It’s probably debatable, but this listing is more like 3/4 of a 1968 Pontiac LeMans for sale. There’s no hiding it, the front clip is missing. There are a few other issues with which to contend too. But that said, there are some bright spots to this Poncho too so let’s see what’s really here. This LeMans coupe is located in Denver, Colorado and is available, here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $6,500.
The seller informs us that this car was purchased from an estate sale so its past is not that well known. What is known is that it took a pretty hard hit to the front. The bumper horns, the passenger side one, in particular, are pretty mangled and the seller states, “a front collision moved the drivetrain enough to where it’s not drivable” How unfortunate! Speaking of that drive train, it’s a 320 gross HP, 350 CI V8 engine (an original high horse 350 cubic inch engine according to the seller) and it’s tethered to a four-speed manual transmission – and it is said to run and the transmission shifts properly.
The remainder of the body is fair at best. There are signs of dents and rust, not horribly so but there will be more to this project than just reattaching a newly sourced front clip. And speaking of reattaching, it’s pretty amazing what gets knocked out of wack in a hard hit – items that aren’t always immediately identifiable, such as the driver’s side door – note the damage to the leading edge. More than likely, it will be necessary to use a frame jig or a way to secure the car to a hard surface (a GM body shop where I worked in the early ’70s had chain links embedded in the concrete floor to serve as securing points) and then take measurements and use the hydraulic puller and start yanking. Part of the secret is knowing what and where to actually pull.
The interior is nondescript though the non-original seats (from a Firebird or Camaro perhaps?) show pretty well – there is no obvious sign of wear or splits. As was the case in the ’60s, bucket seats and a floor-shifted manual transmission didn’t automatically include a center console, it was an option and this LeMans is sans that extra.
There’s a lot here to undertake but the finished product would be a nicely equipped LeMans. The seller suggests, “This could be an excellent parts car to build a 4-speed GTO clone“. I think we have enough GTOs for now, I suggest originality, how about you?
So many questions. Can the frame be straightened? Was the engine pushed back far enough to damage the firewall? Did the block crack at the motor mounts? Are the body mounts damaged? Is the steering gear bent? And so on and so on. The accident adds a whole layer of unknowns on top of the usual unknowns of a project car. 350HO or no, I think I’d pass if I were looking for a car like this.
This is an “excellent parts car” to build a GTO clone? Starting with what?
It was a low-option beige LeMans with a black vinyl top and a parchment interior when new. As to whether it now has stock bucket seats, a factory 320hp engine, or a Muncie 4-speed, I just dunno. It doesn’t appear to have AC, PS, PB, or even tinted glass.
Hard pass. To me it’s got maybe $500 worth of ’68(?) Pontiac drivetrain parts that might be usable after rebuilding. Maybe.
I hope this flipper didn’t pay too much for this at the estate sale , this thing is a wreck. Even if this was a GTO it would likely be a parts car .
I sort of hope he did pay too much.
Thats true about unknown damage. 1of my first cars was a 68 chevelle ss 396-4spd. I had a paper rought at the time and always liked the car one day i stopped at the ladies home to collect money and there is the car with the front smacked in. she let me by it $500. got it home ,I didn’t know much-but got the front end off. I remember the frame horn was folded over. I thought a big hammer would fix that. Not hard to guess how far i got! lol. I was 15 at the time, moms mad at me so the car went away. Turned out the frame was also buckled further back both motor mounts broke and the transmission mount broke. The guy that wound up getting another body . This lemans reminds me of that ss.