This Pontiac is believed to be one of the relatively rare GT package equipped LeMans. It looks rough, but the current caretaker has started it at least twice a year for the past 17 years they have owned it. So the engine runs and the brakes and transmission work. It’s going to need some work before it will be road worthy again, but you can find it here on eBay where it’s listed with no reserve!
There’s a GT badge on the back. There’s also a hood from a GTO out front, so that doesn’t mean a whole lot. Badging is never a guarantee so lets take a closer look and figure out if this is the real deal. There should be a pair of exhaust tips peeking out from under that bumper, but unfortunately this photo is the wrong angle and a little too dark to get a good glance of the underbelly.
The GT package included a heavy duty floor shifted 3-speed. Looks like that’s there, but you could get the same setup in other models so we still aren’t 100% sure this isn’t a rebadged Sport Coupe. The GT package was mostly visual, so that doesn’t mean it was the only LeMans worth getting. You could order anything from an inline-six to a 455 4-barrel V8! This one has the 350, but the seller doesn’t mention if its the 2-barrel or 4-barrel. That might be good to know.
One of the best featured of the GT package was the Rally II rims, but those appear to be missing… Man, we are striking out here! There is a glimmer of hope though. In this photo the sport mirrors and wheel well moldings are visible. And if you look closely you can just make out the side stripe that was unique to the GT package!
17 years parked on a dirt floor could provide a lot of surprises underneath.
I guess armeral or wax was out of reach between alleged starting to run?
A shame to watch a car Rott on a dirt floor and of course climate of sweat 😓
If the floor is not rotted out a possible restoration project providing the right price
At 2000 which seems right !
FYI: if the owner took care of his storage it would of yielded a good payoff 🤑💰💰💰💰
You can tell which 350 by the 5th digit of the VIN. Here that’s “N”. That means 350 2-bbl with dual exhaust.
There’s something up with that driver’s door…ill-fitting and no lock.
Monte Carlo of the same vintage?
This was sort of a budget replacement for the GTO. The GT package was V-8 only and could be ordered with non-functional hood scoops, as seen on this car. The swoopy, big-nosed styling is definitely an acquired taste, but the three-speed adds a bit of interest.
So, I am having a hard time getting very excited about this vehicle, whether or not it is the “rare GT”. I will take a swipe at Pontiac in general and say that they became so rare, they no longer make them.
Even in 2009–the last production year of Pontiac—the Vibe model was simply a Toyota Matrix in Pontiac dressing—and that was why I bought one.
Beyond that, and the comments already made regarding the care of this car over the last 17 years, a 1974 Pontiac 350 2 barrel kicked-out a whopping 200 HP…in comparison, the 1969 Pontiac 350 HO generated 330 HP. We all know that what happened there occurred with all American vehicles during that era, but it is also a period of production that many folks would like to forget. Even a true 1974 GTO is pretty much “ho-hum” compared to its predecessors.
I hate to be a wet diaper, but it is hard to get excited about this vehicle. But hey, it’s a Barn Find, so you take what you can get!
For a low price it cold be a fun car since you can put whatever engine in you want and it already have the floor shift.
HP was down, some of that was due to changing the net-gross formula. However everything else is superior on the 74 such as steering, brakes, rear axle, suspension, handling.
200 hp? LOL! Try like 145. Anyway point taken but these are still Pontiac V-8s. So put in a decent cam, manifold, carb and headers, mill the heads, and you’ve got 100 more hp for well under a grand. It was largely the smog equipment and tuning that gave those sad numbers.
Unfortunately, with Baby Boomer 401ks apparently in full blossom, and high confidence that they’ll stay that way, these types of cars are becoming the only way we mere mortals who can’t justify spending 50k on a toy can enjoy V-8 muscle.
After 1970 Pontiac was a disappointment even to me who loves Pontiacs, even the Bandit car didn’t do much for me, the movie sold that car. But all the car makers were struggling to survive under insurance and smog rules. Luckily I made good money so the gas crisis didn’t faze me much as our town didn’t seem to have long gas lines like the ones I read about. In the 70’s I went from musclecars to 4×4’s since trucks didn’t have to follow the rules at that time.
The dirt floor looks like concrete to me with a covering of dry dirt, could have helped to preserve it quite well,
I worked at a Pontiac dealership in 1974. A customer took delivery of his new GT ( the same color by he way) drove 1/2 block from the dealership and was rear ended. It got hit in such a way that there was virtually no body damage above the rear bumper but the frame twisted out from under the car in front of the rear wheels! And was almost dragging on the ground. One each totaled new car. After reviewing the damage. He did not purchase another.
