Not a Mopar,but definetly a pretty cool survivor!!!!!

[69 OUR/TEA]

 There's something always cool about survivor cars,no matter what brand it may be,and this one just misses the era of musclecars by one year!!!
    The car : 1973 Pontiac Lemans Sport Coupe                     
    The story:   My uncle/godfather bought this car in Aug 1985 and basically never registered it and let it sit in the garage,just to start up from time to time.In 02 came very ill and ended up passing away,and being among alot of car guys,here came the vultures for his stuff,a Harley,new 454 on a stand,tools,and more!!!My aunt had me come with her to his place he rented for everything to tell her what everything was,cars,parts,etc.She basically wanted to get it done with quickly and rented dumpsters and just started heaving everything,OUCH!!!!Junking cars and all!!!!What was left there was a 34 Ford Model B pickup that was given to him by my Grandfather,in which he had since the late 50's.All the guys wanted it and tried buying it from my aunt,in which she asked if I was interested ,and said as it came from my family and should stay there,and did'nt want a penny for it,so now it resides with me(someday I'll get to it).
Next she tells me to come and tell her what the car in her garage at home is,that all she knows it's an old Pontiac.Wow,I'm thinking GTO maybe,that would be cool.The door opened to this 73 Lemans sport coupe,I uncover it and immediately start realizing it is a survivior seeing orig paint,and tires.Open the door to just be overwelmed by the absolute time capsule interior and odo showing 14K miles.Even the chrome on the plastic gauge bezels is mine,and NO fading of the red vinyl or plastic!!!
Open the hood to a Pontiac 350 2bbl,A/C dual exhaust.Dusty,dirty,but original.She says last time it was started was around 2000.She also informed me that her daughter(my cousin) wants to hold onto it for whatever reason,mostly cause thats all she has now to remember her father.I told her that is great,but that they should really keep this thing running and not let it sit around,and I even would come help to get it runing.
Time went on,nothing was ever done to start this car up,year after year I keep saying I'd get over there and never did ,till today!!!!Went over with gas,battery,compressor,etc.Changed out the blown out right front tire with the mint spare,put in 4 gallons gas,and battery.Checked oil,suprisingly looked pretty clean(I know it should be changed).Figured I'd crank it from outside the door to get some oil pressure up and get fuel up to the carb,cranking,cranking,cranking......bam,without me in the car to give it gas,it starts up and runs on high idle!!!!!!Holy crap,get in and wait a couple,then kick it down and get it out side.Right into gear with no problem(not touching the brakes,learned my leason about doing that with cars that have beeen sitting),backed it out and let it run for awhile,everything fine,temp,oil pressure,no leaks.....except the rear fuel line(dry rotted).Shut off and starts right at the first hit of the key.Carb has a wicked flat spot just off idle.
Made a laundry list to give to my cousin to let her know hat this car needs to get road worthy,such as...
  all new brakes,rubber brake lines,calipers,wheel cylinders,tires,belts and hoses,complete fluid change,and other minor stuff.
Even the paint is real nice and could just use a hand cleaning/polishing and other than a couple small door dings,and scratches is something you just leave alone.Vinyl top is mint,inside trunk is time capsule mint,chrome on the bumpers shine up instantly!!!!!Bottom side is as you would expect to see with these miles,mint just dusty/dirty.
Although not really a musclecar,and into the 73 up big bumper,larger size GM cars,still sporty looking,and I would def be proud to own this car.You never know,she may turn the other way and decide she wants to get rid of it,at that I would be made available first.Would be hard for me to pass,thats for sure.Anyway,pics to come.....

[69 OUR/TEA]

pics.....

[68X426]

 

[69 OUR/TEA]

ooooops......

[69 OUR/TEA]

more....

[69 OUR/TEA]

more.....

[69 OUR/TEA]

more.....

[69 OUR/TEA]

figured everybody likes pictures and storys,last ones.....

[68X426]

That is a great car.!!!!! And I don't care for GM, let alone a 73. I have to admit that is spectacular.

[resq302]

Thats sweet.  Always a sucker for red interior cars.

[hemi68charger]

Wow !!   

[Brock Samson]

 Yes! that is pretty sweet, though I never cared for Pontiacs designs other than the Grand Prix and Firebirds of that era... great color combo! I just don't like the front end design at all,.. but it would be a toss up which was uglier that or the Grand Am?..  

  great post.

[BrianShaughnessy]

NICE!!!        Old GF of mine back in MI had a maroon one like that. 

I liked that body style, they ended up making the '77 Can Am that looked really sharp.

[69 OUR/TEA]

It's going to be interesting to register the car( whenever that is),bringing in the title and bill of sale from 1985,25 years later.

[TruckDriver]

Thats sweet.  Always a sucker for red interior cars.

Me too. I'd love to have that car.

[RD]

that is one heckuva good looking car!!! i would be proud to own that.  I am glad it looks to be in great hands, thanks for sharing.

[Magnumcharger]

Wow! If I was a Pontiac guy, I'd be hard into foaming at the mouth!

[1969chargerrtse]

Real nice.  Striped on the side also.  Cool.

[Ghoste]

What a time capsule that is.  I always liked the Pontiacs best of the Colonnade styled intermediates.

[TUFCAT]

What a time capsule that is.  I always liked the Pontiacs best of the Colonnade styled intermediates.

Really nice car. 

Once again... I'm in total agreement with you Shawn!  

Those 73-76 GM cars still don't seem to get the appreciation they deserve.

[bakerhillpins]

Wow, what a time capsule indeed.  Survivors are just amazing regardless of the make/model. 

Right into gear with no problem(not touching the brakes,learned my leason about doing that with cars that have beeen sitting),backed it out and let it run for awhile,everything fine,temp,oil pressure,no leaks.....except the rear fuel line(dry rotted).Shut off and starts right at the first hit of the key.

Ok, Ill bite. Not touching the brakes why? Because the rubber lines/seals are all dry rotted and you will end up dumping brake fluid on everything and killing the paint? Plus, how did you get it to shift with out applying the brakes or am I showing my stupidity in that older cars don't have that safety feature?

[derailed]

Wow, what a time capsule indeed.  Survivors are just amazing regardless of the make/model. 

Plus, how did you get it to shift with out applying the brakes or am I showing my stupidity in that older cars don't have that safety feature?

Well we wont call it stupidity, but yes your right. No safety feature.

[bakerhillpins]

Well we wont call it stupidity, but yes your right. No safety feature.

LOL, ok thanks. I didn't start driving until the 80s and anything older than that was a stick. Now that I type this I recall stories about kids accidentally shifting cars into gear.

[69 OUR/TEA]

Actually 2 reasons I did'nt hit the brake pedal,1. did'nt want to risk one of the front calipers locking up 2.noticed that brake fluid came out of the back of the master cylinder and dripped all down the booster and onto the frame,and did'nt want to make it worse.
I put on the e-brake,then put it in gear,and kept my foot on the pedal and hand on the release.Was'nt to hard.