Lot Shots Find of the Week: 1964 Pontiac LeMans

A parking lot is a parking lot is a parking lot—unless it’s the Summit Racing parking lot. On any given day or time, the lot outside a Summit Racing store can turn into an impromptu mini car show, depending on who’s stopped by the store. On Wednesdays, we’ll share our parking lot find of the week—another benefit of being Powered by Summit Racing Equipment.

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Just 63 cubic inches and 1.1 liters worth of engine make up the difference between this classic and its sibling legend — the original Pontiac GTO which many consider to be THE original American muscle car.

Before the Goat happened, a slightly tamer V8 (a 5.3L 326-cubic-inch) engine powered the 1964 Pontiac LeMans.

It’s not the easiest story to follow, but the LeMans was born in 1961 as the top trim option for the Pontiac Tempest. LeMans remained a trim option in 1962, but then in 1963, became a stand-alone model.

For model year 1964, General Motors introduced the GM A Platform, where the intermediate-sized Tempest was built, and the LeMans was once again a premium trim option for the Pontiac Tempest.

And that’s what you see here, parked outside of the Summit Racing retail store in Tallmadge, OH.

So, say hi to the car that, with a slightly bigger engine, helped birth the Muscle Car Era.

You’re welcome, America.

(Photos by OnAllCylinders contributor Lori Sams)