American beauty

AMERICAN MUSCLE CAR CLUB LIFE MEMBER JOHN MURRAY DRIVES A 1972 PONTIAC LEMANS GT 400

What are you driving?

A 1972 Pontiac LeMans GT 400; engine, 400 ci; transmission, TH400 automatic. Its colour is Lucerne Blue, the interior is deluxe cloth and vinyl. The options are a hood tach, factory eight-track stereo, air conditioning, tinted glass and a rear “surfboard” spoiler. It still has its original spare tyre from 1972. It was assembled at the Lakewood, Atlanta plant in June 1972 and sold new in South Carolina for US$3512.52. There were only 614 Pontiac GT400 4 barrel cars produced in 1972.

Why a Pontiac?

I liked the look and style of the Pontiacs and it did look nice in that colour. And I knew, from previous experience, they are great driving cars. It was bought in early 2014 from Raleigh in North Carolina and we use it for club runs and also if we just feel like going for a run in the country on a nice day.

When did your passion for American cars start?

I have always been a huge fan of American cars. As a young kid in the 60s, I would buy American car magazines to keep up to date with the latest news and models. I wrote to the big three in Detroit for new car sales brochures and they would always send them to me. It was like Christmas opening the large envelope and seeing those awesome cars. I was also lucky that my parents had a few American cars in the 60s and 70s and I was allowed to drive them — carefully of course.

Have you had to do much work on it?

A quick tidy up, a cut and polish, some new wheels and tyres and it was good to go.

Who else drives your Pontiac?

I’m fine with most of my family and friends having a drive.

What do you always keep in your car?

Gas.

Would you sell it or is it a keeper?

It’s a keeper . . . for now.

What other cars do you have?

A couple of Chevelles, and a couple of Oldsmobiles. My daily driver is a Commodore.

First car you owned?

A 1954 Hillman Californian. It wouldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding but I did manage to blow the engine going down the Southern Motorway.

Your dream car?

I am lucky enough to already have it, with the 1970 Chevelle.

Who taught you to drive?

My dad, when I was 14, in a 1960 Fairlane 500. He was a good teacher as he taught all of us kids to drive and we all passed the test first time. Mind you, it was just a drive around the block in those days.

Favourite racing driver?

That’s a difficult question as I followed most types of auto racing. Probably Bruce McLaren as he put New Zealand on the international map. Locally, I liked going to the circuit racing here watching the likes of Paul Fahey, Rod Coppins and lots of other good drivers from that era.

I also followed Meremere Dragway from the 70s and the US drag racing from the 60s with the likes of Grumpy Jenkins and Jungle Jim. I was a big fan of the Trans Am series in the US from the late 60s with guys like Pensky, Donohue and lots more. The 60s, in my opinion, was the greatest time for all types of motorsport.

Strangest, publishable thing you’ve done in a car?

Not exactly me, but, about 16 years ago I lent the Chevelle to a company for an advert for an oldies’ radio station. We got the shock of our lives when we saw the advert. The advert was a Starsky and Hutch take-off, they came around the corner sideways, came to a screaming halt, one of them jumped out of the car and slid right down the bonnet. We raced out to the garage to check the car. Fortunately there was no damage. It was the first and last time I lent that car out.

And being a fan of muscle cars, how do you feel about technology and cars?

Hybrids etc are not my thing, I much prefer an engine and rear wheel drive.