The seller of this 1968 LeMans makes the point that you could be driving his Pontiac for a lot less than a similar condition same-year GTO, and from an appearance standpoint I guess that’s a reasonable comparison as the 2 autos do look quite a bit alike on the outside, plus this one’s in such nice shape it probably gets about as much attention on the streets as if it were a bona fide example of Pontiac’s original muscle car. There’s definitely something alluring about this base model LeMans here on eBay, not the least being it’s exactly that and hasn’t been cloned into something it wasn’t born as, so if you have an appreciation for late-sixties GM coupes this one’s probably worth looking into. The car is in Avon, New York, with bidding having reached $24,544 so far, short of the reserve but it can also be yours today for a buy-it-now price of $32,500.
The Pontiac got a new paint job in its original color of Cameo Ivory back in 2020, but prior to moving to The Empire State, the seller mentions it was a western car and required very little attention to get the body prepped for the respray. Over 90% of the exterior sheet metal is stated to be original, with the panels said to line up nicely and the shutting of the doors compared to those of a bank vault! The owner rates the car’s presentation as 9 on a 10 scale, and judging from the photos this seems like a fair assessment.
The seat upholstery is claimed to be original, and if that’s the case it sort of gives credibility to the mileage claim of only 32,000, as does the instrument panel’s condition plus the extensive documentation the seller says he has dating all the way back to when the car was new. The headliner is showing some signs of discoloration, but the carpet has been replaced and those cool Pontiac logo floor mats are also new.
Things in the engine bay are very tidy and the 350 is claimed to be in perfect running order. This one’s got the 2-Barrel version, which made 265 horsepower from the factory, but the buyer will also receive a 1968-cast 4-Barrel intake manifold, a rebuilt Quadrajet, and all other parts needed to make a four-barrel swap should the next owner choose to do so. Personally, I kind of like everything just the way it is and would continue to enjoy driving this 1968 Pontiac LeMans as it sits for the foreseeable future. How about you?
326?
The last year for the 326 was 1967. 350 started in 1968
This car is a plain Jane model doesn’t have power brakes and a lot of things has been replaced. Why was the carpet been replaced and it needs the headliner replaced but why with only 32,000 miles. Two barrel carb on it most have a 4 barrel.
In keeping the economy theme i see dual master but no power assist so i’m guessing drums on all fours. The four barrel swap is a no brainer but before i’d attempt it i’d go scrounging for a period correct air cleaner assembly to keep the look original. Also for safeties sake i’d go power assist for the brakes and convert to disc’s in front. It should be fairly easy to source oem parts for such a job
If it was a 32,000 mile car it wouldn’t need new carpeting and floor mats. Something isn’t adding up
A reasonable assumption but my grandmother had a ’66 Mustang coupe that she drove just 34K miles around Omaha from new until her passing in 1994(car was always garaged). When I got the car the carpet and floor mats were arguably in “replace them” condition. I did elect to keep them at the time but despite just adding under 3K miles since I will likely replace them in the future. Low mileage does not necessarily mean great condition.
This car is beautiful in its simplicity, but $32k sure isn’t bare bones money for a bare bones vehicle.
Love it. Column shift 🙌 Looks great in white too.
Too much money for this nice car.
Very F’ing AWESOME!
Pretty enough to put in a book. I like the minimalist appearance and red over white. Could benefit from some factory 5-spokes or torque thrust wheels.
Where do people get these prices for these cars? This car probably sold for $2,700 when it was new! I bought my first car in 1972. It was an Oldsmobile Cutlass S. It stickered for $3,300. But now they sell for 10 times that much?
Welcome to 2023, where u been?
You must have come here in a time machine!!
Hagerty values classics on their website. The time value of money is at least 10 times what it was in ’72. You could not restore this car for less than $50k. It’s a beautiful example. Try to find another one.
Of course, you are correct. Restoration costs could easily top 50 k. The problem is, a car like this will never be worth the restoration cost. It is a very nice car,but not worth the asking price.
When this beautiful Pontiac arrived, I had a midrise apartment wall to wall glass with a beautiful view of downtown .The rent was $145. Now I’m living in a comparable apt at $1650 a month. Inflation… ever heard that word?
It could have had dog dishes standard. Admittedly I do not know and unfortunately, the Old Car Brochures website does not have a mid-sized brochure available for 1968. Every 1968-69 LeMans I’ve ever seen has had the full wheel covers with the holes or slots in them (different style for each year), the Pontiac Rally II wheels or, in a few cases, wire wheel covers.
