Colonnade Survivor: 1976 Pontiac LeMans
Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick launched “senior” compacts in 1961 to join Chevrolet (Corvair, and later Nova) in the shift to smaller cars. Tempest was the torchbearer for Pontiac, with the LeMans soon joining as an upscale option (the former name would give way to the LeMans moniker after 1970). This 1976 edition looks like a survivor, wearing original paint and a numbers-matching drivetrain. It’s not perfect but has just 55,000 miles on the odometer.
The fourth-generation LeMans arrived in showrooms for 1973 using the new “Colonnade” styling adopted by all GM intermediates. That meant true hardtops were gone as part of a safety movement, though the glass in the doors was still frameless. The approach would be popular at first and then came along the OPEC oil embargo and higher fuel prices. LeMans sales dropped by half to 65,000 units between 1974 and 1976, with 2-door coupes like this one being about half of the demand.
This Pontiac has managed to escape the rust bug except in one place, around the vinyl top on the passenger side. The chrome trim is missing, the vinyl is loose, and rust has been invited inside. To repair this properly, you’ll likely have to replace the entire vinyl covering, sand down the rear quarter panel, and do a partial repaint. Which is a shame because the rest of the exterior has held up quite well. The interior is mostly original, though the front bench seat has been recovered and the headrests jettisoned.
Under the hood resides a 350 cubic inch V8 (Pontiac, not Oldsmobile) paired with an automatic transmission (TH-350?). We’re told the car starts and runs exceptionally well (it stops good, too!). If you’re looking for a “Poncho” of this vintage, this one could be a nice find. And since there is no reserve and no bids so far, it might be purchased here on eBay for as little as $4,500. The location is Patchogue, New York.
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Comments
not sure why i like this but i do
I am sure why I don’t.
A blank slate!
I bought one of these in 1984, paid 100 dollars for it. The motor had a thud that I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from until I pulled a head off it. A piston was hitting the head the rod bearing and crank journal was gone. I bought a crank kit from Cramers with one rod and piston and rebuilt the 260 Olds motor. I was thinking that it would get better gas mileage over a 350 or 400. I was wrong, that pig was a slug. Too many bad memories with that car. It might be the reason I really don’t remember much of 1984
My uncle owned a brand new ’76 LeMans. A nice looking car, that was rotted out in about 4 years of northeast Ohio winters. If you look a little closer, this ones on the verge.
A set of Rally IIs or snowflakes would really liven this one up. Somehow, Pontiac managed to offer some of the best-looking wheels and some of the homeliest wheel covers at the same time.
Not too bad but kind of a low content car. At least it has a/c.
Bought a 75 Lemans in 1979, while in high school, joined Marines after graduation, after Parris Island, took the car across country, then came back with it to Parris Island 2 years later. Kept the Pontiac until 1989, regular maintenance was done on it, car had over 260,000 miles on it. To this day, I wish I had never traded it off and still can’t find on similar to it
Amazing how different the General could make the same car with some options and trim level. This is the same car as a Grand Prix but with a different roofline. Yet the LeMans looks like it should be a taxi or otherwise a fleet rental special while the Gp looks pretty rich and upscale. Chevelle’s and Monte Carlo’s were the same thing. If I we’re spending time and money it’d be on the better looking and finished Grand Prix.
A real Pontiac 350! So many of these had the Corporate (Chevy) engine. No way I could leave this stock if I purchased it!
roof metal shot