There’s more going on here than initially appears. Yeah, it looks like a forlorn GM A-body in the form of a ’74 Pontiac LeMans “colonnade” body style. But, it was optioned well, and in a time when the features possessed by this LeMans were becoming more and more scarce. Definitely worth a deep dive, this Pontiac LeMans GT is located in Lubbock, Texas and available, here on craigslist for $17,500. Thanks to T.J. for this most unique find!
A far cry from the ’68-’72 LeMans, in both collectibility and appearance, the colonnade ’74 version reflected the times – performance was out the window, for the most part, and the attention, now, was on luxury appointments, cleaner air, safety and, soon enough, fuel economy. Pontiac’s iconic GTO did one year in the box as a Colonnade in ’73 and then moved to the X-body Ventura for its ’74 swan song. While a mid-sized GTO was no longer available, one could equip an A-body LeMans as a GTO and end up with the same result – that’s what happened here. And I can tell you from experience that finding a GM colonnade (’73-’77) with a four-speed manual transmission is hardly an everyday occurrence!
Being a LeMans GT, such as his example, means, according to Pontiac’s sales brochure, “A blacked-out grille, G70-14 white lettered tires on Mag-type Rally II wheels, body-colored sport mirrors, 3.23 axle, and some pretty wild stripes and decals“. One thing not included was a NACA ducted hood such as our subject car is wearing – it appears to have been lifted from a ’73 GTO. Faded paint, surface rust, some rust-through, and a park bench-sized front bumper, albeit with decent chrome, are all hallmarks of this LeMans. And of course, that faded finish, known as “Denver Gold”, is an oh-so 1974 shade also known as “brown”.
The mojo here is the drive train, a 225 net HP, 400 CI V8 engine married to a four-speed manual transmission. The seller claims that it is a documented one of thirteen. The build sheet attests to its configuration but I’m uncertain where the one-of-thirteen statistic originated. The seller adds, “Rare car that runs and drives great“.
The interior has seen better days mostly by virtue of the split seat upholstery. Assume that the same thing is going on with the dash pad as it’s covered with a topper. This bucket seat arrangement is sans center console and that focuses attention on the shifter or shifters. I’m not sure what I’m seeing as there is a T-handle equipped lever and a second smaller lever. The original purchaser of this LeMans specified full instrumentation as there is an in-dash tachometer in place.
Rare? You bet! I can’t attest to the one-of-thirteen production variation, but whatever it is, this Poncho has to be a rare bird. So, knowing what we know, what do you think, priced right or not quite?
A high school buddy of mine owned one of these around 1978 just outside Toronto. I had never seen it before he pulled up beside me one day and promptly blew me away. When he finally pulled over, I asked him what he had in that thing, He was laughing and replied 400 4 speed.
rare car. 400 and 4sp is cool.
But these were over 4000lbs and 225hp what were you driving Primo ?
I was in a Malibu Classic 350 4 barrel, headers and 2.73 rear gears. He had me with horsepower, torque and gearing.
This one is a “lightweight” for ’74.
No a/c subtract 135 lbs
No p/w subtract 40 lbs
Lighter manual trans vs the heavy turbo 400 automatic.
Some free hp to be found here …
Front bumper/brackets weigh approx 90 lbs
Front sway bar could weigh up to 22 lbs!
You might find 35 lbs of insulation under the carpet.
& going to lighter 215-60r15 tires & alum wheels will help.
Even a modern compact battery & weightless short modern fm/usb stereo will help.
Looks like the underside of the hood has an assembly to accept the ultra rare dealer ram air air cleaner.
Sweet Tin Indian. Old friend had a 73 GTO with the 4 Speed. He built it to the hilt and it would fly. This could be worth a resto job. With a little work those 400 would move.
It had me with the tiger tail hanging off the rear view mirror…
No hood tach? Lol. This is what a GTO would have been. Buy it and change that front bumper…badge it up w GTO emblems and put a stout 455SD in it…tell people it was a concept vehicle for the goat that never got built! Lol
I knew a guy in Columbia, TN that had one of these. His had a Latham Supercharger on it, and I got to see it!
I love these cars. My oldest brother bought a’74 Le Mans Sport brand new. It was a 350, bench seat 3 speed manual on the floor. Blue / blue with rally wheels. Nothing fast, but definitely cool!
The NACA hoods were optional 73 through 75 with the 75s not having the cowl louvers.
What’s the second shift lever? I remember AMC’s multi lever shifter but never a GM.
That’s a vintage Hurst Ram Rod 4 speed Inline Vertical gate shifter.
Thought that black one was a lockout for reverse?
Found a video on YT. Seems a bit much for such a generic car. Not like it’s a drag car…😀
I thought it was the 4WD lever…
I was about to ask that same question, How does that work ? I,ve never seen anything like that before .
I gotta admit I was digging it till I saw the ridiculous $17500 ask.
Drop the one in front of the price. And then I would want to negotiate it from there. The car needs a ton of work. That’s my opinion. But obviously in this market a lot of people feel differently.
Wow it is equipped with the Sounds O’ Power™ air filter lid…LOL But seriously this is a bit of a unicorn and would make a nice ride for sure…
This junkyard car would make a great low rider. Place some bags under the suspension and nice wire wheels.
