Some classics tick the right boxes for potential buyers, which seems to be true with this 1970 Pontiac LeMans. Its presentation is virtually faultless, it has been part of the same family since the day it rolled off the showroom floor, and its odometer shows 19,000 genuine miles. All good things must end, meaning this gem needs a new home. The seller has listed the LeMans here on eBay in Chester, New York. Bidding sits below the reserve at $18,700, but the spirited action suggests that the situation could change at any time.
I admit I am not a huge fan of Gold paint, but I am willing to make an exception with this Pontiac. Its Coronado Gold looks stunning and is perfectly complemented by the Beige vinyl top. It has been part of the same family since Day One, with the seller indicating it has undergone a repaint in its original shade. They don’t specify when this happened, but the condition suggests one of two scenarios. The work may have been relatively recent or done a while ago, and the car has seen little use since. The exterior presentation is incredible, with no evidence of imperfections in the paint or panels. The vinyl is as-new, and the seller confirms the car is completely rust-free. The glass and trim are as spotless as the rest of the exterior, with no evidence of flaws or defects. The LeMans rolls on its original Rally II wheels with the correct center caps and trim rings. These are wrapped in a new set of tires courtesy of BF Goodrich.
If this Pontiac’s exterior is jaw-dropping, its interior serves up more of the same. Its Beige vinyl upholstered surfaces look new, suggesting the odometer reading could be accurate. There is no appreciable wear or signs of abuse, with the same true of the carpet and headliner. The dash and pad are immaculate, while prone items like the wheel and faux woodgrain show no evidence of deterioration. Although the original owner didn’t load the interior with options, the air conditioning and factory AM radio are welcome.
Buyers could order their 1970 LeMans with the 250ci OHC six under the hood, with that motor offering respectable performance. However, this car’s original owner chose something more potent, selecting the 350ci V8. They teamed that V8 with a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. The 350 should produce 255hp and 355 ft/lbs of torque. Neck-snapping performance probably wasn’t their major guiding factor when choosing the motor. Still, this car’s ability to cover the ¼-mile in 16.7 seconds means it wouldn’t have been considered an automotive slug in its heyday. The seller claims this Pontiac has 19,680 genuine miles on its odometer, but they don’t mention verifying evidence. However, the known ownership history may make obtaining that information relatively straightforward. Considering the claim, the tired engine bay presentation causes me to raise an eyebrow, but any doubts could be unfounded if there is documentary evidence. Potential buyers should consider this LeMans a turnkey classic because it is said to run and drive perfectly. Therefore, flying in and driving it home could be a realistic expectation for the winning bidder.
This 1970 Pontiac LeMans could be the ideal choice for an enthusiast seeking a stunning classic requiring nothing to turn heads. Its engine bay presentation is disappointing, but the rest of the car appears flawless. It has impressed enough potential buyers to attract thirty-one bids at the time of writing. We can speculate on the seller’s reserve, but recent sales results indicate that the price must comfortably surpass $20,000 before hitting the mark. I doubt it will have any trouble achieving that goal, but could you be the person to make that happen?
You could not get the OHC6 in 1970. It would not fit under the hood of the new F-body, so it was replaced with a conventional straight six.
That’s the first I’ve heard that reasoning for the end of OHC6 production. I’ve heard the engine’s demise blamed on poor emissions performance, high production cost (Pontiac’s V8s cost less to build), and low consumer interest, but this is the first I’ve heard of clearance issues.
I thought the reason they discontinued the OHC was that it was problematic, so they replaced it with the Chevy six.
Just love it when “Barn Finds” comes up with simply beautiful originals needing nothing, especially for 20-25K. I’d prefer bucket seats but that’s all. And Adam, the gold is stunning & the engine bay can be washed. Great write-up!
Love it. Gorgeous Lemans. These look awesome in dark green paint.
Add a mild dual exhaust, and change the factory rear gear ⚙️ from the std 2.56, to the optional 3.08 and cruise the tires right off it 😎
Good looking car. I’m skeptical of the mileage claim…not on this one in particular, necessarily, but where have all of these 70’s cars (that weren’t considered special in their day) been stored for the last several decades?
