I love these vertical headlight Pontiacs and have done since I had a Matchbox one as a child. This 1966 LeMans is a partially finished project that was actually on the road last summer. Now it’s for sale here on craigslist in Grandville, Michigan for an asking price of $3,500. Thanks go to Barn Finds reader Clark B. for this great find!
Based on the front fenders and the partially disassembled state of the car, this is a current picture and the one above it is from while the car was being driven last summer. I’m saying that because the seller talks about fitting replacement fenders to the car and contemplating an engine swap to a 455 cubic inch V8, which is included in the sale (what may be the possible 326 V8 is currently still i in the car and is said to run.
The rally type wheels really make this car look nice–or at least they will when it’s finished. The car does look extremely straight, though, and I hope whomever ends up with the car decides to paint it black again. It also appears that the replacement fenders are pretty solid; the seller tells us that the body is “ok” but you could work on it to be better. They have also installed a new intake manifold on the 326 engine that is visible in the pictures.
I wish we could see the rocker and quarter panels closer, and also see any other potential rusty spots. I guess the seller is expecting you to contact them for more information, because I’d sure need more before I took the time to go see the car. But what I do see I like, especially at the price.
We really can’t tell that much about the interior as well, but again, what I can see doesn’t look too bad. Is it good enough for you? Let us know what you think of this partially finished project, and I’m also interested if you’d leave the original 326 V8 in or swap it for the 455?
I like the body style, having had a 67 Chevelle. Fun vehicles. Could be a great vehicle once done. Personally I’d retain the 326 but that’s just me.
There’s that modern CD player cut into the dash again. Kills me. That’s like putting a sideways cocked trucker cap on the queen of England. Looking further into this one. Not a GTO but with your eyes squinted ?
I’ve have nothing against tributes/clones when they are disclosed but I’d like to see it restored back to a stock LeMans with a 326. I don’t see many of them any more.
By the way, it looks like the interior comes from a 1967; the seat pattern in 1966 runs side to side instead of top to bottom.
Someone should publish a “AD-Speak” to English dictionary. Examples:
‘Too many projects’ = ‘divorce pending’
‘Body not too bad’ = ‘Heritage sells replacement shells for this model’
‘No interest’ = ‘project cost has exceeded the GDP of Bolivia ‘
‘No time ‘ = ‘new girlfriend is half the age of this car, and is in #2 condition’
Other suggestions?
A/C works just needs charge=you’re going to drop $ getting it to work!
Compressor in trunk, squirrels building nests in the dash…..or flow through ventilation from the rust holes and broken windows,
‘Sold on bill of sale’ = ‘hoping original owner doesn’t see it until I flog it’
‘Ran when parked’ = ‘had to shut it off it smoked so bad’
I started it but cant finish it or anything else
Runs good=piston hanging out side of the block
Little Rust=no firewall or floor
New Tires=New in 1985 +bald and dry rotted.
Will run with a little work=I don’t want to evict the rabid mice that are living in the seats.
I love the 65 to 67 Tempest / Lemans / GTOs, having owned all three years and my parents gave me their 4 door 67 Lemans with a 326 to run in a demolition derby which didn’t fair well because my brother inlaw forgot to tighten the negative battery cable, first major hit killed the motor. If I were to buy this I would probably finish bodywork / paint then install a later Pontiac Trans Am motor and transmission with upgraded brakes but keep the car exterior / interior looking original. $3,500 doesn’t seem too bad a asking price IMHO.
It is not easy finding these stacked headlight LeMans/GTO body styles for this price, and they are becoming more scarce as time goes on. Unless there is a severe rust issue, this Pontiac is worth 3500 all day long. Personally, I like my cars the way they rolled out of the factory, so I would retain the 326, even if it not the orginial motor, sell the 455 to help with repair costs. Great body style, and a great example of the golden age of the classic musclecar.
For me, the stock LeMans with the 326 would be just fine. I’d try to get everything correct for the year and just enjoy the ride. Too many Goats in the world, and so many of them try to make cars like this into another numbers-matching GTO.
Every time I see one of these, I shudder, and give myself another kick in the butt for rejecting my Mom’s offer to me in the late 70s to take her beautiful 1967 LeMans convertible for FREE (with some rear frame rust). Body was beautiful red, black interior with front buckets and console, wood grain. A 400cu had replaced the 326 when it died, and improved the gas mileage despite her lead foot. I’ll go to my grave kicking myself for that stupidity.
I learned to drive in a blue 66 like this, but the Tempest version. My dad ordered it with the stiff suspension package and the GTO motor with a Pontiac version of the powerglide. Super sleeper fro a kid…glad I didn’t ever wreck!
nice cars….had one with the 4 bbl SOHC 6 with duals and a !!!! 3 speed manual with Hurst shifter…metallic green with a white convertible top….in 1968 was $1900 for the 66 car.
burned rubber for a city block….soon gone replaced by a Lotus…but great memories with 5 people in it top down roaring down to Austin on a August night…
In the early 80s I owned a ’66 GTO 389/335 with 4-speed, 3:55 posi rear axle, console and Rally Cluster. A fella I had known since we had played on a baseball team together that lived a few miles from me owned a ’66 LeMans with a factory 326 engine, 4-speed with console and Rally Cluster instrumentation. The car was stunning! He had installed a 4:11 posi rear axle. I did not realize at the time just how rare his LeMans was. It was so quick off the line too and he really new how to get everyting out of it when driving it.
“Driven all over” = All over the shop.
Of all of the cars I’ve been through in my 37 years of driving, my 66 Lemans convert is my favorite. It never left me stuck on the road, and averaged 14 MPG with 326 4bbl. I had to swap out the original engine (cracked block) with a low mileage 4 door Lemans 326 donor engine. I swapped out the powerglide for a turbo350, and she had more than enough power for cruising. I did go the GTO hood route since I found a clean one to replace the dented original. It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t a show car, but it was driven daily and cared for. If I had the cash, I’d be seriously looking at this (among others, lol)..
I believe this is the Matchbox Jamie is referencing
That’s it!!!
That’s not a Lemans, it’s a Grand Prix. ( the Matchbox that is. ) This is a nice Tempest/Lemans and I hope whoever buys it will restore it as such, the reason you don’t see them is that most are now cloned GTO’s, there are probably more of those around than there are “true” GTO’s. I guess that’s ok as long as their represented honestly. I’d like to see one with the original overhead cam 6cyl, I haven’t seen one of those in years.
LOVE it!
My first car was a ’66 Lemans 326/4spd vert. Rusty and full of mud but was fun as hell.
My friend had a 67 with the 326 and a 3 speed on the floor. Bucket seats, and power steering. Was such a nice car. His was a light metallic green…. I think just about ALL of them were that light green. Okay okay, I’m exaggerating. $3,500 sounds like a give away price to me.
Keep it honest as a lemans, and you’ll have a great cruiser, with plenty of power out of that 326
That’s funny. I had a grand prix match box like that when I was a kid too. I think it was purple.
Love the shape! Troy is that matchbox for sale?