John's Bermuda Blue '70 LeMans four-door sedan is an original, factory-equipped Hurst-shifted, four-on-the-floor car. Along with the M21 four-speed transmission, it was ordered with the optional 350 two-barrel V-8, Safe-T-Track differential, power front-disc brakes, Rally gauges with in-dash tachometer, simulated-wood sport-steering wheel, and rear-window defogger. It was built at the Fremont, California, plant and sold new at Talmadge "Babe" Wood Pontiac in Santa Rosa, California. According to Pontiac records, 2,315 LeMans were produced with manuals (three-speed or four-speed), but no breakdown of how many four-speeds went into four-door hardtops and sedans.
John's second Pontiac is even freakier. A '71 LeMans Sport four-door hardtop (no center pillar), also built at the Fremont plant and special-ordered by Warren "Monk" King for his Monk King Pontiac dealership in Denton, Texas, it's known as the Monk King Four-Door GTO because it was ordered with the T41 Endura styling option, which consisted of the GTO hood and Endura bumper. Other factory options include the L75 455 four-barrel engine, a Turbo 400, dual exhaust, Safe-T-Track differential, power front-disc brakes, Rally gauges, hood tachometer, honeycomb wheels, white-letter tires, power seats, and power windows and locks. According to Pontiac historian Fred Simmonds, only 30 LeMans Sports were ordered with both the L75 455 four-barrel and the T41 Endura styling option, but there is no breakdown of how many were installed in four-door sedans and hardtops. In addition, only 11 four-door LeMans Sport hardtops received the L75 455 powerplant.
Note: The LeMans Sport emblems and fender louvers were removed and replaced with GTO identification by a prior owner. The placement of the 455 emblem on the lower front fender is original to the car.
Factory Freaks: '70 LeMans four-speed sedan and '71 LeMans Sport 455 D-port hardtop
Why They're Factory Freaks: Four-speed manual in a four-door sedan, 455 and T41 Endura styling option on a four-door hardtop
Owner: John Chung
City/State: Houston, Texas
Randy's Firebird has such a strange combination of options that it classifies as a factory freak. Half of it is great stuff: Carousel Red paint, an M20 four-speed trans, custom interior, a console, the ride and handling package, and Rally IIs shod in F70-14 whitewall tires (when new). The other half is "cheap, bare-bones car," as Randy says: a 350 two-barrel, manual steering, and manual drum brakes.
It was built at the Norwood, Ohio, plant on June 4, 1969, and sold new at Lou Fusz Motor Company in St. Louis, Missouri. "The guy spent $669.31 on options for a 100-percent manual car to drive without the power of the 400 or the lighter weight of the OHC-6," Randy says. "This was not an easy car to drive below 35 mph."
Note: This factory freak now has a 400 and is being restored to RA III specs.
Factory Freak: '69 Firebird
Why It's a Factory Freak: Carousel Red paint with a 350, two-barrel, four-speed, and manual steering and brakes
Owner: Randy Ray
City/State: Gurnee, Illinois
John's '79 Trans Am has one of the most peculiar color-combinations we have ever seen-a Nocturne Blue exterior with an Oyster custom interior, and that's what puts it on our factory-freak list.
This Bird was built in Van Nuys, California, the fourth week of January 1979, and delivered to Weinman Auto Company in Olathe, Kansas; then to original-owner Charles Cooper. In addition to its freaky hues, it was ordered with a W72 400, four-speed, WS6 suspension, air-conditioning, Soft-Ray glass-all, color-keyed seatbelts, T-tops, and a CB radio with a power antenna. According to John, "In all the shows I have attended, this is the only Nocturne Blue/Oyster car I have seen, and the only hand-held CB radio of its type I've ever seen installed in a T/A. I'm still tring to determine if the unique CB radio is the original."
Currently, this cool-color-combo factory freak only has 16,000 miles on the odometer and still sports its original tires, paint, and interior.
Factory Freak: '79 Trans Am
Why It's a Factory Freak: Nocturne Blue exterior with Oyster interior
Owner: John Bush
City/State: Sagamore Hills, Ohio