Historien om Tempest, LeMans og GTO!

Production 1962–1981.

Pontiac LeMans var ett modell navn brukt på kompakt og middels store biler som tilbydes av Pontiac-divisjonen til General Motors 1962-1981. LeMans ble erstattet av en forminsket Pontiac Bonneville fra 1982 årsmodell. I 1988- 1989 ble modellen dette året et merke konstruert for Daewoo Le Mans som ble solgt kort tid før 1993.

1961-1963.

Introdusert som top-of-the-line versjon av den kompakte Pontiac Tempest ved utgangen av 1961 på GMs nye Y-Body plattform, var Tempest LeMans i hovedsak en utstyrs pakke med mer sportslig og mer luksuriøs avskjær enn Tempest, inkludert andre emblemer og bøtte seter. Det året navnet ble kun brukt på en to-dørs coupé. I 1962 fortsatte LeMans på denne veien, å legge en cabriolet til tilbudene og  I4-4bbl 194.5cid forgasser motor en halv 389(cid). Selv om alle fire karosserivarianter-coupé, sedan, kabriolet og stasjonsvogn-var tilgjengelig, det var ingen firedørs-sedan eller stasjonsvogn LeMans. Det var heller ingen stolpeløs hardtop versjon av Pontiac. Året etter, i 1963, var det LeMans navn som fortsatt bare brukes på kupeer og cabrioleter, men navnet ble offisielt laget sin egen modell. Denne skulle vare ett år. Det er disse 1963 bilene både nameplates som hadde høy ytelse 326 CID V8 alternativ (egentlig 336 cid for dette året bare), og spesielt modifiserte versjoner av dem ble Super Duty biler til Racing.

Production 1961–1963 Body style(s) 2-door coupe
2-door convertible Layout FR layout Platform Y-body Engine(s) 194.5 CID I4(half a 389 V8)

1964-1969.

Tempest/LeMans ble oppskalert til den middels store bilen på den nye GM A-plattformen i 1964, og LeMans tilbake til sin rolle Tempesten oppgradert med en ny 215 CID sekssylindrede og et redesignet 326 CID V8 (nå faktisk 326 CID ). Kort tid etter starten av modellåret 1964, ble LeMans tilgjengelig med en ny ytelse pakke utpekt som GTO, eller Gran Turismo Omologato. Den GTO alternativet var priset til like under US $ 300 og inkluderte en større 389 CID V8 fra full-size Pontiac som yter 325 eller 335 hk, en fire-trinns gulv Muncie manuell girkasse med Hurst shifter, heavy-duty suspensjon, red-line Tiger Paw dekk, og GTO nameplates. GTO salget endte på 32.000 for det første året, langt utover første estimatene på 5000 enheter, og utgjorde en stor andel av Tempest / LeMans salg. Suksessen og bildet av GTO hjalp å øke salget av mindre Tempest og LeMans-modeller i de kommende årene, plasserte Pontiac på tredje plass totale salg etter Chevrolet og Ford.

GTO ble egen  modell fra 1966, men beholder den samme grunnleggende Body som Tempest og LeMans-modeller. For 1966 fikk alle Pontiac mellomprodukter swoopier styling med tunnelback rooflines på to dørs hardtop og stolpe-coupeer. Mens GTO fortsatte som en stor muskel-bil, Tempest og LeMans-modeller har fått en ny SOHC 230 kubikk tomme seks-sylindret motor som basis motor. Den nye SOHC I6, brainchild av Pontiac Chief Engineer John De Lorean (som ble Pontiac 'general manager i 1965), var tilgjengelig i en økonomisk en-ports forgasser, 165 hk versjon som var standard på alle Pontiac unntatt GTO. Valgfritt på alle Tempest og LeMans-modeller unntatt stasjonsvogner var en Sprint pakke som inkluderte en 4bbl forgasser versjon av 230 CID OHC sekser som også inkluderte høyere komprimering og hissigere cam, som resulterer i 215 hestekrefter, sammen med en " all-Syncro "gulvmonterte tre-trinns automatisk girkasse med Hurst shifter, fjæring kit, og body stripes. De som foretrakk en V8-motor kunne få enten base to port 326 CID V8 vurdert på 250 hk (den mest populære Tempest / LeMans motor) eller en 285 hk fire-port 326 HO V8 med høyere kompresjon, høy ytelse cam og dobbel eksos.

