The Pontiac Tempest/LeMans/GTOs got new sheet metal in 1966, gaining stacked headlights in the process. And a tunnel-back roofline on the hardtops. They also got an overhead camshaft (OHC) inline-6 as the standard engine, a departure from what Chevrolet was doing though the engines shared some infrastructure. This ’66 LeMans has the Sprint package, which means it has a 4-barrel carburetor for more zip. The non-running project car can be found in Milford, Massachusetts, and is available here on craigslist for $7,200. Thanks for the cool Poncho tip, T.J.!
All 1966 Tempest and LeMans models got the new 230 cubic inch I-6 as standard equipment. It was one of many brainchild ideas from John DeLorean who rose to the role of Pontiac’s general manager in 1965. With a single-barrel carburetor, this interesting motor produced 165 hp. But if you checked the Sprint option box on the order sheet, that added a 4-barrel, a higher compression ratio, and a beefier camshaft, making for 207 hp instead, a much peppier mid-size automobile. The Sprints didn’t generate a lot of interest – nor did the OHC in general, and Pontiac dropped the engine after 1969. But for more details on its interesting engineering characteristics, click here.
After sitting for a while (1979), a few parts are missing from this LeMans, like the original intake and exhaust manifolds, so the buyer will have to source some items to attempt to get it running again. The car has an automatic transmission, which we assume is a 2-speed. Though the Fontaine Blue paint is well past its prime, we’re told the body is in pretty decent shape, so the restoration may not be too difficult.
The matching interior looks good considering it’s been stored for 44 years. The dash pad is cracked, and the carpet looks to be out of condition, so those items will need some attention after you get done with the paint. We’re told the odometer reading is 14,000, so we assume it turned over at least once. Imagine showing up at a Pontiac event with a restored Sprint and popping the hood. This rarely-seen powerplant might command attention over a sea of 389s. At least for a few minutes.
Looks like a cool car at a reasonable price. Especially if it turns out to be as solid as the seller suggests. It’s a Sprint without the sprint. I think the first step would be to determine if this has the Sprint option and the second would be to determine if it still has a sprint engine. More likely the sprint engine suffered a failure and a non-sprint engine was installed. I believe the sprint engine had different cam profile and higher compression.
Doubtful it’s a Sprint because they had 4-barrel carburetors. This one doesn’t.
I have to agree, might have had the original engine go by the wayside. Have to wonder why the drivers side front wheel well is missing. Not the cleanest but solid.
It was the 65 MY that they first featured the stacked headlights, not the 66. The ohc 6 gave it an English/German flavor as a base engine. I drove a dealer demo once with the sprint option, that engine could really wind some revs.
Over priced for what it is $4500
Not compared to other super rusty, money pits listed on here, 66 is a very desirable year for Pontiac, and if the straight 6, doesn’t cut it, a nice Pontiac v8, would slide right in.
Sold fast after this article was posted.
Four barrel is MIA. I would assume head is the non 4 barrel as well. Coincidentally I have a sprint 4 barrel cylinder head from 1966. It was in one of the boxes of the utility bed of a 1957 NAPCO truck I bought a few years back.
Looks like several Pontiacs on the property. This may be a bitsa, but more likely it’s a regular lemans with sprint stripes applied. I haven’t decoded one of these vin tags in a while, so it may be an actual sprint with a replacement engine. But if I recall, the sprints also had a larger exhaust manifold and tailpipe.
Either way it’s an interesting car. I worked my way through a 67 ohc-6 four door in 1988, and loved the experience. If I was closer I would take a look and possibly a chance if they can come off the price a bit. I know it doesn’t sound like a big ask, but this is a manual brakes, manual steering bare bones car. A weekender, not a comfortable daily.
Sprint OHC 6 (MIA)coupled to an ST300 2 speed -Augh!
why didn’t DeLorean scribe a law:
“No performance Pontiac will ever be allowed to option the ST300 automatic transmission- ever, period, nada, no!!”
I think JD was just promoting the ST300 in these cars as an early “Drag Pack” configuration available for the beefier models. I drove a ’66 GTO recently with that trany.
It’s a Rip(off the line) and Roll(to victory) set up. Certainly, not my mother’s family cruiser!
