Righto gang before I head out and buy new plugs, dizzy cap, condensor, leads and a 1741 pertronix ignitor kit with 40,000v coil is there a way I can make my 1973 1200 sedan start when its below 5 degrees in the morning?
I tried to start it this morning but she just wouldn't fire, it would turn over then sound like it was trying to fire but the battery went flat before I got it started so I rode my motorbike to work with my teeth since my hands froze off half way there

Couldn't you have just driven the commodore?

nah the commodore is for the missus

Mate I don't blame it! I wouldn't start if it was 5 degrees either! That's so cold.
Matty

Checked the choke, preheater and thermal sensors? Maybe too advanced timing.

presumably 5C which isn't that cold.

if it's 5F and you burn gasoline unless you have ice in your fuel or something it should start too.

Try a bucket of hot water on the inlet manifold. 2 in a few months time.

About all you can do is make sure that everything works as it should, so that means a proper tune-up.
The choke butterfly is not linked directly to the choke cable, instead, it is pulled shut with a spring & if the shaft is sticking, then it will not close. This happened with my son's 1200, the knob pulled out normally, but the choke did not close. A few squirts of penetrating oil on the shaft & some manual working it closed & open, & all works well. It started & ran [when cold] much better after that.

Also make sure that the accelerator pump in the carb is working as it should as cold engines need extra fuel.
Fact is, when everything is working as it should, these engines will start up without difficulty even when the temp is well below freezing, & 5 degrees centigrade is about 40 degrees farenheit, well above freezing.

it it's below freezing, maybe install a block heater, not very much $$ and it could make for easier starting in the cold. I have one since lpg is a no go if the ambient is below 0F so I can keep the vaporizer warmer.

i thought you were talking about timing.. i was goin to say mine starts ok with 15 degrees... lol

All good suggestions.

I can only add:
> sound like it was trying to fire but the battery went flat before I got it started

Batteries don't like the cold. If yours is marginally bad, it may work fine in warm weather, but not have enough oomph left for cold weather. If it starts right up with a jump-start, then I'd say it is time to replace the battery.