Den Sprint-optioned Tempest og LeMans-modeller var ikke veldig populært på midten til slutten av 1960-tallet som den mer populære GTO’en med større motor og som var oppstarten på muskel-bil krigene. Kjøpere av vanlige Tempest og LeMans-modeller definitivt foretrukket V8 power, som 326 og senere 350 CID V8s var de mest bestilt motorer. Den Sprint alternativet og SOHC seks-sylindret motor ble avviklet etter 1969 med en vanlig Chevrolet-bygget 250 CID OHV seks-sylindret motor, ble den basis motoren 1970-1976 i de fleste Pontiac’s.

I utgangspunktet omfattet LeMans en stolpe-coupé og cabriolet for 1962 og 1963 som ingen hardtops ble tilbudt i det kompakte Tempest. For 1964, en hardtop coupe ble lagt etterfulgt av en firedørs sedan stolpe i 1965, som ble erstattet av en firedørs coupé i 1966 og en firedørs Safari stasjonsvogn i 1968. Generelt var de fire-dørs og stasjonsvogn modeller differensiert fra hardtop og cabrioleter med konvensjonell benke seter eller hakket-back seats med sammenleggbar armlener i motsetning til Strato bucket seats standard i kupeer og kabrioleter. Andre LeMans oppgraderinger over mindre Tempest inkludert teppebelagte nedre dørpaneler, deluxe ratt, courtesy belysning, og hele hjulkapsler.

Production 1964–1969 Body style(s) 2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
2-door sedan Layout FR layout Platform A-body Engine(s) 326 CID 250 hp V8
215 CID I6
389 CID V8
230 CID 265 hp I6
326 CID 285 hp V8
350 CID V8 Transmission(s) 3-speed manual
2-speed automatic
4-speed manual
3-speed automatic Related Chevrolet Chevelle
Pontiac GTO
Pontiac Tempest
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Buick Special

1970-1972.

For 1970 Pontiac nedgraderte til mellomklasse sub-serien tidligere kjent som Tempest Custom og omfattet to og firedørs sedaner med stolpe, mens den tidligere topp-klasse LeMans serien ble omdøpt til LeMans Sport i de samme tre karosserivarianter, inkludert en fire-dørs hardtop sedan, todørs coupé coupé og cabriolet. I år var større motorer - som tidligere hadde vært for GTOs - gjort tilgjengelig på mindre Tempest / LeMans-modeller, inkludert en 400 CID V8 vurdert på 265 hk med en to-ports forgasser eller en 330 hk alternativ med en fire-ports forgasseren og dobbel eksos. Ved midten av året fikk low-style Tempest, som i utgangspunktet inkluderte bare to-og fire-dørs sedan, fikk en lav pris T-37 hardtop coupé som først ble omtalt som "General Motors 'rimeligste hardtop (slått av en basisc  Chevrolet Chevelle hardtop coupe innført et par uker senere). For å kunne tilby yngre kjøpere en mellomstor musclecar som var billigere enn GTO, Pontiac tilbød T-37 hardtop coupé med en GT-37 utseende-pakke som inkluderte striping, tre-trinns gulv girkasse stivere fjæring . GT-37 var tilgjengelig med noen Tempest / LeMans V8 fra standard 350 to-port til 400 fire-port. Pontiac-bygde OHC sekssylindrede som basis motor for Tempest / LeMans-modeller for 1970 var Chevrolet's 250 kubikk-tommers inline seks-sylindret motor, mens 350 to port ble igjen basis på V8-motorene og de fire port 350 HO ble avviklet.

