This 1973 Cessna 172M Skyhawk Is a Reimagined ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Definitive looks hide a 180 hp heart and state-of-the-art glass panel.

FLYING Staff

Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

1973 Cessna 172M Skyhawk [Credit: Seitz Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

The article features a 1973 Cessna 172M Skyhawk as "Today's Top Pick," highlighting its transformation from a standard trainer into a high-performance, technologically advanced aircraft.
It boasts a significant engine upgrade to a 180 hp Lycoming O-360-A4M, enhancing its climb rates, service ceilings, and useful load.
The cockpit has been radically modernized with a comprehensive suite of Garmin glass avionics, including GI 275s, a GNX 375 GPS/transponder (WAAS LPV, ADS-B), and an autopilot, providing modern situational awareness.
Listed at $174,500, this "sleeper" Skyhawk offers exceptional value by combining vintage aesthetics with modern safety and capability, at a cost likely less than replicating its extensive upgrades.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1973 Cessna 172M Skyhawk.

The Cessna 172 has been the undisputed champion of flight training and personal aviation. It’s the airplane that taught the world to fly.

But among the legions of Skyhawks, the M model—produced in the mid-1970s—is often cited by aficionados as the sweet spot, combining the classic lightweight airframe with improved aerodynamics.

This 1973 model, however, is not your standard flight school trainer. It is a “sleeper” in the best sense of the word—a vintage airframe that has been radically transformed into a high-performance, technologically advanced machine. It offers the nostalgia of the golden age of general aviation with the safety and capability of a modern glass-cockpit tourer.

The most significant upgrade hides under the cowling. While the standard 172M left the factory with 150 hp, this aircraft has been muscularly upgraded with a Lycoming O-360-A4M conversion. Producing 180 hp, the powerplant transforms the Skyhawk’s personality, offering increased climb rates, higher service ceilings, and ability to haul a useful load of 1,042 pounds.

This engine was installed factory-new in 2006 and has logged 1,522 hours since, leaving plenty of life for future adventures. Paired with a Sensenich propeller, the extra horsepower is particularly valuable for pilots flying in high-density-altitude environments.

Inside, the transformation is even more striking. No expense has been spared in bringing the panel into the 21st century. The traditional vacuum gauges have been largely replaced by a suite of Garmin GI 275 electronic flight instruments. These round-form-factor glass units provide primary attitude, heading (HSI), and engine data in a clean, reliable digital format.

1973 Cessna 172M Skyhawk [Credit: Seitz Aviation]

The stack is anchored by a Garmin GNX 375 GPS/transponder, providing WAAS LPV approach capability and full ADS-B In and Out. A Garmin GMA 345 audio panel adds Bluetooth connectivity, while a Century IIB autopilot ensures smooth sailing on long cross-country legs.

Whether you are punching through a cloud layer or navigating complex airspace, this panel provides a level of situational awareness that rivals new production aircraft.

Listed at $174,500, this Skyhawk represents a unique value proposition. To replicate this level of avionics and engine performance in a stock airframe would likely cost significantly more than the asking price.