It’s easy to overlook a Pontiac that isn’t a GTO or a LeMans, but this 1969 Pontiac Tempest Custom S four-door hardtop has some interesting things going for it. Listed on Craigslist in Dallas, Texas, for $6,500, this survivor is advertised with a numbers-matching Pontiac 350 V8 and automatic transmission. According to the seller, fewer than 4,000 of these four-door hardtops were built for 1969, making this an interesting find for anyone who appreciates the less common members of Pontiac’s lineup. You can find the car here on Craigslist.
The Tempest Custom S was a one-year nameplate for 1969, positioned between the entry-level Tempest and the better-equipped LeMans. Production figures list 3,918 Custom S four-door hardtops that year. The seller describes this one as a survivor and says its original equipment includes working air conditioning, a functioning radio, working gauges, and even operational cornering lights. Those are some appealing features in a car that hasn’t undergone a full restoration.
One detail that caught my eye is the vent windows. I owned a 1968 Pontiac LeMans convertible, so I remember them well. For 1969, GM eliminated vent windows on many two-door hardtops and convertibles as it moved toward its Astro Ventilation system, but many four-door models kept them. That’s why this Tempest Custom S still has them, and I noticed that detail right away.
The car’s condition is another reason it caught my attention. The seller says the floors and trunk are solid, with only a small rust spot near the front fender. It was repainted at some point, but the trunk shows some fading. The weatherstripping is reportedly in good shape, and the windows still work properly. The odometer shows 5,000 miles, although it’s unclear whether that represents the car’s actual mileage. According to the seller, the car retains its numbers, matching a 350 cubic inch V8 and automatic transmission.
You don’t see many of these Tempest Custom S four-door hardtops getting much attention these days, but then again, that’s what a lot of us used to think about station wagons! Cars that were once overlooked can become pretty interesting down the road, especially when they’re survivors like this one. With its Pontiac 350 V8, automatic transmission, and original features, this Tempest has plenty going for it. Would you leave it as-is and enjoy it, or would you be tempted to restore it?
My grandfather had one of these when I was around 16.
I got to drive it a few times and I was surprised how much power it had for a plain Jane grocery getter. They are nice cars.
Wow, nice car, A/C works, little rust, clean, good pictures and reasonably priced! So many sellers out there can learn a lot from this ad! I wish I could buy this car, I’d preserve and enjoy it for what it is.
Has someone removed the vinyl top and painted the roof?
Steve R
The “59 50” paint code on the cowl tag translates to “Limelight Green body with a Cameo White painted top”.
Thanks, I saw the trim and assumed vinyl top.
It seems reasonably priced if the pictures and description match its actual condition. It’s a bit surprising its remained unsold after 7 days.
Steve R
Same here. I always seemed to see these with a vinyl top, I don’t remember ever seeing one with a painted roof in a contrasting color. It makes sense they’d use the same trim.
It’s a really nice change of pace to see what once was a more common pedestrian Tempest 4 door hardtop in such nice condition. I like GTOs, don’t get me wrong, but these were volume sellers that also kept Pontiac in business. I’m thinking this had a vinyl top when new judging from the chrome roof trim. If they painted it to match they did a nice job. I’m with Zen I’d simply drive it polish it and enjoy it for what it is.
Gm A Bodies of this era have styling that could be best described as awkward. The lines flow for the 2 doors, the 4 doors look like an afterthought. I would rather just find a wagon
What the heck are those hubcaps??
JC Whitney ’55 Oldsmobile knock off spinners.
We used to call them “flippers”.
Awful is what they are…..
I had a 69 custom s rag top 350 4 barrel 400 trans posi rear had low fuel gage light and speed warning wish I still had it. Traded it after I out ran the cops it’s was a 330 hp car and fast just ask ny state troopers and village of Wappingers cops
Nice car, good price. Dash reminds me of the 69 Cutlass. 350 and 3 speed auto, it can move well, even with 265hp version
If this actually had a lime body and white top, it deserves to be repainted to stock colors. Would be a striking looking car!
Pity paying for a paint job would cost 2-3x cars value. It needs a buyer with skill to do it themselves
I do like cars that would be the only one around.
never saw a tempest with cornering lights. this a great survivor. i would do around of springs and a set 15×7 rally 2s some duals and enjoy it. this may get bought and used to redo a basket case GTO which would be a shame. 6k you cannot go wrong. won’t see another at a cruise.
