“Because it’s delicious.” That’s why I eat cake at any opportunity, and why I’d like to be the lucky person driving this 1975 Pontiac LeMans GT Coupe tipped to us via Doc. B. It’s come to us as an online auction from Hemmings. Check it out here if you’ve got the notion you’d like a mid-malaise era muscle car. But don’t discount it due to its birth year or leftover thoughts that the mid-70s couldn’t produce a car worthy of your interest. One look at this stunner will put an end to that. If you win the bid, you’ll ship the car from Milford, CT. Or get out to the Northeast and drive it home.
It’s entirely likely that you’ve never even seen a car like this in the sheet metal, because only 200 of this model were made, and because even if you’re looking for its generational siblings, you have to know that the 1970s cars were almost immediately wiped off the collector map. Nobody thought them worth saving, which is a real shame when you consider what a looker this car remains. Red exterior with NACA ducts menacing from the hood. White interior complementing a half-vinyl top. About the only way this car doesn’t look good is if you fixate on the intrusive front bumper. Blame the government for that.
The condition is described as having some patina, and there’s no word as to the paint’s originality. Apparently, there are 41,000 miles on the odo, but the term “mileage exempt” might suggest it’s actually 141,000. You might be able to sort that out using the car’s included history. Otherwise, you’re getting to the end of the engine’s service life before it needs a rebuild. But looking at how spotless the interior is would suggest otherwise than that anybody’s hiding anything here. This might just be that rare car that really was owned by just a couple of careful people. Now it’s your turn to take on its preservation.
Is it worth the price? It seems to be having a hard time generating offers at a $25K ask. At least that’s what the auction seems to show—zero offers despite four thousand pairs of eyes having been on the car. What’s everyone so shy about? Oh, right—there are still some choice 1960s cars out there for that money, and there’s perhaps just a little doubt about “Me Decade” cars as investments. Maybe it’s time we shook that off and plunged into a new era of collecting. Even if it takes a while to get your initial investment back on a car like this, you’re going to smile your way up to it every time it’s time to go for a ride.
(IMO) This is one of the best looking colonnades; (coming from someone from which the look had to grow on!) This is a real beauty, with full instrumentation, buckets, console, and that sharp GT stripe package! I’d proudly drive this one!
GLWTA!! :-)
No different than a $15 dollar meal at McDonald’s, 25k for a lemans of this era …..I got options. Like a less perfect Trans am.
Like cake, it might be totally empty calories while triggering insulin, and you’re hungry again before you even finish eating it LOL! That’s why I never eat cake.
It’s pretty cool, but yeah, I think at this price point there are other “healthier” options that would satiate your hunger more. There’s a reason these were $2,500 cars back in the ’80s, even in mint condition.
My favourite colonnades were by Pontiac and this is stunning..AND..i thought i knew of every Pontiac colonnade…but newp…this one’s new to me…and that’s why i check into this site multiple times daily..it often shows an old man new tricks.
I HATE the term “Malaise era”. Just because the engines were toned down to help with the environment! There were some nice cars during all eras…..until we got to the SUV era.
Wasn’t the SUV era, preceded by the minivan era?
But they still made cars while they were making minivans.
I have my doubts about mid70s cars more because of poor build quality and rust than I do their lack of HP. When I look at this era of cars I think more in lines of crafting something like i would’ve wanted to do in the early 80s if I would’ve had the resources to do it back then. I don’t really see collectible cars. I concede some of the cars, like this Pontiac are quite sharp. Personally, I don’t know if I see 25K of sharp but it is a pretty car.
They are MUCH better than the unending horde of SUVs we have today though.
I am not familiar with this GT model at all, so I need to ask. Was the hood standard or part of the GT package? Except for the front bumper I really do like the looks of this car and it sure would turn heads at your local show.
I have the 75 Lemans dealer brochure and it says that, yes, the scooped hood was part of the GT option.
The bumpers look much better when they have the optional black rubber bumper strips on them, and even better with bumper guards too. I have a 75 Lemans Sport Coupe with the rubber bumper strips and guards and they really improve the looks a lot. Google 75 Lemans to see some with the bumper strips and guards on them. Plus, I would prefer this car with Sport Coupe louvered quarter windows rather than the formal quarter windows it has. A sporty car deserves the sporty louvered quarter windows.
It’s not bad looking, it seems like it was a good way to use up the leftover 1973 GTO hoods. Not sure if it can get to $25,000, but it’s being sold by a dealer, thus it might not reflect actual pricing.
Steve R
Reminds me of my sister’s 1973 Gran Am she used to have, it was 455 powered.but had a plastic nose.
