My "New" 1971 LeMans

[Jeremy]

My wife and I picked up a 1971 LeMans last week. It is a sport with a 455 and a TH400.  While not a TA, I figured we all like to see vintage Pontiacs.

Here's a couple of quick pics from the local cruise in with my TA.

It doesn't need much. It is a factory AC car that had a block off plate installed but the original owner kept the pieces so it is all there. The interior is all new. The underside is crazy clean.

It has been repainted once and the paint isn't perfect but still turns heads. It was perfect for us in that we wanted to drive it and not worry about typical road rash. I do like that it has room for my son if he wants to ride with us as he doesn't fit in the back of the TA. I like that it has more ground clearance as I don't have to pay any attention to driveway cutouts in the LeMans. It has a huge trunk and we carry two lawn chairs and a folding table in the back and can picnic wherever we want to.

[Steve B]

We all would like to see it.  Where are the pics?

[Jeremy]

Sorry about that.  Pics would make the post more interesting.

[79GoldnTan]

That is sweet! I can see them fine. My first car was a 72, white, no vinyl top and only a 350, but what a blast.

[Jeremy]

This one's pretty stout.  455 with hydraulic roller cam.  TH400 with a converter and shift kit.  68 console with dual gate (so much fun as it works like it should and it hits each gear right now).  3.55 rear gears with hopefully a gear vendors down the road.

Its the wife's car.  I got it off the trailer at midnight and she had me out cruising until 1 am on a work night.

She picked out early LeMans eyebrow stripes for it which hopefully will be here this week.

The only things I've had to do are de 1/4 mile it.  It had air bags in the coil springs and I let all the air out of them.  I removed the electric exhaust cut outs.  They seemed noisy even when closed and did nothing I could feel on the street.  Headers will probably go as I don't think they leak as I've checked everything but they are noticeably more quiet after 20 minutes of driving.

I have to replace a couple headlights and it should pass inspection and get off the temp tag.

I'll try to get some more detailed pics this weekend.

[Jack]

Congrats that's a beautiful car.

[kentucky yeti]

It is absolutely awesome!  I'm jealous!

[Steve B]

Beautiful!  Love it!

[5th T/A]

Nice find on the LeMans, the pictures are pretty distant, but it looks to very clean. Is this a survivor or has it been restored. I like seeing something just a little different.

[hakitup]

Very nice congratulations

Tom H

[rkellerjr]

Congrats, nice car!

[scarebird]

Very nice. 

You had mentioned on PY that you are looking at putting the Judge" eyebrow stripes.  I would photoshop them on first - it is my opinion that this would clash with the other elements on your car, ie. the vinyl roof and fender gills.

[roadking77]

Very nice  Great family car in 1971 and even better for 2022!

[firebirdparts]

nice!  It looks huge beside that T/A.

[Jeremy]

Thanks for the compliments.  The odometer reads 51,000 and the person I bought it from thought they were original.  I'll take better pics this weekend.  It is super clean inside and underneath.  It was originally the gold with slight green tint so it has been repainted.  Paint is the worst element on the car and perfectly fine for a driver.

I really wanted the spear stripe but my wife found a pic of a white 70 judge with black vinyl top and loved the stripes on it.  I had laid out the spear stripe with dark masking tape and loved it but she said no.  Since the eyebrow stripes were an option on the early 71 LeMans I didn't argue with her.  I kinda like it that she has such an opinion.  If she doesn't like it, I'll gladly eat the cost of stripes and remove them for her to have such a shared interest.

I'm real pleased with the LeMans.  Who doesn't like a GTO, but after looking at Buick GS's and Olds 442's, I really like the shorter front end of the Lemans.   I think 71 is the prettiest of the 70-72 LeMans front ends.  No desire to change it to a GTO front.

It is bigger than the TA but I did have to order seat track extensions for the LeMans and I fit fine in the TA.

[tajoe]

I've been a Goat freak my whole life, and never was a fan of the ones over 1970. I did drive a 72 for 10 yrs, but I couldn't pass it up, 4 speed, 3.55s, all original, (250HP 400) Point is, I always prefered the lemans nose after 1970, over the enderas of the Goats. You did real good with the 455, and wonder what heads are on it? Do you think it's the original eng., ordered for that car? Of course you're gunna get it PHS documented, if it's not already.
And did you mention a "Gear Vendors" tranny in the future? I'm assuming you're talkin stick shift. That will make it extra fun. (Can your wife drive a stick?)
Anyway, it'll be cool to get the head codes off, to see what they are. Good luck with the car.

[Jeremy]

Small world.  I bought a built rear end from a gentleman just outside of Chicago in March for my son's camaro.  We've stayed in contact and come to find out, he built the motor in the car that I bought.  I have all the info on the motor or can get it.  It has a Howards Hydraulic Roller cam, 6x-8 heads, street dominator intake, super solid parts in the bottom end.

Going to put the gear vendors on the back of the Turbo 400.  It is such a good running trans I see no reason to switch it.  One of the primary reasons we got this car was the auto as the wife will not drive a stick anymore.

I'd be surprised if the motor was original to the car but I'm sure I'll decode the numbers this winter when I won't drive it as much.

Put the front chin spoiler on tonight.  Fun, easy little project and adds a little something to the front.

[Jeremy]

Here's some pics of the eye brow stripes.

[kentucky yeti]

Nice!

[gm muscle]

Great find....I want one now!

[roadking77]

Looks Great!

[Jack]

Simple change that makes a big difference.

[Mac]

Wow nice car, congratulations, one of my favorites. I can remember when is was looking for my first car, 1980 I came across (I think) a 73 LeMans, had my dad check it out and he immediately discovered the 400 had internal issues. He wouldn’t let me buy it, his word was like gospel when it came to cars. He was an Amazing mechanic.