I am willing to raise my hand here and now to admit my ignorance. I can remember a time when I used to view station wagons with barely disguised disdain. To me, they were the workhorses of the passenger car range. I felt that people bought them because they were forced to place practicality above such considerations as performance and style. I was wrong, and I have learned from this. In reality, full-size station wagons are undoubtedly practical, but examples like this 1971 Pontiac LeMans prove that they can also possess a sense of style and performance that is more than adequate for the needs of most owners. Our feature wagon is a stunning survivor that has served the same family since it was new. It comes with an enormous pile of documentation, and it also needs to find a new home. Located in Los Angeles, California, you will find this Pontiac listed for sale here on eBay. Frantic bidding has seen the price rocket to $17,200, but this figure remains short of the reserve.

It isn’t every day that the opportunity arises to buy a classic that has been part of the same family for half a century, but that is what is on offer with this Pontiac. It would be easy for such a vehicle to begin to look tired and worn as the novelty wears away, but that hasn’t been the case with this blue-plate survivor. The seller admits that the LeMans has received a repaint in its original shade of Canyon Copper, but the paint shop completed it to a high standard. There’s certainly not much to criticize about its presentation because the paint appears to be flawless. It holds a beautiful shine, with no evidence of chips or marks in the supplied photos. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and a life spent in California makes the complete absence of rust no great surprise. The owner’s decision to order the wagon with Rally II wheels adds a further touch of class, and like the trim and chrome, these appear to be in excellent order. He also chose to equip this classic with tinted glass, which is as immaculate as the rest of the exterior.

If I am surprised by anything with this Pontiac, it is the owner’s decision to order it with vinyl upholstery. It is a practical consideration that can withstand the types of hazards that face many family wagons. However, cloth would probably be a more comfortable option in a sunny climate like California. Anyone wearing shorts can confirm how unpleasant it can be to slide onto a set of vinyl seats that have spent a few hours baking under a blazing sun. Finding your thighs fried somewhere between rare and medium is never nice. Still, if that is an issue for potential buyers, a set of slipcovers would not only reduce the trauma but would offer protection for the spotless seat upholstery. The remaining upholstered surfaces continue the theme of immaculate presentation, while the dash and pad show no evidence of cracking or other issues. There is a slight dirty patch on the carpet below the driver’s right foot, but I think that the buyer could clean this with some success. This interior isn’t loaded with luxury appointments, although the inclusion of air conditioning, a pushbutton radio, and a tilt wheel would all be welcome.

While buyers could order their new ’71 LeMans Wagon with a six under the hood, the owner decided that there’s nothing as great as a V8. In this case, we’re talking about a 350ci unit that punches out a healthy 250hp. He also decided to equip the vehicle with a three-speed Hydramatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. It may not be a muscle car, but its 18.4-second ¼-mile ET would be nothing to be ashamed of. I noticed that the owner had installed a tow hitch, and this wagon should put that to good use. While the body and interior have been impressive entrees, the drivetrain is a fantastic main course. The LeMans is a numbers-matching classic, and the seller indicates that it has a genuine 96,000 miles on the clock. Usually, I would place a question mark over any mileage claim, but the fact that he holds a complete set of service documents dating back to Day One leaves no doubt in this case. The engine bay presents superbly for a vehicle of this age, and it doesn’t flatter to deceive. The seller says that the wagon runs and drives as well as it did the day it left the showroom, and I don’t find that surprising. That makes it a turn-key classic that is ready to serve its second owner faithfully.

There’s no questioning the practicality of vehicles like this 1971 Pontiac LeMans Station Wagon. They offer buyers enormous amounts of cargo space, the ability to seat six people in comfort, and hard-wearing vinyl trim, which should be able to resist the worst that an owner can throw at it. However, this one offers more than that. It presents superbly, features a healthy V8 under the hood that should endow it with respectable performance, and has a fully documented history. It has style and a genuine presence, and it is easy to see why it has already attracted forty-four bids. Is this one of those cases where you might be tempted to join the bidding war? If I were in the market, I think that I would.