I 1971 ble Tempest merket helt pensjonert og Pontiac LeMans fremmet navneskilt til fulle, status å identifisere alle sine mellomliggende modeller som fortsatt er inkludert i GTO. På bunnen av linjen var den Pontiac T-37, tidligere kjent som Tempest, og nå utvidet til å omfatte to-og firedørs sedan sammen med det opprinnelige hardtop coupe. GT-37 alternativet var tilgjengelig på begge de to-dørs sedan (pillarformede coupe) eller hardtop coupe. Maskinelt tilbud ble overført fra 1970 og Pontiac's 455 kubikk-tommers V8 (tilbys bare på GTOs i 1970) var nå tilgjengelig som ekstrautstyr på alle Pontiac mid-size i både base fire port med 325 hestekrefter eller 455 HO alternativet med 335 hestekrefter. Alle 1971 motorer, per GM bedriftens policy, ble detuned med lavere komprimering prosenter å kjøre på lavere oktan vanlige bly, lite bly eller blyfri bensin.

1972, alle Pontiac mid-size var nå LeMans modellene og rimelig T-37 ble erstattet av en strippet LeMans pillarformede coupe (stolpe). Den mest ekslusive var Luxury LeMans, tilgjengelig i hardtop sedan og coupé-modeller, med finere interiør enn vanlige LeMans modeller. Den LeMans Sport var tilgjengelig som en todørs coupé eller cabriolet med bøtte seter og litt annerledes interiør fra Luxury LeMans. Den GTO ble endret fra en egen serie tilbake til en alternativ pakke på LeMans og LeMans Sport coupe. Skiftet den forrige GT-37 alternativ pakke for 1972 var den nye "LeMans GT" alternativet, tilgjengelig på LeMans pillarformede og hardtop kupeer med alle V8 fra 350 to-port til 455 HO fire port, og også med samme utseende/egenskaper elementer overført fra GT-37.

I filmatiseringen av den franske Connection, Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle rekvirert en 1971 LeMans sedan fra en medborger. Han brukte den til å jage ett overhead-train i høy hastighet gjennom gatene i New York, i det som er viden betraktet som en av de mest spennende biljaktsfilmer på kino gjennom tidene.

Production 1970–1972 Body style(s) 2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
2-door convertible
2-door sedan Layout FR layout Platform A-body Engine(s) 350 CID V8
400 CID 265 hp V8

1973-1977. (Engelsk fra nå)!

From 1973 to 1977, the LeMans and other GM intermediates were much larger in size than previous models due to evolutionary changes that resulted in larger cars year after year and federally-mandated 5 mph crash bumpers that added weight and length. During this period, Pontiac's intermediate lineup included the base LeMans, LeMans Sport Coupe, GTO (1973 only), Luxury LeMans (became the Grand LeMans in 1975), the Euro-styled Grand Am from 1973 to 1975, and the 1977 Can Am. Body styles were all based on GM's Colonnade hardtop design for both sedans and coupes (no convertibles offered after 1972) that included center pillars for improved rollover safety standards but eliminated true hardtop design, along with frameless windows similar to a hardtop. Two-door coupes featured triangular "fixed" rear side windows that did not open, which were covered with louvers on the LeMans and GTO sport coupes, and the new Grand Am coupe.

