64 Pontiac LeMans “Resto-Racer”
RESTORATION PROCESS
1The car was found in the back of a house of in the desert of California with a couple other 60’s Pontiac GTOs. It has been sitting for 30 years but due to the arid climate was virtually entirely rust free! A true “barn find” and a true “survivor”. Car was bought and cleaned of the years of dust and dirt blowing around. The ONLY rust on the entire car was a couple minor spots in the trunk (which have since been fixed with reproduction OEM panels where needed) Mostly all original RUST FREE and THICK metal. Floors are solid and are thicker than any reproduction. Untouched! Beautiful rust free original metal body as well!
2We wanted a car that kept the feel for the originality of the car as it sat in the desert and gave tribute to the GTO racing past. So the car was redone with totally straight body panels, painted with fresh paint then “patina’ed” – add some little sand throughs, scratches and rough paint blends – a car that was raced and was winning grudge matches and parked in the desert. And tribute race numbers added. The numbers are vinyl and held only by static cling so you can take them off if you don’t like them. Similarly the body work and primer work are great (see more about it below).
Drivetrain: Interior: Rechromed: Other: Exterior: Rechromed: Fresh high shine polished: Suspension/Underside/Frame: Other:
Ignore those original 326 badges! Under the hood is a 389 with a 4bbl carb making it the same engine you would get in the GTO package. Has plenty of guts to it and looks good! Exhaust has a great deep rumbley burble to it – never invasive or droney – just the right amount of sound and at cruise very quiet.
Is running the Super Turbine 300 transmission as it was originally equipped.
Newer battery and new rad cap and fluids
Interior was redone as it came from the factory in the beautiful white, black and red color scheme.
BRAND NEW:
Seat Foam on the bucket seats
Seat Cover front and rear
Headliner and Sailpanels
Windlace
Domelight and base
Seatbelts (one side for each seat is a bit long, so the buckle is off center when buckled, but still works as intended even for women)
Gauge cluster “glass”
Door panels, door panel trim and door panel emblems
Weather guards behind the panels
Door handle pulls
Window handles
Armrests and Armrest bases
Glovebox
Rear seat divider
Package tray with jute
Black carpet with jute backing
Heater core
Original bucket seat trim
Steering wheel center (chrome work was fair – very presentable, but has some flaws)
Rear view mirror extension (chrome work was fair – very presentable, but has some flaws)
Rebuilt steering column, no play and feels great!
BRAND NEW:
Body work:
-STRAIGHT CAR from the day it was found. Very little filler!! Filler that was used was not the cheapo stuff either – all RAGE Gold Extreme!
-Primer is SPI Epoxy: 4 coats on the body. High build primer was SPI 2k Turbo High Build: 4 coats. Sealed with 3 coats of thinned SPI Epoxy.
-Paint is PPG in original Grenadier Red with 8 coats (and patina’ed in areas)
Door weatherstripping
Trunk weatherstripping
Door window wiper
Rear View Mirror
OEM bumpers ($1,200 alone!) and brand new chrome bumper bolts. Factory no reverse light bumper!
Rocker panel trim
Tail light panels
Wiper arms
Door window trim
Quarter window trim
Quarter panel
Front grills (and fresh black paint)
Front headlight bezels (and fresh black paint)
Brand New:
KYB Shocks
Good recent brakes (4 wheel drum and manual)
SOLID zero rust or issue frame
SOLID gas tank and mounts
Underside was sprayed with Eastwood Extreme Underchassis black to protect the metal (have pics of it before hand to show it hides NOTHING)
Slightly lowered.
3Car gets loads of attention and people love the look more than the rows of the “classically” restored car . Now enjoy a muscle classic car with loads of new parts that you can drive wherever that has ZERO rust and enjoy it like a time capsule race car with GTO POWER!!!
