LeMans offers ride down memory lane

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This article was published 17/06/2022 (1550 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Coasting down the highway in his green 1971 Pontiac LeMans sport convertible serves as a ride down memory lane for David Balitsky.

Growing up, Balitsky’s father, Michael, had a beautiful green GM Beaumont. It was the ride he was introduced to first, he said, and became his “textbook” definition of a car.

“It’s [the LeMans] very similar because it’s a related, Pontiac-to-Pontiac. There’s only three years difference between them, so a lot of the elements are the same,” Balitsky said.

The cars share a common dashboard, the instrument cluster, the gauges and even the radio.

“Dad sort of inspired me as a kid, getting me initially interested in cars,” Balitsky said. “The [1971 Pontiac] was chosen simply because it was more of an echo and a tribute in a way to his old car.”

Once Balitsky purchased the car, he would take his father for drives, riding down memory lane together in the LeMans.

“He was active in the Knight of Columbus, so I would sometimes have a chance to drive him to little meetings and gatherings,” Balitsky said. “He had a chance of enjoying the car. He’s always been a Pontiac man, so he kind of inspired the choice to get this one.”

Balitsky’s dad died in 2016.

About eight years ago, Balitsky began the hunt for something cool and convertible. This adventure would lead to his discovery of the LeMans. His journey led to a toss-up between the green LeMans he purchased and a similar red model from 1970.

When he got behind the wheel of the LeMans after finding it in Winnipeg, he became the third owner of the ride.

Balitsky estimates the original owner had the LeMans for about 30 years. He said they took good care of it and completed some rust repair before selling it to a neighbour.

The Pontiac is unique as it boasts the Endura front end — a $41 option back in the day that involved trading in the chrome bumper for a rubber nose similar to the front end on the upscale GTO muscle car.

“It’s got the special hood with the snorkel. Now, mine isn’t hooked up. If I had the bigger motor, it would have the air induction,” Balitsky said. “This one is just the show package — it’s got the front end.”

The LeMans has the factory hub caps, and the car is essentially all original aside from a slight change of colour. The LeMans has a Turbo Hydra-Matic (auto 3 speed) transmission with a two-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, along with an early version of cruise control.

The LeMans boasts the signature Pontiac blue block 350 engine. The flathead has the bore and stroke of a big block, creating “a different animal under the hood.”

“I haven’t altered it and I don’t think anybody else has,” Balitsky said. “It still has the AM radio, hubcaps and everything as it was when it left the factory.”

Balitsky has an encyclopedia of knowledge of rad rides, a trait he has nurtured since he was a young boy. He can recall the lineage of cars and the unique quirks of different vehicles.

As a young boy in Shilo, he looked forward to spotting distinct rides on the road, racing to identify the make, model and year of all cars he saw.

“I’ve always loved cars and been fascinated. They were like rolling sculptures,” Balitsky said. “It got to be an obsession as a kid looking out the window thinking, ‘Wow! What is that?’”

The 1950s cars especially caught his eyes. He would be transfixed by the shine of the chrome, the “wild” fins and “Buck Rogers” futuristic glitz giving them memorable personalities. One needed a sharp eye back in the day to pick out the year, make and model as the designs changed annually.

Balitsky would look forward to rolling down the streets of Winnipeg in his father’s Beaumont bathed in the warm glow of the neon lights that adorned the downtown buildings. LeMans, Dodge Chargers and boattail Buick Rivieras would dot the road, adding to the joy of his car spotting.

“I can’t believe the car is 50 years old,” Balitsky said. “To me, I remember them, it was a normal used car when I was a kid.”

The Pontiac is part of Balitsky’s modest car collection, along with a 1960 Dodge Dart Seneca.

The cars will both be making appearances at the upcoming Super Run at the end of July. Balitsky described the biggest car show on the Prairies as a great opportunity to promote the hobby and his local car club, the Road Rebels.

The LeMans has been a good car to him. Balitsky has enjoyed hitting the highway with the top down, letting his problems fly away with the wind.

“It’s a wonderful driver, but it’s not been restored, so you can see there’s runs in the paint … like me, it’s not perfect, but it’s perfect for me and that’s what I enjoy about it.”

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