I really liked the rubber nosed Gran Am’s. I remember when they were cycling through the local Pink N Pull in the mid-1980’s, lots of 2drs some 4drs, which drew your attention because performance oriented 4drs were basically nonexistent at the time. It was unfortunate, rust where I live isn’t an issue, these would have eventually been prime candidates for restoration if they had survived a bit longer. Lots of desirable cars met their fate back then due to overburdening emissions regulations.
Steve R
Steve R
Intended freeway cruiser w open 2.73s. A/C is nice considering no power windows. The exhaust looks like it’s a only a fraction away from the driveshaft.
I’d throw a dual exhaust on this beauty anyways.. and a 3.23 posi.
Or leave it alone. 😌 Very nice Pontiac. Amazing condition. 👏
Love this car!! Reminds me of the ’75 Grand Le Mans I had in the late 70s Beautiful car!!
I had a 75 Pontiac Lemans sc, cam from the factory with the 400 in it. Sadly, I got rid of it after 12 years and 240,000 miles later. I still regret it that day
I have the nearly identical 77 , in rare 2 tone firethorn metallic with the gold treatment .Thinning the large herd ,so had 11 cars in an auction yesterday, selling 5 of them .High bid on the Lemans GT was $12,500 Canadian, even though there was a crowd around it all day .Very pretty car !
Sold 5 ,and bought a stunning and original Purple 71 Cuda .Gained 4 parking spots ! What a GREAT day !!
My Hero
:-)
Trying to cut my fleet in half…
Somebody remind me about the emissions tricks/voodoo/workarounds/experiments/guesses and general confusion amongst Detroit engineers during this era? Didn’t these cars have horrible drivability issues due to the emissions controls being placed on them? I seem to remember hearing about that back then.
I had the cats cut off mine and ran stock mufflers on out the back. It was quite with a little rumble. I think that was the reason why I got so many miles on the car
What a beauty in all her malaise glory. The GT was a ’74-’75 offering combining leMans Sport and GTO. Pure parts bin car. Why not? Everything was already there. The hood tooling was certified crash worthy and the rest was all B-body. It’s understandable that many never heard of it. There were a lot of choices out there and some people were still licking their wounds. Performance was down, fuel prices were up and we were in recession. The equipment list is just like so many from the era. Wheels, roof and white interior because air was still expensive. I like this one a lot.
The LeMans bumper’s look well integrated in comparison to a ’73 forward Ford Torino, this cars chief competitor. Ford styled a beautiful Torino for ’72 with a great 1 year only front end. Then ’73 came and Ford just mailed in the bumper designs with huge chrome park benches hanging off the front and rear. Destroyed to great lines of the Torino’s, they never really recovered. This is a great looking LeMans, not a factory A/C car but good looking nonetheless.
Im looking for a 74 or 75 model Pontiac Lemans Sc, if someone has one for sale
What a nice LeMans. I have never seen a ‘75 GT. My mother had a ‘74 Sport Coupe with the opera windows and was similarly equipped. You never really saw one like it, even then. Definitely tempted to take the short drive to CT. I really have no room for it though…
Very pretty car, for what it is. $25k is absurd for a malaise era car, especially one that doesn’t have enough documentation to prove its mileage. I couldn’t imagine coughing up that type of money for a mid 70’s car that may have 141,000 or more miles on it.
Nelson, this is an “A” body car. The “B” body cars would be a Catalina/Bonneville size car.
I worked at a Pontiac store when these were new. They rode and handled better than the 1972 and older. But I have always felt that these were not as strong. I did enjoy driving the 455 4 speed Grand Ams. Not as fast as 455 or 400 1971 or 72 455 cars. But the combination of the torque and handling made for a nice experience.
omg. When I step in it, well, you know.
Actually, the Grand Am never came with a 4 speed with a 455. TH400 automatic only with the 455. Only the 400 could get the 4 speed. The 400 in 73 and 74 was rated 230 hp net, and the 455 was 250 hp net. So, not too bad. In 75, with the introduction of the catalytic converter and single exhaust, the power dropped quite a bit.
I have a 73 Grand Am with 455 and I agree that they drive great.
Moving in the bumpers would really help the look on this car. (3″ ON THE FRONT AND 2″ ON THE REAR WOULD BE PERFECT)
FRONT IS EASY TO DO. THE REAR A LITTLE MORE ENVOLVED.
No offense, but personally, I wouldn’t retract the bumpers. I’ve seen some that were moved in, and it ruins the proportions of the car, since they weren’t designed to be that way. Makes it look like the bumpers are jammed up to the body, making the car look short and stubby. Also decreases value.
What really makes the bumpers(and car) look far better is adding the optional rubber bumper strips/cushions with guards. Makes a huge improvement in looks. I have a 75 Lemans Sport Coupe with the strips and guards. I wouldn’t have one of these cars without them.
My opinion, but to each his own.
Maybe even paint the bumpers body color. It would look more Grand AMish.