Very cool car I would love to daily drive this one. Keep it up and drive as is.
judging by the condition under the hood, it was a rough 5,000 miles.
Or an easy 105,000 miles. (Most likely)
Nice car, of course I’m a bit of a Pontiac guy. (While in college worked at a Pontiac/Honda store Jan.1972 to Aug. 1975.) Luckily for me the general manager/part owner was a performance kind of guy and had me driving anything fast and interesting that came in on trade and/or came in from the factory. He was the one that really encouraged me to do some competition driving and introduced me to my next boss who was my racing mentor. Rest in peace Jim and Kern!
The pics in the ad show 97873
I would leave as is and drive and enjoy ir knowing hardly anyone still has one.
I had a 1970 LeMans Sport 4-door hardtop, which I bought after my 1971 GTO got t-boned. The plan was to swap out usable parts from the GTO (the front clip, the bucket seats and the console) and “graft” it into a 4-door GTO. Since it had a 400ci engine, it did move rather swiftly, but not like the GTO, which the 455HO was toast after my foot got stuck on the throttle and it threw a rod out of the block – not a pretty sight. The hardtops did have a nice look to them, which is why I wanted to salvage what was left of the GTO, and it did look okay with the ’71’s snout on it. If I had had more time and resources, I could have made it look really good, but I was a 23-year-old kid with big ideas and a small wallet. I miss both cars – they were really good vehicles!
There was a couple at our church
that had the exact twin of this car
and I can tell you first hand that the color combo on this car looked great. And I got to get my
hands in it after a heater hose blew one Sunday after the service
let out. Now, if you’re an old fart
like me, you’ll recall that everything was closed on a Sunday. There was no way I could go and get a new hose after church so I fixed it with what I had in my tool box. What I
had was a small piece of pipe the
same inside diameter of the broken hose and 2 hose clamps.
I took the piece of pipe and slipped the two broken halves of
the hose over both ends of the pipe and used the clamps to keep
things together. I.got them as tight as I could do they wouldn’t leak, filled the radiator, and looked for leaks. I told Mr. Frank
that if he got the new hose, clamps, and antifreeze, that I’d put it on for him if he could bring
the car by that Saturday morning
while the ladies were cleaning the
church. He did and I got it all squared away and winterized down to -84°. I was 14 then and I
was the church mechanic. I’d come into church on Sunday mornings with my large print Bible in one hand, and my tool box in the other and 2 pair of coveralls stashed in the fellowship hall in case I needed them. I sure do miss those days.
You had a rewarding life before your music career, Ken!
I took after my Dad somewhat, too, hanging with him in the garage which led to my after school job at a Union 76 station right across main street from my parents’ house.
To this car, as I’ve said here before, I like the ’68-’72 mid-size GM 4-door hardtops. Very odd option with cornering lamps, but I like the colors. A contract for my life might be let if I said add fender skirts. My favorite mid-size Pontiac is the Luxury LeMans with skirts.
Those hubcaps might look good on a ’56 black and white Olds 88 at the drive- in. I’d find the Pontiac sport rims in 15″ with ww tires.
I too was my Dad’s shadow growing up. Whether we were restoring a Corvette (2 a ’55 and a ’58 that Dad kept as his daily driver) overhauling the 265 in Grannies ’56 4 door sedan. Or tuning up Grannies later hot rod ’56 Oldsmobile with the hot cam, ’57 heads (larger valves?) Dual exhaust and 4 bbl. (She decided she wanted an automatic instead of 3 on the tree that was in the ’56 Chev. Or changing the clutch on the neighbor’s International tractor. I was doing tune-ups at 8 years old and never looked back from there. I sure miss Dad. He would have been with me everyday building my house. RIP Dad!
Top was painted separate at the factory . No vinyl roof was a deduct and much better for the car! No, it’s not a trick!
Pontiac was the only GM division to offer cornering lamps on the 68-76 A bodies. I have seen the option on the GTO, never on a 4 door. Very very rare.
I’d leave it the way it is and drive it. It deserves to be out in the light, not tucked away in a garage somewhere!
I have a nice set of hubcaps off a 67 Tempest that would look good on that ride.
SOLD! (Probably) Someone recognized what a cool car this is. Great driving car with ample power to start with. These don’t look nearly as dorky today as they did back in the day. I would have never considered a four-door then, but I have 2 now. This would have made a great addition!
I’ve never seen a Tempest with cornering lights before. Only GPs and Bonnevilles back then.