Even though the LeMans actually debuted as a compact in 1962, it wasn't until Pontiac went back to the drawing board two years later and created a bigger and more aggressive car that it captured the fancy of performance enthusiasts. This "second generation" is still what enthusiasts are most likely to associate with the heralded name, and this 1964 Pontiac LeMans is one seriously impressive bit of evidence that, just as they proclaimed, Pontiac really DID "build excitement" over the decades.
The satin exterior turns heads right away. As we know, the black shade itself is a "high-risk, high-reward" proposition - sort of the visual equivalent of performing a high wire act without a net, as it can look great but will tend to amplify any noticeable flaws pretty readily if there are any. Luckily, this Pontiac falls squarely into the former category. Benefitting from what was obviously a lot of meticulous prep work, it has a great look here, propelling this vintage muscle car into the present day in stylish fashion while allowing it to retain every bit of its '60s era identity. Against this background, the clean, straight chrome bumpers, trim and badging really pop all the more, adding to its aura of vitality, while the aggressive elevation on the hood hints at the power that sits underneath. The alignment of the body panels is very much on point, and you'll notice the uninterrupted contours that run from fender to door to quarter panel and nice even gaps throughout.
Inside, you'll find a very fresh looking black vinyl interior - a very faithful recreation of the original GTO interior package offered when this Pontiac first saw the light of day, complete with a great tuck and roll effect on the seats and door panels. From the exceedingly comfortable, extra wide buckets up front to the bench seat in back, to the fresh, black carpeting underneath, there's virtually no evidence of any wear at all a nice by-product of having only logged a little over 200 miles since its frame-off restoration. Direct your attention to the dash area, as it's one truly impressive feature with its expanse of black steel and chrome, topped by a very fresh-looking dash pad. A full array of Dolphin gauges sits in place of the original cluster - a well-chosen upgrade, as the gauges look very much in place in this "deluxe" stock environment. In the neatly lined trunk area, an aluminum fuel cell sits securely in place of the original "drop in" gas tank, offering markedly more safety in the event of a mishap than its predecessor could.
There's a lot of power under that aggressive-looking hood, with a 350-cubic inch V8 as its foundation. Upgraded with a set of Sportsman II heads, it churns out an impressive 425 horsepower and is in fine form, starting right up, idling smoothly and giving off a great, resonant exhaust note through a set of Turbo mufflers. The powerplant is paired with a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission that's been equipped with a 3000 RPM stall converter and, combined with the 3.90 posi rear end in back, there's no questioning the off-the-line capabilities this Pontiac has. An upgraded suspension in both front and back not only transfers all that power to the asphalt ably, but provides surprisingly good cornering ability and a nice ride in the process.
Looking for a vintage muscle car with looks to turn heads and power to spare? You have to check out this 1964 Pontiac LeMans. Call today!