Photo: eBay User: jpf1264
Let's paint the scene for you. You're a Gen-Z petrolhead passing an indistinct storage unit in the quiet neighborhood of Smithtown, New York, when a familiar front fascia hones into view as you drive along. You can't help but do a double take as a set of four iconic headlamps and that unmistakable Pontiac logo you've seen in every racing game that features the brand. You might look at this hunk of steel as you drive past and think to yourself, "Sweet GTO, bruh!" But you'd be wrong, bamboozled, and duped because this isn't a GTO at all.
Instead, this 1966 Pontiac LeMans merely inspired the iconic GTO muscle car with its timeless good looks and classic GM A-body form factor. It was only after the second-generation LeMans hit showrooms in 1964 that General Motors decided it needed a more sporty-oriented performance variant to capture that ever-growing baby boomer market, all collectively getting their driving licenses at the same time back in the early-to-mid 1960s. With the benefit of a 389-cubic-inch (6.4-liter) and either a four-barrel or the classic Tri-Power triple Rochester 2GC carburetor setup, the GTO set the stage for the era of muscle to come.
But none of this applies to this '66 LeMans. Built the same year that the GTO became its own bespoke vehicle line completely independent of the LeMans, the latter of the two did its best to stay cool and hip but didn't feel quite so special as a result. The base model LeMans' new 230-cubic-inch (3.8-liter) overhead-cam, straight-six engine implemented by Pontiac's chief engineer John DeLorean may have had good intentions. But let's be real; it only served to make the GTO look even more desirable by comparison. But at least the upgraded "Sprint" package with a larger four-barrel carburetor and beefier suspension made a base LeMans a little more exuberant to drive.
Whatever the case, whichever engine might have resided under the hood of this LeMans is now long gone. In its place is a 350-cubic inch small block V8 that's not from Chevrolet as you might expect, but rather a Pontiac-specific V8. Furthermore, the factory Fontaine Blue paint was replaced with a more modern variation of Pontiac's Electric Blue at some point in the recent past. Add in all the mechanical TLC put in by the last owner, including adding a stage 1 Q-Jet Carburetor and replacing the intake manifold, as well as some rust correction, and this is the kind of old muscle car that won't break the bank like a GTO would.
Indeed, the current seller is marketing this LeMans as the perfect GTO clone vehicle. An extra GTO-style front hood is even included in the purchase. Would you keep this beauty in its current stage? Or would you rather LARP as a GTO? Let us know in the comments down below.
But none of this applies to this '66 LeMans. Built the same year that the GTO became its own bespoke vehicle line completely independent of the LeMans, the latter of the two did its best to stay cool and hip but didn't feel quite so special as a result. The base model LeMans' new 230-cubic-inch (3.8-liter) overhead-cam, straight-six engine implemented by Pontiac's chief engineer John DeLorean may have had good intentions. But let's be real; it only served to make the GTO look even more desirable by comparison. But at least the upgraded "Sprint" package with a larger four-barrel carburetor and beefier suspension made a base LeMans a little more exuberant to drive.
Whatever the case, whichever engine might have resided under the hood of this LeMans is now long gone. In its place is a 350-cubic inch small block V8 that's not from Chevrolet as you might expect, but rather a Pontiac-specific V8. Furthermore, the factory Fontaine Blue paint was replaced with a more modern variation of Pontiac's Electric Blue at some point in the recent past. Add in all the mechanical TLC put in by the last owner, including adding a stage 1 Q-Jet Carburetor and replacing the intake manifold, as well as some rust correction, and this is the kind of old muscle car that won't break the bank like a GTO would.
Indeed, the current seller is marketing this LeMans as the perfect GTO clone vehicle. An extra GTO-style front hood is even included in the purchase. Would you keep this beauty in its current stage? Or would you rather LARP as a GTO? Let us know in the comments down below.
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