[Andre]

I know nothing about these cars, but met a guy that has 62 Lemans convertible- white with red interior. Automatic. rust free, good working top, painted once, never restored.
The engine is some odd looking aluminum v-8. I think he said it was a 215.
It's a possibility that he may sell the car in April, and I am thinking about pulling the trigger on it.

Whats the downside on these motors. Is this a motor that was available in these cars?

Thanks.

[mechanickeith]

IF it does have a factory Buick 215 V8, then it is pretty rare!!!!! I belive only 3-5% of the cars in 62 had the optional V8. It cost more & had the same Hp as the 4 cy. The 215 can be made to run pretty good. Have to stay on top of the cooling system. Keep good coolant in it & serviced regularly. We need pictures!!!! What is he asking?? If the price is right, I would jump on it!!!!!!!!

[ahnuld]

the innovative aluminum Buick-built 215-cubic inch (3.5 L) V8 was optional in the Tempest in 1961 and 1962. (This also had first appeared in the LeSabre.)[2] It is estimated that just 3,662 Tempests were ordered with the 215 engine, or about 1 percent of production. This motor produced, in its various incarnations, from 155 to 215 hp (160 kW) despite weighing just 330 lb (150 kg) installed. The Pontiac 215 blocks are distinct from other Buick 215 blocks because in addition to the factory Buick markings they were hand-stamped at the Pontiac plant with the VIN numbers of the individual cars they were installed in. Thus in 1961 all Pontiac 215 blocks begin "161P"; the 1962 cars, "162P." Further code numbers told whether the car had an automatic or manual transmission.

[Andre]

I am now a little more confident that what I am looking at is real. Here is the story. The fellow that has the car is a snowbird. He purchased the car locally from the original owner about 3 weeks ago. The original owner is 88, and was getting ready to move to a Assisted Housing facility.
I don't know how he found the guy, but I doubt that he paid very much for the car. Hopefully that will be reflected when he sells it. In all the years that I have lived here, I have never seen this car on the road. (my skills are failing)

Car is in overall good condition. Apparently runs and drives well, as I saw them with it about 50 miles from their home.
Car was garaged, but potmetal is starting to show pitting. Interior is good, but aged, body did not appear rusty, but I didn't go over it with a fine tooth comb.
Having only owned Pontiacs that were 64 and up, I am venturing into some unknown territory, however since I had been halfway looking for a car from the year I was born, and the fact that my wife likes white exterior, red interior cars, this one may be the answer to my search.

Here are a couple pics from last week. I didn't act too interested in the car.

Lets say the car is a solid number 3. What value does that put it at? Is there any upside to a car like this beyond the cool factor?
To me, it is really the first GTO.

[mechanickeith]

Up sides are that its a convert & a Buick 215 motor!! If you go to a car show, it will be the only one there!!! From the pics it appears to be in overall good condition. Check bottom of front fenders & rockers for rust. They are a unibody car, no frame. I see several things. Front bumper is tweaked. looks like it was tow'd/picked up by the front bumper at one time. Outside mirrors are not correct for the car. The side door guard mouldings I have never seen on a 62 before. Also, the pic that shows the right side, look at the bottom of the door where it lines up with the rocker panel, looks like the door bottom is bent. possible rusted/bondo repaired at one time. I would look it over real good. Get under it & look for rust or weld repairs. Check suspension, steering, etc,etc. Take it for a test drive & check the brake operation & steering. All that said. I have seen 62 converts go for 2500 to over 10K. This one will be worth 20% more or so just because it is a factory 215 motor.

[Andre]

The guy emailed me and said $19,500. Im fairly sure for that kind of money, I can get that car in AACA junior division winner condition.
I rate this car as a number 3, needing about $10-$12K worth of work to get it to the level that I would feel good about showing it.
I saw the rusted out door bottom, and suspect that once I really start getting intimate with it, there is going to be a lot more stuff that needs attention.

[mechanickeith]

Way too much money!! Maybe he has his decimal point in the wrong place!! I would keep looking for one in better shape rust wise. The 215 is a BIG incentive tho. Still, if the door is bad as you say, how much more is it going to need???

[John in Minnesota]

Would like to see more. Interior, motor compartment, etc. Looks like a decent car to me. Like mine, had rust and holes when we sanded it. They are fun to drive. John

[Radman]

The door molding is wrong. There was a stainless trim for the rear door edge, actualy a chip guard. That is the only thing that you should see on the door.

[U47]

Originally Posted by ahnuld

the innovative aluminum Buick-built 215-cubic inch (3.5 L) V8 was optional in the Tempest in 1961 and 1962. (This also had first appeared in the LeSabre.)[2] It is estimated that just 3,662 Tempests were ordered with the 215 engine, or about 1 percent of production. This motor produced, in its various incarnations, from 155 to 215 hp (160 kW) despite weighing just 330 lb (150 kg) installed. The Pontiac 215 blocks are distinct from other Buick 215 blocks because in addition to the factory Buick markings they were hand-stamped at the Pontiac plant with the VIN numbers of the individual cars they were installed in. Thus in 1961 all Pontiac 215 blocks begin "161P"; the 1962 cars, "162P." Further code numbers told whether the car had an automatic or manual transmission.

Actually the LeSabres ( LeSabres are full size cars) in 61-62 used the old iron 364 nailhead. The Buick with the 215" was the new Buick Special and in 61 1/2 a upscale model of the Special called the Skylark. Olds used this engine in their new F-85 and up scale F-85 called the F-85 Cutlass. The Olds however, used their own wedge cylinder head on the engine. In 62 & 63 Olds came out with another version of this engine called The Turbo Rocket and the version of the car was called the F-85 Jetfire. The Jetfire predates the Corvair Monza Spider Turbo by one year for having a turbocharger. The Buick and Pontiac Used the Buick head in the typical Buick NAIL head design. In 63 as you all know Pontiac abandoned the 215 for the new "real" Pontiac engine the 326 ( really a 336 for the first year ) which could share parts with the 4 cylinder and the 389 and be built with all the Pontiac engines including 421 on the same assembly line.


Don