1965 Pontiac LeMans Convertible
"Be it a Tempest, Tempest Custom, LeMans, or GTO, the 1965 Pontiac A-body is considered a styling triumph among fans of the marque. Its new front end with stacked headlamps was contemporary, as was the revised rear with a wraparound tail lamp treatment and the one year old brawny body design. For 1965, the LeMans was offered on the two door post coupe, hardtop, and convertible as it had been in 1964. New to the lineup, however, was the LeMans four door sedan." Thx Hemmings.com, March 2024
For consignment, a 1965 Pontiac LeMans convertible showing 500 miles which are not actual. One look at this '65 reveals why it was fashionable then and is coveted by collectors today. With its red rimmed Hurst wheels, LED headlights, and that forever cool rear treatment, this one stands out from the crowd enough to brag about individuality.
Exterior
The stacked headlamps and recessed split grille concept that made the 1965 full size Pontiacs so admired was expertly integrated into the LeMans and GTO. An upscale horizontal ribbed above bumper tail light treatment, and the integrated in body rear bumper frames this car very nicely. Long flat side panels are era typical, but the hood scoop, splitter exhaust tips, and GTO emblems demonstrate the sporty nature of the car, a tribute to its high performance brethren. Dark Red Metallic is the color of choice here and it's a good one, nicely offset by black features and chrome trimmings and accentuated by the added red rim of the 15-inch Hurst wheels in front and 17-inch Hurst wheels in back with staggered size tires that give the car a slight lift and the hint of a raked stance. The black canvas roof is newer and in great shape, just as the rest of the exterior. The only imperfections we find are some touched up scratches.
Interior
With black vinyl door panels that have some concentric descending square stitched panels, shiny cranks and actuators we are met with the first indication of a clean interior. Doing so reveals very nice black vinyl buckets in front and an equally as fine rear bench. These chairs all have diagonal ribs in the inserts and smooth bolsters and an embossed Pontiac arrowhead in the upper backs of all the chairs. A textured vinyl appliqu© center console/glove box runs toward the front and sports a chromed Hurst shifter which has a black ball topper in a his/hers configuration in the base. Floating directly above this console is the original shiny chromed horizontal ribbed design on the lower panel and a black painted base for the gauge cluster where we also find the AM/FM radio. The dash pad is covered with an adhesive vinyl applique that is wrinkled in each corner and looking just a bit out of place, but the black loop carpet below looks right at home. The trunk is dressed up in Pontiac and GTO emblemed panels.
Drivetrain
Under the hood, a clean and polished 400ci V8 from 1974 awaits. It's wearing an Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor over an Offenhauser intake and backed by a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission which sends power to the 10 bolt rear axle in which our consignor say Positraction resides. Power brakes are configured as front disc and rear drum and headers begin the exhaust process. Along with the chrome goodies on the motor, we also like the use of red ignition wires and a red air filter element.
Undercarriage
Polished splitter tips and a chrome differential cover highlight a clean environment where the dual exhaust runs under a background of uniform black coverage, and encounter glasspack style mufflers before finding those tips. There is some residual oil on the pan and a drop or two of red transmission fluid on its pan as well, but the knuckles, driveshaft, and suspension parts are clean and free of debris. That suspension consists of coil springs in front and a 4 link with coil springs in the rear.
Drive-Ability
We backed this one out of the garage and that's when I noticed the reverse lights are not working. But the engine sure is and bellows its way outside with some healthy exhaust tones. The car exhibits plenty of power and great tracking from these wheels and suspension, sitting just a bit higher than your average LeMans and offering a nice handle with the grippy steering wheel. The electric top is not operating, but all other functions, unless noted otherwise, work as expected. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
The Tempest LeMans as a GTO tribute is probably more common than a LeMans in base attire, and since the two models share so much, there's no harm in adding a bit of visual muscle to an outstanding design, especially when the subject of your tribute is, after all, the grandfather of all muscle cars. Here's a well sorted and attractive Pontiac that has some individuality and room for even more personal choices. But your first choice will be when will you drop a dime on this drop top so we can arrange a drop off at your garage? Don't drop the ball on this one.
237675P609786
2-Pontiac
37-Tempest LeMans
67-Convertible
5-1965
P-Pontiac, MI Assy Plant
609786-Sequential Unit Number
TRIM TAG
12B-2nd Week December
ST 65 23767-1965 LeMans Tempest Convertible
BDY PON2824-Sequential Unit Number
TR 217B-Blue Vinyl
PNT C1-Cameo Ivory, Black Top
2W-2 Speed Automatic
G-Console
P-Radio
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.
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