1971 Pontiac Le Mans Sport

Description

Back in the muscle car era, if you wanted speed as well as stunning good looks, the Pontiac store was where you shopped. And while the GTO got all the press, smart buyers opted for the Lemans, which could be fitted with many of the same performance parts for a bit less cash. Given how well this beautiful 1971 Lemans Sport runs, it represents one heck of a deal on a great piece of muscle.

Honestly, I'm guessing a Lemans convertible today is considerably rarer than a GTO, and it's a real treat to see one that hasn't been faked up to be something it's not. The fiery red paint looks right on the crisply rendered Pontiac sheetmetal, and if it's a high-visibility piece of muscle you want, you can scarcely do better than this. Forget stripes, scoops, and spoilers and other add-ons, this car simply delivers the power without all the fanfare, but looks awesome doing it. The Lemans had a slightly different front end that includes a chrome bumper that neatly blends in with the grille surround, but out back the big differentiator are the big block letters spelling out LEMANS on the deck lid.

Pontiac didn't skimp on the Lemans' interior, which gets buckets, a console, and plenty of excitement from the division that invented it. Reproduction seat covers look great and are in wonderful shape, and the carpets look so good they have to be recent, too. The door panels are likely original, which again speaks to the care this car has received over the years, because they're still quite presentable. Basic instruments are set into the same deep round pods used by rest of the Pontiac lineup and there are auxiliary gauges under the dash keeping an eye on the investment under the hood (more on that in a moment). A newer AM/FM/CD stereo head unit is what powers those big speakers and it does sound decent, so hit the road with the top down and your favorite sounds on the stereo. A nice-fitting black power convertible top and matching boot enhance the driving experience, and the neatly upholstered trunk carries an amplifier and subwoofer.

The engine is a mighty 400 cubic inch big block that was recently rebuilt and delivers extremely impressive performance. A restored GTO would be obligated to run an emasculated 1971 tune, but this freshly-installed hammer is full of the good stuff and delivers that big block torque you've always dreamed of. It looks right and is set up with a stock air cleaner and fresh engine enamel that looks bright against the satin black engine bay. Edelbrock supplied the carb, intake, and even the camshaft, so they were all designed to work together, and thanks to long-tube headers and dual Flowmasters, it sounds wicked. The TH350 3-speed automatic was also recently rebuilt in this car, so you're getting almost a brand new drive-train from front to back. Over $7,000 was spent on rebuilding the car's drive train in the past year. The power hands-off to the original rear end, and as long as you're looking around down there, please note that the chassis is in very good condition thanks to a life in a dry climate. Classic Pontiac Rally II wheels wear fat 245/60/15 Goodyears that give the car the right stance.

Proudly carrying the Pontiac shield, this Lemans convertible delivers on the promises made by its stunning good looks at a very reasonable price. Call today!