1970 Lemans Sport Wagon project #beermesuzie
 

My wife has been looking for a wagon for over a year, plus she's a Pontiac fan. Some how, she came across this 1970 'Verdoro Green' Lemans Sport Wagon. I was shocked to see it still has the original XX code 400ci engine with th400 automatic trans. Unfortunately the second owner had it painted some time in the last 6 months. After getting past the darker color... she wanted it.. Happy wife, happy life right?? Here is a photo from the seller when they bought it and after his repaint ��

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So we loaded the trailer in Texas, and headed for South Dakota to pick it up. It was an adventure to say the least.. the weather was bad, rain and humidity immediately reminded me that the blower motor in our truck had recently gone out.. that required some creativity to keep the windshield from fogging up. #becauseroadkill ?

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Since this trip was to pick up a Pontiac, we asked my father-n-law "Hank" to come along. He owns a Ram air-3 1969 GTO. Its been in the family since the 70's and transported my wife home from the hospital after she was born. Lots of sentimental value there. Ofcourse my wife had to stop at Wyldewood Cellars to restock her supply of mead (wine).

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We left Texas early on Friday morning and, to break up the trip, we stayed the night in Hank's home town of Geneva, NE. His child hood home was a great place to get some rest, have some drinks and take some creepy photos.


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So we are in Nebraska, its 7am and 36 degrees out.. after warming up the truck we head north for Vermillion, South Dakota. Its about a 4 hour trip thru farm land, ethanol plants, and feed lots. We finally make it to the Missouri river and get to see the famous "double deck" Meridian Highway bridge. Its an awesome reminder of the industrial age.

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The bridge crosses the Missouri River, connecting Yankton, South Dakota to the north with Cedar County, Nebraska to the south. Prior to the construction of the bridge, traffic moved between these two points via a ferry service, started in 1870, and a seasonal pontoon bridge, first installed in 1890. The pontoon bridge was disassembled and rebuilt twice a year, once to float on open water, and once to be placed on solid ice. After a 1915 initiative to build a permanent bridge faltered with the U.S. entrance into World War I, a new effort was started by the Yankton Chamber of Commerce 1919. the new bridge, featuring a movable span to allow for river navigation, was completed during the summer of 1924.

Enough American history- We turn off the highway onto a dirt road and goes on for almost 10 miles. If that wasn't enough, we finally arrive at a farm with a 1/4 dirt road that leads to the house with a large barn behind it. We look over the car, strike a deal, and just like that- Happy wife, Happy life!


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We stopped for lunch in downtown Vermillion. My wife's cousin made a 3 hour drive to meet for beers. After catching up we headed south back to Nebraska with a few obligatory scenic stops.


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We took a wrong turn out of Vermillion that led us past another winery, so what do you know.. Cynthia made us stop for 'tasting'

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Cool wagon and who doesn't love a good road trip. What is the cutout in the rear bumper for?

Nice trip and great to see the wife in for the fun of this hobby.

I am in for the build... like the story.

My wife wants a fist gen Vette, done up.

I wonder if I could get her into an Olds Vista Cruiser, with the roof windows?

sweet car! looks like there was some new wheels for it in the back of the truck too!

The cut out is for fold down "step" to load the roof rack on estate model wagons, not sure if the bumpers were used for the sport model, but I haven't found any without the step... or with the step for that matter.

thanks, Its great to have the family involved in a new project.

I think so, sell her on the "sky light" windows lol

You're correct, we took wheels and tires to try to drive it home, but rain was in the forcast and the wiper blades are shot!

After our wine "tasting", we head south with the car and make a few extra stops at some of the cool places along the way. Nebraska doesn't disappoint with great hole in the wall spots to visit.


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Even with the rain off and on it, we made decent time.


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This old 'Weaver' tire changer was really cool to see in working order.


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Just before we get into Geneva, NE. We stop at a local store that has 30 packs of "old mill" for $13.99. This store is my father n laws secret to cheap beer, not my flavor but he made us stop and make the wagon live up to her name " #beermesuzie "

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Eddie's Service Station is neat old ethyl station in Geneva, a local guy
spent a lot of time restoring the building keeping the historic look.

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That is what so nice about that era of station wagon They had lots of room and they had style.I had a 1972 Chevelle wagon so I know.http://s1064.photobucket.com

Very cool and good looking ride. :thumbsup:

#TBT- learned to drive on our family's nearly new '71 Olds VistaCruiser...miss that car.

We really wanted to drive the car home but it just wasn't worth fighting the rain. Close to Texas the rain cleared up but the traffic got thicker with construction on I35. After making it thru the traffic we arrived in Flower Mound, TX. The long drive had worn us out but Cynthia wanted to check out the wagon and drive it to our home in Fort Worth. So the car came off the trailer, we changed the wheels, checked the fluids and went for it!



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The drive home reassured us that suspension and steering were top priority. So the wagon went to our shop immediately for Viking coil overs, a quick ratio steering box, new tie rods, tubular arms on the stock spindle, we used proforged stock lower, and tall upper ball joints to help us achieve the alignment specs we wanted.

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Then she was off to the alignment and exhaust appointment. We Gibson's new MWA series mufflers, really great sound on the old poncho motor.


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Great looking project. I've been wanting to build an old wagon for awhile. Which controls arms did you use?

thanks! it took us year to find a decent wagon to start with. The arms are global west knock offs with proforged ball joints installed.

The wagon is running good after a few adjustments, the drum brakes are sketchy at best. Those are next. This thing cleans up pretty good. I'm searching for a factory AC lemans dash if anyone has a lead!


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I'm amazed at just how well this thing cruises, it must have a really long gear ratio, but it does have posi in the BOP axle, so that's a win for us !!


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Kids are amazed at old school cubby holes. We had a blast at a local car show where the wagon got best under construction.. I guess they liked the back story and were surprised to see a woman driving it.


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