The 1973 LeMans, along with all other GM intermediates, was new from the ground up but retained the same wheelbase lengths of 112 inches for two-door coupes, and 116 inches for four-door sedans and station wagons. All models featured the federally-mandated 5 mile-per-hour front bumpers along with single headlights. Handling capabilities were greatly improved on all models due to new front-suspension components shared with the X-body Pontiac Firebird/Chevrolet Camaro, improved rear coil suspension and bias-belted tires (except Grand Ams, which got radial tires). Engine offerings were carried over from 1972 with revisions to meet the 1973 emission requirements. Standard on base LeMans sedans and coupes was Chevrolet's 250 cubic-inch inline six-cylinder engine, while the LeMans Sport Coupe, Luxury LeMans sedans and coupes, and all Safari wagons got Pontiac's 350 cubic-inch V8 with two-barrel carburetor rated at 150 horsepower standard (optional on base LeMans models). Optionally available on LeMans, Sport and Luxury LeMans was a 400 cubic-inch V8 with two-barrel carb and 170 horsepower, a 230-horsepower 400 four-barrel (standard with the GTO option) and a 250-horsepower 455 four-barrel was optional on all models. Planned and listed as an option for the 1973 GTO but never materialized was a 455 Super Duty V8 rated at 310 net horsepower for which introduction was delayed by Pontiac management due to emission issues until the spring of 1973 and then only in the smaller Firebird Formula and Trans Am ponycars. A three-speed manual transmission with column shift was standard on LeMans and Luxury LeMans models while the GTO came with a floor-mounted three-speed with Hurst shifter. Available at extra cost was the three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic with all engines while a four-speed manual with Hurst shifter was available with the 230-horsepower 400.

Changes for the 1974 LeMans included new split grilles with horizontal bars on base LeMans and LeMans Sport models, while Luxury LeMans models got chromed vertical bar split grilles. Model offerings in each series were the same as 1973, except for the addition of a new Luxury LeMans Safari wagon and the deletion of the GTO series from the intermediate line to the compact Pontiac Ventura series. Out back were new federally-mandated 5 MPH bumpers to match the similarly mandated front bumpers of the previous year and less curvaceous rear end treatment with vertical taillights and license plate/fuel filler moved above the bumper. Base LeMans coupes retained the fixed full triangular rear side windows while Luxury LeMans coupes got a smaller vertical opera window similar to the Grand Prix along with an optional Landau rear quarter vinyl roof. LeMans Sport Coupes were now available with two rear side window treatments - the louvered triangular version carried over or the opera window with Landau vinyl roof from the Luxury LeMans. All engines were carried over from 1973 including the 250 inline six, and V8s including the 350 two-barrel, 400 two- and four-barrel and 455 four-barrel. New to the option list for 1974 was a 350 four-barrel. The same assortment of three- and four-speed manual transmissions were carried over for 1974 along with the three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic. New to the option list for 1974 on all models were GM-specification radial-ply tires manufactured by GM's usual tire suppliers that included revised suspension tuning.

The 1975 LeMans received mostly trim changes including new crosshatch grilles on base and Sport models, and a distinctive vertical bar grille with more chrome on the Grand LeMans (renamed from Luxury LeMans) series cars and only revised nameplates and tailight lenses in the rear. Interiors were revised on top Grand LeMans cars to include the distinctive wrap-around dashboard from the Grand Prix and Grand Am models with simulated African Crossfire Mahogany trim, a notchback bench seat with armrest in sedans and wagons or a no-cost choice of the notchback bench or Strato bucket seats in coupes. Base LeMans and Sport Coupe models carried over trim only slightly revised from 1974 including a revised Custom Cushioned steering wheel. Big news for 1975, however, was Pontiac's Maximum Mileage System which consisted of GM's new catalytic converter which reduced emissions while improving drivability and fuel economy, a High Energy electronic ignition, and lengthened routine maintenance intervals. Radial tires were standard on all models and a "Radial Tuned Suspension" option was available that included upgraded radial tires along with front and rear sway bars. Engines were revised for 1975 to meet that year's emission requirements and mated to the catalytic converter, which spelled the end of true dual exhausts. The 250 cubic-inch Chevy inline six was standard on base LeMans coupes and sedans while the 350 two-barrel V8 was optional and standard on the LeMans Sport Coupe, and Grand LeMans sedans and coupes, and optional engines on all of those models including a 350 four-barrel and a 400 two-barrel. LeMans and Grand LeMans Safari wagons came standard with a 400 four-barrel engine that was optional on other models. The 455 V8 was discontinued for all LeMans models for 1975, but still available in the Grand Am. Transmission offerings included a three-speed manual standard with the six-cylinder and 350 two-barrel V8, with the three-speed Turbo Hydra-matic optional with those engines, a "mandatory" option with all other engines in sedans and coupes, and standard on the Safari wagons. The Hurst-shifted four-speed manual was no longer offered.

