Many most likely remember the Pontiac G8 ST concept, the rebadged Holden VE Commodore ute which made its rounds around the auto show circuit before General Motors’ financial woes spelled the end to the brand itself.
Many probably don’t remember, or are even aware, it wasn’t the first time Pontiac dabbled in the sport truck category. The proof is in this one-of-one 1968 Pontiac LeMans Sport Truck prototype.
Bring A Trailer has highlighted the vehicle, which is currently for sale through Hemmings for $49,000. The 1968 LeMans Sport Truck prototype was essential built atop a Chevrolet El Camino platform, but Pontiac bits and design cues made for a different vehicle altogether. These were the days before badge engineering was a prevalent answer to vehicle segments.
The seller states the car has 34,000 original miles, and the 350 cubic-inch V8 is as potent as ever. The off-hue banana paint color and wood paneling is downright time-appropriate, and wears well to create a unique look nothing like the El Camino it’s based upon.
The 1968 Pontiac LeMans sport truck prototype will be sold along with the original dealer paperwork and include original newspaper articles about the car’s arrival. Perfect window ornaments for inevitable classic-car cruise-ins for the curious to peer over.
Comments
You are aware Pontiac first built their own version of the El Camino back in 1959?
It was built and is in private hands today.
Also Pontiac built another on back around 1978 again.
Pontiac had wanted a version but many of the years were covered by the GMC version already sold in most Pontiac dealers.
The conversions were not difficult as you make sound above as it modtly was a front clip change. More have been built in private hands and that is why documentation is important here.
This vehicle went through one of the big auctions with the details noting it was built by a Pontiac dealer in his own shop and then presented to gm as a potential real build but turned down by corporate
Kind of like the Pontiac G5 that had a LNF turbo in it built by the Lordstown plant. They built it on their own and tried to sell GM on the idea of Performance for a Performance division Pontiac. It got turned down and scrapped.
Close to 50 years later and still interest in the El Camino, Sprint (GMC). Woulda thought the Big Shots would take advantage and sell them again. Wonder if they have a clue?
Harvey I want one as much as anyone but I understand the realities of it.
IF GM has not gone Chapter 11 we would have shared the Ute with Holden. But that went away and just was not a priority to bring in only around 10K units even as a Chevy on a dying Zeta.
The problem is with the price they would charge here on this vehicle today would be similar in price to a large truck. The take rate would be small and among the enthusiast like ourselves. Once we who follow through with out promise to buy the market would be come very slim and tough to make a profit in.
Most truck buyers would buy a truck over this and many and many performance buyers would just buy the Camaro for the same price. Only those of us who still prize this configuration would be of interest and many of us would be priced out.
Their best bet is to do a Colorado ZQ8 and do it right. I loved my Sprint SP but I also liked my ZQ8 Sonoma too. It could haul more than the Sprint and it was like a Camaro with a bed. I just with the 4.3 had more power.
The fact is GM has a good clue and the fact is there is just little profit in this as it is now. They can make more with other projects and to fill a niche like this would be small in profits and limited in volume.
I wish it were different as I would buy one in e heart beat but it is what it is. Companies are here to make money not make small markets happy unless they can charge enough for it to make money.
Yeah pretty much true but it still would have been nice for them to have brought this to us here in America, oh well.
Not getting the G8 version here killed me but I fully understand. I am one of few that would have bought one as I like the odd vehicles. I loved the Sprint SP I had and still wished I had it. Though the Big Block in it was a pig since it was a 1972 model.
Scott3, I also had a Sonoma ZQ8 and loved it. Would have bought another but they aren’t available either. “Settled” on a 2014 Silverado 2wd reg cab reg box. Don’t think I will ever get used to the SIZE of it? Seems much bigger than the ’90 Sierra I had. Same basic truck but had 5-speed stick. Just seemed smaller and lower. Colorado is so long even with extra cab.
Bring back the El Camino