1972 Pontiac Le Mans GTO Tribute

Description

Perhaps it is a mistake to think that the horsepower wars were over by 1972, because this 1972 Pontiac Lemans GTO tribute makes a compelling case for great looks and high-performance. The distinctive styling offers a definite go-fast look and if you're a Pontiac fan, this car is a great way to have some top-down fun without a massive investment.

This bright red ragtop has led a good life, spending the last 40+ years in garaged comfort whenever it wasn't out on the road. As it was from the beginning, the Lemans and GTO shared a lot of DNA, so bumping this one up to full Goat spec wasn't a major challenge. The bright red paint was finished a few years ago and still looks great, offering a great shine and only minor signs of use. There are a lot of guys who like the look of the later cars with their Endura nose cones, and it looks particularly aggressive with the body-colored bumper/grille assembly and ram air hood. They added a wing on the back but didn't bother with decals and stripes, perhaps trying to keep this bright red ragtop from looking too conspicuous, and the clean lines and unadorned flanks definitely have their own special appeal. The chrome is good, particularly the distinctive Pontiac rear bumper, but other than that, there isn't a lot of brightwork on a '72 GTO, so you don't have to worry about it.

The bright white interior is quite likely original, and with that in mind, it's in great shape. White is a great choice for a vehicle that's going to be in the sun all the time, and aside from one or two blemishes on the driver's seat, it remain in good overall condition. The black dash and carpets keep it from being white overload and the combination is dashing yet sophisticated. The steering wheel is a wood rimmed unit and the gauges are original, and they're in good order and totally serviceable as-is. A newer AM/FM/CD stereo head unit lives in the dash and this car has functional factory A/C, which is a nice find in an affordable ragtop like this. The black power convertible top is brand new and folds easily behind the back seat. Open the trunk and you'll be pleasantly surprised to find that it's fitted with a correct mat and a spare wheel and tire assembly.

The 400 cubic inch Pontiac V8 is no slouch in the horsepower department, and definitely isn't a wheezing 1972 smog motor. With an Edelbrock intake manifold, Holley 4-barrel carburetor, and a twin-snorkel air cleaner, it has a showy look under the hood and runs superbly. Satin black on the firewall and inner fenders makes all that polished aluminum look great. It starts easily and runs well with big torque available at any speed, and it sounds awesome with a brand new Flowmaster dual exhaust system. A heavy-duty TH400 3-speed automatic transmission feeds the original 10-bolt rear end, and there's a new gas tank hanging out back. You can see evidence of the good life everywhere you look underneath and those shiny Torque Thrust wheels are the right choice on this '70s hot rod and carry 245/40/18 front and 255/45/18 rear performance radials.

Not a restored show car, but an awesome cruiser that's fun and attractive and a pleasure to own, this GTO tribute gets everything right. Call today!