1971 Pontiac GT 37 (GTO / Lemans) "What is a GT 37?"
GTO pretty much owned the Muscle Car market in the mid to late 1960's, ut by the late 60's, hey had lost market share to increasing completion from more basic, ower priced, tripped down cars with "taxi cab" interiors and bench seats, uch as the Plymouth Road Runner. The GT 37 was Pontiac's answer to the increasing competition, dvertising the GT 37: "There's a little GTO in every GT 37, nd you don't have to be over 30 to afford it". The GT37 was only manufactured for two years, rom 1970 1/2 - 1971 1/2, ith a total production in the two years of 7,221 units. In 1971 they manufactured 5,802 units, ith only 572 units equipped like this car, ith a 400 CI 4 Barrel. The 1971 GT 37 could be ordered with the same engine and transmission as the 1971 GTO, nd was basically stripped down version of the GTO, ith all the power of a GTO, ighter weight, ith a lower price.
This car was originally special ordered by a Gentleman in Vancouver, ritish Columbia, anada, here the car remained until 2002. In 2002, t was sold, nd shipped from Canada to Southern California where it sat in a garage until 2014. The reason this car is so solid with minimal rust, s because of where it spent it's life- not exposed to snow and road salt like Midwest or East Coast cars. I purchased this car with the intention of restoring it, ut I have too many other projects going now, nd not enough time.
I have documentation for much of the history of this vehicle, ncluding the Pontiac Historical Services Report, uild Sheet, nd Import Papers from when the car was imported from the US to Canada, s well as the name of the original Owner, nd the dealer in BC Canada that it was delivered to. Pontiac Historical Services has verified that it is a true GT 37- not a clone.
Vehicle: 1971 Pontiac GT 37
Trim: 232- Ivory Vinyl Bench
Paint: 62 - Canyon Copper
Production Plant: Pontiac Michigan
Production Date: March 23, 971
Shipping Date: March 23, 971
Model Number: 23337- 2door sport coupe
Engine: 400 CID 300 HP V8
Factory Options:
B30 Carpet, loor & Wheelhouse
C50 Rear Window Defogger- Blower type
D35 Mirrors: LT Remote & RT Manual Control- Custom Sport
D80 Auxiliary Panel & Valance (Spoiler)
D98 Accent Stripe (Tape)
G80 Rear Axle- Positraction
Ho2 Rear Axle- 3.55 Ratio
L78 Engine 400 CID- 4 BBL V8
M20 4 Speed Transmission- Wide Ratio
N10 Dual Exhaust
N41 Power Steering (Variable Ratio)
N98 Wheel Rally II Road
PK5 G70X14 W/Letter Tires
UB5 Hood Mounted Tachometer
U63 Radio, ush button AM
WU2 Option GT
Z49 Mandatory Canadian Base Equip Modifications
W84 Additional Fuel For Delivery
The GT 37 package was a Lemans option, nd included the following:
35C HD 3 Speed Manual Shift- Floor Shift
PL G70 x 14 White Letter Tires
434 RTH & LH Body Color Mirrors
474 Rally II Wheels - Less Trim Rings
614 Rally Stripes
682 Dual Exhaust
Hood Locking Pins
GT Decal Identification
Since I've owned the car, 've replaced the battery, park plugs, park plug wires, nd the distributor with a new DUI /HEI Distributor. I also had the brake system checked, ince the car had been sitting for so long, nd was told the brakes were good, nd only had about 5,000 miles on them. The car is currently registered and drivable, o it would be a good car to either drive for now or during restoration, r restore at a later time. The main selling point for me and the main reason I bought the car was because I have owned GTO's in the past, nd almost all East Coast cars are rusted in the trunk where the inner wheel wells meet the trunk floor. As you can see by the pictures of the trunk, here is no rust inside the trunk. There is a small hole in the drivers side floor pan, ut the rest of the underbody and frame are solid. There are some rust bubbles in the paint on the bottom rear of the front fenders and rockers, ut only bubbles and no holes. The interior and headliner are mostly original, orn, ut unmolested. The seat covers were recovered at one time, ecause they are black, nd the original interior color was Ivory. There is no radio in the car presently, nd no speaker holes in the kick panels or doors, ut the entire interior including the headliner needs to be replaced. The windshield has a crack in it. Prior to leaving Canada, previous owner decided to paint the car its present color, hite, nd thought it would be a good idea to also paint the chrome bumpers white, I'm guessing they were trying to make the front end look more like a GTO). If I was to keep the car, would either replace or have the bumpers re-chromed. Also prior to leaving Canada, he engine was replaced with a non- numbers matching 400 CI, nd a Saginaw 3 speed heavy duty floor mounted transmission, which was the base transmission in the GT37). I am told but cannot verify that the engine only has 5,000 miles on it. The car has a Holley Carb, nd judging by the way the car idles, mild cam. This is a very solid car, ould be an excellent restoration candidate, nd is sure to apprciate in value due to the rarity of the GT37. Almost all necessary restoration parts can be purchased through "Ames Performance Engineering", nd other companies that specialize in Pontiac GTO restoration parts. * The State of Connecticut does not issue Titles for vehicles older then 1994, o the car will be sold with a Bill of Sale, nd a copy of the current Registration.