Pontiac LeMans

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The Pontiac LeMans (initially Tempest LeMans ) was a model of the US car brand Pontiac offered from 1961 to 1981 and from 1987 to 1993 .

In detail was the name LeMans

  • from 1961 to summer 1963 for the better equipped coupé and cabriolet versions of the Pontiac Tempest ;
  • from autumn 1963 to 1971 for the top models of the Tempest series;
  • from autumn 1971 to summer 1981 for the entire intermediate series (middle class) from Pontiac and
  • from 1988 to 1993 for a version of the Opel Kadett E built by Daewoo in Korea and sold in North America and New Zealand .

Model years 1961–1963

Pontiac Tempest LeMans 1962

From the beginning of 1961 the Tempest LeMans functioned as the top model of the Tempest series, which had just been introduced, and was available as a coupé, and from model year 1962 also as a convertible. For details see Lemma Pontiac Tempest .

Model years 1964–1977

Pontiac Le Mans 1972

With the Model 1964, the Tempest Le Mans series, which continues to constituted the most luxurious versions of the Tempest was a coupe with B-pillars complemented, from 1965 also a four-door sedan, and in 1966 a hardtop sedan, in the the B-pillar is missing. (See article Pontiac Tempest.)

For the 1970 model year, the name was shortened to Pontiac Le Mans; at the same time, the Le Mans Sport series was added to the range over the regular Le Mans, initially comprising sedans, coupé and convertible, in 1972 only the convertible and at that time was replaced by the Luxury Le Mans. From model year 1971 the name Tempest was dropped entirely; all medium-sized Pontiac models were now part of the Le Mans family.

Pontiac Le Mans Coupé, MY 1973–1975

For the 1973 model year, the Le Mans models received new, more rounded bodies. Coupés, hardtop sedans and station wagons were offered in the Le Mans, Le Mans Sport and Luxury Le Mans series. The Pontiac Grand Am served as the sporty top model ; there was no longer a convertible. The base engine was still a 4.1-liter in-line six-cylinder (101 hp), V8 engines with 5.7 to 7.5 liter displacement (152-253 hp) ranked above it. From model year 1975 the Luxury Le Mans was discontinued, which was replaced by the Grand Le Mans from the end of 1975; at the same time, all models received a small facelift with rectangular twin headlights.

Model years 1978–1981

Pontiac LeMans MJ 1979

For the 1978 model year, the LeMans, a parallel model to the Chevrolet Malibu , Buick Skylark and Century and Oldsmobile Cutlass, appeared in a significantly smaller and lighter shape.

The LeMans and Grand LeMans series offered two-door coupés, four-door sedans and five-door station wagons (as LeMans and Grand LeMans Safari), and the Grand Am continued to exist. The base engine was a 90 ° V6 with a displacement of 3.8 liters (106, later 112 hp), a five-liter V8 (142 hp) was available for an extra charge, and in 1981 a 4.3-liter V8 (122 hp).

From model year 1982 the LeMans was offered slightly modified under the name Pontiac Bonneville G.

Model years 1989–1993

Pontiac LeMans Aerocoupe

From autumn 1988 to summer 1993 a modification of the Opel Kadett E built by Daewoo in Korea under the name Pontiac LeMans was sold in the USA (and New Zealand); this vehicle replaced the previous Pontiac T1000 . In Canada the car was marketed as the Passport Optima from 1988 to 1991 and only in the 1993 model year as the Asüna SE (notchback sedan) and GT (hatchback three-door), where it replaced the Acadian .

The LeMans was available as a three-door hatchback, called "Aerocoupe", and as a four-door notchback. At the end of 1989 a sporty GSE version based on the Kadett GSi appeared, powered by a two-liter four-cylinder with 97 hp; the basic models had a 75 hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Features of the GSE were the body painted completely (i.e. including bumper) in red, white or silver metallic, 14-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, rear spoiler and Recaro sports seats. The LeMans SE four-door also had the two-liter engine that was also used in the Chevrolet Cavalier and the Pontiac Sunbird .

Sales suffered from the quality problems of the construction, sales were discontinued after the model year 1993 and the Asüna brand was abandoned in Canada.

Web links

Commons : Pontiac LeMans  - collection of images, videos and audio files

swell

  • John Gunnell: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 . Krause Publications, Iola 2002, ISBN 0-87349-461-X , here: pp. 714-761.
  • James Flammang, Ron Kowalke: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976–1999 . Krause Publications, Iola 1999, ISBN 0-87341-755-0 , here: pp. 822-844.
Timeline of Pontiac models since 1945
Type 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010
5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 0
Small car Firefly [CDN] Firefly [CDN] Wave [CDN] G3
Compact class Sunburst [CDN]
Astre T1000 / 1000 / Acadian [CDN] LeMans Vibe Vibe
Sunbird J2000 / 2000 Sunbird / Sunbird Sunfire G5
Middle class Ventura / Phoenix Phoenix Grand Am Grand Am Grand Am G6
Tempest Grand Am Grand Am 6000
torpedo Tempest LeMans Tempest LeMans / LeMans LeMans Bonneville Grand Prix Grand Prix Grand Prix
upper middle class Streamliner Grand Prix Grand Prix Grand Prix Grand Prix G8
Chieftain Catalina / Laurentian [CDN] Bonneville Bonneville Bonneville
Ventura / Star Chief Executive Catalina Brougham
Upper class Bonneville / Grand Safari Parisienne / Safari
Grand Ville
SUV Aztec Torrent
Van Trans sports Trans Sport / Montana Montana
Sports car / coupe Firebird Firebird Firebird Firebird GTO
GTO GTO GTO Fiero
Roadster Solstice

[CDN] Mainly offered in Canada

  •  Vehicle from Pontiac or GM
  •  from Suzuki or CAMI (JV from GM and Suzuki)
  •  from Isuzu
  •  from GM-Daewoo
  •  from GM-Holden
  •  by NUMMI (joint venture between GM and Toyota)
    		•