lemans Sport rag top for auction that was special ordered in Cumberland Blue paint. This is the second special order Y Code we've encountered to date. The other one was Iris Mist and a convertible to boot. This LeMans was a Pontiac plant built car and came with parchment interior, T-41 GTO front end option, and a massive 35 option list! Someone maxed out this car in a big way. It reads like a Christmas wish list for LeMans fans. Check this out.
       

Same car at the Mecum Auction in 2012.

   Four speed manual transmission,  AM FM stereo radio, console, tinted glass windshield, front and rear floor mats, Safe T Track limited slip differential, rally gauges with dash tach, power steering, power antenna, power disc brakes, wheel well moldings, rocker panel moldings and body color sport mirrors. Just  remarkable. This one appeared at a Mecum auction in 2012. It was done up as a GTO convertible (of course) sporting lace mag wheels. This auction is an old one so it doesn't even come up in their database. I pulled this one from a printed magazine while doing research on another car. Sadly we didn't have the selling price either. This is all the information we have on this one so far. The VIN definitely is a Y Code car however.

               *(c) 2017 Patrick Smith PHS COLLECTOR CARS Y CODE REGISTRY.