Pontiac didn't make a GTO Convertible in 1972... or did they?

The GTO started life as an option package on the 1964 Pontiac Tempest. By the following year, the GTO was its own model, separate from the Tempest. However, in 1972, the GTO went back to being an option package rather than a separate model line. In the meantime, the Le Mans had replaced the Tempest in Pontiac's line-up. So for 1972-73, the GTO was an option package on the Le Mans.

In 1972, the GTO option was only offered on the hardtop Le Mans - there was no 1972 GTO Convertible. However, one could order the 1972 Le Mans Sport Convertible with any of the three GTO engines and the "Endura" option. This was the name Pontiac has given to its new plastic collision-resistant bumper that was introduced on the 1968 GTO. Its unique look defined the GTO style for many years. On the 1972 model year, the Endura option gave the Le Mans the GTO front bumper, hood, and body moldings; and deleted all of the "Le Mans" badging. Making it what many people call the "GTO in all but name."

The Good

This is a one-owner car. It comes with exceptional provenance including the original window sticker, owner's manual, dealer's invoice, option sheet, etc. (see photos).
Even though it is currently in New Hampshire, this is a California car. It was originally purchased there and spent the majority of it's life there. As a result, there are no major rust problems.
When the original mufflers were replaced some time ago, they were replaced with dual Cherry Bombs. Other than that one item, this car is 100% original. No other aftermarket parts, tweaks, or modifications of any kind. You could not ask for a better platform for a restoration project.
The 1972 Le Mans Sport Convertible with the Endura option is somewhere between rare and very rare. Pontiac only made 3,438 Le Mans convertibles in total that year. It is not clear how many were ordered with the Endura option, but it is definitely less than a couple hundred and could be as few as 20 to 30. How many of those are still on the road? Not very many!
While this car is being sold mainly as restoration project, it is a completely road-worthy, running, and licensed car right now. You could have great fun driving it just as it is.

The Bad

This is not a museum piece - it has been driven for nearly 40 years and shows it in some areas:
There is some surface rust. Nothing major, and all areas that are classic problems for this car, like the corners of the trunk and trunk lid, are near perfect (see photos).
There is some chipping of the paint near the front bumper and peeling of the clear coat in spots.
The upholstery has several tears and worn spots.
The transmission leaks. Most likely the rear seal needs replacement. The leak is not excessive and regular topping off with fluid takes care of it.

The Ugly

The convertible top needs replacement. The mechanism is still good, it goes up and down electrically with no problems, but the vinyl is torn and the rear window (which is actually glass on this car) is entirely missing.

Auto Services in New Hampshire

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NHTSA investigating 550k Pontiac G6 models, 320k Honda Odysseys

Mon, 10 Jun 2013

According to two separate reports in The Detroit News, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is launching investigations into 550,000 Pontiac G6 (pictured above) and 320,000 Honda Odyssey (pictured right) models. The G6 models are all from the 2005 to 2007 model years, while the Odyssey minivans are from the 2003 and 2004 model years. The two NHTSA probes are not related.
In the case of the G6, this is an upgrade to an original investigation that started in February after NHTSA received "hundreds of reports" that the brake lights on these cars may malfunction. According to The Detroit News, the lights may come on when the brake pedal is not depressed, and likewise, the brake lights may not illuminate when the pedal has been pushed. General Motors was able to provide NHTSA with a significant number of warranty claims, including 1,100 reports that could potentially relate to this problem, one of which indicates a vehicle crash.
For Honda, the NHTSA probe concerns airbags that may deploy unexpectedly. The government agency received six complaints from 2003-04 Odyssey owners saying that the front airbags suddenly went off without a crash. The Detroit News reports that three of the six owners sustained injuries from these incidents. Additionally, NHTSA has received 41 complaints from owners saying the vehicle's airbag warning light had illuminated.

GM recalling another 2.7 million vehicles in five separate campaigns

Thu, 15 May 2014

The recalls keep rolling in from General Motors, evidently keen to avoid repeating the mistakes of the ignition-switch debacle and clean house. This time they're all coming at once, with five separate recalls announced together covering approximately 2.7 million vehicles.
The largest of the five actions involves over 2.4 million units of the previous-generation Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura in order to fix brake light wiring harness, which have been found to be susceptible to corrosion. The recall is separate from the 56k Aura sedans which GM recently recalled over faulty shift cables, not to mention the previous massive recall of 1.3 million vehicles - some of them the same models - but appears to have resulted from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigation that started with the G6 almost a year ago.
The second-largest campaign involves the 2014 Chevy Malibu, specifically those fitted with GM's 2.5-liter engine and stop/start system, approximately 140,000 examples of which has been found to have problematic brakes. The issue does not appear to be connected to the recall of 8k Malibu and Buick LaCrosse sedans (also involving brake woes) which we reported upon last week. Four crashes have been reported in such models, but GM admits it's not yet clear if the problem was a contributing factor in the accidents.

Watch this garbage truck consume a Pontiac Grand Am

Wed, 15 May 2013

When an old car or truck offers its dying breath in your driveway and you just don't have the financial or mechanical wherewithal to resuscitate it yet again, you traditionally have to go to the trouble of calling a flatbed or a tow truck to come haul it away. That usually helps to put a few bucks in your wallet and helps recycle some of the vehicle's parts, but the transaction doesn't seem as final or perversely satisfying as the dispatch service that this New Way Cobra Magnum garbage truck offers.
Okay, okay, so this refuse hauler isn't actually designed for this sort of thing, but it's oddly comforting to know that a sanitation truck can compact a hapless Pontiac Grand Am into oblivion. Next time, we won't feel so guilty about slipping that rusty charcoal grille onto the curb next to the cans on garbage day. Watch the carnage by scrolling below.

1972 Pontiac Lemans Sport Convertible on 2040-cars