Most old cars have a story and this 1965 Pontiac LeMans is no different, it’s a sort of Ma & Pa Kettle decide to sell the family hotrod tale. Located in Savannah, Georgia, the seller, Gary, is either the original owner, is selling this Poncho for the original owner, or has acquired it from the original owner for a quick flip. It probably doesn’t matter though transacting business with the individual who actually bought the subject car 57 years ago would be the preferred way to go. Let’s learn more as this LeMans is available, here on craigslist for $5,600. Thanks to T.J. for this special find!
It has to be hard to part with a car that you have owned for 57 years, it’s like saying so long to a family member. I know the tug-a-war feeling. I have owned cars that I didn’t want to drive anymore but I just couldn’t bear the thought of parting with them either (no – I’m not a hoarder). But then you have to realize that an old car, left unattended, is just going to get older and more feeble, especially one that isn’t super stored, something that most can’t provide. And an open-sided carport isn’t in this LeMan’s best interest.
Any way you cut it, the ’65 LeMans/Tempest/GTO are my favorites. Back in those GM-could-do-no-wrong days, Pontiac’s designers and Fisher Body got this A-body’s lines just right. Even with the surface rust bleed-through, this Tin Indian cuts an impressive swath. The seller does mention, “FLOOR PANS ARE SOLID AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURES, THE FRAME IS SOLID AS WELL…THERE IS RUST IN THE TRUNK & A FEW OTHER AREAS…” What’s visible looks like standard A-body rust – it happens, southern car or not. The trunk pan problem is very typical and is usually caused by water staying put under the reveal moldings in the rear window channel. I owned a similar ’65 Malibu SS and by the time it was six, the trunk was not a place to keep anything that you cared about.
Power is provided by a 326 CI V8 engine but it’s not stated if it is a 250 or 285 HP version. It’s also not stated if it actually runs. The big news is the three-speed manual transmission actuated by a floor shift. Three on the tree was standard but a buyer could specify the floor shift if preferred. It would be interesting to know how many of the 192K Tempest, LeMans, and GTO models built that year were so equipped. The Pontiac Registry claims that 56K A-bodies were outfitted with the standard transmission, but how many of those were floor shifted vs. column actuated would be a telling statistic.
Gotta love Pontiac Morrokide vinyl upholstery, it seems as if you could haul cinder blocks or firewood without damaging it. The red carpet is showing signs of fade – something that GM’s nylon loop is notorious for doing after just a few years but I’m hard-pressed to issue any other interior demerits. The mileage recording is 29K so I’ll run with the odometer-has-been-once-around assumption and that places this interior in remarkable condition territory.
So whether Gary is the gentleman pictured here, or he’s once removed, doesn’t really matter, it’s great to see so much originality. A GTO clone possibility? Absolutely not! I’d fix the rust, give it a respray in code-C Cameo Ivory and be thankful for this LeMans just as it is, how about you?
Gone!
Finally! A project car at a a current project car price.
Until the GTO emblems and VIN plates find their way to it!
Swamp Thing…
reminds me of the ’65 baby crap brown one a friend of mine owned, except his was a ragtop. Ragtop was being generous as far as the condition of the top and the color helped hide the rust, had a 326 and 2 spd auto. In summer of ’77 we both moved to conn to work at EB in Groton. We loaded that Lemans to the hilt with as much stuff as we could fit. To make it a real ma an pa kettle move we also loaded his new 250 MR Honda in the back seat, we were quite popular with kids as we headed south down 95. I suppose smart people would of left the Honda for another trip but who knows how many 75mph cruises down the interstate that old lemans had in her…..One good thing that we came to appreciate was “EB” green, an industrial strength duck tape that was used at Electric Boat….anyone that ever worked there in that era, and probly now too, knows what I’m talking about, plenty of cars like ours were being held together with it…..we fit right in……
So , ” Documented ” , meaning what ?
That it’s NOT a GTO ?
Don’t get me wrong I Love the poor man’s GTO , Lemans.Just see no value in the documentation of such.Price looks appealing on the surface , but here’s the actual picture.$5grand for this, 15 for a GTO .Restoration cost ? The same for either car. Anyone wish to wager on the value of the completed project ?
How’s that $10,000 you saved looking now ?
Still a stick ,with a nice interior .Have fun with your Goat Mr Buyer !
Documented meaning that the seller had the original documents and purchase agreement. There was an image of all of it but without an active listing you can’t see it.
JO
It seems that the everyday Tempest and LeMans is now unobtanium, try finding one! With factory 3 on the floor, I’d say this LeMans may be more “rare” than any ’65 GTO variant, (real or cloned) so I’d keep it configured exactly as she left the factory. I own a genuine WS-code ’65 GTO hardtop in the same color combo … this LeMans would have made an awesome stablemate!
Get project. Done correctly it will make a classic for years to come. DON’T GTO clone it!
*Great* not get
It’s gone, it was too good to last at that price especially for a complete and running car