1966 Pontiac LeMans Convertible

Way back in 1964, Pontiac revolutionized the auto industry with a factory hot rod many consider the first American muscle car.  It was, of course, the Pontiac GTO and it was created by men called DeLorean, Estes, Gee, Collins, and Wangers, who went around the boardroom, outsmarted the bean counters, and tapped into the pleasure centers of America's young minds.  “It was an era of cruising, picking up chicks, and picking up runs—American Graffiti in the flesh,” wrote Joe Oldham for Hemmings in 2014.  “The greaser still ruled the street, and what more perfect car for this guy than a GTO?”

Built during the fifth week of March 1966, this rarer than a GTO car has the similar power of a GTO, runs just fab, and the top goes down.  This consignor stated 2 owner Lemans was built at the Baltimore, Maryland plant, it had a color change from Teal Turquoise Metallic to a subtle Burgundy paint hue and a black interior.  A rebuilt 326ci V8 is now on this straight paneled stacked headlight front beaked car, and a black vinyl interior is in there too.  All looking good and ripe for the taking here in the Hallowed Halls of the Classic Auto Mall.

Exterior
The split front grille, with its Pontiac “beak” and dual stacked headlights on either front corner is the quintessential format for the Tempest come LeMans, albeit with a hint of GTO thrown in with a custom scooped hood thrown in for good measure.  A color change to a Cinnamon Burgundy shows a few faults in the respray, including some overspray, a bit of touch ups, and slight staining here and there, but with no rust and a full steel car with no plastic and new rear quarter panels, it holds its shine nicely, and looks really nice.  All the trimmings, (window surrounds, rocker covers, front fender gills, bumpers and handles) are as nice as it gets with no dimpling or fading.  Up top is a fade and tear free black canvas power convertible top, a change from the white it was born with.  On the back of the spacious trunk are kidney bean shaped tail lights with chrome accenting built right into the matte black rear panel, a nice bumper below, and dual exhaust tips peeking out from underneath.  Even as a soft top, hints of the flying buttress rear "pillars" can be seen.  17" Ridler wheels and blackwall 215/45ZR have this car firmly in the category of a grocery getter with pizazz, but in reality….it can bite!

Interior
The black padded dash and bezels for instrumentation are fronted by the 2 spoke chrome trimmed steering wheel and a pair of front buckets, in black vinyl.  These buckets appear nearly new and have smooth black bolsters and a nice horizontal tuck and roll pattern divided by a vertical black stripe.  A black console with a ribbed chrome topper races between the seats holding the floor shifter and small storage compartment then dying off under the dash.  A rear bench stretches from side to side and matches the front buckets in patterning and condition.  Black ribbed vinyl door panels decorate the doors and chrome delineation strips separate the vinyl from the black steel above and black carpeting below.  Speaking of black carpeting, it's flooding the floors and presents in nice shape with only minor soiling and is protected by black carpeted mats.  Factory gauges adorn the dash, as do the chrome heater slides and we note a hole where the factory radio once lived.

Drivetrain
An Edelbrock 4-barrel topped rebuilt 326ci V8 in blue with a black intake manifold, blue valve covers, and a chromed air cleaner assembly resides under the hood.  All is looking clean around this mill and in the engine bay.  On the back is a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission.  Putting the power to the ground is a 10-bolt rear axle with 3.08 gearing.

Undercarriage
Rust free and nicely sound for the undercarriage frame, floor pans, and rockers.  Undercoating and black abounds and we note just the right amount of patina and road dirt, but no invasive rust is seen.  The front end holds an independent coil spring suspension and drum brakes, while in the rear we note more drum brakes and coil springs for the 4 link and system.  Headers are in charge of spent fossil removal along with a pair of Flowmaster mufflers.

Drive-Ability
She drove like a dream, and performed well, all buttoned up for my test drive.  Straight stopping, good acceleration, and some power under there coming from the 4-barrel carb.  Steering was smooth but a few nuances crept up during my drive.  Those being the horn not tooting, the power top, while working being extremely slow, and the engine experience some missing between 3000 and 3500rpm.  A good experience was had overall even with the mentioned frowns.

This non-GTO LeMans will not disappoint on the looks front, and the performance front.  Nice paint, good interior, and solid undercarriage, with the rebuilt 326ci V8 and you can look like you are getting groceries, but in reality, you are on the prowl for a victim!  Ridler wheels and all, a wolf in sheep's clothing, or at least in a Cinnamon Burgundy respray…

237676B130443

2-Pontiac
27-Lemans
67-Convertible
6-1966
B-Baltimore, MD Assy Plant
130443-Sequential Unit Number

TRIM TAG

03E-5th Week March
ST 66 23767-1966 Lemans Convertible
BDY BAL2717-Baltimore Body #
TR 220-Dark Turquoise Vinyl
PNT L1-Teal Turquoise Metallic, White Top

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.