Maybe it is just my old eyes, but the build sheet on this car says it is optioned with a 4 barrel 350, so why all of the talk about a 400, was it replaced somewhere along the line, and if so, what year 400?
It is your prescription. Build sheet, top of the third column, it reads: “L76 400 4B V8 ENG”
JO
No, your fine. There are two documents here. The build sheet from the car, and the dealer invoice from PHS that is for a GT with a 350, four speed and a vinyl top. Not sure what its doing in the ad – maybe he owns that car, also. Funny that he doesn’t have the PHS documents for this particular car.
The dealer invoice should show the 400 as an option along w the GT package. Build sheet was found in the car when I started working on it again in 99.
This was my car. Sold it to a guy in San Antonio in October due to a move. He’s obviously sold it to someone in Lubbock. Sold it for no where near $17500 and if you buy it for that you will be another $15-20 into it to get it nice. Quarters both need replaced. Trunk a little soft. Driver floor pan replaced but only screwed in not welded. Passenger floor pan just dyna glasses not replaced. Hood is original and rare. It is a factory 400/4speed/4 barrel car but the engine is out of a 78 trans am. Original motor long gone. Car is not originally gold. Original is shadow mist brown. I gave all PHS documentation to buyer in SA. A little pissed because he said was a Pontiac guy and had a 72 lemans but whatever. My uncle bought this new out of the navy in 74. A great rare Pontiac but will not be a GTO. Again just know that $17500 on this will turn into $40-50 when done. The dash cover is not original. It was reappolstered in the 80 along with the paint job. What you don’t see is the tone of flake that was in the paint before the sun burn. Sold out of Las Cruces NM and live it’s life in El Paso until I brought it to north/central texas in the late 90s.
Thx Mike!
JO
Looks like he was a flipper. That’s too bad. But anyway, great write-up and thanks for being real about what it will need. I think your cost estimate is spot on.
That should be common sense. But common sense isn’t so common anymore. In this climate I would not be surprised to see him get very near the ask. The buyer is going to get a very unpleasant financial surprise, especially if they have to rely on a shop to do the work. And in the end they are going to have a $10,000 car.
a truly honest original 1st owner / seller. this car was original in 1974 PHS im sure will attest to that. its definitely not a buick. new owner may have been duped by 2nd or 3rd owner . probably worth about 5000.00 maybe just the front clip. i myself have fallen for the honest john who says when i get ahold of your car it will be beautiful and will match the car i already have (as he shows a magazine picture of HIS supposed car). when they got the car it was probably sold within a week with another bull**** story. where have all the honest car salesman gone. maybe the 5th owner will finally get the story straight and we will all be able to sleep a little better. is there hope for the oh so tired…
Great information Mike. I think I speak for all here when I say we appreciate your honesty.
Love this car, as a life long Pontiac Phanatic. But that Verticle Gate shifter gotta go. They are great for the dragstrip because they prevent you from missing a gear when you are powershifting. Just row it back and forth to climb gears. But to back out of a parking stall, put it in neutral, and pull up the second little lever for reverse. Push it back down and pull up the two finger guard and push forward to get first gear. Absolute pain to street drive these. Buddy of mine had the B&M version in a 1962 Pontiac Acadian (Chevy II version) with a solid beam front gasser axle, 302 solid lifter small block, Muncie M-22 Rockcrusher, and 4.11 gears. No heater, and of course it had a “Fun Fur” interior. What a royal pain to daily drive.
Change it to a nice regular Hurst shifter, restore the car and enjoy rowing the gears.
I’m not normally as concerned with the t mph bumpers as many devotees on this site are, but in this case the front bumper truly does look way oversized.
If a colonnade Pontiac is your thing this would be somewhere to start but as the former owner stated there are going to be quite a list of things that have to be done, raising the price to where a person would have to ask whether it’s worth it.
Yeah, those bumpers are hideous. They look bigger than the bumpers on my 73 Catalina even.
I have to admit, I have a soft spot for the 73-77 Pontiac A-Bodies. It seemed that half the guys I hung around with in the early/mid 70’s, had one.
Of my two best friends, one had a green 73 LeMans GT with a 350 2bbl and an automatic, and the other had a white 74 400 2bbl, automatic Grand Am. We added headers, an intake and a Holley to the GT’s 350. I also knew a guy with a silver 74 GT with a 3 speed floor shift 350 4bbl, and later another friend bought a new 77 Can Am. My favorite though was a blue 73 two door Grand Am that a local guy had with Honeycomb wheels, and a factory 400 4bbl and 4 speed in it.
Compared to other mid sized sedans available in the 70’s, those Pontiac’s ran pretty good, and handled better than most of their competition.
i will not even make an offer unless the tiger tail goes with it. someone really loved this car at least twice
$17,000???
I have always loved the body style, but even when these cars were much newer, with perfect interiors and no rust what so ever, I would still not give more than maybe $4000 for it. Sorry.
I had a 1974 dark blue metallic Lemans 400, posey rear, Hurst short shift, 650 holley double pump carburetor, side pipes with sheilds with glass packs, 6 miles to gallon with white side stripe added 3/4 race cam it was fast loved it