[GMAN70]

I rescued this ol' girl from a field about six months ago and had thoughts of making it a GTO, but after reading these forums and a couple of trips in town with people giving me the thums up I think I'll keep her the way she is. I do plan to make some upgrades next year and plan to drive it quite alot. Can't wait!!!! I hope, and think these will go up in value as stated!!

[LuxLeMans]

Originally Posted by GMAN70

I rescued this ol' girl from a field about six months ago and had thoughts of making it a GTO, but after reading these forums and a couple of trips in town with people giving me the thums up I think I'll keep her the way she is. I do plan to make some upgrades next year and plan to drive it quite alot. Can't wait!!!! I hope, and think these will go up in value as stated!!

Man, I happen to love the front ends of '70 non-GTO's. One of my dream cars is a '70 LeMans Sport Convertible. Just something about them....

[north]

Judge 273, sharp looking car, I love the color scheme.

By the way, what you said and what I said are not in conflict. 71-72 GTO's suffered and still suffer from the shadow of earlier goats but at the same time they were much better all round cars then their earlier cousins. My best friend when I was young had a 72 GTO with a 455 non HO automatic and it was a great car, solid, torquey good handling machine.

[north]

My 69 LeMans convertible gets more looks and comments than my 69 GTO convertible, first the color is much brighter and eye catching, second I believe it is more approachable, sort of like a girl that is pretty enough to get your attention but not so pretty to rattle your confidence.
If I bring them together to a show and shine the LeMans will get twice the attention and a much more varied audience (i.e. not just the "muscle car heads"). Funny when you think that both cars are nice original survivors and that the GTO is a notch higher in overall appearance and has the following "look at me" features: Hide-A-Ways, Hood Tach, Rallye II, Ram Air, 4spd, buckets to the LeMans': bench seat, wire hubcaps.

I guess not everybody likes the Cindy Margolis' of the world (have you seen the latest Playboy? not bad for 40)

[Judge273]

I guess the 71 GTOs and LeMans where just born at the wrong time? I like both cars, and the thing that was so great is they blurred the line between muscle car and grocery getter for lack of a better term. What other year could you get a 455HO in a LeMans, T-37 or the real "poor boy GTO" GT-37? Which IMO makes them fun to own, and great to look at.

Leave the LeMans a LeMans, and the GTOs the GTO's. 71 was a great year for A bodies, with a strong 350, a stronger 400, and etc..

My 71 GTO vert is Canyon Copper/Sienna Int, and was a one year only color combo, and thanks for the compliments.

[poncho-mike]

I personally like the 71-72 endura front ends, whether they are on a Lemans or GTO. It is on of my favorite cars. I prefer the body color endura bumper to the chrome front bumper any day.

I've often wondered how a GTO vs Lemans Sport with identical drivetrains would compare value wise.

I own a 72 Lemans Sport convertible with a factory 455HO 4-spd. Lucy Blue with white/black interior. The car needs a compete restoration. I also own a number of early Trans Ams, including an SD. The question is: If I can restore just one car, which one would I choose. Should the Lemans get a high dollar resto, or more of a frame-on cosmetic resto.

How would a 71 GTO convertible w/ 455HO and 4-spd compare in value to a 72 Lemans Sport convertible w/ same drivetrain. Both would have the endura front end since the endura was standard on 72 455HOs.

Mike

[north]

Originally Posted by poncho-mike

Both would have the endura front end since the endura was standard on 72 455HOs.

Mike

This is news to me, no mention of it on the 72 ordering form.

By the way, sounds like a really neat car, I have never seen one. But I would still be careful with putting to much money in the car from a resale POV. It is hard to say what the value difference would be between them since there is no transactions to measure but the fact that a Judge sells for near double of a regular GTO with the same engine tells you that names and image matter!

[Jack Peters]

Actually the endura nose and RA were mandatory options w/the 455HO in '72 along with dual exhaust.

Not so in '71 as only the dual exhaust was mandatory in '71 w/455HO.

The LeMans probably will never exceed the GTO with similar equipment/drivetrain. The top of the line is still the top of the line with all things being equal.

Only the high end LeMans and T-37's will come close and then probably not reach the same level. Although, I did have an offer years ago to trade a '71 Judge Convertible for the T-37. The Judge was restored and the T-37 was not. I think the novelity of the T-37 post, 455HO had an appeal to him. I still have the T-37 and am restoring for the sake of restoring as my son will get the car.