Throughout the 1970s, automakers were tasked with increasingly high fuel economy and emissions standards, and Pontiac navigated those challenges by rolling out what it called the “Maximum Mileage System.” It was a package that included a High Energy Electronic Ignition (HEI), a catalytic converter, steel-belted radial tires, and modified axle ratios for highway efficiency.
One of the cars in the lineup that saw those features was the LeMans Sport Coupe. Recently, during a trip to Desert Valley Auto Parts, I got up close and personal with one. It had already been picked over to a large extent, but it had “good bones.” The fourth-generation LeMans (1973-77) — frequently referred to as the Colonnade — used the General Motors A-body platform and was available in coupe, sedan, and station wagon body styles.
The Canadian brochure for the 1975 LeMans said, “A Pontiac travel plan for drivers. If the sheer fun of driving is your style, prepare to enjoy yourself in a LeMans Sport Coupe.”
Note the subject car’s Formal Window Option (code 351), which was available with or without a vinyl top.
Upon noting a faded insignia on the trunk that said “Edward Oldsmobile” of Phoenix, Arizona, I felt compelled to dig a little deeper. Edward Olds was located at what is now the northwest corner of 7th Street and McDowell. I was able to track down an old postcard that showed what it looked like.
Based on the available information, Edward Oldsmobile was founded in 1971 by Ed Hitchcock with the motto, “Somebody Has to Set the Standards.”
It’s not clear how the LeMans ended up with an Oldsmobile decal, but it could very easily have been sold via the Oldsmobile dealership as a used car. The closest Pontiac dealer, Westward Pontiac, was located about three miles away. It’s safe to say the car spent most or all of its life in the Phoenix area.
The interior was tattered but mostly complete (sans seats!). A thick layer of dust over the instrument cluster kept me from being able to take note of the odometer reading. Features a center console, automatic shifter, air conditioning, woodgrain trim, and Nylon-blend cut-pile carpeting (that verbiage is straight out of the brochure). When was the last time you can remember anyone thinking about what kind of carpet his or her car had?
The standard engine for a LeMans Sport Coupe was a 250ci inline-six, and three V-8s were available up to 400ci in displacement. Chassis features included “Radial Tuned Suspension,” steel-belted radial tires, full-coil suspension, and front and rear stabilizer bars. Manual front disc brakes came as standard equipment.
For the benefit of any fellow data geeks, below is a spec sheet that covers each of the LeMans models.
Even five decades later (and in a salvage yard), the LeMans Sport Coupe stands out among its peers. And there’s much more to learn, so for your next chapter of Colonnade education, I’ll turn the mic (or keyboard) over to my colleague Diego. Stay tuned and watch for his story.
