Our neighbor, the accountant, had one. Dark green, black top, black interior. Every Saturday at 3:30pm he would clean it for 90 minutes, change into a black turtleneck and pleated slacks, and return with a gorgeous date. They would play records and drink shaken martinis all night on his porch. He was the coolest guy. Ever. The one found here on Craigslist, is a far cry from Mr. Bryd’s 1968 Pontiac LeMans Convertible, but I’ve wanted one ever since those days.
This one caught my eye for a few reasons, but mainly because the seller is the second owner after his father. Secondly, it’s in Arizona and my hope is that it would have been a sun drenched, rust free project. But that’s not the case. It’s got rust just about everywhere, a dish rag for a top, and the owner suggest’s replacing the rear quarter panels, and the front right fender. That doesn’t leave much to remain intact, does it?
It does have some redeeming qualities: A 350, 2 speed power train and “virtually every option” since it was a dealer demo at the time. You can see power window quad row on the driver door, confirming it has power windows, the power top button, and A/C controls – so it was a higher option version. Oddly, it does not have an FM radio, but that’s the last thing you’ll have to worry about for this complete, top to bottom, rebuild project.
To make it a profitable rebuild (ok, let’s be honest – it will never be a profitable rebuild), you’d have to get the seller to come down a bit from his ask of $5.5k. But you’ll end up, perhaps, with the coolness of Mr. Byrd, and his great choice of cars. Want to know why? He traded in that 1968 LeMans two years later – for 1970 Shelby GT500 fastback.
Wonder why the passenger side is so much worse than the driver’s side?
Passenger side so much worse?? Lol, no it’s just that the bondo on the driver side hasn’t fallen off yet. Both quarters are SHOT! If you look at the straight-on non-angled driver rear quarter pic, you can see the MAJOR bubbling under the paint! Obviously they bondo’d and repainted over the rust in 86′ (the year I graduated high school). Looks like a $1,500 car to me!…….and I think I’m being generous!
I think you are high..
usually thats because the side the snow and salt is scraped to. common for the right side to be worse.
most likely were it was parked up in the past?
I love these. Wish it wasn’t rusty. This is a prime candidate for an LS swap. Non matching numbers and needs a rebuild anyway. I’d build it as a nice weekend cruiser with some power just for fun.
I think this one may be destined to become a GTO. Not a real one of course but, that won’t matter to some people. The aftermarket support for these is pretty good and the interest is there. These days rusty sheet metal isn’t as big a problem as it once was if you can do it yourself. If the bones are decent, I think he’ll get close to, if not all of his asking price.
I love the story on this one…”coolest guy. Ever” Way to go Mr. Byrd!
I think it will sell, and probably get cloned as well
Yeah, asking way too much for it. You can get a clean one with minimal/no rust with an engine that needs replacing here in California for that amount. Sad to see one this far gone.
Really unusual to see pwr windows in a 68 lemans…
My parents thought my sister needed a “real” car to replace her ’64 Midget so they bought her a ’68 LeMans hardtop. It was a nice, solid, safer car. She kept it about 6 months and traded it for a ’68 VW bus.
The VW was a whole lot cooler and loads of fun to drive, but the Pontiac was a better car.
It could make heat during the Michigan winters.
How can a 2 spd transmission slip in 2nd gear if you don’t have one? All you have is low and high.
Unsaid in the ad: “I grew up with this car in Michigan, where dad drove it year-round.”
Definitely a poorly restored rust bucket! imagine what the frame and underside look like…
Agreed. And I also agree with the guy who said it looks like a $1,500 beater at that. $5,500, for a rusted out, thrashed, paper top with 299,000 miles on it? In what universe? You have to be a glutton for hard labor with zero chance to get any ROI, to want any part of this “project”. And I LOVE Ponchos! Good luck. If you find someone who wants to give you anything over $2,000 you should take the money and be sure to have a signed document that clears you of EVERYTHING after the car leaves your sight. And be thankful that you got that.
Just one comment for Garr; was Mr. Byrd James Byrd? That would be too cool!
The names Byrd…James Byrd
Growing up, I too had a super cool bachelor neighbor who had the coolest cars and stuff…
I agree with the comments above, a candidate but at a lower initial investment.
I am sure enough a fan of the blue with white interior. However this one will need everything. It would be simpler to pull the gas cap off and slide another car under it. But hey if you specialize in these Pontiacs and have a shop already set up to do all the heavy work. A dyncorp body swap might be the ticket for this one. Your gonna need 30K in your pocket if you want to do this one right.
The first GTO I rode in was a 1964 convertible in ’64. It was dark blue with white interior and as a 13 year old car crazy boy was smitten by it.
The rust is not to bad just lifting the paint?
May be ok for the price . it looks interesting.
You would have to have a personal connection to this car to even consider the asking price. Like Jamestownmike said, $1500 is pushing the limit. This car needs at the bare minimum $10 grand in bodywork, plus paint. Unless you own a bodyshop, forget it. If the trans slips up until 60 mph , put some damn trans fluid in it. Just because it is a powerglide, GM 2 speed trans does not mean it will be cheap to rebuild.