1973 · Ford · United States
1973 Ford Thunderbird: Opera Windows and the Sixth Generation's Best Year
The 429 4V was standard and the 460 4V optional in the sixth generation's best-selling year.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
This record's own dek states that the 429 4V was standard and the 460 4V optional in the sixth generation's best-selling year; this record's own overview repeats that the 1973 catalog lists the 429-cubic-inch 4V V-8 at 4.36 by 3.59 inches with four-barrel carburetion and regular fuel as standard, and the 460-cubic-inch 4V V-8 at 4.36 by 3.85 inches as optional, printing no horsepower figure for either engine.
This record's own engines section carries those same two entries, each noting directly that no rating was printed for it in the catalog, and each sourced to the same last page of the 1973 catalog as the overview text; this record's own interiors section carries 23 entries from the Automotive Mileposts interior trim page, covering standard cloth-and-vinyl, all-vinyl and leather seat trims by colour code on split bench seats plus four high-back bucket-seat codes, while the vinyl-roof and convertible-top colours the same page lists are deliberately not recorded as interiors. Its transmissions, keyFacts, performance, identification, conflicts and unpublished-leads sections are all empty for the year, leaving the overview, production, prices, engines, options, paint, interiors and specifications sections as this record's own only sources for 1973.1
This record's own overview also states that Wikipedia's sixth-generation table gives 87,269 Thunderbirds for 1973 across all bodies and engines, with no body, engine or option split found in a citable source; this record's own production section carries a single row, the same 87,269 total, sourced to both Wikipedia and Automotive Mileposts and labeled a whole-line total rather than a performance-configuration count.2,1
This record's own prices section shows a large mid-year change: the two-door hardtop's base price rises from $5,577 before June 11, 1973 to $6,414 from that date, a jump of $837 that this record's own price-row labels state by date without further explanation; this record's own text does not tie the change to any specific cause such as a running change to equipment or a broader industry event.1
This record's own overview also states that the catalog offers 23 exterior colors, 15 standard and eight in the Glamour Paint Option Group; this record's own production notes add that only eight of the 15 standard colors were legible in the page read, so this record's own paint table carries those fewer entries rather than the full 15. The eight Glamour Paint Option Group colors are fully listed by code and name, including 3L Silver Blue Fire, 4U Emerald Fire, 5K Almond Fire and 5P Mahogany Fire. This record's own specifications section gives a 120.4-inch wheelbase, 218.9-inch overall length, 79.7-inch width, 53.1-inch height, an approximate curb weight of 4,742 pounds with standard equipment, and a 22.5-gallon fuel tank, all from the catalog's own Thunderbird Specifications page.
This record's own options section itemizes 38 entries, two of them flagged in their own names as new for 1973: an Exterior Decor Group at $141 bundling a textured-grain vinyl roof and wide vinyl bodyside moldings with matching texture inserts, and Opera Windows at $81.84. Other entries include a Glamour Paint Option Group at $161.79 with a higher amount of metallic particles in the paint plus dual bodyside and hood stripes, a Turnpike Convenience Group at $132.51 bundling Fingertip Speed Control, a manual reclining passenger seat and a trip odometer, and a Remote Control Right Hand Mirror at $26.67, also new for the year.1
Fact sheet · 1973 · United States
The numbers
1973 Ford Thunderbird — The 429 4V was standard and the 460 4V optional in the sixth generation's best-selling year.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Thunderbirds, 1973 model year (every series, body and engine)2,1 not stated by source Whole-line total, not a performance-configuration count. | 87,269 | built, model-year | Reported |
No citable production split by body style, engine or option was found for this year; the only production figure is the whole-line total.
