We don't often get to feature those Pontiac models that were well known both in Canada and in the U.S. As most of you know those models built in Canada were often quite different from those built in the U.S. Specifically, many of these Canadian built cars had Chevrolet engines under the hood. John Bernier owns this month's feature car. It's a 1972 Pontiac LeMans that was built in Oshawa. John's LeMans was sold new at Sinclair Pontiac Buick which happens to be the same dealer my dad bought his 1969 Pontiac Strato Chief (the car that inspired me to start Canadian Poncho) and his 1977 Pontiac LeMans Sport Coupe. John's car was built with a Chevrolet 350 but as you will read he decided to spice things up a bit with something a little larger. Here's the details:

I had grown up with an Uncle who talked muscle cars from his childhood and in particular a 1970 GTO that he once owned, this was the start of my obsession with old Pontiacs.  It was in the middle of the summer in 2007 that I acquired my first old car, an Oshawa built 1972 Pontiac Lemans that I purchased from CP member - Darren (64 sport wagon)   

After getting the car home, I quickly realized I had a lot of work ahead of me so I cut all the body mounts and lifted the body in the garage and got started learning.  After lots of cutting, welding, grinding and about 5 years worth of work the car finally hit the body shop late July 2012.  I decided  that I'd paint the bumpers body colour as I didn't have the funds to rechrome the front one and changed the shade of green from OEM to what is called POLO GREEN.  

My original plan was to build a decent looking car that I could enjoy and still appear "stock"  I had seen a photo of a Lemans with the D98 option side stripe and I decided I wanted to add it as well. The body shop returned the car to me in August and I was stunned at how it turned out, way beyond my expectations.

 I first built the car with a 350 sbc and a 700r4, it appeared stock for a Canadian Built car and I drove a couple summers like that, when the trans went I installed a built 350 turbo from  a very good friend/family member Carl!! He also convinced me that a Big Block would be a nice upgrade and it would be a car that GM never built but really should have.  We sourced out a 454 to install and cleaned it up to make it appear "1972"

 With the added torque, I added an original 8.2 BOP rear-end with factory 3:36 posi from a 68 GTO and it has been driven like that since.

 The interior on the car is nearly all original with the exception of the seat covers/foam that I had lots of help replacing (Carl did the work, I "helped").  I want to thank Todd for featuring my car and putting together a great website for people to chat, share and encourage others on their builds.

Safe travels everyone!!!

Thanks,

John