I always thought that the LeMans’ rode and handled well . ( Grand Am) and was able to drive some very nice 455s that were ” warmed over “.
by the posts here I guess there was a Lemans GT, though I don’t remember one the 350 2v were anemic I think It would be a looker once it is up and running ( by the 350 being anemic I am going by how the Cutlass and GP did) good luck to whomever gets it
This body style has not been particularly popular with hot rodders but a few years ago I did see one featured in one of the magazines which really looked great, lowered, aftermarket brakes / wheels / tires, black paint job, big block and a 4-speed. Thought it looked really cool…
Half the guys I hung around with, seemed to have one of those 73-74 Pontiac intermediates.
My two best friends had them. One had a green 73 GT, with a 350 2bbl and an automatic, the other had a white 73 400 2bbl Grand Am. I also knew a guy with a silver 74 GT with a 350 and a 3 speed manual, but the best was belonged to a forth friend. His was a blue, white gut, 73 Grand Am with the honeycomb wheels, a 400 4bbl and a 4 speed!
The blue 4 speed Grand Am, was the neatest one in the group.
I cant recall seeing manual transmissions in Grand am, Cutlass, Malibu, Regal etc. after 1972. No console either! Pretty unique and rare if legit, only floor shifts I’ve seen were 350TH automatics with “lightning rods”/Hurst in some special packages. The nose of that car looks really MEAN ! Love it, certainly one i’d spend some time looking over at a show and chatting with the owner.
There was in fact a manual transmission LeMans GT in 1974 such as the one featured. I own one. If anyone would like information about this car, I can provide it.
The GT package was available on either the base Lemans or the Sport Coupe/louvered window car as seen here. Package included blacked out grill, stripes, duals and a 3.23 rear, among other things.
The NACA hood was set up for a fully functional Ram Air system. The system looked a lot like the Olds W-30 system. Unfortunately, it was pulled from production because of either production costs or the noise level. I have seen pictures of one system.
Mine was allegedly one of either 12 or 16 with a 4 speed and a bench seat. The GT came with a 350 2 barrel. Yeah, I know, this engine was crap compared the engines in the 1960s. No kidding. So were all of the blessed MPARS and Chevys. However you can pretty much build anything you want and drop it in. Pontiac blocks are all the same except for the 301.
My 74 GT Sport Coupe came with a 400/4sp and NACA hood from the factory.
concerning the 1974 Lemans GT, i owned one that was Lucerne blue with a white vinyl interior, 350 4bbl,auto.,non-louvered rear glass and taillights,rallysport rims and factory 8-track. Everything was factory. The only modifications i ever made were dual exhaust,an open air cleaner,removed all smog stuff(no emissions down south in 1974!) and made the factory hood scoops functional.I bought it from a friend i worked with in 1976 because he had bought it new when he came home from the Army but wanted a Camaro instead.Unfortunantly i totaled it in an accident,but still have photos taken of it after the accident.Maybe i had a rare car and didnt know it! BEST car ive ever owned!!!
Again, I worked at a Pontiac store when these were new. Yes, manual transmission was available. I have driven several 4 speeds. I never saw a 3 speed however.
Almost everyone has seen a piece of the dealership that I worked in. After being a Pontiac/Honda store. It became a Porsche dealership. The one in the movie Risky Business. That building (2 very old carriage houses stuck together) actually had a dungeon in the basement under the shop. Iron gate cell with rings in the wall. Very spooky!
Like………
Hard to believe that in 1974, a 3-speed was still even available….
Having bought my 75 LeMans Sport Coupe from the original owner 31+ years ago, I am a huge fan of this body style. They are heavy, but the ride and handling is great. I replaced my 350 2bbl with a mild 455 Pontiac engine over 25 years ago, I still love my car and only wish I was in a position buy this one to build a more fun shift it yourself version of the one I already have.
Nova LN? ‘74 LeMans Coupe?
Mid-70s GM cars were junk, no matter how few were made!
4/8/18. Still on eBay for $1,900.00. Needs a lot of work, which equates to $$$, but could be a nice ride…daily or weekend driver.
Not just a GTO hood, those were made for Grand Ams as well, with slight changes over the years from 73-75. This is likely the original hood.
I own a 74 lemans sport coupe , not a gt , it had 3.23 rear gears 350 2 barrel and a turo 350 , no sport mirrors only one chrome mirror on drivers side , also had chrome wheel well moldings rallyII’s had 76,000 miles on it in 1988 when I bought it for $900.00 , I’ve had it for 30 years , was lime fire green and light green interior , black interior now was painted 15 years ago , hunter green body is rusted a lot needs quarters and floor pans , hard to find parts for these cars cause their not 72 or earlier , wich is a crap of bull , these cars are just as popular as the earlier cars , just look up 73-74 gto 73-77 lemans club and you’ll see what i’m talking about, very loyal following on these cars
Well, I know own the above burgundy sport LeMans. I received the title today and it is an original 27234 mile car. Yall missed out. It is a true sport LeMans GT.
Wow Curtis, why did it take 6 months to get the title to this car? Have you added anything to it yet? Ready for the show & shine?
It didn’t take 6 months. I just got the car in September. It took 3 weeks for the title