GTO Clone Candidate? 1966 Pontiac LeMans Convertible
The seller of this 1966 LeMans goes on and on about the possibilities of his convertible being reincarnated as a GTO clone, and he’s even got some goat parts included in the sale, but with nearly six decades of age under my belt now I’ve also come to appreciate the concept of keeping things as close to stock as possible. That wasn’t always the case, as one of my own cloning efforts from years ago included turning a standard Nova into a Super Sport, and I don’t think anybody ever noticed the difference, but ultimately it’s all a personal preference and will be up to the next owner to decide the fate of this ’66 Pontiac LeMans Convertible here on eBay. The car is in Smithtown, New York, with bidding already up to $10,700 and the reserve not yet reached.
I get that even a cloned GTO is a beautiful sight to behold, and I’m not implying that going this route isn’t a viable option. But the seller states his LeMans is in need of an owner who wants a project to fix up and turn into a cherry GTO, but let’s at least consider the two other possibilities as well.
The body is showing some rust in the quarters and rockers, but from what I can tell it’s fairly minimal and the car is pretty much complete on the outside, with the panels appearing reasonably straight overall. One could simply replace the top canvas and just enjoy driving the Pontiac like it is for a few seasons, definitely the easiest choice, and in all honestly I’m kind of enjoying the driver status the car is in now. Another option is to go ahead and begin the metal work sooner rather than later and get the car ready for a nice new paint job, but keep it a LeMans and lose the GTO conversion idea.
Although the car is stated to be very mechanically sound, the motor under the hood is not original but is a Pontiac 350 that’s said to start right up in spite of having over 100k miles, even though no photo of the engine compartment is provided. There’s a replacement manifold with a 4-barrel on top, but the removed components are still in the trunk which is really good as we get to take a peek under the lid, which seems to have a solid pan even though the frame underneath had some rust in the past. No worries here, as the seller assures us the platform has been re-welded and is now in perfect shape.
I feel like the owner may be selling the interior a bit short, as all he mentions is it’s original and needs to be replaced. Granted, things are a long way from optimal condition in there, but to be 57 years old plus especially considering the car’s a droptop, I’m not complaining. So I’ve got to ask our readers, which route would take here? Drive and enjoy, fix the rust and keep it a LeMans, or go all-out and transform the Pontiac into a GTO? Is there maybe a fourth option I missed?
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Comments
IMHO, sell the GTO parts and invest that in the further restoration of the car. The old car world doesn’t need another pretender GTO any more than we need another pretender BB Camaro, Mach 1, or Road Runner.
Yes it’s their money to spend however they like but for cryin’ out loud-why another GTO of any kind? Original is what most folks want from a barn/garage/warehouse/sitting-in-a-field quietly moldering away find, a lost treasure brought into the light. This car appears to be much more completed than many we’ve seen-fix it, drive and enjoy it for what it was built to be.
Here is why. I haven’t seen a ’66 GTO ragtop on the road, in 25 years. And I would notice, my brother had one when I was a kid, got extra wrides for cleaning the parchment colored seats. Besides, haven’t you ever heard, it is what it is, which is to also say its not what it used to be. One must for the conversion though: Has to be a 389 engine. Oh well, another must, has to be those awesome louvered tail lights.
I’d much rather tell people that I have a real LeMans convertible than a fake GTO, Just like I tell people that I have a real Karmann Ghia and not a fake Porsche and a real base model Javelin and not a fake AMX. would I like any of the real ones? certainly but as of now I don’t.
I’m in total agreement. I also think a nice LeMans will gather more attention at your average cruise in. My six cylinder Ranchero usually gets as much attention as a big block. It’s a hobby and people can do whatever ever they want. Just felt like chiming in.
I totally agree with everyone else. Keep it a Lemans. 66 GTO tailights are amongst my favorites but other than that, LeMans are just as nice. And probably rarer nowadays too.
It sounds like we’re all unanimous in the case of goat vs LeMans, or fake vs real, whichever you prefer.. I mean, why would you want to take a beautiful car like this and try to pretend it’s something else? I’d be ticked pink to shine this beauty up and put that top down for a cruise! I’m sure you’d get more respect at a cars n coffee if you pulled it up beside, say, an actual GTO… Jes sayin! Sweet ride, as is, no choppin’, and let the white smoke roll!
I would rather have a stock LeMans with a 6 cylinder engine than I would a clone (fake) GTO. To me, it’s like adding brush strokes to a work of art thinking it makes it more valuable.
