One of the rarest GM cars from the “Colonnade” styling era (1973 to 1977) was the Pontiac Can Am. It was a mid-size LeMans-based muscle car that was only offered in 1977, and production numbers are thought to have been just 1,377 units. This one is a project that needs a head-to-toe restoration and comes with T-Tops, a possible rare option. Located in Olathe, Kansas, this example is finished in Cameo White paint, the only choice. A tip from Tony Romo, this Poncho is available here on craigslist for $14,000.
The Can Am got its moniker from the racing series of the same name. It was an option on the A-body LeMans and used its shaker hood borrowed from the Trans Am (there were a lot of “Am’s” in Pontiac’s vocabulary in those days). Except for versions destined for California, Can Am’s had the Trans Am’s W72 400 cubic inch V8 that kicked out 200 horsepower (20 more than the base Pontiac 400).
Complete LeMans coupes were sent to Jim Wangers’s Motortown to transform into Can Ams before being shipped to waiting dealers. Pontiac had hoped to sell between 2,500 and 5,000 Can Ams until the mold broke for the fiberglass rear spoiler, so production stopped before the tally reached 1,400 copies. Pontiac’s A-bodies were redesigned in 1978, and the company chose not to carry the Can Am forward.
Though it looks kind of rough, we’re told the seller’s Can Am is nearly rust-free (one floor pan and the trunk floor are exceptions, but not bad). The engine is said to be original at 96,000 miles but has a leaky freeze plug. You can drive the Pontiac onto a trailer, but that may be about it. The car has been treated to some new suspension components, while new paint and an entire interior will be required. This could be a great car when refurbished, yet the entire cost will not come cheaply.
14k is alot for this. Not sure can am model will really get both the rarity and high price combo in the years to come. When they show up beat up like this one , I’m thinking finishing it in black paint could be a nice look and not hurt the long term value
WOW!
What an UGLY car now and when it was new.
Wouldn’t give $100. for it.
This one is plenty rough but that’s kind of harsh. There’s more than $100 in value here. Then again I like these & want one so opinions & what they’re like & all that.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Always liked the novelty of these cars, but not enough to pay that and restore one.
Wow! How do people think that a pos like this that literally needs everything is worth $14000? Hope he likes looking at it because I don’t think it’s going anywhere.
Wow, what a bunch of negativity today!
I have to admit $14000 is a little ridiculous for a late 70’s car that’s as beat up as this one. Not to mention the money it would take to fix it up and you’d never get back what you would put into it.
Maybe $2500 to $3000 and that’s pushing it.
you can buy a nice clean low mile 1 for 30k. i would not spend that kind of money for 1 of theses but have been at auctions where they sell for that much. like they say there is an **s for every seat
He may mean $140.
Price is nuts, but maybe he priced it so he could just tell the wife he tried but it didn’t sell? At least this one has the spoiler, which is at least something. How production of an entire model stops because of one fiberglass model is kinda nuts.
I know right. I mean they were a manufacturer. Why not just make another mold for the spoiler.
They were not selling that well anyway, so they decided to not continue. Gonna be hard to find emblems and such to restore correctly.
In recent auctions you definitely see them going up. Still this price seems steep to me.
I spent $7,500 for a running/driving Can Am a few years back. Still in the body shop but, finally in primer. Won’t tell you how deep I am right now but it’s TWICE as much as I budgeted. . . . . and I’m doing ALL of the mechanicals!
Wes I can relate! I paid 7k for a running/driving ’75 Grand Am 5 years ago. Hoping to get on road by this fall. Lots of $$ invested but I’m intent on waking up the smog block w/ lots of go-fast goodies, shift kit & 3.73 posi out back.
I like these cars, but this one needs some work and the price is a bit high. I think this is the first time I’ve seen one with T tops. Didn’t know that they came with them. Would definitely make a fun cruiser, but the price needs to come down.
if you really need to have lemans with a hood scoop like the 1 here buy it done. i see them at auction all the time selling between 25-40k. which will be less than you will spend to resurrect this turd
The poster child for the ‘malaise era’ of american automobiles. A 400cid motor that puts out 200hp, what a waste of gas. Lets slap some decals on a tired old boat and call it ‘performance’.
An era when cars had some style and option choices, unlike the boring, drab vehicles made today. Real easy to up these older vehicles in performance.
This could be made in to a nice ride. Looks as if the motor has been gone through, but considering the floor pans, interior and the rest of the cars body, there’s too much that needs to be done for the price
For the period they are a neat car. Blame the politicians for shortcomings. Change the cam and exhaust and there is significant improvement.
Price is a bit high. If the body is perfect, I doubt because of floor and truck rust, there is value there. I tell people you can buy cheaper than you can build, even doing the work yourself
Love all the negativity. Oh but if the whole collector car world was nothing but red first gen Camaro convertibles with big blocks, manuals and A/C.
Even if it was a 1st Gen camaro or firebird, in that kind of shape, for that much cash, it wouldn’t happen either
All colonnade t-tops were installed by Hurst, but it was a factory option only on the formal roof coupes – Grand Prix, Cutlass Supreme/Salon, Buick Regal and certain Centurys (oddly, not the Monte Carlo). This would either have to be a “Day One” aftermarket t-top, or a conversion later in life.