I know I keep harping on these things. But to me, they’re like an overplayed oldie. Very cool when it first came out but it’s been so overplayed, you cringe
as you hear it come on every single day (before quickly changing the channel) and wonder who in the heck still actually likes it! But, yet, people do.
My ’68 GTO came from the factory with steelies + poverty caps since no wheel cover or styled wheel option was specified on the order form. Cameo Ivory (white) A-bodies with wheel covers would have come from the factory with Starlight Black rims. This LeMans does look great as shown with white rims, however. Nice car, I’d leave it as is and enjoy the ride!
Thanks! I can imagine that this would be pretty rare since it would look kind of strange with the poverty caps and black wheels with the white body. They also say they’re reproductions in the ad.
I don’t believe there was a separate mid-size(A-body) brochure. The GTO, Lemans, and Tempest are shown in the full-line brochure, though I don’t see the standard steel wheels and hub caps in there.
Another great source for Pontiac factory literature is GT-37.org(click on “Factory Literature”) which has the 1961-81 full-line brochures, the 1964-81 Colors & Interiors books, the 1956-74 Accessorizer books(listing options and prices), the 1958-76 Accessories brochures(shows all those optional wheel covers), and much more. BTW ’68 had several full wheel cover options, including the holes, slots, and wires. Also, IMO the site is best viewed on a desktop, especially so you can view higher-res/enlarged versions(see expander box to the left of the triangular “Play” button on the upper left side of each brochure page.
Very clean..almost too clean. everything’s so expensive anymore..housing ,food,life..cars..I’ve had some cool cars in my life..now I just appreciate looking at pictures..thanks for the opportunity to reminisce
It’s clearly been restored. I would inspect it closely and if it didn’t have too much repop stuff and checked out otherwise, I would get rid of the dog dish hubcaps and Chinese springs and drive and enjoy. Restored cars are good in that way – versus a low mile original you’re afraid to drive. But, unfortunately, there are too many unscrupulous people in the auto restoration business these days.
When ready to part with my ’65 GTO, I longingly looked at a “68 GTO. The wife said “No more backboards”. End of dream.
To me the 68 GTO car of the year is on one side and on the other is the 68-70 charger.
Back then cars were different, you didn’t mistake the Gto for the charger .
To me the 68 E code endura delete car and the 68 A code hideaway triple black ram air one( had them both) never gets old, when the day comes to sell I will officially be Old( dog the hole, or start the oven)
As far as this car goes, Red interiors to me are usually to red, a sensory overload and I don’t like them, except the 66-67 silver exterior charger with the red gut, that seems to work well.
This one HAD to be parked in the cellar, out of the sun, it screams no way it’s original, the sun is brutal.
As far as the try and find one , for 31 grand you would be surprised at what comes out of the woodwork, this isn’t Australia , The old US is chuck full of barns sheds lean toos and steel buildings, it’s the place to be ( no one is running away from the US), Old cars are a multi billion dollar industry,
While the buckets are nice and the body is nice, you’re getting into GTO territory.
I’m not spending 30 grand to have to get it to what I like.
But someone will love it, the Lemans and Tempest then in 69 I think custom S were and are great cars, the 68 350 HO put out 320 horsepower.
And I also agree with the everything has got so expensive.
I think it’s priced to high I think maybe what the bid currently is to $25,000 is more than fair but it is super nice. That’s a fact, this is my favorite body style I used to like Chevelle better until I got a 68 Lemans and it was just as pretty but black on black on black it had a black vinyl top paint and interior it was the same thing except mine had the console and shifter in the floor it was T-shaped pust down on the plastic top and shift. 2 speed trans I had 8″ p.m.d mags all around 350 engine two barrel carb I absolutely loved that old poncho it was so solid to matter a fact I had a 1970 Lemans sport convertible and it was solid also they had good sheet metal in those days I guess definitely had style.
I had maybe $1000 in my 68 and I had $2000 in my 70 but they were still pretty available in the 90s
When I was 19, I bought a ’68 Tempest with the 350 2V back in ’93. While I loved the body style, I can tell you right now it was nowhere near fast. Seriously, it was pretty much a dog. Kid I bought it from put in a 3/4 vam which made it a little better (definitely sounded meaner). The new owner really needs to take advantage of the manifold and Quadrajet the seller is throwing in and swap it out as soon as they get it for that extra “oomph”.
I meant 3/4 cam