If it can persuade someone online to give it another opportunity, a 1976 Pontiac Grand LeMans that just won’t quit is prepared to hit the road once more. The vehicle has largely survived everything, having been saved once before losing its engine and ending up in a barn with a blown V8 under the hood.
Although the Grand LeMans wasn’t Pontiac’s star, it nonetheless managed to amass a devoted following in the country. For what Pontiac considered to be a more contemporary appearance, the 1976 model year had a modest makeover with rectangular headlights and restyled grilles.
Along with the new engine range, the Grand LeMans now included a 250 straight-six as standard equipment. It wasn’t the best option for someone who was very concerned with performance, but it was 1976, so providing affordable options was necessary.
However, Pontiac also offered more potent substitutes, such as the 260 Oldsmobile borrowed as well as its own 350 and 400 V8 engines. The 455 four-barrel, which had previously said goodbye to the Grand LeMans lineup, was the cherry on top in 1976.
The Grand LeMans lost its engine twice and is now ready for another transplant if it can find a true hero who can save it.
First, the Grand LeMans somehow ended up using a 455 Oldsmobile unit under the hood ( does not reveal what happened with the original engine) when the current owner’s friend purchased it in 1990. They somehow managed to blow up the engine in 1996, so the car was abandoned in a barn with no powerplant under the hood. The vehicle was pulled from storage two years ago when the current owner decided to take it home, so it’s now selling with a 350 V8 unit from a Grand Prix.
The purchaser must put everything together to get the Grand LeMans going because the engine is not installed and is simply sitting in the vehicle.
This Pontiac’s mechanical condition isn’t the only thing to be concerned about because it also has normal rust issues, like surface corrosion, which you should probably fix before using it as your daily driver. Given the lost engine and likely other elements that are no longer original or in the car, it is the only alternative since restoring the Grand LeMans to factory specs is nearly impossible.
It makes for a solid project saved from a barn, so if you don’t want to spend a small fortune on a classic Pontiac to use for occasional drives, this Grand LeMans could be worth a chance.