Canadian Pontiac Lemans '73 - '77 - How do they differ from US versions?

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

RE: Canadian Pontiac Lemans '73 - '77 - How do they differ from US versions?

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

I would think that a 70-72 could have upgraded suspension parts that would make it handle like a road course car. Time and money usually solves most problems!

The funny thing is 1973's were intended to be the 1972 cars if not for a UAW strike there would have been a Judge on the 73 body. If you look at the model history you will see 2 year body styles throughout, except the 1971 is a carry over to 72. It is pretty obvious to see the pairings, 66/67, 68/69, 70/71/72. 73 one year only, 74/75, 76/77.

The other factor to consider is the industry change to a different Horespower rating at the same time compression dropped, from SAE Gross to SAE Net. GM published both ratings in 1972 as a phase in for Net only in 1973. The 73 GTO for example had 230 Net HP, which sounded bad in relation to the previous cars BUT it is really equivilent to 325 Gross HP, not the 360 Gross HP of the hey day but not terrible either. I don't think this is generally understood by many people and even many in the hobby. Those old Gross HP ratings we done with engines on stands, no air cleaners no exhaust, no pullies. Net ratings are truer to as installed in the car. GM specs show the 455 SD engine had 310/290 Net HP in 1973/4, that is the equivilent of 440/415 Gross HP, bearing out Astro Jet's post about these engines.

455gto · Poncho Master!

I guess I could put enough money into my 70 to make it ride like a 73,but could buy a 73 instead.Like was said before:It's not a popular car and does not demand the big money as other muscle cars do.
I also remember when I could buy a Mopar for peanuts.Nobody wanted them and now it's like a cabbage patch doll.All this demand of people fighting to buy them and then down the road they will be giving them away.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

A funny thing or two happened today. I had the car uncovered in my driveway, parked behind my Cadillac. Over the course of the afternoon 3 guys came down to have a look and jaw a bit, then I took it our for a run and this older gentleman is giving me the thumbs up from his front lawn. That's more attention than the previous 4 years of cruise nights!

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I know they weren't the most popular cars ever but I always liked the 2 door coupes of the 73-77 period. The 73 Olds Cutlass & the 73 Grand Am were my favorites of the lot and in fact I saw a white on red 73 Grand Am for sale at Barrie last weekend. Back in 83/84 I had a 77 Lemans sport coupe with buckets, console, rally wheels and A/C. It was gold on a beige interior, and was a great looking, riding and handling car, in fact possibly among the best couple of driver cars (the other being a 9C1 87 Caprice police car ) I ever owned until I got the Mercedes I drive now. Its only shortcoming was a miserably under powered 305 2 barrel engine. And the only real problem I had was people kept stealing the trim rings from the rally wheels. Had I kept the car it would have undergone a 400 Pontiac transplant but not much else.

455gto · Poncho Master!

73SC wrote:

A funny thing or two happened today. I had the car uncovered in my driveway, parked behind my Cadillac. Over the course of the afternoon 3 guys came down to have a look and jaw a bit, then I took it our for a run and this older gentleman is giving me the thumbs up from his front lawn. That's more attention than the previous 4 years of cruise nights!

Inless a car really stands out at a show or cruise I don't have the time to stop.When you have a kid in tow and a limited amount of time you can't stop at them all.That's a hell of a day to have 4 people respond to your car.You have a nice ride there.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

gparis7 wrote:

Its only shortcoming was a miserably under powered 305 2 barrel engine.

....but that's what made it a Canadian Poncho, US cars got 260 or 301 V8's in 1977. The Chevy 350 4bbl was avialable as well only painted corporate blue in 77. The only way to get a 400 in 77 was in a Safari.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Anyone know how many 77 LeMans Sport Coupes were made with 350 4bbl? That's what was in my dad's.
Todd

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

I don't think GM Canada kept records like that, they would know how many Sport Coupes but probably not broken down by engine. I'd say the 350 4 bbl was the equivilent option to the 400 or 455 in 77 so they werw probably the least produced.

Just realized that the 400 T/A or 403 for California got into the 77 Can Am, the ultra low production performance model for US market only. Productioin ceased at just under 1,400 units when a rear spoliler mould was broken. Plans to build up to 5,000 existed I belive. There are rumours that several thousand white 77 LeMans sports were produced with 400's and Grand Prix dash boards that were destine to be Can Am's but were sold as regular sport coupes.

Pontiac also offered the 400 in the 1977 Police enforcer package and while a 2dr version was offered most would be 4dr sedans.

-- Edited by 73SC at 16:05, 2008-06-15

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Didn't a problem with the rear spoiler mold cause production of the Can Am to be cut short?

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Yes it was the broken mold. The Can Am was done for the auto show in January 77 then put into production after that. I think that initially they were going to run 2,000 but bumped that to 5,000 when the orders took off. Pontiac folk lore says there are a few thousand white LeMans Sports with 400 T/A's and Grand Prix dashes out there, cars that were in line to be Can Am's.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

73SC wrote:

Yes it was the broken mold. The Can Am was done for the auto show in January 77 then put into production after that. I think that initially they were going to run 2,000 but bumped that to 5,000 when the orders took off. Pontiac folk lore says there are a few thousand white LeMans Sports with 400 T/A's and Grand Prix dashes out there, cars that were in line to be Can Am's.

Ray look at e-bay 290237779294 its there waiting for you 2 weeks to buy a rare car its got a 400T/A and Grand Prix dash

-- Edited by 427carl at 17:05, 2008-06-16

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

It is nice. To be honest I am not a big Can AM fan, rather have a Canadian poncho...

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

why not have 1 of each? there are several guys, on the site ,that have 1 of each... smile

Astro Jet · Poncho Master!

Carl Stevenson wrote:

Would you agree that with current suspension technology, a 70 can likely come close to the 73 handling if all the right stuff is put in?

Heck, with the right parts, a 70 could be made to corner with the best of today's cars! There is an outfit in California called H O Racing Enterprises run by a fellow named Ken Crocie. Ken developed many products for the Pontiac engines but is probably best known for his outstanding suspension innovations for T/As and GTOs.

http://www.hoenterprises.com/WSFF/home.asp?vCompID=27383

Astro Jet · Poncho Master!

73SC wrote:

A funny thing or two happened today. I had the car uncovered in my driveway, parked behind my Cadillac. Over the course of the afternoon 3 guys came down to have a look and jaw a bit, then I took it our for a run and this older gentleman is giving me the thumbs up from his front lawn. That's more attention than the previous 4 years of cruise nights!

Ray, you've got to get some louder mufflers on that thing, some Dynomaxes would sound good! Right now it is so quiet, no one even knows you are passing by!

455gto · Poncho Master!

Astro Jet wrote:

73SC wrote:

A funny thing or two happened today. I had the car uncovered in my driveway, parked behind my Cadillac. Over the course of the afternoon 3 guys came down to have a look and jaw a bit, then I took it our for a run and this older gentleman is giving me the thumbs up from his front lawn. That's more attention than the previous 4 years of cruise nights!

Ray, you've got to get some louder mufflers on that thing, some Dynomaxes would sound good! Right now it is so quiet, no one even knows you are passing by!

He's right.I'm running headers and Magnaflow exhaust with the X pipe.They walk by my car too,but sure turn their heads when my car starts up.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Astro Jet wrote:
Ray, you've got to get some louder mufflers on that thing, some Dynomaxes would sound good! Right now it is so quiet, no one even knows you are passing by!

Hobby car budget for 2008 pretty much spent, might punch holes in them!