Yeah, mileage is such a relative thing on many of these.
Back in the day, it was part of the “reconditioning process” for many car lots, to correct the mileage. Perhaps not this example… but if it can’t be documented, or present a convincing lack of “patina” in every wear-and-tear category, best believe otherwise.
Most of these ulta low mileage daily driver cars came out of estates years ago in the 90s and were handed down to relatives and then continued to sit in someones garage for years afterwards, until they passed. See it a lot. No reason to doubt miles on this one based on all the original OEM parts still intact in the engine and chassis, not to mention zero wear on the interior soft trim. Park a low mileage 2023 car today for years in a garage and pop the hood in 50 in years it won’t look very nice, especially if it was parked after being driven in salt or any kind of moisture for a few of the low miles that accumulated on it.
Why all the seatbelts?
For separate shoulder belts. The tongue end of the strap was bolted to the roof structure and held in place by wire hooks. You removed the belt from the hanger hooks and plugged it into the extra receiver buckle.
And that requires 5 buckles?
The 5th buckle is for the center belt
my 68 Ford Custom 500 had those same shoulder belts…just kept them up behind those hooks and never used them
Mine has the identical seat belt set up as this, nothing unusual here.
Holy French Connection! Where’s Gene Hackman screaming this
Through the streets of New York, banging into everything?
Gene (Popeye Doyle) Hackman commandeered a 4 door LeMans for his rampage through the streets underneath the El!
My dad bought a new le mans just like this. Same color same 350/350. This car hauled butt. I used to take my driver’s license test .We also took a family vacation in it all the way to Chicago. What a work horse. The only thing we had to do to it was a new timing set and water pump at 90 k . I think he sold it for $1200 bucks. Wish I kept it.
Great car
Back when I was in college, I bought a light blue ’70 LeMans with blue interior and the 350. This one would be a joy to drive just like my old car.
This 1970 Pontiac Le Mans has the potential to surpass 30k, easily. It’s just too nice and low mileage original to really go for much less. I’d be surprised if went for $25,000.00. But who knows – the market is really starting to crumble and if I were a seller I’d probably be selling now. The 350ci in this car still has some awesome power and torque! I’m going to think about it all night…. My favorite color too! Nice article.
Looks like Granada Gold to me. I have a GTO nearly identical-same color, top, and interior. Would need to see the trim tag for the paint code.
Under hood pic looks to be a lot more than 19000 miles. Unless he left the hold open and let rust for the last 50 years. It should light blue pontiac color instead of ocean rust. Skeptical on millage but doesn’t seem to change minds of bidders.
Miles are definitely real, have several low mileage vitnage cars, and that is how the engine compartment looked prior to detailing. In fact my modern ten year old Chevy with only 23,000 miles looks far worse than this engine compartment.
But why a repaint with only 19k on it ? The seats look odd to me too, I’m thinking they should have been the same color as the door panels and carpet, so maybe they’ve been reupholstered ? Its still a beautiful car, its actually my favorite year LeMans !
This 1970 Lemans is Granada Gold code 57. I know because I have one in that color, I ordered mine new. It is a Lemans Sport edition Granada Gold with a dark brown interior and I still have it. Mine has no vinyl top, bucket seats 350 2bbl and a 4-speed with 3.90 gears. My mileage is much higher at 89,959 and I still love mine.
Pretty car. I had a 69 just like it in blue w/o vinyl roof. It looks original and it sits like a low mileage car. Totally legit.
For that many miles on this car if it is the actual miles why is the engine bay so dirty? It should be as clean as the inside you would think?
Oh my this car resonates with me in so many ways…I just sold my beloved 1970 Tempest GT-37 400 / 4 speed….I was not up for another engine lower end rebuild, and the old restoration had deteriorated to the point of need, and I can’t do the work anymore. This LeMans – is so mint I can’t comprehend…back in the 80s my first girlfriend bought a dead mint 1972 Gold LeMans with black GT reflective stripe and black vinyl top…allot like this car! It had a rebuilt 350 2bbl, and she sold it to me after she bought a “Gas milage” car. It had a top speed of 112 or so when I received it. I put a 4 BBL intake and Carb from a 455 Bonneville and just like that the car had top speed of 128! It was a great car!
