Pontiac promoted the compact Tempest to mid-size status in 1964, joining other GM products in that “new market”. Another new sector was beginning to form, too, the muscle car segment, when Pontiac introduced the GTO in ’64, a performance option on the Tempest. The seller has what may have been an ordinary Tempest 2-door sedan at first, restored to mimic a GTO (without the GTO badges). This beauty can be found in Salina, Kansas, and is available here on craigslist for $49,900 – as you catch your breath, consider how much the restoration may have cost. Thanks, Mike F., for one powerful tip!
The Tempest wasn’t the only mid-size car at GM in 1964. The others included the new Chevrolet Chevelle, Buick Special, and the Oldsmobile F-85 (only Cadillac was spared). This move may have been spurred by Ford’s introduction of the smaller Fairlane in 1962, sandwiched between the compact Falcon and the full-size Galaxie. More than 187,000 Tempests were sold in ’64, including the high-end LeMans. We don’t think these figures include the hot new GTO which clocked in at 32,400 copies in the car’s first outing.
The seller’s car may be one of 6,365 base Tempest 2-door sedans assembled in ’64. This one appears to have been redone as a nod to the 7,384 GTOs in the same body style. This car has quite the pedigree, including a 389 cubic inch V8 which would be like the one standard in the GTO. This car also has a 4-speed manual transmission, another GTO feature from 1964 through its retirement in 1974. However the seller’s Pontiac began life, it’s been treated to what looks to be a first-class, rotisserie restoration.
We’re guessing no expense was spared on this project. The indicated mileage is 72,000 and we assume very little of that has been put on since the extreme makeover. The seller mentions that trades, delivery, and financing are available, so that implies this car is being offered by a dealer (who may only have so much knowledge about the car). He/she calls it a “GTO Killer,” but it appears to be on an equal footing with one now. If you want to see a walkaround video of the Poncho, you’ll have to consult the seller.
The Grenadier Red paint looks beautiful but is it the original color of the automobile? The red bench seat interior looks quite spiffy including the floor shifter with the white knob. This Pontiac has the true sleeper look with color-matched wheels and “poverty” hub caps. If you’re looking for a plain muscle car and don’t mind that it’s not original, this turnkey “GTO” might be hard to beat – but is the asking price in the correct territory?
This looks absolutely stunning!!! And kudos to the individual who restored this Tempest, and ( ***gasp***) actually kept it a Tempest bench seat and all. And also for keeping it in the family by upgrading to a period correct 389 ( no Chevy small block under THIS hood) I usually lean towards the looks of a hardtop, but this post coupe looks great. Very nicely done. It looks like a real high quality build.
Agree Driveinstile 👍
Sweet setup, love the front end. 🏁
Wow this car brings back memories. I had a base Tempest. Found in NC many moons ago when I would leave the rust belt and look for rust free cars to play with. It already had the bench gone and a tired 389 in place of the six. The springs up front were replaced rear were air. So I placed a deposit and next day pick it up and thinking before I drive 9 hours I would get an oil change. Only took basic tools so the shop changed the oil filter and this poor engine couldn’t prime. Yeah no oil pressure. Well already had 5 quarts in added another and filled the filter and it worked. To shorten the story a bit owned the car about 7 years and went through it front to rear. Called it my junkyard dog. Steering box wax a quick ratio from a Trans Am, biggest sway bars front and rear for the “A” body built turbo 400 from a Buick, rear differential was 442 and the cherry was the 428 poncho I went through in my garage with mail order parts from PAW if any old heads are reading. Would purr like a kitten and get me through the quarter mile in a tick over 13 seconds on street radials. Lots of torque and traction was an issue. Took 3 years through Carlisle to find NOS taillight lens and emblems. That’s one I am sorry I let go. Drive them cars, it’s all about smiles per mile!
Performance Automotive Warehouse! Order quite a bit from them back then as well. This is a really sweet 64.
Beautiful car. It’s expensive, but nice enough that its likely to find a buyer.
Steve R
I don’t think so it cost more than that to build it.
Joe
Beautiful car.
Please stop with the hyperbole calling it a GTO tribute; seller never did…
Not a GTO tribute/ clone just a hot rod poncho….
The crowning touch would be a trip-deuce setup.
Great looking car, two door post cars are my favorite, bench seat and four speed are perfect.
It’s not cheap, but very well done. It deserves a look for sure. I agree some Pontiac fan that already has a couple of GTOs and wants something a little different, but still in the “family” will bite…
This is absolutely amazing car.
Dear Barn Finds and Google. I am looking at this great car but inbetween each picture and the write up is prictures of a ladies private parts. I pay a membership for Barn Finds so why do we have to look at ads , especially distaful ads?? Now barn finds and google will say they have no control, but I do—–it is called an off button.
Yes I loved this car, wll but together and big motor ,four speed , no stupid options and a 2 door post and a reasonable price, but it to hard to look at with all the ads covering half the car
Hey Morley,
The ads that pop up on your computer are based on your personal search history. Just saying.
I do not think I have been looking a ladies private parts, or ocean cruises,or medicines. I do read about the President elect but that is the only scandal . So how do I get rid of this and if my computor has a History, well that is a surprise to me! So thanks for the heds up!
Morley, if you are logged into the site, you should not see those ads.
To make sure that you are logged in, look for the words “Log Out” at the top of the page. If you are not logged in, this will instead say “Log In”. Click on this and log in with your username and password. When you log in, make sure to click a checkmark on “Stay Logged In”.
This site likes to log you out quite often, so if you start seeing the ads again, just log back in.
Hope this helps.
After all these year??????? I am log in and this is a great site once more. Thank you
Beautiful car and superbly redone.
Just me but I would prefer buckets and (again, just me) the red exterior does not do this car justice. Something lighter like silvermist or pinehurst green…with the appropriate interior color.
Back in the sixties I probably wouldn’t have looked twice at a two door post coupe, but looking at it now I like it a lot. A 389, a four speed and a bench seat tics the boxes for me.
Standard Tempest V8 was a 326 not 389.
Looks like a vintage matchbox car it’s so nice!
like the Tempest this is a proper no stupid option car. My 65 Ford Custom, 427, 4 speed bench seat, nothing more.
Like it was back in the days when your budget was limited, but you knew WHAT you wanted. Nice!
That’s some Ford right there Morley. 🏁
GTO Tribute Car & sleeper just don’t go together, but here it is in title of article. Jeesh !
I’ve NEVER seen a finer rendition of a perfectly tweaked example of personal taste & execution! Everything seen here is of impeccable quality & representation. Demonstrated on a sport coupe body is the pièce de résistance. BRAVO! Well done!
A little pricey, but an extremely cool car, nonetheless. (By the way Morley, that Ford is also an extremely cool car.)
Wow! This car has it all,in spades! My family had an Olds dealership back in the day and this reminds me of a white Tempest 389 w/4spd trade in that our service Mgr snapped up quick! Thanks for trip down memory lane Barnfinds.
You could get a declutching fan w/o a/c from the factory?
I doubt brand new ones looked this good.