In one of my recent write-ups, I mentioned my write-up selection process includes the frequency of the year/make/model of the subject car’s appearance at BarnFinds. Well, I broke my own rule on this one as I wrote about another 1973 Pontiac Luxury LeMans a little less than 3-years ago. While that example was nice, I like this one a little more. I found it here on Craigslist in Waldport, Oregon with an asking price of $6,900.

Maybe everyone does this, but among all the different eras of car design, my mind tends to assign a certain “look” look to each. When I think of the mid-1970s, I immediately picture the colonnade-style cars from GM. They earned the “colonnade” nickname due to the A, B, and C pillars appearing as a row of columns among the frameless doors and windows. These “colonnade” cars were on GM’s A-Body platform, one which was wildly successful for GM.  From 1973-1977 Pontiac alone built nearly 700,000 A-body cars during the 5-year model run.

I’d take this car over the one I wrote about a few years ago primarily because of the Starlight Black exterior. I know it’s “harder to keep clean” but I contend the sleekness, depth, and furtiveness it offers far outweigh the car wash bills. I can’t yet determine if the photos make it look a little nicer than it may in person. The seller tells us there is “a little rust” (which is at least visible on the driver-side bottom corner of the rear windshield), the paint on the hood appears to be checking, and it looks like it once had a vinyl roof that is no more. The bumperettes really distract from the look of the rear but less so on the front. It’s at least nice to see the Rally II wheels on the profile view but the seller notes the tires are old.

Reason #2 I’d prefer this to the Desert Sand car: RED INTERIOR!!! Another polarizing preference, I know, but the more red the better, in my opinion. The high-back bucket seats — no extra charge on 2-door models — are in good condition and the carpet looks only slightly worn. The full-length center console carries some of the walnut-grained vinyl accents from the dash. This car has some nice features, including tilt wheel, 6-way power seats, power windows, power brakes, and power steering. It left the factory with air-conditioning, but it currently doesn’t work.

Under the hood is an optional 400 cubic-inch V8 that sends power to the rear wheels via the optional console-shifted automatic transmission. No indication is made whether this is the 2-bbl or 4-bbl unit, but regardless, it’s a step above the standard 350. The engine looks as you’d expect a 50-year-old engine to look but the seller claims its traveled less than 86k miles since new. It “runs and drives good” and has recently received a new fuel pump and tune-up.

All things considered, this looks like a decent 50-year-old car. A running, driving car that needs some small fixes here and there has a lot of appeal, especially at this price point. Is this one worth a restoration? Or would you drive and enjoy as-is?