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Pontiac LeMans 5th Gen

1978 – 1981 — USA

The Pontiac LeMans was a model name used by Pontiac for various automobiles, named after the city of Le Mans, known for hosting the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Initially introduced as a trim upgrade package for the Pontiac Tempest, the LeMans later evolved into a standalone model in 1963. The Pontiac LeMans went through five generations from 1961 to 1981 (extended to 1983 in Canada), featuring rear-wheel drive (RWD) platforms. The first generation was a compact car, while subsequent generations (2-5) were classified as intermediates, catering to different market segments and evolving with changing automotive trends. A notable change occurred in 1988 when the LeMans name was revived for a sixth generation model, which departed from its traditional roots as a domestic RWD car. This sixth generation Pontiac LeMans, produced from 1988 to 1993, adopted a front-wheel-drive (FWD) configuration and was essentially a subcompact badge-engineered version of the Daewoo LeMans, manufactured by Daewoo in South Korea. Key Points: - The Pontiac LeMans was named after the city of Le Mans, known for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. - Originally a trim level for the Tempest, it became a separate model in 1963. - The first five generations (1961-1981) were domestic rear-wheel-drive (