There was a guy just out of HS( ’73) who had a real Sprint, with a 4 barrel and 4 speed. It had plenty of steam, fact is, was the fastest 6 cylinder I rode in. The car was only a couple years old, and already was burning oil. It could break the tires loose, but most was engine smoke.
While I’m normally a big fan of DeLorean, I’m NOT a fan of the belt drive cam, and a more engineering blunder, we had yet to see. Apparently, during design, it was found, a chain/gear cam drive was noisy and costly, and a belt was used. Not the 1st, but unheard of to most. The motor is not an “interference” motor, so a broken belt won’t scramble the motor but the fun stops there. Later, it was discovered, a broken belt COULD scramble a motor, requiring replacement. Pure marketing genius, so, in that regard, a giant middle finger to the Pontiac OHC 6, the father of the belt drive cam( for the masses).
It sure was a sharp looking car, regardless.
Yep, my mom had the ’66 LeMans Convertible w/326 and Hurst 3-Speed! She was quite the driver and many a guy pulled up at red lights and check it out. Dark blue metallic with white top and blue interior like this one. Then my dad got a ’68 Firebird Coupe with the 250 OHC and 3-Speed Hurst. Great cars, thanks John!
Nice! I like it. If this is a “ replacement “ engine I would say that it is a wide open project, drop in an original 250ci I – 6 OR something completely different. This car is ripe for anything! Think about it – ANY ENGINE you want ! I think this is a GREAT project. Lots of potential/ possibilities. If the price is reasonable, ( which at the moment is debatable ), this car would be great ! . Lots of luck to the new owner! Great article.
This is what a ’66 would look like in ’73 in Cleveland,if you washed the salt off once a week during winter. Too rusty to be worth making nice, but good for a beater , $4k, max. Add smog 400 with sadinaw 4spd. I have laying around, cheap fun. Not worth $7k , even with my 400 in it.
Clean survivor body, but as much as I admire the inline 6 it would have to make room for a 389. Front disc conversion with power brakes. But this interior with buckets is really nice. Asking a fair price for a Lemans GTO wanna be. Good solid find.
Gone!
Not overpriced. It looks as cool as a Goat.
That’s right, and for a small fraction of the price, as long as the frame is solid, this is a keeper!
In October of 1963 my father ordered a 1964 Ford Fairlane, the absolute cheapest base model he could order. I hated that car.
In the middle of 1966, he went to a Pontiac dealership to trade in the Fairlane on a new ’66 Tempest. I wanted him to get the Pontiac so bad! But, even the Tempest was too expensive for him. He kept the Ford for another two years, eventually selling it in 1968 and purchasing a used 1967 Checker Marathon.
The 1966 Tempest/LeMans was an exciting and beautiful car, with its wingback roofline, stacked headlights, recessed grill and parenthesis taillights. To me it’s just a very attractive car.
When my oldest brother got back from Viet Nam, he bought a 1967 GTO in maroon.
At least we had one nice looking Pontiac in the driveway.
I strongly agree with you Angel, these cars are just oozing with style!, Love it, and would personally just drop a Pontiac 400 in it, and turbo 400 trans. And enjoy some GTO performance, without the 60k dollar price tag!
I had a 2 door post 66 OHC-6, with 3 speed on column. Bought it for $100.00 in 1980. Odometer showed 98K but had stopped working, I don’t know when, but the car would run like a scalded ape. Bench seat in front had given up the ghost sometime prior to me buying it, so had an old couch cushion on the drivers side of the seat to stay off the springs. Surprisingly it was a limited slip rear end, 2 short streaks of rubber when you dumped the clutch in 1st gear. Was pretty good on gas mileage, too if you kept your foot out of it. Sold it about 4 months later for $150.00, due to moving out of state.
Lol, ah yes the good old days, and from what I have heard the sprint six was pushing almost 250 hp in a relatively light car, with a manual transmission, oh yeah you would be laying streaks, or in most cases, a streak!
I wanna see someone beef up one of these OHC -6 engines and make some crazy power. Turbocharged and intercooled with a Holley sniper EFI set up would be awesome. Light weight and high power… Pop the hood and blow people’s minds. Nobody would ever believe that would be under the hood of something that beat them so badly.