Paint: eight of the 15 standard colors were legible in the page read; the rest are not listed here.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Thunderbird Two-door hardtop, before 11 June 19731 | $5,577 | base price as compiled by the site, 1973 model year |
| Thunderbird Two-door hardtop, from 11 June 19731 | $6,414 | base price as compiled by the site, 1973 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 429 4V V-8 429 cu in · 4-barrel | standard | Not yet sourced | |
| 460 4V V-8 460 cu in · 4-barrel | optional | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Glamour Paint Option Group | — | Not yet sourced |
|
460 4V V-8 engine | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Exterior Decor Group (Includes Textured Grain Vinyl Roof and Wide Vinyl Bodyside Moldings with Matching Texture Inserts) New option for '731 | $141 | Not yet sourced |
|
Opera Windows New option for '731 | $81.84 | Not yet sourced |
|
Glamour Paint Option Group (Includes higher amount of metallic particles in paint, dual bodyside/hood paint stripes, and color-keyed wheel covers)1 | $161.79 | Not yet sourced |
|
Front Cornering Lamps1 | $43 | Not yet sourced |
|
Deluxe Bumper Group1 | $51 | Not yet sourced |
|
Deluxe Wheel Covers1 | $64 | Not yet sourced |
|
Leather and Vinyl Trim1 | $63.65 | Not yet sourced |
|
Reclining Passenger Seat (Included with Turnpike Convenience Group)1 | $40 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power Side Windows1 | $129.60 | Not yet sourced |
|
Remote Control Right Hand Mirror New option for '731 | $26.67 | Not yet sourced |
|
Fingertip Speed Control (Included with Turnpike Convenience Group)1 | $103.14 | Not yet sourced |
|
Deluxe Color-Keyed Seat Belts1 | $50.49 | Not yet sourced |
|
Electric Rear Window Defroster1 | $81.91 | Not yet sourced |
|
Turnpike Convenience Group (Includes Fingertip Speed Control, Manual Reclining Passenger Seat, and Trip Odometer)1 | $132.51 | Not yet sourced |
|
Dual Rear Speakers (AM Radio only)1 | $32.18 | Not yet sourced |
|
AM/FM Stereo Radio1 | $146 | Not yet sourced |
|
AM/FM Stereo Radio with Tape Player New option for '731 | $311 | Not yet sourced |
|
SelectAire Conditioner1 | $436.52 | Not yet sourced |
|
SelectAire Conditioner with Automatic Temperature Control1 | $505.68 | Not yet sourced |
|
Vinyl Seat Trim New option for '731 | $35 | Not yet sourced |
|
Automatic Seat Back Release1 | $25.90 | Not yet sourced |
|
High Back Bucket Seats with Console1 | $75.97 | Not yet sourced |
|
6-Way Power Seat, Driver Only1 | $101.34 | Not yet sourced |
|
6-Way Power Seat, Driver and Passenger1 | $201.67 | Not yet sourced |
|
Rim-Blow Deluxe Three-Spoke Steering Wheel1 | $37.99 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power Lock Group (Includes Power Door Locks and Electric Trunk Lid Release)1 | $59.45 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tilt Steering Wheel1 | $51 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power-Operated Sunroof (Vinyl Roof required)1 | $504.80 | Not yet sourced |
|
Tinted Glass1 | $50.74 | Not yet sourced |
|
Anti-Theft Alarm System New option for '731 | $79 | Not yet sourced |
|
Power Antenna1 | $30.17 | Not yet sourced |
|
Interval Windshield Wipers1 | $25.37 | Not yet sourced |
|
Heavy Duty Suspension1 | $27.26 | Not yet sourced |
|
Heavy Duty Trailer Towing Package (Includes heavy duty suspension)1 | $45.82 | Not yet sourced |
|
Sure-Track Brake Control System1 | $197 | Not yet sourced |
|
Convenience Light Group (Includes high-intensity map lights, warning lights for headlamps on, low fuel, door ajar, headlamps "on" warning buzzer, and engine compartment light)1 | $43.79 | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
3L |
Silver Blue Fire (Glamour) | Not yet sourced |
4U |
Emerald Fire (Glamour) | Not yet sourced |
5K |
Almond Fire (Glamour) | Not yet sourced |
5P |
Mahogany Fire (Glamour) | Not yet sourced |
2G |
Burgundy Fire (Glamour) | Not yet sourced |
4D |
Green Fire (Glamour) | Not yet sourced |
5D |
Cinnamon Fire (Glamour) | Not yet sourced |
6G |
Gold Fire (Glamour) | Not yet sourced |
3A |
Pastel Blue | Not yet sourced |
3G |
Dark Blue Metallic | Not yet sourced |
4S |
Light Green | Not yet sourced |
6L |
Medium Gold Metallic | Not yet sourced |
1A |
Light Gray Metallic | Not yet sourced |
1C |
Black | Not yet sourced |
2J |
Maroon | Not yet sourced |
3D |
Medium Blue Metallic | Not yet sourced |
4P |
Medium Green Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
4Q |
Dark Green Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
5F |
Dark Brown Metallic1 | Not yet sourced |
5L |
Tan1 | Not yet sourced |
6B |
Light Yellow Gold1 | Not yet sourced |
6D |
Yellow1 | Not yet sourced |
9A |
White1 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
GA |
Black; standard split bench seats with cloth and vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
GB |
Dark Blue; standard split bench seats with cloth and vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
GF |
Ginger; standard split bench seats with cloth and vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
GR |
Dark Green; standard split bench seats with cloth and vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
HY |
Gold; standard split bench seats with cloth and vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
HZ |
Tobacco; standard split bench seats with cloth and vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
JA |
Black; optional split bench seats with all-vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
JB |
Dark Blue; optional split bench seats with all-vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
JF |
Ginger; optional split bench seats with all-vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
JR |
Dark Green; optional split bench seats with all-vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
