According to the ads I hear on TV, the radio, and even streaming services, every month is Truck Month in America, but I believe it’s time for March to make a change: it’s Y-Body month here at Barn Finds. This is the second decent BOP compact convertible I’ve written about in the last ten days, the other being a ’62 Olds F-85 that sold on eBay for $12,400. This ’62 Tempest needs more work than the Oldsmobile, but it’s probably a few garage weekends away from being a solid driver. The seller is throwing in “a treasure chest of parts of a complete restoration,” but unless the car is significantly worse in real life, I can’t image why anyone would tear it down to a bare shell. The best news? It’s for sale on craigslist in Colchester, Vermont, for $5,000. The always sharp-eyed T.J. spotted it and sent it our way.
The seller seems more excited about the extra parts than the car itself; they list the following:
- Brakes – pads, drums, wheel cylinders, springs, hoses, and cables
- Suspension – springs and shocks
- Interior – upholstery, door panels, and trim
- Assorted – two sets of OEM hubcaps, trim, etc.
It will need a windshield, a carpet, and a convertible top, according to the seller.
Clearly, the seller or some previous owner had big plans to do a rotisserie restoration, but the Tempest just doesn’t look that bad to me. I’d keep the parts as spares and enjoy the car now rather than spending a few years blowing it apart and then being afraid to take it anywhere. The close-up pictures don’t indicate that the rockers are built from body filler or anything egregious, but it’s certainly worth a closer look, especially considering that it’s from the northeast.
Additionally, there’s little-to-no financial upside to a restoration; this is a base Tempest with the standard one-barrel 194.5-cubic-inch four cylinder. Like the majority of Tempests, this one has the “TempesTorque” automatic transaxle (located in the rear of the car), so the engine got a compression bump to 10.25:1 (from 8.6:1 for the stick cars). That gave it an advertised ten-horsepower increase to 120. The aluminum 215 was still a rarely-ordered option, as was the four-barrel four cylinder, which delivered 166 horsepower (that one would have been a hoot to drive). The engine in our featured convertible starts and runs, but the seller says nothing about the car’s stopping or moving.
Back in the ’90s when I was still living at home with my parents, a neighbor down the street had a Tempest convertible that was a restoration project. Even back then, I had little confidence that it would ever see the road again, and he moved before I had a chance to see the work being done. But years later, I saw it at a local car show, and it was beautifully restored, so maybe someone will take this Tempest to a high level and show it off like my old neighbor did. But if it were my decision, I’d be taking a magnet and a stack of bills along to take a look, because this would be a really fun “get it back on the road” project for the summer. What do you think?
Looks like a solid driver. Replace the top and go through the mechanicals and you have an affordable driver. If it’s as solid as seen in the pictures the asking price is very fair especially if you like to be shaken and stirred with the Trophy 4. Or install a 326, 350, or 389 Pontiac engine.
@Aaron, thats so funny you mentioned a teacher with one. My high school vice principal had one i the late 80’s as well. It was a red drop top, he had pictures of it on his desk. He was a nice guy, and didnt mind me stopping by to talk to him about it. He drove it all over the place and enjoyed it. I wonder if either him or the car is still around? I havent thought about him or that Tempest in decades until now. Thanks for the great write up and the memories. And as for this one, I hope it gets back on the road theres a lot to work with here.
Looks like a pretty solid car, but as Aaron said, bears worth close exam seeing as where it is. Engine compartment is surprisingly clean; possible engine rebuild? Original radio, too.
I was wondering where the shift lever is until I saw it next to the ignition. Lol!
Not my cup of tea, but could be a decent driver if it all checks out.
Here is a good factual YouTube video of the design of the Tempest driveline. The video mentions Bill Collins was one of the engineers who worked with John Delorean who later worked with John on the design of the DMC DeLorean car. Bill then went on to design a compact size diesel pusher motorhome called the Vixen.
There is no doubt in my mind GM as a corporation was firing on all cylinders back in the 60’s. Just think a compact car where every division made their own drivetrain. Chevrolet aimed squarely at the economical buyer with the air-cooled engine, Buick and Oldsmobile each designed their own version of the aluminum 215 V8 and Pontiac had their Trophy and rope drive. Personally I think they were brilliant in their own right.
https://youtu.be/zjkAIeKXfEM?si=O6UCh9aTeMegXW5d
@Alphasud. Thank you for posting that video link. It was very informative and well done. And learned a bit more about the Rope shaft.
excellent video , thank you , it explained alot
If you have the garage space to Tinker with it I think this would be fun just to get it back on the road
I would be going to look if it wasn’t about as far from me in Tucson as it is possible and still be in the USA.
It would cost almost as much as the car to get it shiped to Arizona if anyone would even go to Vermont to pick it up. But would be a cool little project.