1972 Pontiac Le Mans or Le Mans Sport. How do I tell the difference?
Is it possible to determine if a 1972 Le Mans Convertible is a Le Mans Sport
from the VIN? I am considering purchasing one of these, and trying to confirm
that it is in fact, a Le Mans Sport. I broke down the VIN, Engine code P 8-400 2
Bar. Carb., Dual Exh. Their is a reproduction window sticker, but I have no
way to know if it is specific to this car. Your help is appreciated.
3 Answers
I don't believe there is anything in the VIN that would tell you since the "Sport" was a trim option. If you had the RPO codes from when the care was built, that would tell you the options it had. Otherwise, it is difficult to tell a real Lemans Sport from a Lemans clone. If you are not intending to show the car, it really does not matter except in the price being asked.
taver91, I've been doing my research, and you have put your finger on it. The only way to tell, is through PHS documentation and the reproduction window sticker. The car I'm interested in has those, and so I was able to determine that it is a Le Mans Sport. You are also correct, in that it makes a large difference in the value of the car.
Glad I could help. If you have the 2 barrel, 400 CID engine, I would bet on it being a true Lemans Sport if that is the original engine. Not many Lemans models were built with the 400, most were the 6 cylinder or the base 350 CID engines. If someone wanted 400 CID engine, they would think about upping the game and buying the GTO or buying what you have - a sport model with the bigger engine and GTO front end (an available option). My family had 2 of them; a blue convertible and a copper coupe.