Why would a car this size even have the option of a 6 cylinder engine? That car would be so slow it would be dangerous to drive.
These were no where near dangerous to drive with a six and were around when the spend limit was 75 mph. This was considered a mid size car back then, and a compact to some buyers, and you could get a six even in a pickup truck of the same year, heck you could get a six in a full size chevy wagon even back as far as 1959. That car was enormous!
Identical to my first new car except mine was blue with a black vinyl top. Beautiful car. Wish I could buy this one
Is this actor Paul Newman’s car ftom the movie Slap Shot?
Every one has had a car they wish they had keep. Mine was a 1972 LaMens 350 HiPo out of the factory. 4 speed. Yellow with black strips.
Tom: Huh? what 1972 350 Hypo was available? No HO 350 since 1969, all 350 Pontiacs in Lemans were 2 Barrels….fill me in – what am I missing?
This car looks beautiful, and that peaked hood and split grille/bumper combo look quite familiar to me! Our family car when I was a kid, was a ’70 LeMans 4 door sedan, this shade of gold with a white painted top. Gold vinyl interior (several shades to the various parts as the car aged, we didn’t have a garage or carport). We bought it as a retired driver’s Ed car from Gonzales, Texas, where my grandma lived. She had a ’68 Tempest 4 door sedan from the same dealer, also a former driver’s Ed car. I think they alternated with Chevys?This dealership was in a Texaco station, the two car showroom adjacent to the garage.
That car got a lot of miles on its 350, but it always performed well. Many years in our suburb of Houston, Dad would be doing the annual tuneup on it in the driveway, on Christmas morning (one of the few days he had off from the parts store he worked at and we later bought).
In late June 1975 we took a family vacation to Albuquerque in it, car did well except for needing AC recharge in Carlsbad. Dad had gone through it bumper to bumper; the spare parts and tools took up most of the trunk!
That was a good solid car, they don’t make em like that anymore. I smile every time I see one of these 1970 Tin Indians….
That gold vinyl upholstery looks really cool…but I learned real quick that it is not cool to sit on in Texas summers! Of course they didn’t have those foil folding screens you put in the windshield back then….
My Brother owned a 1972 Pontiac Lemans Coupe, 400 cid, 4 Barrel Carb, 3 speed Automatic, dual exhaust, bucket seats and Console. 140 mph Speedometer. I had a 1968 Chevrolet Malibu Coupe, 327 Cid, 4 Barrel Carb, Powerglide Transmission dual exhaust. My Brother and I were side by side going down the Highway both Speedometers were buried. Yes 140 mph + both topped out. The 1970’s was a time to remember. Today, Camaros, Mustangs and Dodge Hemis do well over 140 + mph! But back in the 1970’s , there were a few sleepers. No one knew if you had a 6 cyl, small V-8, or a Big Block. But when the opportunity came, it was awesome when you put it to the floor and would pull away from that car who was side by side , but was all show and no go!
I would give 22k if all is true for this car. If I was told where to look at it before buying it. Traveling to look before buying preferred. I bought a rust bucket one time already.
Hi, no way the 327 malibu made over 140+. had a 68′ malibu..put headers on the 307…made a big difference! I had a 400 firebird new brakes/exhaust/rebuilt th400 suspension/front end as well. the 72′ 400 was not even close to the 68′!! bought it in jan. 75′. besides I would beat your ass!! I wanted to go to basketball game in augusta.me. had 2 friends w/me (400lbs). game starts at 8:00. playing pinball at 7:30? ( westbrook ). everybody was going fast! at 120..a 383 charger. pulled away from him easy! at 140 a rolls waved buy buy to me! well, did not pin it! needle bounced off 150! not 160. so 147.
This is why one should never skip one’s medication.