1971 Pontiac T-37 Pro-Touring - SOLD
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We know its low-key looks aren’t for everyone, but if you want what is arguably the nastiest Pontiac we’ve ever seen backed by incredible build quality and a load of creature comforts, you can scarcely do better.

The first thing people say when they see this incredible 1971 Pontiac T-37 is, “What’s a T-37?” The Pontiac T-37 was Pontiac’s response to the low-cost, high-performance twins from Mopar, the Plymouth Road Runner and Dodge Super Bee. Maximum engine, minimum cost. Some call it “GTO light” and that might be somewhat correct, but in a fair fight, I’d put my money on the T-37 every time.

The second thing people say when they see this car? “Holy cow, that’s a NICE car!” Yes, it’s a real-deal T-37, but the experts at Bair Customs have created something truly spectacular using their trusted formula of exceptional bodywork, capable suspension, and insane horsepower. It was not built by accident, either; it was built for a gentleman who owned a similar T-37 in high school and wanted to relive the excitement. So an ultra-clean 1971 T-37 hardtop was located, a complete car from out west with spectacular sheetmetal to serve as the foundation of this amazing build. The original 400 cubic inch V8 was gone, but as you’ll see, that wouldn’t matter anyway.

When you’re working with virgin sheetmetal, the job becomes a lot easier and it explains why this car is so straight—it just didn’t need any major surgery. It was originally Nordic Silver but the car that inspired this build was Sandalwood, so that’s what went on once every bit of bodywork was smoothed and finished. Typical of Bair builds, the gaps are quite good, everything lines up very well, and the doors close with authority, not a flabby whack like so many used-up GM cars of the period. The vinyl top was ditched and it give the T-37 a clean look that’s a big part of its Q-ship appeal. But unlike a lot of modern builds, nothing was shaved, deleted, or removed, so you’ve still got those interrogative-causing T-37 emblems plus the 400 badges down low that at least serve as a kind of early warning system for the kid in the Honda next to you. The finish is two-stage urethane, so it’s got a brilliant shine but it accurately captures the low-key ‘70s Sandalwood, and without the flashy wheels, this car might be the ultimate apex predator on the street (we’ll get to the horsepower in a moment). All the chrome and stainless was fully restored, including the ultra-rare front bumper and grille inserts, which added a little flash to the bargain-basement T-37 when it was new and still look great today.

That low-key, stock-with-a-twist vibe continues inside where you won’t find awkward-looking modern buckets but rather a stock bench seat with fresh OEM upholstery. Yep, this car packs a bench seat to go with its killer performance, and we love it. The materials are elegant, with textured cloth inserts in the typically durable GM vinyl, and I will personally vouch for the fact that it’s all-day comfortable with all that stretch-out room inside. Of course there’s a center armrest that makes it easy to get comfortable behind the wheel, which is a stock unit sitting on a modern tilt column. The factory gauges cover only the basics, but you’ll note that they’ve been beautifully restored, including the original clock which keeps time and reminds you that it’s working with a crisp “tick!” every minute. Auxiliary gauges have been added under the dash in the usual fashion, and they spring to life with a turn of the key, along with a digital tachometer strapped to the steering column that’s easy to read but low-key enough to stay out of sight. You’ll also note that this car was equipped with factory A/C, so that was retained, although there’s new hardware under the hood and R134a refrigerant, so it’s quite effective today. There’s also a killer AM/FM/CD/iPod/XM stereo head unit that sounds fantastic with kick panel and package shelf speakers. And yes, that’s right, you’re seeing five gears on the Hurst cue ball knob, complements of a Tremec 5-speed upgrade from Keisler Engineering. The back seat is every bit as spacious as you’d expect from a full-sized GM car of the period and the trunk is neatly finished with spatter paint on beautiful floor pans plus a full-sized spare with jack assembly. Nice, right?

I’m sure the T-37 was a legitimate threat on the streets of 1971, even with low-compression engines and net instead of gross horsepower ratings coming into play, but there was absolutely nothing on the streets back then that could run with this Pontiac today. As I said, the original 400 was long gone when the car was acquired, so they didn’t feel bad about pulling the wheezy small block that was in there and replacing it with something more…robust. That something was a 540 cubic inch Brodix big block built for combat. From the 4-bolt main block to the aluminum heads to the steel crank and rods, this engine is only barely civilized enough for the street. But if you’re a fan of “too much is just enough” then perhaps this is the right car for you. Now, that isn’t to say that it’s a handful, because it does just fine on the streets—just be warned because over 3500 RPM and the car launches like a rocket, so make sure it’s aimed where you want to go. There’s a big Holley up top, a large-by-huge roller cam inside, and compression that’s happy enough on pump gas, so no worries there. It has been recently tuned, so it’s happy idling in traffic with the A/C cranking, and thanks to a giant radiator and twin electric fans, it doesn’t get fussy. It’s beautifully dressed in race-grade fabricated aluminum valve covers, a trick serpentine belt accessory system from March, and a no-nonsense look that racers will instantly recognize.

As we mentioned, the Keisler Engineering 5-speed manual transmission shifts easily and uses a hydraulic clutch that’s light enough for your mother to drive and you already know how well those Tremec ‘boxes shift. Out back, there’s a bulletproof 12-bolt rear end with 3.73 gears on a Posi limited slip, so it definitely gets on the cam quickly but cruises pretty easily at 75 MPH in overdrive. The front suspension is enhanced by Hotchkis components, including tubular upper control arms, lowering springs, a fat sway bar, custom tie rods with heim joints for exceptional precision, and new bushings throughout. The rear suspension uses boxed control arms, custom springs, another giant sway bar, and performance shocks all around. Big vented disc brakes with two-piston calipers from Baer were fitted all around and this is one of those rare cars with aftermarket disc brakes that actually has a functional parking brake setup. There’s a new gas tank out back with a built-in electric fuel pump to feed the beast and the cackling Flowmaster exhaust system means this car speaks with an authoritative voice that gets respect even before you touch the throttle. And, of course, those sparkling 20-inch Lorenzo wheels make a bold statement and carry fat 235/35/20 front and 285/35/20 rear Nitto performance radials with only a few hundred miles on them.

There’s close to $100,000 in the build of this car and it shows everywhere you look. We know its low-key looks aren’t for everyone, but if you want what is arguably the nastiest Pontiac we’ve ever seen backed by incredible build quality and a load of creature comforts, you can scarcely do better. Put some less shiny wheels on it and this would be one heck of a sleeper (we might recommend the charcoal gray Rocket wheels found on the 1970 GTO Judge convertible in our inventory). We can also put you in touch with Jason Bair, the guy who built the car, and he will tell you about every nut and bolt on the car, and you should consider letting Jason upgrade the induction to fuel injection, which will civilize the car even more and make all 640 horsepower a lot more accessible to someone who isn’t a pro driver.

Make no mistake, this is a big kid’s car, not one for amateurs, but if you know what you’re doing, few others will dance with you as well as this Poncho. And for that reason alone it has quickly become one of our favorites. Call today!

Vehicle: 1971 Pontiac T-37 Pro-Touring
Price: SOLD
Stock Number: 112036
Odometer Reading: 47,577
VIN: 233371P156411
Engine: 540 cubic inch V8
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Gear Ratio: 3.73
Wheelbase: 112 inches
Wheels: 20-inch chrome
Tires: Front: 235/35/20, Rear: 285/30/20 Falken radial
Exterior Color: Sandalwood
Interior Color: Black vinyl
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