New one, 76 Astre

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New one, 76 Astre

Postby Bullet » Tue Mar 07, 2017 10:14 am

After several years of searching, I finally found my unicorn, a 76 Pontiac Astre. I had one 20+ years ago but it met an untimely death. I haven't even seen one locally for 18 years that I can remember. Usually what I saw for sale on the rare occasion I did see one for sale, was rotted parts cars missing a lot of Pontiac only stuff like tail lights, grills, etc. I found this one on CL in Murphy NC, about 3.5 hours away but close enough. It is complete except motor, still has its 4 speed trans. Black on black car with some interesting options. Rallye gauges, tilt wheel, PS, sway bars at both ends, yet AM radio still in it, manual brakes and no air. Currently has an interesting set of wheels on it with Shelby center caps. I think Montgomery Wards and Sears used to sell them, similar to a Western. It's complete and with only minor rust. The really cool part of the day came after I got the car loaded when I walked back to his garage, "Grumpy's Toy" XIII Monza, not a copy or tribute, the real deal. I got pics and will load soon. I have an Impala I have to finish up before the Astre get's its place in line but the plan is as it was 20 years ago, Pontiac 455/4spd combo, Pontiac Rallye wheels in 15x6 and 15x8, an all Pontiac answer to Baldwin's Super Vega.
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Re: New one, 76 Astre

Postby cammerjeff » Tue Mar 07, 2017 11:49 am

Congrat's looking forward to seeing pic's of both!
Jeff R

1971 Catalina Freeway Enforcer
77 Astre Formula, some day soon powered by a 215 Buick V-8
1973 4-speed Lemans Safari STOCK!!!!! 1978 Catalina Safari
2006 Mallet Solstice, 6.0 LS2, 6-speed manual
2009 Solstice Coupe, 2.4, 5-speed Manual
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Re: New one, 76 Astre

Postby dindin » Tue Mar 07, 2017 12:32 pm

Sounds nice..have fun with it!

Al
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Re: New one, 76 Astre

Postby avewhtboy » Tue Mar 07, 2017 3:36 pm

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=45129

Congratulations on the purchase I had posted that car here, looked like a clean car

Looking forward to the build log here!
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Re: New one, 76 Astre

Postby Bullet » Tue Mar 07, 2017 6:26 pm

Thanks, I had missed that posting somehow. It's had a repaint so it is possible it's a GT but I thought they typically had the headlight rings and grills trimmed in black. I know those weren't visible in the ad but they have no black accents. I'm going to order the papers from Pontiac Historical so I can verify what it came with. May have just been an oddball or had the guages and such checked on the order form. You still had a little freedom on buying a car then, not as much as the 60's and early 70's when you could get anything added or deleted you wanted, even if it wasn't on the standard order form. Today you have to select packages and none of them are very exciting.
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Re: New one, 76 Astre

Postby cammerjeff » Fri Mar 10, 2017 1:01 pm

You are correct that the GT's would have the blacked out head light bezel's but I do not think the grills were blacked out on the GT's. But as you already stated each of the options on the GT were available as stand alone options. And the fact the car is 40 years old, unless it is in unmolested original condition you don't know what previous owners may have done to it.

The PHS will tell you how it came out of the factory.
Jeff R

1971 Catalina Freeway Enforcer
77 Astre Formula, some day soon powered by a 215 Buick V-8
1973 4-speed Lemans Safari STOCK!!!!! 1978 Catalina Safari
2006 Mallet Solstice, 6.0 LS2, 6-speed manual
2009 Solstice Coupe, 2.4, 5-speed Manual
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Re: New one, 76 Astre

Postby RedFiveKBS » Sat Mar 11, 2017 8:47 pm

Sweet! I'd love to see an ALL Pontiac Astre done. :th:
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Re: New one, 76 Astre

Postby Bullet » Sun Mar 12, 2017 1:27 am

This would be ideal, but.....
https://tricities.craigslist.org/pts/6020400637.html
Actually I plan on aluminum heads to lighten the load so it wouldn't be a great engine for my purpose. The HO's didn't have the beefed up block so the main parts I would use are no different than a "garden variety" 455.
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