For 1976, the LeMans and Grand LeMans were the only Pontiac intermediate offerings with the discontinuation of the Grand Am series. All models received new rectangular headlights with distinct grilles unique to the base and LeMans Sport and another one for the Grand LeMans. The Chevy-built 250 six was now standard on all LeMans and Grand LeMans sedans and coupes along with the LeMans Sport Coupe with V8 options including a new "Oldsmobile-built" 260 V8 and Pontiac V8s of 350 and 400 cubic inches with two- or four-barrel carburetion (400 four-barrel still standard on all Safari wagons), along with the return of the 455 four-barrel V8 after a one-year absence. The three-speed manual transmission was standard with the Chevy six with Turbo Hydra-matic optional, the latter now the only transmission offered with all V8s except the small 260 which could be ordered with a five-speed manual in the LeMans Sport Coupe. Also new for 1976 was an "Enforcer" police package on LeMans sedans with either the 400 or 455 V8s that included Turbo Hydra-matic transmission, variable ratio power steering, heavy duty power front disc brakes and suspension tuning. The following year, 1977, an Enforcer police pursuit LeMans sedan was one of the featured cars in the motion picture Smokey and the Bandit.

The year 1977 was the finale for the LeMans and Grand LeMans built off the 1973-vintage Colonnade body. Appearance changes were limited to revised grilles and tailight lenses. Engine offerings were revised with Buick's 231 cubic-inch V6 replacing the Chevy inline six as the base powerplant in sedans and coupes. The base V8 (standard on Safari wagons and optional on other models) was Pontiac's new 301 cubic-inch engine based on the same V8 engine block as other Pontiac V8s but utilized many lightweight components. Optional V8s were pared down to Pontiac-built 350 and 400 four-barrel powerplants. The three-speed manual was the standard transmission on V6 models, while the Turbo Hydra-matic was optional and the only transmission available with the V8 engines. Those drivetrain offerings were available in 49 states. In California, Pontiac V8s were not offered for 1977 due to the inability to meet that state's more stringent regulations. In the Golden State, the Buick V6 was standard on most models but the V8 engines offered there were Oldsmobile's 350 and 403 four-barrel engines. Turbo Hydra-matic was the only transmission offered in California. A sporty/performance model based on the LeMans Sport Coupe called the Pontiac Can Am was a one-year only offering for 1977. The Can Am came standard with the 400 four-barrel V8 in 49 states or the Olds 403 four-barrel in California, along with Turbo Hydra-matic transmission, a Grand Prix instrument panel and console, along with Strato bucket seats, and rear spoiler. For the final year of the Colonnade LeMans models, they were joined by newly downsized B-body Catalina and Bonneville full-sized cars, which weighed a few pounds less than the "intermediates" and rode on the same 116-inch wheelbase length as the LeMans sedans and Safari wagons and also had similar dimensions as far as length and width were concerned. The downsized big cars of 1977, would be followed up with downsized intermediates for 1978 including the LeMans/Grand LeMans and the personal-luxury Grand Prix coupe.

Production 1973–1977 Body style(s) 2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon Layout FR layout Platform A-body

1978-1981.

