That's stuff is all gone on my Luxury Lemans too, anyway I don't like the luxury trims and skirts, I found a nice set of rally II wheels for it and complete front header panel with recess plastic Lemans grills. I am making mine a regular Pontiac Lemans 400 car, it will look more like a musclecar.
-- Edited by pontorquer on Thursday 7th of January 2010 10:32:28 AM
Yeah I am going that rout as well, I really hate to ruin the cars originality but I am not digging the luxury lemans look, its interesting and rare but a 23 year old has other go fast intentions. I meet a gentleman at the fleet wood country cruise in last year and he had a fully restored 1972 luxury lemans, right down to the paint/chalk markings. He was very much interested in having all of my luxury lemans trim and wheel skirts, as I have alot of extra items that came in the trunk of the car when I purchased it back in 2004 off a little old lady, the original owner mind you, quite an interesting story in must say, more on that later.
I found mine in a RV storage coumpound of all places, the car trims and skirts were all gone already and old red paint replaced the Anaconda gold original color, someday I will get it painted back to gold again. When I popped the hood and saw the dual snorkel 400, I knew right there and then that it was a rare Lemans, as well as the factory 12 bolt rearend.
Hey fellow londoner. I have never had the car on the road, the last time it was on the road was back in 2001 when the original owner had the car. She parked it after it would not start (super worn timming chain) and I purchased it form her in 2004 for a low sum of $500. How I got wind of the car is a interesting story, call it right place at the right time. Now embarking on a full frame off resto, cant wait till its done.
Mine is a '72 Lemans Sport 400. Factory 4 speed, buckets no console and a hurst shifter. 12 bolt 3:55 posi rear. According to the Canadian GM info, this is 1 of 16 built. Anyone know how many were built in North America with the L-78, M-20 and 12 bolt posi rear?? I really like the Luxo LeMans. My Aunt and Uncle had one new in '72.
My ex-neighbor had a 1972 LeMans GT hardtop with the big valve L78 400 4-barrel, factory Hurst shifted 4-speed, and a 3.55:1 Safe-T-Track 8.5" 10-bolt. It was a U.S.-built car from Pontiac, Michigan that was sold new in Toronto and winter stored since new. I drove that thing and found it pretty entertaining. It had manual steering & manual 4-wheel drum brakes (you have 1 panic stop, use it wisely). The car had the GTO exhaust system & factory side split tailpipes (originals). The colour was Wilderness Green (dark green) with a light beige / off white cloth bench seat interior.
I had a neighbor back in Ancaster that owned a 1972 Luxury LeMans 4-door hardtop from new, also in Wilderness Green. It was bought to replace the brand new 1972 Mustang Grandé that she wrote off after less than a month. That LeMans always wore the Mustang Grandé diecast wheel covers from new and they looked good on the car. She loved that car but eventually gave it to her daughter upon delivery of a new 1979 Pontiac Parisienne coupe.
The Luxury LeMans was V8 only, but was offered with anything from a Chevy or Pontiac 350 (depends on factory & options) through the 455 (no 455 H.O. for it though). Manual transmissions were available but hardly in keeping with a car whose wheel sizes were limited by the presence of rear fender skirts. They had unique side moldings, trunk moldings, tail lights & grille. Inside if bucket seats were specified they were the same as a Lemans Sport or upscale GTO. They also offered a bench seat with a fold down armrest.
Unlike all other LeMans models, you could not order the GTO front clip (RPO T41 Endura Styling) on the Luxury LeMans. I do have a picture of one with the side split tailpipes though (see attachment).
-- Edited by CdnGMfan on Tuesday 19th of October 2010 03:56:26 PM
-- Edited by CdnGMfan on Tuesday 19th of October 2010 04:16:04 PM
I stand to be corrected Cam but I do not believe that 1972 GT's got side splitters from the factory. They would have had rear exit splitters in cutouts in the valance like the red car above, not criticizing but those tail pipes would not have been offered on the Sport Coupe, a nice modification however.
I stand to be corrected Cam but I do not believe that 1972 GT's got side splitters from the factory. They would have had rear exit splitters in cutouts in the valance like the red car above, not criticizing but those tail pipes would not have been offered on the Sport Coupe, a nice modification however.
O.K. Ray, I'm here to correct you (LOL).
Seriously, for 1972 Pontiac dispensed with the notched rear valence & quad tips in favor of dual side split tips out either side behind the rear wheels. The GTO & LeMans GT that year used them. Also look at that attached picture in my previous post with the Luxury LeMans; it has side split tips (a feature of the performance duals, not the regular, quieter duals.)
The 1972 LeMans Sport that belongs to member 455Lemans here used to belong to Keith Tedford. Keith added the notched rear pan & quad tips when he had the car repainted from the original silver to red.
I've seen a few over the years. Right now I have the October 1971 Hot Rod issue in front of me with a preview of the 1972 performance cars. There is a GTO with side split pipes and also a really cool LeMans 2-door post with big 15x7 honeycomb wheels, side split tips, an L78 400, Safe-T-Track and Ride and Handling Suspension.
Ray, I seriously admire your automotive knowledge. You know your stuff.
__________________
67 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe, Oshawa-built 250 PG never disturbed.
In garage, 296 cid inline six & TH350...
Cam, Toronto.
I don't judge a man by how far he's fallen, but by how far back he bounces - Patton
Thanks Cam. no question the GTO had side splitters, in fact i think I have the remnants of my cousins '72 GTO side splitter pipes in the basement. I was not that sure about the GT version, of course how many 72 GT's gas anyone ever seen ? I knew the red car was not factory as you also point out.....but it looks great.
I know that the side exhaust was correct for '72. I think Keith might of had the idea of turning this into a GTO clone, but changed his mind. Never the less, I'm not about to mess with it. Changing the exhaust and replacing the rear valence panel is not in the budget at this time. Down the road, maybe. I like this look. Yes, this was the car for sale on Kijiji. I've pulled it as she's gone into hibernation for the winter.
