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1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
1976 History and Identification
Styling features of the Grand LeMans Sedan included asplit, segmented grille; dual rectangular headlamps; newwraparound taillights, and a formal six-window roof treatment. Interior appointments were highlighted hy paddedupper door panels; simulated rosewood dash accents; acockpit-style instrument panel; Custom cushioned steering wheel; column-mounted headlight dimmer switch, andelectric clock. It was designated Style Number G29 andprices began at $5,120. A total of 8,411 copies of this 3,976pound Pontiac intermediate were built. Fender skirts,wheel covers, and wide lower body beauty panels wereother identifying features of the line.
Peaking in popularity at the 14,757 volume level was theStyle Number G37 Grand LeMans Coupe, which could bepurchased for as little as $5,017. It had a formal rearquarter window roofline and was available with a newtype of landau top. The seating arrangement choices werea full-width notchback bench or contoured bucket seats.This 3,863 pound car came standard with a 250 cubic inchSix. The engine had anew two-stage choke system forsmoother cold idles. Five V-8 options were marketed, including the small 260 cubic inch V.8. This motor was actually built by Oldsmobile Division and was good for 110SAE net horsepower. Only 17.8 percent of all LeMansmodels were equipped with bucket seats.
Available with wood-grained side trim and Rally II wheelswas the stylish Grand LeMans Safari. It was a plush station Wagon with features, on the standard equipment list,like cut-pile carpeting and extra acoustical insulation.Designated by Style Number G35, this 4,505 pound haulercould be bought for as little as $5,479. That included the400 cubic inch V-8; Turbo-Hydra-Matic transmission;power steering, and power front disc brakes. Interestinglyenough, PMD records do not give a production total forthis car. However, Crestline Publishing has discoveredthat 6,094 examples were built.
Although it slipped in favour with buyers this year, theLeMans-Sport two-door Hardtop Sport Coupe was one ofthe more attractive offerings from PMD. It had a definiteEuropean flavour, especially when ordered with its exclusive louvered rear quarter window treatment, asdepicted here. The Six was the standard motor, but collectors, of course, would be looking for something a bit moreexotic. How about the 400 cubic inch V-8 attached to afive-speed manual gearbox? And the four-barrel Pontiac'455' engine option was available, too. In either case, all-Morrokide bucket seats were the normal interior accommodation. This was the nearest thing to a GTO or GrandAM in 1976 and the 3,959 pound gem could be bought foras little as $4,865. Officially designated Style NumberF37, a production run of 15,582 units was realized.
The Style Number D35 LeMans Safari was not a verypopular Pontiac. Only 8,056 copies were made. This wagonwas base-priced at $5,238 with a curb weight of 4,452pounds. Hefty cargo loads could be accommodated in 85.1cubic-feet of usable space accessible via the easy-lifttailgate. Wagons with a third seat were rated at eight-passenger carrying capacity and, instead of one-piece rearside glass, came with rear ventipanes. This provided freshair at the back, since the gate window could not be loweredto serve this purpose.
Included on the options and accessories list for the StyleF37 LeMans-Sport Coupe were goodies like a sliding sunroof, a vinyl top, and Rally II wheels. As far as the poweroptions, the 400 cubic inch four-barrel setup cost $258 extra and the big 455 cubic incher, with the same type of induction, added $321 to the price. Outputs were rated 185and 200 horsepower, respectively.
Style Number D29 was the base LeMans Sedan. Pricesstarted at $4,762 for this 3,876 pound car. It proved fairlypopular and found 22,199 buyers. Comfortable full-widthseats were found inside and were trimmed with a cloth-and-Morrokide combination. A richer Custom interior wasalso available at extra-cost. With either upholstery choicecame simulated rosewood dash accents; nylon-blend cut-pile carpeting, and a DeLuxe steering wheel. The standardpower train was the 250 cubic inch Six hooked-up to athree-on-the-tree manual gearbox. Only 8.5 percent of allLeMans intermediates got the Six and 99.8 percent wereautomatics.
Like all LeMans Coupes. the base edition-Style D37-was on a 112-inch wheelbase with 208 inches between thebumpers (four-door models were on the 1l6-inch wheelbase. with 212-inch lengths for Sedans and 215.4 forSafari). The base Coupe had the same grille and horizontaltaillamp treatment as the LeMans-Sport, but came onlywith glass rear quarter windows and with textured cloth.and.Morrokide bench seats standard. Differences fromGrand LeMans were in the grille design, the lack of fenderskirts and wide rocker panel accents and the general levelof appointments. This car was base-priced $4,717. It had a3,767 pound curb weight and 21,130 examples were built.The five-speed manual transmission was not available onthe base LeMans Coupe.
Go to History and Model I.D. of
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977
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Get your own Free Home PageAll of the above descriptions and pictures are taken from "75 Years of Pontiac-Oakland" written by John "GUNNER" Gunnell. Edited and designed by George H. Dammann. Published by Crestline Publishing.