455-Powered 1972 Pontiac Luxury LeMans

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It was perhaps a harbinger of a sea change in automotive tastes, but the Luxury LeMans two-door hardtop outsold the GTO in 1972: 8,641 to 5,807. Neither was a number to brag about, but the ’70s was the decade of the personal luxury coupe, and while the Grand Prix filled that role in the Pontiac line, the Luxury LeMans was something like a Grand Prix-lite. With fender skirts, extra trim, extra sound deadening, and some added luxury accoutrements, the LeMans was over a thousand dollars cheaper than a Grand Prix. This Anaconda Gold example on eBay in California wears its original paint and a little extra under the hood.

According to the seller, it’s a 455 Pontiac (with a Rochester two barrel, an interesting induction choice). The 455 four barrel was available in the ’72 Luxury LeMans, but this one came from the factory with the base 350 two barrel. Unfortunately, the engine is not ready to run and has not been run in the car while under the seller’s stewardship, although they do include a video of the engine turning, in addition to a picture of the block’s casting number (which appears to be from a ’75 or ’76 455). The radiator is also missing, but there is a pile of parts that comes with the car, including the fan and shroud.

The undercarriage is solid, although there is some quarter panel and fender rust to deal with. It sounds like the car’s original Turbo 350 is still in the car, which probably won’t be a problem with a mild 455, but it’s something you may want to know as a buyer, especially if you plan to upgrade the engine.

The interior is in excellent condition aside from the dash pad, which has an obvious crack on the driver’s side. There’s also a tear in the driver’s seat and “a small hole in the driver’s carpet.” I do love the “custom cushion steering wheel”; it’s sporty but not too sporty, perfect for this car’s original mission.

As the last of the classic ’68 to ’72 A-Bodies, this Luxury LeMans is automatically collectible, even if it doesn’t emit the muscle car image of its more famous GTO linemate. It’s clearly a project, but the 455 makes its purpose clear, in my opinion: It could be the ultimate sleeper. Swap the transmission for a Turbo 400 or a 4L80E, upgrade the cylinder heads and cam, install a limited-slip differential and some rear gears in the 3.50:1 range, and show people some Pontiac torque. I’d even leave the wheel covers (it already has new tires, an extra selling point). The high bid is currently $2,122, although the reserve is not yet met; if the price doesn’t go too high, this could be a decent buy for someone who wants a mellow looking street machine with a touch of class.

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Comments

  1. Mitchell GildeaMember

    I’d build up that 455 and have a nice little sleeper

    Like 8
  2. Rustytech RustytechMember

    Looks like a fairly solid start to a nice cruiser. I don’t think with the rust issues that this has spent its life in so cal though. I like it but not sure the fender skirts do it any favors. I’m with Mitchel, build up the 455 and have a nice sleeper.

    Like 10
  3. Stan StanMember

    Rusty, Mitchell I’d remove the skirts, and as Toth says leave the wheel covers 🏁

    Like 6
  4. Bud Lee

    Skirts on a Lemans. Now I’ve seen everything. And I wish I hadn’t.

    Like 13
    • JoeNYWF64

      You would love the 1964 firebird IV & 1964 GM Stilletto & 1989 Cadillac Solitaire.

      Like 0
  5. El Grecko

    There’s some rust thru on the toe boards on the drivers side in the photo. Not a ton but it still needs some areas cut out and patched.

    Like 1
  6. Steve R

    It will be interesting to see what the ending bid for this will be and if it makes it’s reserve.

    Anyone that complains about the lack of affordable cars should look up this sellers completed listings. This is the 3rd car he’s had featured on this site in the last week, the others were a 1970 Challenger and 1968 LeMans convertible. These are flips, the ads aren’t worded as though the seller is a long time owner. There are several other sellers that have listings featured in this site regularly. These people wouldn’t go through so many cars if they weren’t making a profit, they are just out working a lot of other potential buyers.

    Steve R

    Like 7
    • oldrodderMember

      Good point Steve.

      Like 0
  7. BA

    Yeah that’s brings a smile to my face thinking about this Lemans 455 doing a rolling burnout with those wheel covers & fender skirts!

    Like 3
  8. Moparman MoparmanMember

    If it were me, I’d pump up the 455, restore the paint, switch the rolling stock to white walls and Rallye !!’s, and then cruise! A muscled bouncer in a tailored suit, LOL!! GLWTA!! :-)

    Like 4
  9. Dave Brown

    What do you guys have against fender skirts? They were the look of luxury for DECADES OF AMERICAN DESIGN. CHEAP versions came without them! Not every car is a dragster. Some were actually LUXURY editions and had fender skirts. GET OVER IT!

    Like 6
    • Mitchell GildeaMember

      Agreed. You gotta problem with fender skirts, you gotta problem with me, and I suggest you let that one marinate!

      Like 1
      • Aaron TothAuthor

        Another Letterkenny fan in the chat? :)

        Like 0
  10. Pete Zaharia

    LaMans with fender skirts made it look great. A 455 with 2 barrel carb? Big motor like that should have 4 barrel carb & dual exhausts. Otherwise nice car after finishing work on motor.

    Like 2
    • Bub

      Lots of plain Jane hulks came with the 455-2 barrel. LeSabres… 88s. Pontiac Laurentians up here.
      Seat six and can haul a boat or a pop-up trailer. Crank windows and no a/c.
      They’d fly!

      Like 0
  11. 370zpp 370zpp

    Pretty sure these so called “Luxury” Lemans came from the factory with fender skirts in ’72.

    Like 0
  12. JoeNYWF64

    Just saw “the French Connection”(1971) for 1st time in many decades – amazin u do not see any imports on the streets of NY, except for just 1 or 2 VW bugs & 1 Brit sports car. & the rest all colorful American iron.The subway chasing car was a ’71 Lemans, i believe – wonder what was under the hood.

    Like 0

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