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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 ��
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 ?
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).
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.
Certainly looks to be a great place to start a project from. How's the interior?
Is actually really nice. The dash is intact and only cracked on the passenger side. The carpet need to be replaced, it has a the permanent "barn" smell problem.
Long way to go for a family truckster. Things are always more fun when it is a family project.
What are your plans for it swap wise? Any reason you didn't drive it back?
Febreze works miracles on stale odors.
No swap plans as of yet. still tuning on the rebuilt carb, checking points, redoing the exhaust. the goal was to drive it home if possible. But it was raining all the way back to Texas. We did unload it and drive it home about 30 miles. Poured in some gas and swapped the wheels, I was relieved it made the trip without issue after sitting in a barn for so long.
When I get my shop addition complete and a couple of paint jobs done for some friends I'm going to get into a swap on my new project. A-Body wagons.....just cool. Definitely subscribing.
Glad to see someone finally picked this one up and from the sound lf things it found a good home. I have seen it listed off and on in SE South Dakota for maybe a year. Always thought it looked like a solid start with lots of potential. Have fun with it and make sure you keep a thread open on your progress.
Sweet wagons guys!! I've got wagon envy!! now that my wife has her Pontiac. I want a chevelle wagon!!
I'll keep going with the story..
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.
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!
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.
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'
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.
Even with the rain off and on it, we made decent time.
This old 'Weaver' tire changer was really cool to see in working order.
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 "
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.
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!
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.
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.
03-30-2016, 02:23 PM
1970 Lemans Sport Wagon project #beermesuzie 
