yeah I think the California emissions laws created that car. Pontiac would put a certain Olds engine in the California cars and if you were not in Ca, you were lucky and got the Pontiac motor. Of course back then with all the detuned and emission choked engines even what were supposed to be sports cars were more like boat anchors. I still loved the designs and body styles of many but those were some awful years for auto / speed freaks to endure.
My parents got a 1975 Chevy Monza Towne Coupe with a 5.0L V-8 generating maybe a whopping 120 HP. Not sure why it wasn't the 5.7 that the rest of the country got, but it was a California specific version. It was maybe the first year where it was unleaded only. However, early catalytic converters were pretty sad.