[enjoytheride7072]

Hi, this is my very first post to this board, and I too am in the same situation. I've got a 70 LeMans Sport, it's a coupe, cardinal red with a black vinyl top, 350 2-bbl, and a black bucket seat interior. Ive attached the picture. Here's my take on the "Clone Wars".

I'm 23, fresh off a restoration of an authentic '72 Chevelle SS. The original motor was long gone, so I tastefully restored it and installed a non-numbers 396. I really enjoy the car, and I'll never sell it. It doesn't bother me one bit that it's a NOM car, and showing my Pontiac roots, I even changed the Burnt Orange Metallic to '69 Carousel Red. Now, for the case of the LeMans.

I hate that front end, and there's nothing I can do to even attempt to like it. Even as cheap as I got this southern rust-free beauty, I can't swallow the bitter pill without "GTO-ing" up the front end. Same reason why I restored a 72 Chevelle as opposed to a '70 SS. Given, I didn't swap a different front end onto that car, but the Lemans will be in the same formula - screw originality, build what you like.

Now, it's illegal, immoral, and as holy as I hold these cars, sacreligde to ever swap out a VIN/Trim tag. It's foolish as well, as GTO guys are a die-hard clan whom you'd never pull the wool over on. And if I'd ever sell it, I'd be honest with the buyer and show all the documentation I have of every nut and bolt I swapped out of the car.

But, for a car to go out and have a good time with, I see nothing wrong with converting the front end into a GTO. I'm going to cross other borders and install a his-and-hers shifter, a rear wing, remove and sell off the vinyl top stuff, and might even use the GTO decal as a stencil and have the GTO letters painted on. Probably will even utilize the small journal of a 400 and the long stroke of a 455 for the ultimate street engine.

That's just the way I see it, for me. All I'm saying is, build what you like. I'm young, I've got the time, and the talent, but I don't have the money to pay for what these cars are bringing. So, being a do-it-yourselfer, it's cheaper for me to do the conversion.


And as far as authentic GTOs, I bought my car at Fall Carlisle, and I went in search of an original GTO or an original 442 - guess how many of these 'originals' were authentic, in the six hours I searched? 1. A tri-power 400 442. No 242 A-Bodies, out of 20+.

Anyhow, this is my long-winded introduction to the message board, and I hope to utilize this board and it's every plentiful resource of pontiac diehards for the stops along the way. Thanks guys.