The Tempest was Pontiac’s first foray into the compact car market in 1961, sharing GM’s new unibody Y-platform with Buick and Oldsmobile. It was an innovative design using the “Trophy-4” four-cylinder engine (half a V8) and a flexible drive shaft paired with a 2-speed rear-mounted transaxle automatic transmission. It would shed those roots and become a “conventional” mid-size car in 1964. This 1962 Tempest pickup is likely one-of-a-kind as Pontiac offered no such body style like Ford did with the Falcon Ranchero. Located in Davisburg, Michigan, this vehicle was possibly converted from a station wagon and there is still some work to be done. The Pontiac is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $6,200. Thanks to Chuck Foster for this interesting tip!
Pontiac followed Chevy into the compact market a year later. Instead of offering a badge-engineered version of the Corvair, GM gave them the green light to lead an interdivisional program coded named “X-100” which would be led by John DeLorean, Pontiac’s chief engineer and general manager. Having come up with something that was more than an ordinary compact, the Tempest was named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year for 1961 and won other accolades from automotive media. Sales may not have lived up to GM expectations as the Y-platform was ditched after three years when GM went with a new intermediate chassis for the intermediate market.
We don’t know the background on the seller’s car or exactly how it started life but we’re guessing it was a 4-door wagon. There was no 2-door wagon in the Tempest world and the width of the doors on the seller’s car is not especially wide, indicating that everything from there on back was grafted onto this vehicle. Perhaps you could think of this as an El Ponchino, borrowing from the coupe utility name that Chevrolet would reintroduce in 1964. It would be interesting to see photos of the transformation process because what we see of the final product doesn’t look like a weekend cobbling.
The innovative Tempest drivetrain is no longer in the vehicle, replaced by an SBC motor and transmission out of a 1980s GM product. But that’s not descriptive, i.e., the number of cylinders, inline versus V, etc., and no photos are provided from under the hood. The indicated mileage is 78,124, but do any of those miles include the new drivetrain, and was it rebuilt before going into the Pontiac? We’re told the only work needed to finish the job is the interior, but the bed doesn’t look ready, either, and some various items are just lying there, like the spare wheel/tire.
I think it’s one of the better El Camino type concepts done. The lines flow well enough to think the Pontiac division could have conceived a personal truck. I would have kept the rear transaxle design and either the Trophy 4 or installed a 389 to keep it weird and all Pontiac. Project definitely deserves to be taken to the finish line.
I now own this vehicle. It’s now located in Moses Lake Washington and next project is factory seats, wooden bed and a 389 tri power. It does have a sbc but that will be gone soon. Will post pics as it goes along!
Nice. Looks like good workmanship and as alphasud said, one of the better looking conversions.
Cute UTE !
The fit of the rear glass intrigues me. It really does look very finished, as if it was meant to go there! Hats off to whoever converted this Tempest; they knew what they wanted and did a fairly nice job from what I can tell. Someone will acquire an interesting entry in their next regional car show!
Rear glass and surrounding sheetmetal framing appear to be the top half of the original wagon tailgate, and much of the roof and rearmost pillar might also be grafted from the wagon.
Nice build! The functioning tailgate is a sign it wasn’t a half-assed conversion. These had a top-hinged liftgate, so including a drop-down tailgate here required some engineering.
Very nice UTE build.Should have kept it all Pontiac though.Wonder if seller has the original parts??
Wow, seems like it’s very well executed and if the sbc conversion is as well done as the rest of the car this should be a very good driver.
And yet not a single pic of so called small block chev swap. Suspicious.
Like it.
Wow – I can’t believe someone did this. This is really cool! It actually turned out well! It looks like Pontiac could have made this.
Looks like it would have done well as a factory product in Australia, they’re mad about their UTEs. Good job.
I agree ,one of the nicest conversions ,I have ever seen. Would like to know more about the mechanical s. If there as nice as the rest ,this could be a great buy, and lots of fun. Price seems also fair.
If the new owner wants to stay with a GM engine the aluminum Buick V8 would be a great choice, lightweight yet very powerful.
A very nice build! Love the lines. Perhaps the spare could be mounted upright. In the bed? I’m afraid I don’t remember where it was in the wagon. Regardless I would be a player, but I’ve got a H2SUT to finish. Timing bites again!
I had two of these, both had broken drive shafts. At the time, 25-39 years ago, there were multiples of these in local wrecking yards, but all of them had the drive shafts removed. In this case, these cars should be modified.
WOW I’d love to see this conversion up close and personnel. Like others have mentioned looks well done. Priced right, and how often do you see these early Tempests let alone a conversion like this.
One of my mechanics had 2 of these, but as convertibles. The drive line was 1/2 of the Pontiac V8, and a flexible drive shaft back to a transaxle shared with the Corvair, but designed to face forward [the Powerglide versions had a spinning torque converter hanging off the back of the rear axle gearbox!].
Both of his had the optional 4 barrel carb, but they were still underpowered. If it’s got a SBC, then it’s 99% likely the entire drive line has been updated, as the half shafts to the back wheels probably won’t survive the SBC. And after one last look at the photos, with the back part of the car sticking up, but the rear axles not “tucking in” like on other swing axles, I’m sure it’s now equipped with a solid rear axle.
Nicest one left?
The worst one left, as well.
Nicest one left?
That is really neat. I’d like to see the original setup with the transaxle. I never saw one in person…
Glenn,
Here is a set of color photos from the September [1960?] Popular Science magazine, where they featured the new Tempest’s drive train. This was considered so radical for a drive train, the magazine’s cover photos didn’t show the overall car, just it’s drive train!
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Tempest-pop-sci.png?print=1
I worked on a 62 Corvair that was converted like this. It had the exact same roof. In the bed area 1/4 in boiler plate was welded in for added strength. I don’t see if any was added from the photos. If not it could be dangerous.
With the original drivetrain, you could have all the thrills of racing without going over the speed limit. We had a ‘62 convertible. Worst oversteer I’ve ever seen, far exceeding the ‘61 Beetle we had before it. This one shouldn’t do that, obviously.
Oh yeah, the front suspension broke twice, too, sending the car across the road. Fortunately I was driving, and didn’t hit anything or anyone. I was a lot younger then. Engine vibrated horribly, being half a V8 before balance shafts were common.
Not John D’s proudest accomplishment.
In John DeLorean’s book, he said they operated like there was a big box of rocks in the trunk rattling about all the time.
Very cool! I agree, I would’ve kept the original drivetrain setup. From my understanding, they did originally live up to sales expectations at the time, selling over a 100,000 a year 61-63. The main problem at the time wasn’t reliability, it was the same old problem of mechanics not knowing how to properly work on them over time, just like the Buick 215 V8, the Olds Jetfire turbo, etc, so they weren’t maintained properly. I recently sold my 62 LeMans 4 cylinder 4 barrel with the high compression package. For a car weighing 2400 pounds it has decent enough power to enjoy, and mine ran smoothly when properly tuned.
BOP_Guy, didn’t you see my above comment? Where do you find new driveshafts when they break?
I had mine about 9 years, never broke or had any troubles with the driveshaft. But if that was to happen, I’d connect with someone from the Little Indians Pontiac club guys, they always have extra parts.