66/67 Lemans
 

So I'm driving back from Atlanta to Memphis Sunday and I have to go through some small towns. I'm keeping an eye out for old abandoned treasures and wouldn’t you know it.... I see either a 1966 or 1967 Pontiac Le Mans or GTO sticking out of some woods in this guys back yard. Keep in mind I'm driving 75 mph so it is just a quick snapshot in my brain. The front cap was gone but I spotted it in the back yard. All I saw was from the windshield back to the tail lights (did not get a good look at the tail lights) and the front end of the front cap.

I'm debating on driving back and asking if it is for sale. So the question is, if it is a plane jane 66 or 67 Le Mans shell or a GTO shell. I think no motor. What’s it worth? I couldn't tell on how bad the rust is but lets just assume it is not to bad of shape.

What do you think its worth if it is a basic Le Mans roller body? What if it is an actual GTO roller body?

Well, either way, a body, with no front end, no drive train, and sitting out in the weather for who knows how long, it is not worth much. No difference in the lemans or GTO other than a trim tag and emblems. Being in that area, outside, it will be full of rust more that likely. I am guessing $1500 at the most? Of course, it you get there, and it is not like above, the guy has a 389 tri power numbers matching engine and a front clip, the sky is the limit. Check it out and see, never hurts to stop and look. I have bought more than my share that way. :thumbsup:

And if you come through Atlanta going to Memphis you come through my town, Douglasville, Ga. on I-20 west. Let me know when you are through and we'll get some Bar-B-Que.

Thanks Bill. I'll let you know if I end up going back. Might do it. Fun to look.

Jim, I do remember seeing a Douglasville sign. I remember it because....I'm Doug. :D Thanks for the offer.

Never hurts to look.

I get into trouble all the time because I turn around right then and investigate. I guess that's why I have a fleet of tcars and trucks that are "good projects" but none even close to being finished. Speaking of finished, Tndude, you know any mobile blasting services in our area. (I've tried Midsouth to no avail.)

Tbell: sure don't know of any. I bought a small blaster and I'm going to give it a try myself. I plan to use extra fine black beauty when I throw it on the rotisserie. There use to be a free magazine at Kroger (Mid-South Rides?? I think??) that might have had an add for that. Could be wrong and come to think of it...I have not see the mag. in a while. It use to be by the door on the way out. Good luck.

Bill: the cars front cap was off the car but I spotted it over to the side. I saw the front of it which helped me to quickly realize it was a lemans. So considering the front end does exist. Do you still think ballpark $1,500 for a roller?

Still my guess until you really take a hard look at it. If it was totally rust free and pretty much all there, you could double, maybe even 4X the number, but I really doubt that will be the case if it has spent much time outside in Ga. :thumbsup:

Hey TNDUDE, I'm in Tennessee too. JAckson, TN 80 miles east of Memphis down I-40. If you live near Jackson and looking for a specific old car, let me know. I run across old backyard gems quit often. I love to spot them and try to buy me,but most folks would rather watch them rust in the backyard than not watch them at all. I figure they think an old car makes a good prop to shot their Beer Cans off of. :willy:

I guess we have quite a few members in TN.

Bill, is sheet metal/body panels (repro.) just as readily available for a 66/67 lemans as it is for a 69 camaro?

Cool. I hope to relocate to Manchester/Tullahoma area this summer.

Quick update. Well I had an itch to get out of the office today so I drove to see the car. It is about 30 miles or so outside of town. I didn't remember exactly where the house was but I found it. This was a lesson on when NOT to stop and look at a car. When I got to the house (sort of out in the country) I quickly realized that this was not a house that someone actually lived in. I HOPE! Trash everywhere - looked more like a dump.... literally. There was a run down service station across the street and thought it would be better to ask if they knew about the car before I walked the property. Apparently, it belonged to a family that was killed in a fire in a mobile home. The old man in the service station said people stop all the time but the next of kin won't sell it. I asked if he thought it would be ok to look and he said yes.

So I go back across the street and look at it and sure enough...it said GTO next to the grab handle on the passinger side. It is not in the best shape. Basically a rusty body with no interior, motor, trans. The front cap was off the car and was over to the side of the car. It needs new floors.

I then notice another lemans on literally on its side with the front cap next to it also. There were vines that had grown all over the entire car.

OK, here is where it got scary. No one was around. The windows on the home were broken....could have been a crack house. A guy drives up and jumps out quickly. He had a look on his face like he was about to kick some ass. Luckily, I remembered the name the old man said owned the car. I think this guy was 30ish. and didn't look right. I quickly asked, "Are you James?" He looked sort of stunned that I knew his name. Guys, I swear this guy was on Meth or something (not to mention the Meth mouth didn't help with the looks). I did some fast-talking to convince him I was not there to steal the car and that I had spoken to the old guy across the street and asked him if it was ok before I stepped on to his property. He proceeded to tell me the car was not for sale and so I got the hell out of there. :eek:

I'm all about asking people if cars are for sale (and I'll knock on your door) but I will never do that again. If the area looks as bad as this one....its not worth it.

Whew! Glad that’s over. :willy:

He probably had the Meth Lab in the trunk on the car. What cop is gonna look for a meth lab in the trunk of a GTO? :rofl:

The car wasn't in Huntington was it? :lol:

Man!....That sounds like something that happend to my dad....He stoped to look at a 70' nova it was a origanal 396 375 hp and the guy did the same thing and its just sitting there rotting......... :(

Not really, Ames is the best place I have found. The parts place is not bad either.