Pontiac’s Tempest GT-37 answered the call for a budget brawler like Plymouth’s Road Runner. Many enthusiasts have never seen a GT-37, so take a look at this 1970 Pontiac Tempest GT-37 in Maple Lake Minnesota. Originally Sierra Yellow with a Judge-like stripe, the blue rust-belt classic packs a non-original but date-correct four-barrel 400 and a four-speed, according to the seller. Check out more pictures and details here on Craigslist where $7000 seals the deal. Thanks to reader CCFisher for spotting this tricked-out Tempest.
After igniting the classic muscle car era with its Tempest-based GTO in 1964, Pontiac didn’t have to convince anyone of its performance pedigree. Gone was the long-standing concept that more expensive and larger cars were naturally faster. The muscle car (defined as a mid-sized car with the engine from larger full-sized lineup) changed everything. Bargain shoppers often found tricked-out rides like the GTO beyond their reach, and Plymouth’s Road Runner proved that penny-pinching gear heads would buy a post (B-pillar) car with a potent V8, bench seat, and rubber floor mats. That’s the sandbox where the GT-37 came to play, outfitted with a standard 255 HP 350 cid (5.7L) V8 and a three-speed manual with Hurst shifter. This GT-37 upped the ante with a hot 330 horse 400 cid (6.6L) and a four speed. Now we’re talking! While the original block is gone, the seller includes details on the reportedly era-correct stand-in you see here. According to the listing it’s spun a rod bearing, so the buyer can specify whatever original-style or go-fast parts they want during the engine rebuild. Thanks to StreetMuscleMag for some details.
The all-black interior works well with the blue or yellow exterior, easing the new owner’s choice to return the body color or embrace the blue. Either way, plan on plenty of metal repair and bodywork as pictures suggest visible corrosion is only the tip of the rustberg. New carpet and front seats look tidy and correct.
Snappy 18″ tailpipes earn street cred from the under-17 crowd along with the non-original “Hurst” badge, begging the question “Want to go to Prom with me? Thanks to its mid-year debut, only 1419 GT-37s hit the street in model year 1970, so if everything checks out, this is one exclusive and interesting ride. Would you take this rare GT-37 over a similar GTO?
I know some of you may think I’m making this stuff up for attention, but after HS(’72), everybody had their rendition of a musclecar, depending greatly on the job you had. I was a simple p/t pump jockey and had a 6 cylinder Valiant I dollied up, but the guys that had full time jobs, had GTOs, big block this and that, and then these. A guy I knew had a blue T-37 like this, only automatic, I think. Just shows what’s in a name. “GTO” was a buzzword carried over from the 60s, and meant business. Very few went with the T-37 specifically for that reason, even though, a smart shopper went with this car. It cost about $2,600 new, but options put it well over $3 grand, still cheaper than the Judge or GTO, yet only 54, T-37s had the GTO guts. Like the “307” Chevelle. Believe it or not, not everyone was a crazed speedaholic with fire breathing motors, as modern day collectibles may make it seem. They had usefulness on their minds, but wanted a cool looking car.
And for you Cliffy Claven fans, it’s a little known fact, why it’s named “T-37”. “T” stood for Tempest and “37” was GMs designation for a hardtop coupe. ( never knew that) Now you know,,,cool find, again, thanks for the memories Todd.
Those of us who grew up in that era will always vouch for you Howard. Same thing all across the usa. Your memory is intact!
No longer listed but….it needs longer tail pipes. Didn’t sound like a bad deal from the little info I see and pics.And it’s a 4 speed.
Maggy them are called Shin Getters
No kidding! I’ve never understood the “wheel barrow handles” look…
When I was a high school senior in 1987 the cars in the student parking lot were a 1978 Dodge Power wagon, a 1969 Camaro, a 1969 Firebird (mine), a 1976 Trans Am, and the rest were basic non-descript econo-cars. The rich kids had a new gold Trans Am and a newer Lincoln Mk V.
I think this was a good deal just need some adjustments, clean up and have fun. I remember these in high school.
“Snappy 18” tailpipies?)
First thought for me is a 16 year old owner, too cheap to have a proper exhaust installed…
Back at high school in 76′ I do remember two guys had a T-37 one was a 350/Auto in gold. The other was a 4 speed don’t remember the engine or color. They were quick. Not as cool as GTO but I understand later it was cheaper for insurance for the T-37. There was a kid with a red 70 GTO 4-speed 455 with 4:10 and you could hear it coming down the road to school. Those were the days used muscle cars and fun to beat on. This T-37 went fast since it’s not posted anymore. 🐻🇺🇸
Back in 67-78 my little crap town and surrounding area (20,000 people) had, at a minimum, six of these. I remember that some of them had painted tops instead of vinyl tops and I think they were all four speeds. I thought they were neat little cars but I was/am Mopar.
That’s a pretty good price.But rebuilding the pontiac 400 is gonna cost a bit.I had the machine shop do the heads and rebuild the short block and i assembled my pontiac 400 myself.If you can DIY most of the engine stuff,you’ll save alot on assembly cost,leaves more cash for high performance parts
$7000 must have been met.
It’s no longer on eBay
It seems there’s a lot of confusion between the T-37 and the GT-37. The T-37 was the bottom feeder of the LeMans lineup, the cheapest Pontiac A-body available. Lots of those running around back in the day and they were nothing special and certainly not fast. There were 4 or 5 in this tiny burg, a couple with the optional, Judge-like eyebrow stripes.
The GT-37 was the high-performance version, built in limited numbers due to limited appeal and rising insurace costs. It was the car the Judge should’ve been: stripped down, lightweight, powerful engine. Pontiac’s overdue answer to the Road Runner, and one of my all-time favorite Ponchos. I’ve seen two in person over the years, a local 400/4-speed that rusted away, and another (automatic) at a show in Charlotte in 1998.
Is that steering wheel factory stock?