If you went into your local Pontiac dealership in 1968 and wanted a mid-size convertible, you had three choices. The cars had been redesigned this year and your drop-top options were the Tempest Custom, LeMans, and GTO. The GTO was surprisingly the most popular, while the LeMans came in second at 8,820 copies. The seller’s car is one of them, restored many moons ago, then put into storage, where it now needs a redo. Located in Woodstock, Connecticut, this Poncho has been bid to $2,325 here on eBay. There is no reserve for this non-runner.
In 1968, the Tempest was still the entry point for Pontiac-badged intermediates. The LeMans was for those who wanted a higher level of trim, and the GTO was what the gearheads signed up for. Besides a new body and layout, the cars were treated to a new V8 engine as the 350 cubic inch motor replaced the 326. If you ordered one with a 2-barrel carburetor, the rated hp was 265 (a 4-barrel helped boost that to 325). We assume the lighter version of the engine is what’s in the seller’s car, with no mention of numbers matching. It’s paired with a GM automatic transmission.
We understand that this red-over-red LeMans was restored at least 20 years ago and entered into hibernation sometime after that. But being neglected for many years apparently undid all the work that had previously been performed and the buyer will want to start over. The seller says the last time this Pontiac ran was at least a decade ago, and there’s no indication of what it will take to change all that.
Does the LeMans have any rust? Certainly, at least the undercarriage is crusty, and where there’s smoke there’s fire, so a thorough check of the sheet metal will be needed. The seller believes this car would serve as a good restoration candidate and the number of surviving 1968 LeMans convertibles probably only numbers in the 100s. There is no title for this project, so a Bill of Sale with a Connecticut Q-1 assignment will have to suffice. The seller is willing to assist with starting the title process for the buyer for an additional cost.
Hope, against all odds, that it stays a lemans
Looks like the seller is a dealer, probably grabbed this as a bargain or thrown in with a deal, and decided it was a labor of love, not profit.
The interior looks like it would clean up, and the engine probably isn’t seized. Biggest worry seems like the underside. It would be cool to see someone scoop this up for a few grand and do a low-budget driver quality restoration. Keep the 350 and the lemans badging.
One would have to wonder why it was put away and not gotten any use. If the foundation is shot IMO it’s a waste of time messing with it other than for parts.
If I could swing it, it would stay a LeMans. Oh, no doubt I would give it a carb, cam and exhaust upgrade, nothing crazy, just add a little thrill to it. A 350 (really 355) Pontiac 2 barrel LeMans is not exactly a power house. I had a 2 Dr Coupes with that engine. It was a slug. It needed an upgrade, I managed to scrape up a 326 4V intake and an AFB. That helped a whole lot.
Had two hardtops in my youth but 1970’s. Both of them. Lemans sport. My favorite was a 400 4 barrel floor shift automatic. Rocket racing rims 50’s and 60’s. Really miss that one. One question if anyone knows, Is that the factory shifter for 68? Mine were much different.
I had the same, but a ’69. Great rag top, but no, not very fast. Here in Michigan rust was an issue, of course. Every time I went over something like a RR crossing, the pad would rub on the driveshaft! Still, at 17 years old, that kind of thing never bothered me.
Yet another of the “wish I hadn’t sold it” cars from life.
They’re fun when they run. Some dad/kid duo should tackle this.
Seller had me at the flat tires! Come on !
Would this make a good restomod? Asking for a friend…