In 1978, the LeMans and other GM mid-sized cars were considerably downsized and lost some 600-800 lb in the process, as part of GM's corporate downsizing program following the aftermath of the Arab Oil Embargo induced energy crisis of 1973 - 1974. Pontiac's engines were also downsized, with the standard engine being the Buick 3.8L 231ci V6, Pontiac 265ci V8, or optional Pontiac 4.9L 301ci V8 for 1978, (a Chevy 305ci V8 in California). 1978 also saw Pontiac's 350ci & 400ci engine production shut down after many years of service as its hallmark V8's. A limited production run of 400ci engines was made, but were only available in 1978 and 1979 Trans Ams equipped with the 4 speed manual transmission. From 1978 to 1980, Pontiac's mid-sized lineup included the base LeMans, Grand LeMans, and a revived Grand Am; all available as a Coupe, Sedan, or Wagon. Although the new Grand Am was better suited in size and concept than the original '73 - '75 Grand Am as a European-styled touring coupe/sedan, it was not a tremendous seller. In 1980, the Grand Am was only offered as a coupe. With lacking sales, the "Grand Am" nameplate was again discontinued until 1985, when it was reborn as Pontiac's new compact car, a form the Grand Am would take for the next two decades, until being replaced by the Pontiac G6 in 2005.

The final year for the mid-sized LeMans was 1981, the station wagon dropped and only the base and Grand LeMans models offered initially and joined at mid-year by a new LJ trim level positioned between the base and Grand models. The car was given a new slanted nose which made the 2 door coupe popular in NASCAR, especially as a superspeedway race car in 1981^{[citation needed]}, which was the first year these cars were used in the series. The car had such an aerodynamic advantage over all other manufacturer's body styles that NASCAR stepped in and reduced the allowable rear spoiler area to a point that made the car dangerous to run on the big tracks.^{[citation needed]} This resulted to most (though not all) of the teams moving to other makes, mostly Buick Regals. A LeMans driven by Cale Yarborough did win the 1983 Daytona 500 however, and also in the summer of 1983 Tim Richmond won in a LeMans at the Pocono 500. However, as this body style had been out of production after the 1981 model year, Pontiac could not use these victoies in its advertising campaigns. Engine offerings by this time included Buick's 231 CID V6, Pontiac's 4.3 L 265 CID V8, Pontiac's 301 CID V8, Chevrolet's 305 CID V8 (for California only) and Oldsmobile's 350 CID diesel V8.

For the 1982 model year, GM undertook more cost cutting at Pontiac. It dropped its LeMans nameplate and rebadged the car platform as the Bonneville, a nameplate which had previously denoted the division's full-sized luxury cars for many years. The new Bonneville was reduced to one trim line available in a 4-door Sedan and the Safari Wagon. Due to GM cost-cutting measures, Pontiac's remaining V8's, the 265 and 301 were both discontinued late in 1981, with all engine development to focus on the Pontiac Iron Duke four-cylinder engines for GM's smaller cars. That engine was essentially half of a Pontiac V8. The New engine lineup now consisted of the Buick 3.8L V6, Chevrolet 305 V8, and Oldsmobile 350 diesel. For 1983, the Bonneville Safari Wagon was dropped, while the mundane Bonneville 4 door sedan lingered thru the 1986 model year. Beginning in 1987, the Bonneville nameplate was moved to a slightly larger front-wheel-drive sedan that shared its basic platform with the Buick LeSabre and Oldsmobile Delta 88.

Production 1978–1981 Assembly Pontiac, Michigan, United States
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Body style(s) 2-door coupe
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon Layout FR layout Platform A-body Engine(s) 229 CID Chevrolet V6
231 CID Buick V6
265 CID Pontiac V8
301 CID Pontiac V8
305 CID Chevrolet V8 (Calif.)
350 CID Oldsmobile diesel V8 Transmission(s) 3-speed THM200 automatic
3-speed manual
4-speed manual Wheelbase 108 in (2743 mm)

For vehicle of the same name produced between 1988 and 1993, see Daewoo LeMans. On Wikipedia.org