1972 Canadian Lemans brochure

68sd · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

1972 Canadian Lemans brochure

JetFan · Guru

You just can't beat the style. My 8 year old was checking out the cars in Port Elgin yesterday and asked me why our car doesn't look like the ones she was admiring. It's a lack of imagination and a commitment to sheer ugliness. When will the Age of the Bubble Car finally RIP?

-- Edited by JetFan on Sunday 3rd of October 2010 06:40:52 PM

455gto · Poncho Master!

I guess the cassette player started in 72. I never seen one yet. Anybody know how many they produced. I'm guessing one year only, because the 73 is a different console.

Jonno · Poncho Master!

Note that you could have ordered a four speed on all the LeMans models, even the Luxury LeMans. Wonder how many were ordered like that!

455Lemans · Veteran Member

I've got a '72 Sport with the L-78 400 and the M-20 4 speed. Only 16 were built for Canada.

Hey Jetfan...Love your pic! One of my favorite movies!

"You think I'm funny"?

"Go get your shinebox"!

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

455Lemans wrote:
I've got a '72 Sport with the L-78 400 and the M-20 4 speed. Only 16 were built for Canada.

Is your car red with a black vinyl roof? If so we know it. If not we need a photo.

pontorquer · Poncho Master!

We have some rare 1972 Lemans here on this board... I seen a nice one in Balgonie Saskatchewan last weekend, a 1972 Lemans Sport with the Orange 350 small block.

Keith Tedford · Addicted!

There's a certain red with black vinyl top Lemans Sport on this site and it is considerably quicker than our L78 Chevelle. Ask me how I know. ;) It's not your average '72.

-- Edited by Keith Tedford on Saturday 17th of September 2011 05:10:43 AM

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Keith Tedford wrote:
There's a certain red with black vinyl top Lemans Sport on this site and it is considerably quicker than our L78 Chevelle. Ask me how I know. ;) It's not your average '72.

And WE still have it Car was for sale Now its a keeper wink

CdnGMfan · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

It's funny how in Canada we could get 1972 Lemans with either the orange Chevy 350 or the blue Pontiac 350, depending where the car was assembled. Many in Canada got the Chevy power, but the convertibles and GTs would have all used the Pontiac engines when a 350 was specified.

The Lemans had a lot more flexibility in the drivetrains than the same year Chevelles. The non-SS Chevelles could get up to a 402 big block (badged as a 400) with you could get any Lemans with a 455 (L75). The 455 H.O. (LS1) was offered in all except wagons & the Luxury Lemans. All floor-shifted manual transmissions used genuine Hurst Shifters from the factory. The 250 six was offered in wagons and convertibles, unlike the Chevelle (Nomad wagon excepted).

Does anyone remember the 1972 Canadian Lemans TV advertisement? Olympic skier Nancy Greene was with a Lemans in front of the Ontario Science Center. She ended the ad with "You can't have this one. It's mine."; I'm guessing she owned one and GM Canada incorporated that fact into the ad.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Avtually was riding my bike past the science centre when they were shooting that commercial. After every shot people would cover up the cars.

For me I can't help thinking how differently the 73 body style would have been viewed had it been released as planned as the 72 with all those engine choices, except for UAW strike which caused the 72 to be a carry over from 71. The car would not have had to have the Federal crash bumpers and would have had a more attractive front end intergrated bumper as per the design drawings I have posted numerous times.

I still wonder if people would have said the muscle car ended in 71 instead of 72 since the Colonade style with big bumpers was not popular and still is not today.

The 72's were made in St. Therese and the 73's reverted back to Oshawa. St Therese did not make the convertibles and GTO & GTs and nose job cars which explains why the engines were Pontiac. The fact remains and is still true today, St. Catharines produced a high quality engine and it was more cost effective and created jobs in Canada to use the veneralble small block in large volumes in Canadian produced Pontiacs. Pontiac engines were used in low Canadian sales volume specialty type cars that although they appeal to us today had little market in Canada. In fact GTO's were only ever made in Oshawa in two years, 1970 and 1973 and we know that in 73 only 231 were made here so really what economic case can be made for that and the Pontiac engines it used.

-- Edited by 73SC on Saturday 17th of September 2011 01:13:48 PM

pontorquer · Poncho Master!

My 1972 Luxury Lemans Sport Coupe 400 (L78 American Pontiac blue block)was built in Oshawa late 1971

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Since 1971 and 1972 are for all purpose identical a late 1971 build date would be feasible for Oshawa. The vast majority of cars would have had the 350 Chevrolet engine as a V8 option. Have you had your paperwork done by GM Historical ?

pontorquer · Poncho Master!

Yes, I got the paperwork and It was built in Oshawa.

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Yes but , how many with 400?

pontorquer · Poncho Master!

1 of 33 1972 Pontiac Luxury Lemans Sport 400 built in Oshawa but what about the other Lemans models probably more ?

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

Yes, but not that many. Proves my point about low sales volume demand. Not sure how may folks buying a T37 or LeMans would specify a 400 but I can speculate that it was few and far between. Wouldn't surprise me if total was 100 or less for 1972.

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

1972 Luxury Lemans was a nice turn on the basic Lemans platform. There was one for sale in BC a couple of years ago that was a 400.

455Lemans · Veteran Member

Runs 13.90's with open tubes and street tires. Takes a little finesse off the line with the 4 gear, but once you get it right she goes good! 2K RPM launch seems to work the best. I get between 5 and 55 out of it before it's all in. Poncho motors don't rev high, but they'll pull your house off it's foundation! No more drag racing for the LeMans, though. I'm afraid I'm going to break something! Just run to see what she could do. Love the "A" body cars. Smooth ride, comfortable seats and go like hell! Lots of room to take the family out too.
You did a good job on this car, Keith! Love to see the COPO when it's done.