NPCC raffle car a slick, ‘72 Le Mans beauty

     The 2023 North Platte Community College raffle car, a 1972 Pontiac Le Mans Sport, will head south for its first appearance outside of North Platte.
     The raffle car will make its first appearance at the Cruisin’ the Bricks Car Show and Cruise Night in McCook from 3-7 p.m. CT on Saturday.
    Chase County Fair-goers on Saturday, Aug. 19, will get a chance to see the vehicle and buy tickets at the Car Nutz show along Wellington Street.
    The Le Mans is the 18th raffle vehicle produced by the college’s Transportation Division. It was restored by students in NPCC’s Automotive Technology and Auto Body Technology programs.
     Among the Pontiac’s features are a LQ4 6.0L engine, 4L80 transmission, four-wheel disc brakes, a Kilduff Shifter and Ford nine-inch, clutch-style Eaton Posi differential.
     The car is painted in PPG lightning blue, boasts a custom hood and front valance and comes with air conditioning and cruise control.
    The Le Mans will tour the state throughout the summer, making appearances at car shows, parades and cruise night events.  
    A total of 10,000 raffle tickets will be offered at a cost of $10 each. Proceeds will be used for student scholarships in the college’s transportation programs and to help offset the cost of producing the next raffle car project.
     Tickets will be sold everywhere the vehicle is displayed this summer, at the welcome centers of Mid-Plains Community College campuses in McCook, North Platte, Broken Bow, Imperial, Ogallala and Valentine and at North Platte area businesses.
    Kent Silvester in Imperial also has tickets, according to NPCC officials.
 The drawing for the Le Mans will be 2 p.m. CT Sept. 9 during the annual Colonel Cody’s Cruise Show and Shine in North Platte’s Memorial Park.