More cars that don't exist.......

I love getting emails from idiots challenging me. calling me names, and swearing they have some "Moon Rock" car, and then them being crushed when I produce irrefutable proof that their wrong. I guess I have a sadistic streak. Anyhow-here's a few I dealt with this week. # 1. This clown claimed to have a 1974 GTO-not one of the 7,058 350-powered Ventura based models-no, he had an extemely rare LeMans based one with a 400 and a 4-speed, that "slipped out" before Pontiac made the change. Because that's what the Idiot that sold it to him told him! Here's why he's wrong. Yes, Initially, the GTO was going to be continued on the "A" body LeMans platform for 1974. Except for minor trim changes it was going to be identical to the 1973 version of which they'd only sold 4,806 units. The brass thought that if the SD-455 was available in the Goat, it might jump-start sales. But then they decided that the Trans-Am was now the performance flagship, and that they shouldn't waste time on the GTO that was clearly a car without a market. Both the "A" body based Grand Am and the Grand Prix out sold the GTO by ten times in 1973. A few die-hards didn't want to give up on the legendary nameplate-and suggested going back to it's roots-a big engine in a stripped-down light car-a badass street fighter. That's where the idea for the Ventura ( read Nova )-based Goat came from. Since Pontiac V8s are externally identical from a 326 to a 455-and the 350 was already an option in the Ventura line-these guys suggeted dropping a 400 into the Ventura-much like the 1964 original when they dropped the "big car" 389 into the compact Tempest / LeMans. This was seriously considered-but then dropped because a 400 in a 3,200 lb Ventura would have blown the doors off a 3,800 lb Trans-Am even if it did have an SD-455. Since the T/A was now the flagship, that couldn't happen. And because of the gas crisis of 1973-74 the brass thought the 350 Ventura / GTO might sell anyway. So, all '74 GTOs were Ventura based and were 350 powered. What this idiot had was a "LeMans G/T". This option was still available on the LeMans for 1974-and yes you had basically the same car as the '73 GTO. The standard engine was a 400 4bbl rated at 225 hp ( '73's were rated at 230 ) with either an M20 Muncie 4-speed or a TH400. The L75 250 hp 455 was optional, but only with a TH400. They are rare-I think less than 1,000 were built-but they are a LeMans GT, not a GTO. Obviously some clown slapped '73 style GTO emblems on this car and duped this moron for big bucks. I think he said he paid $12,000 for it. That's actually not bad for nice 400 4-speed LeMans, but it's NOT A GTO in any way, shape or form!! # 2. Another Pontiac-this clown claimed to have a 400,4-speed 1972 GTO Judge. In 1970 Pontiac sold 40,149 GTOs-of which 3,797 were Judge models. This was down substantially from 1969 when they sold 72,225 GTOs of which 6,833 were Judge models. In 1971-sales plumetted to 10,000 units-down by 75% from 1970. Only 374 Judge models were built in 1971-357 hardtops and 17 convertibles and they were all 455HO powered. This was also the standard engine in the Trans-Am. In 1972-The GTO was no longer a separate model-it returned to being a option on the LeMans-and the standard engine was a 400 4-bbl rated at 250 net hp. Optional engines included the 250 hp L75 "Station Wagon" 455 and the 455HO rated at 300 hp.  Unfortunately, partly due to a late 1971 UAW strike- the re-designed "A" bodys that debuted in 1973 were slated to be '72 models-the '71s were carried over basically unchanged. It didn't help-sales halved again-to a paltry 5,807 units. Further muddling the waters-the "Endura" ( read GTO ) front bumper and scooped hood could be ordered on any LeMans model including wagons. There was also a LeMans "Sport" model and a LeMans "GT" package in 1972. This poor bastard didn't even have a GTO-I told him to contact Pontiac historical service and get the original window sticker. He had a LeMans Sport that was originally built with a 400 / 4-speed combo-but some schyster put a spoiler, a hood tach on it and '71 Judge style graphics on it and got this clown for $32,000!!! A nice 400 / 4-speed '72 LeMans might be worth 20K, but not 32!!! He got robbed. There was NEVER a 1972 Judge option. I felt sorry for the guy-he said-"I wish I'd contacted you or PHS before I wrote the check." Obviously. That's why the term "Buyer Beware" was coined. # 3. This guy claimed to have a "Rare" "SS454" 1974 Chevelle Laguna. In 1973-the "SS" option was still available-on any V8 engined Malibu-which included a 165 hp 2bbl 350, a 175 hp 4bbl 350, and the 454 4bbl which was rated at 245 hp-down 25 hp from the 270 hp rating of 1972. Also optional in 1973 was the "Laguna" plastic front end and grille-much like Pontiac's "Endura" set up. However-all of the "SS" models had the ugly steel chrome bumper. You could NOT combine the SS / Laguna options. ( In a Camaro-you could still combine the Rally Sport and Z/28 options ) You could get a 454 in a Laguna however. The "SS" option was dropped at the end of 1973. In 1974 the Laguna S3 was the top trim option, and the 454 was available, until 1975. But there was no "SS" package available in 1974. So he has a 454 Malibu with the Laguna package-but it is not an "SS" in any way shape or form. I can't stress this enough-before you pay big dollars for some "Rare Bird" verify if it is what the seller is representing it to be. Email me, or Hemmings Motor news, or Musclecar Review, Hot Rod, etc. Dennis Mecham is still in business in Arizona and will verify or de-bunk any "Macho T/A". Investigate before you spend your hard-earned cash. Mastermind