JY |
Gold; optional split bench seats with all-vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
JZ |
Tobacco; optional split bench seats with all-vinyl1 | Not yet sourced |
KA |
Black; optional split bench seats with leather1 | Not yet sourced |
KQ |
White with Dark Blue appointments; optional split bench seats with leather1 | Not yet sourced |
KR |
Dark Green; optional split bench seats with leather1 | Not yet sourced |
KZ |
Tobacco; optional split bench seats with leather1 | Not yet sourced |
KW |
White with Black appointments; optional split bench seats with leather1 | Not yet sourced |
K5 |
White with Dark Green appointments; optional split bench seats with leather1 | Not yet sourced |
K9 |
White with Tobacco appointments; optional split bench seats with leather1 | Not yet sourced |
GA |
Black; optional high back bucket seats and console, cloth and vinyl trim1 | Not yet sourced |
GB |
Dark Blue; optional high back bucket seats and console, cloth and vinyl trim1 | Not yet sourced |
GF |
Ginger; optional high back bucket seats and console, cloth and vinyl trim1 | Not yet sourced |
GR |
Dark Green; optional high back bucket seats and console, cloth and vinyl trim1 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 120.4 in | all |
| Overall length | 218.9 in | all |
| Overall width | 79.7 in | all |
| Overall height | 53.1 in | all |
| Approx. curb weight | 4,742 lb | with standard equipment |
| Fuel tank | 22.5 gal | all |
Identification
Read a 1973 Ford VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1973
- AMC AMX The Javelin AMX's best year. 5,707 were built, a quarter of them with the 401, alongside the Trans Am Victory decal and the Pierre Cardin interior.
- AMC Gremlin X and Spirit AMX The V8 Gremlin X continued, with new stripes and an available Levi's denim-look interior. No production split has been found.
- AMC Javelin The SST name dropped away and new twin 'TV-screen' taillights arrived. Javelin production reached 25,195, alongside the Trans Am Victory decal package.
- Buick Riviera Stage One (260 hp net) joined a separate GS handling package; 1,234 Stage Ones and 3,933 GS cars of 34,080.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX On the new Colonnade A-body the GS became a Century Gran Sport package; 6,637 were built, 728 with the 455 Stage 1.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The Colonnade Chevelle's only SS year: RPO Z15 on the Malibu coupe and, for the first and only time, the station wagon, with a 245 net hp 454 available.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Hatchback appears in the source body table; SS offered with any engine per the source. Enthusiast-compiled production: 369,509 cars; Super Sport 35,542.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS The new Colonnade El Camino could still be ordered with RPO Z15 SS equipment; no El Camino SS count was found.
- Dodge Challenger The six was gone: every 1973 Challenger hardtop had a V8, the 318 standard and the 340 optional, with the Rallye now sold as a package.
- Dodge Charger The Charger's best-selling year of the original era, 119,318 cars, came as the 440 lost its Magnum name and the car moved toward personal luxury.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon Renamed Dart Sport, the fastback's 340 model sold 11,315 in the 340's final year.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The 200 six became standard as the 170 was dropped; Classic Industries counts 32,350 Grabbers.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT continued on the 1972-76 Ranchero; 15,320 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Torino The 1973 Torino kept the 1972 body behind a heavier bumper; the Gran Torino Sport fell to 51,853 SportsRoofs and 17,090 hardtops while the 351 Cobra Jet remained the performance engine.
- Mercury Cougar The last Cougar convertible and the last 351 Cobra Jet year, with production up to 60,629 as buyers shifted to the XR-7.
- Mercury Montego GT The Montego GT fastback's second and last year; a vehicle profile reports 4,464 built.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds On the new Colonnade Cutlass the 4-4-2 was a W-29 appearance and handling option, and the Hurst/Olds came in white or, for the first time, black: 1,097 built.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda V8 only: the 318 became standard on both Barracuda and 'Cuda, the 340 moved to the option list, and production rose for the only time after 1970.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 The 340's last year in the Duster produced 15,731 cars with power front disc brakes now standard, and the Spacemaker Pak fold-down rear seat joined the line.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite For 1973 the GTX name survived only through the Road Runner's optional 440 four-barrel, which came with TorqueFlite only; Mueller's Muscle Car Source Book counts 749 of them.
- Plymouth Road Runner A secondary count puts production back up to 19,056, the highest of the 1971-1974 Satellite-based years.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The Super Duty year: 4,802 Trans Ams, 252 of them SD-455s.
- Pontiac GTO A GTO option on the new Colonnade LeMans, with the 400 standard and a 455 optional; 4,806 built.
- Pontiac Grand Am Pontiac's Colonnade GT with an Endura nose and a 400 or 455; 43,137 built, the Grand Am's best year, with 1,058 four-speeds.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The Colonnade-body Grand Prix arrives, with the 400 standard and the 455 in the SJ.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The Colonnade LeMans arrives, with GTO and GT options for the two-door models and a Super Duty 455 listed for the LeMans in Pontiac's dealer book.