“..it’s like adding brush strokes to a work of art..”..excellent analogy.
I’m in agreement with the crowd here. A GTO is an amazing car, but isn’t a nice LeMans drop-top pretty fantastic too?
I will go one further, yes leave it a Lemans. I have a Tempest Safari wagon and if one more clown tells me I should put the GTO crap on it. I think I will go like the Three Stooges went when you say Niagara Falls. I cannot recall the last time I saw a Lemans. There was even a freakin’ four door with GTO stuff on it at a gathering back in the summer..UGH!
I’ve a ’64 Tempest Safari & I’ve seen clone GTO wagons same year, looks stupid to me. I’ve a ’63 Bonneville Safari I want to finish restoring one day soon, sell the Tempest to someone who will restore it & NOT screw with its original 326 2 spd in excellent mechanical order.
I can’t understand why the hype over big block motors,these cars are to be enjoyed as is and they are not for dragging anymore like the old days. so why even spend that amount of money changing engines just so you can say that it is fast.in my book originality is best and I would not mess with it. if you are going to spend money spend it right and keep it original.
i am with you i have a real 66 gto but if i was not lucky enough to find one i would have got a lemans and left it one and the wagon thing is nuts to me and they want all outdoors for them because of a hood and maybe grills i have people tell me mine is not a gto because it is not a 4speed doesn’t have TriPower whatever i had one the other day insist my car was a 67 he even walked away saying to himself but i could here i cant believe someone is so stupid they don’t know what year there own car is imagine people
There’s one thing most people overlook when it comes down to owning a true numbers matching muscle car vs an entry level model and that is insurance premiums. Although insurance companies now ask if there has been any modifications done to it you don’t have to be or pretend to be an expert and shoot yourself in the foot. You don’t know. Save yourself some money.
Wouldn’t the engine have been a 328 or 389? Our 67 LM had the 328 that was replaced when it wore out with a 400 Ma’s mechanic had sitting in his garage. I didn’t think that Pontiac offered a 350 which sounds more like an SBC.
Pontiac had a 326. Pontiac offered a 350 starting in 1968. The 350 was far more common so is often seen as a replacement engine.
Thank you for that Charlie H. and 3Deuces. I thought I had a number wrong…326 not 8. Didn’t Pontiac also offer a 400 in 66 and 67? Maybe in the GTO?
@Eric_13cars The 400 came out in 1967. 1966 was the 389. So the change to 350 vs 326 came 1 year later.
Eric, FYI the 400 was introduced for 1967 in the GTO and full-size Pontiacs.
The factory-offered V8 choices for the ’66 LeMans & Tempest are the 326 2-bbl (250 HP) and the 326 H.O. 4-bbl (285 HP). Pontiac’s 350 wasn’t introduced until 1968.
Ponyiac never made a 328. They were 326s.
One more for leave it a Lemans. I had a 67 Lemans with the 326 auto trans. Gold with a black vinyl top and black bucket seat with a consul interior. I would love to drive that into a car show and be the only Lemans amongst all the GTO’s real or clone. My1970 AMC AMX was my dads car, he took very good care of it. It is getting to the point where it’s going to need restoring but I really don’t want to do it. It’s the way it was when he gave it to me.
The 1966 LeMans and Tempest could also have the OHC-6 2-bbl engine or the OHC-6 cylinder Sprint 4-bbl engine!
Nice Lemans!
Get it road worthy and then drive it. Fix as you go.
There were a couple of these in my neighborhood when I was a kid. Jacked up in the back with big tires and headers and who knows what else. Lemans, not gto’s.
Loved seeing them.
I’d be more worried about the rust from N.Y. At least one of the rocker moldings has visible screws holding it on (meaning the original hidden clips are wasted). And if the frame had to be welded……..??
I suspect the GTO clone idea was the current owner’s dream and he hopes the next owner will fulfill the dream that he couldn’t for whatever reason.
Personally I think I’d enjoy it as a rolling project, starting with addressing the rust issues. Then a new top. Then maybe some mechanical updates such as brakes and maybe even fuel injection or a 4-speed conversion.
Overall, to each their own. GTO clone, or keep it all LeMans, or even add the Goat parts but keep it badged as a LeMans. There is no right or wrong choice. Good luck to the current and future owners. Looks like fun.
I would address a few things and maybe upgrade a few more and Drive It!