1972 Pontiac Le Mans Sport Convertible - V8 350 2 Barrel - Matching Numbers on 2040-cars

For 1968 the whole Tempest line received a new engine replacing the 326. This new engine was based on all existing Pontiac engine architecture and using the 326, 389, and 400 engines crank at 3.75" and expanding the 326's 3.72" bore to 3.88" to give 354.74 cubic inches. Why Pontiac called it a 350 is a mystery along with the original 326 being called a 326 rather that its true size of 336. For 1968 the 350 could be had in two versions at 265 hp 2bbl and 325 hp 4bbl. In 1969 the engine came as 265 hp 2bbl and 330 hp 4bbl. The ten horsepower increase over 1968's engine is due to a slightly hotter cam plus the use of the # 48 big valve heads, the same head used on the Ram air 3 400" 366 hp (273 kW) engine and the 428-HO engine at 390 hp. 1969 would be the last high performance version of the 350. It should be noted that the Sprint OHC six had gone from its original size of 230 inches to 250 cubic inches, and the horsepower had increased from the original 207 hp (154 kW) to 230 hp (172 kW) in its final version in 1969. This engine with a four speed was capable of high fourteen second quarter mile times in a Tempest or Firebird at speeds in the low ninety mile an hour range, definitely much faster than cars with small V-8's of the day. For 1970, Pontiac reshuffled its intermediate lineup a bit with the Le Mans Outlaw edition nameplate downgraded to the mid-line sub-series previously known as the Tempest Custom and included two- and four-door pillared sedans, while the previous top-shelf Le Mans series was renamed the Le Mans Sport in the same three body styles including a four-door hardtop sedan, two-door hardtop coupe and convertible. This year, bigger engines - which had previously reserved for GTOs - were made available on lesser Tempest/Le Mans models including a 400 CID V8 rated at 265 hp (198 kW) with a two-barrel carburetor or a 330 hp (246 kW) option with a four-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts. At mid-year the bottom-shelf Tempest line, which initially included only two- and four-door sedans, got a low-price T-37 hardtop coupe which was initially billed as "General Motors' lowest-priced hardtop (undercut by a base Chevrolet Chevelle hardtop coupe introduced a few weeks later). To offer younger buyers a mid-sized muscle car that was less expensive than the GTO, Pontiac offered the T-37 hardtop coupe with a GT-37 appearance package that included striping, three-speed floor shift transmission, tuned suspension and other tinsel. The GT-37 was available with any Tempest/Le Mans V8 from the standard 350 two-barrel to the 400 four-barrel. Replacing the Pontiac-built OHC six-cylinder as the base engine for Tempest/Le Mans models for 1970 was Chevrolet's 250 cubic-inch inline six-cylinder engine, while the 350 two-barrel was again the base V8 engine and the four-barrel 350 HO was discontinued.

In 1971, the Tempest nameplate was completely retired and Pontiac promoted the Le Mans nameplate to full-series status to identify all of its intermediate models, which still included the GTO. At the bottom of the line was the Pontiac T-37, previously known as the Tempest, and now expanded to include two- and four-door sedan along with the original hardtop coupe. The GT-37 option was available on both the two-door sedan (pillared coupe) or hardtop coupe. Engine offerings were carried over from 1970 and Pontiac's 455 cubic-inch V8 (offered only on GTOs in 1970) was now available as an option on all Pontiac intermediates in both base four-barrel with 325 horsepower or the 455 HO option with 335 horsepower. All 1971 engines, per GM corporate policy, were detuned with lower compression ratios to run on lower-octane regular leaded, low-lead or unleaded gasoline. Brakes were 9.5" drums.^[1]

For 1972, all Pontiac intermediates were now Le Mans models and the low-priced T-37 line was replaced by a stripped Le Mans pillared coupe. The top-line intermediate was the Luxury Le Mans, available in hardtop sedan and coupe models, featuring plusher interiors than regular Le Mans models. The Le Mans Sport was available as a two-door hardtop or convertible featuring Strato bucket seats and plush interior fittings from the Luxury Le Mans. The GTO was changed from a separate series back to an option package on Le Mans and Le Mans Sport coupes. Replacing the previous GT-37 option package for 1972 was the new "Le Mans GT" option, available on Le Mans pillared and hardtop coupes with any V8 ranging from the 350 two-barrel to the 455 HO four-barrel, and also included the same appearance and handling items carried over from the GT-37.

In the film adoption of The French Connection, Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle commandeered a 1971 Le Mans sedan from a citizen. He then used it to chase an overhead train at high speed through the streets of New York, in what is widely considered one of the most exciting car chases in cinema history.

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This beauty runs great. 

Original matching numbers drive train was rebuilt & frame restored in 1997 - Both remain in great condition.

All suspension bushings have recently been replaced.

Interior has been reupholstered and is in very good condition. 

PMD Racing wheels on BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires.

All original dealer documents included with the vehicle. 

Car was purchased with single exhaust but upgraded to factory duals.

Own a piece of American muscle car history and take this car home.

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The cosmetic condition is as displayed in pictures. All pictures are actual.

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