| Pontiac LeMans | |
|---|---|
 1971 Pontiac LeMans Sport hardtop | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Pontiac (General Motors) (1961–1981, U.S.) (1971–1983, Canada) Daewoo (General Motors) (1988–1993) |
| Production | 1961–1981 (U.S.) 1971–1983 (Canada) 1988–1993 (South Korea) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact (1961–1963) Mid-size (1964–1981, US) (1964–1983, Canada) Subcompact (1988–1994) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Pontiac 6000 |
The Pontiac LeMans /ləˈmɑːnz/ is a model name applied to automobiles marketed by Pontiac. The name came from the French city of Le Mans, the site of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's oldest active sports car endurance race that began in 1923. Originally a trim upgrade package based on the Tempest, the LeMans became a separate model in 1963.
In its first five generations spanning from 1961 until 1981 (1983 in Canada), the LeMans was a domestic RWD car; the first generation was a compact, with Gens 2-5 intermediates. From 1988 through 1993 the LeMans name was resurrected for a sixth generation, a FWD subcompact badge-engineered version of the Daewoo LeMans manufactured by Daewoo in South Korea.
Pontiac produced some notable GT/performance versions in the RWD models. The 1st generation not only featured a front-engine/rear-transaxle that very nearly resulted in an ideal 50/50 weight distribution, but also included four-wheel independent suspension for nimble handling, and could be ordered with an optional Buick 215 aluminum V8 engine. The Pontiac GTO is credited with popularizing the muscle car market segment of the 1960s, and by many as the first muscle car. The 1970 model year introduced the LeMans GT-37 package. The 1973-75 Grand Am and 1977 Can Am combined luxury with performance features to emulate European coupes, focusing on balancing handling with power.