As always it is a pleasure assisting a client with a pre-purchase muscle car inspection. This week our featured PPI is of a 1971 Pontiac Lemans GT37.
One key ingredient in performing a pre-purchase muscle car inspection is knowing the history of the car your are inspecting. The Pontiac LeMans is arguably the most commonly used platform for many of General Motors muscle car platforms the LeMans has been the base of many clones of the GTO, GT 37 and many more over the years. The Pontiac LeMans was a model name that was applied to subcompact- and intermediate-sized automobiles marketed by Pontiac from 1962 to 1981 (1983 in Canada). Originally a trim upgrade based on the Tempest, it spawned the industry changing signature muscle car, the GTO, in 1964. Manufactured in five generations in the 1960s and ’70s, it was replaced by the downsized Pontiac Bonneville for the 1982 model year. Hemmings has a great write up on the 1971 Lemans Gt 37!
All of our inspection clients enjoy FULL HD Video of the body, interior options, and engine RPM range with each inspection.
This pre-purchase muscle car inspection of this LeMans GT 37 showed to have an older restoration and has been well kept since then. The body and paint scored really well as a #2. The interior on the other hand needs a lot of love with new seats, center console and a refreshing of the dash cluster and scored lower at a $4. The engine has been swapped out with a period correct 400 CID 4 BBL carb. It started and ran smooth and performed great. It was easy to tell it had a larger cam with a nice lobbing idle. The transmission was a Rock Crusher 4 Speed showing a strong clutch and quality shifts and even a 3rd gear chirp on the pavement. The steering, suspension, driveline and rear axle showed to be in good condition. With the exception of a right rear brake cylinder leak the mechanics would score a strong #3.
