1973 Pontiac LeMans Safari

Cool.... A lot more to the story than what I had thought. So Chevy got the 'OK' to offer a sporty wagon for 1973 (Malibu SS), but Pontiac passed? If they had approved it, it certainly would have been on my list of 'desirable wagons'.

 

I agree, I was offered the car 15 or so years ago for $5500.00 and I passed on it. Not because I didn't think it was worth it, but because I didn't have the $$$ or Space.

 

What do you know about this?:

 

Pontiac grand prix 2+2 . Pontiac and Chevy (Monte Carlo SS aero coupé) made these production vehicles for the NASCAR racing circuit. I believe Chevy made 2000 (?) in 1986 the first production year,that being the minimum to be able to use on the circuit . I don't know the numbers for the Pontiac. Chevy made them up to 1988 with the production numbers much higher in 1987 and 1988. A buddy of mine bought one of the Pontiac 2+2's brand new. Sorry to say the car didn't make it to it's second birthday, my buddy and I totaled it out one day "playing " with it . What a shame was a beautiful and fast car!

 

Speaking of 4 speed Grand Am's, here are some of my Friend's car. He's currently selling it. Very nice car.

 

1986 Grand Prix 2+2, about 1200 or so were made in that year only. Looks cool, but somewhat lacking in the performance department with the 305 of the day. The trunk is a pretty bad design as you can't get anything in it, it would have been better as a hatchback but that wasn't going to happen as the body style was on its way out. They have somewhat of a following but not too much.

That '74 4 speed Grand Am is nice!

 

$13k plus on the Le Mans and reserve still not met?!

 

I see Chip Foose and Johnny Depp, in there

 

"Sold" for $15.5k? Hey maybe it is legit, but the whole auction just seemed a little strange to me. We see nicer and more desirable (in our opinions anyway) wagons struggle to reach five figures and this thing just takes off immediately at $12.5k and eventually gets bid up to the final sales price? At the end of the day it is a '73 LeMans wagon with a paint job (with flaws), a GTO stripe and script on the front grille, and a '68 400. I dunno. Maybe those five bidders just really liked this car.

 

Modern art, which is mostly left to one's imaginitive interpretation, often changes hands for rediculously overinflated prices, also. This is why auctioning is the best way to get good money for little output

 

I actually order a Pontiac 2+2 in 1985, I was expecting it to have the same 305 HO that the Monte SS's had, I also expected it to have the same rear window & trunk of the Monte SS Aerocoupe's I was very wrong on both assumtions!
So when I was called to come to the dealer and pick up my car after waiting over 6 months I refused to buy it and demanded my deposit back. They convinced me to drive it, and I was very disappointed with the standard 305 4bbl's
165hp compared to the HO's 190hp. Also the only available rear gear was a 3.23 unit compared the Monte's 3.73.
I had also optioned for a full sized spare tire, and even my younger skinnier self had issues crawling into the trunk thru the small trunk lid, undoing the spare and attempting to pull it out of the trunk. It was possible, but not really something I wanted to try again. I then went down to the Ford dealer and bought a plain jane 5.0 LX 5-speed mustang off the lot.

 

I like the look of the Grand Prix Aero 2+2 a lot better than the Monte Carlo. you would think they would have used the HO like the Chevy. Jeff - Were both Aeros done together on the assembly line, or were they farmed out to one of the low-volume firms like Automotive Concepts, etc.?

 

Good grief - the 1973 Le Mans wagon supposedly sold for $15.5k.

 

I think they were both factory assembled, but I could be wrong.

And I was impressed by the selling price of the 73 Wagon, it may be near a record for a non Can Am, or 4-speed 73-77 Colonade.

 

Gimmicks are heading pricelesswards