Under the hood is a super-clean...
Under the hood is a super-clean engine bay, housing a 0.030-over Pontiac 400 with 670 heads, dual quads, and some brightwork.
One of the Goat's most notable mods is a set of Hurst wheels that Joe found while perusing the swap-meet area of an event. They measure 15x6 up front and 15x8 in the rear, and wear 205/60R15 and 295/50R15 BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires respectively, to add to that classic '70s and '80s retro "big and littles" appearance. Stock front discs and rear drums keep the Tiger from kissing a tree for the second time.
After five months of putting in long days and late nights, the LeMans was finally completed. Joe's wife, Gretchen, was supportive throughout this project as well as the rest of his Pontiac restorations. "I thank her for tolerating it, but she's into the hobby, too," he says. Their first date was a cruise, and they couldn't get enough since. "For the past four years, we've celebrated our anniversary at the GTO Nationals, and she loves it." Joe's wife isn't the only family member who enjoys the ragtop, though. At a recent family reunion, Joe took his 80-year-old aunts out for a spin with the cutouts open, and they loved it, too, especially the burnout.
The dashpad has been replaced...
The dashpad has been replaced with this custom fiberglass mold, which was sprayed the same color as the body. It's complemented by the Parchment seat covers and door panels. Note the owner-added wood wheel, Rally Gauges, eight-track, and tissue dispenser.
Not just fun on the street, this drop-top is also a regular on the show circuit, winning First Place in the popular vote at the GTO Nationals in 2006, taking home the Gold in the Modified class for 2007, and First Place in the Popular vote in 2008. It also won Best In Class for modified convertible in 2007 and 2008 at World of Wheels in Pittsburgh.
Despite the accolades for its current configuration, this LeMans is always evolving. "My favorite thing about it is that I can continue to modify it without damaging its collector value since it's not a factory-built GTO. If I want to change something, I always can."
Joe cruises in his convertible regularly from May to October, since Pennsylvania winters can get a little cold and snowy. "People think I'm crazy because I take it out so much. They say I'm going to mess up the nice paint job, but that doesn't bother me."
When you're addicted to something, you'll do anything to get your fix, and Joe is willing to take that risk. "It's not just a hobby," he says, "it's an addiction."
 The fully finished and carpeted...  The fully finished and carpeted trunk provides a great place to display items at the shows. |  Applied by hand, Bruce Smith's...  Applied by hand, Bruce Smith's (Conway, Pennsylvania) delicate touch created the "Addiction" callouts seen on the front and rear of the LeMans, which incorporate tiger tails. This adds a personal touch and further contributes to the ragtop's throwback look. The name was chosen because Joe feels it aptly describes his passion for Pontiacs. |  Tiger graphics and orange...  Tiger graphics and orange stripes were added by Bruce after the original photo shoot. |