Ambitious Project: 1970 Pontiac LeMans Sport

The LeMans Sport was introduced in 1970 with some of the GTO’s features, such as Strato bucket seats. Perhaps Pontiac’s goal was to take some of the heat off the latter car, which had been hit hard by the insurance companies. The LeMans Sport had a three-year run after which the focus shifted to the Luxury LeMans model. The seller’s 1970 edition has ample rust and looks like it may have spent time near a swamp. We doubt it will run, and it will need a serious makeover to be a contender again. Located in Bluffton, South Carolina, this weathered Pontiac is available here on eBay. $680 is the current bid with an unmet reserve, or you can cut to the chase with $5,000.

Ample power was at the LeMans Sport’s disposal, starting with a 350 cubic inch V8. You could opt for more cubes and horses so the Sport could take on some of the characteristics of the GTO without necessarily alerting the insurance gods. Besides the aforementioned bucket seats, you could get a console with a floor shifter and more interior bling than on the regular LeMans. The Sport was restricted mostly to 2-door hardtops and convertibles, with the former seeing nearly 60,000 assemblies in 1970.

We don’t know the story of this Pontiac, but it may have been put out to pasture when the odometer turned just 44,000 miles. We assume that’s accurate, but it could be on its second time around. The Verdoro Green paint is said to be original, as is the interior. There is a lot of rust that’s visible, such as below the back window and even in the engine compartment. So, we’d be equally concerned about the corrosion you will only find up on a lift or after you start digging into the project.

At the Buy It Now price, this would be an expensive parts car with many of the pieces suspect. So, if you decide to take this one home, you’d better be prepared for a detailed restoration and have the bank book to support it. Even the dash pad is severely cracked and about to fall apart, suggesting this LeMans has been exposed to the elements for a lengthy period.