The Pontiac Tempest was one of three “senior compacts” that General Motors introduced in 1961. The other two were the Buick Special and the Oldsmobile F-85. While all three used the same new unibody platform, the Tempest employed a rear transaxle, which eliminated the need to have a hump on the floorboards for a driveshaft. The seller has a 1963 coupe which uses a one-year-only engine, displacing 336 cubic inches but marketed as a 326 (details later). This Tempest has been in the seller’s garage for more than 20 years, so it has some cosmetic and mechanical deterioration. Located in Amelia, Ohio (and as a tip from “Pnuts”), this Poncho is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,500.
An advantage of the Tempest powertrain arrangement was that the car had a near 50/50 weight distribution (54/46 with the cast iron V8). The standard engine was Pontiac’s “Trophy-4,” which was created by taking half of the company’s 389 cubic inch V8. In 1961 and 1962, the Buick 215 aluminum-block V8 was optional but had few takers. It was replaced in 1963 by the 260 hp 336 V8, which was sold as a 326 because GM supposedly didn’t want a compact car to have a bigger engine than their halo Corvette (which used a 327).
We’re told this ’63 Tempest has been sitting in this dingy garage for more than 20 years. It has all the earmarks of an estate sale where the former owner never got around to restoring the machine back to its former glory. The Tempest wears blue on blue paint, and rust can be seen in several places, especially the lower extremities. This Pontiac accumulated 115,000 miles before it went into limbo status for whatever reason.
This Tempest is one of 131,500 units produced in 1963, of which 26,500 were coupes (in standard or deluxe trim; we don’t know which applies here). A 2-speed automatic transmission provides an assist to propel the car when you can get the machine running again. It’s a roller that comes with extra parts to help with the repairs. We’re told the price has been lowered, but we don’t know what the starting point was. If you can get this Pontiac back on the road, it should offer some spritely performance.
Just imagine, for a second if you will, the hoopla that was destined for this car, and here, seemingly blissfully unaware of what a phenomenon it created, it sits collecting dust. Seems unfair, in a way. I knew a guy that put a Bonneville motor in a ’63 Tempest, created the 1st “GTO”, and terrorized the Nort’woods, and he wasn’t alone. Not sure if he used the “rope drive”, which I heard was every bit as strong as a metal driveshaft, not sure about the transaxle, however. GM didn’t seem to have any issues with this motor.
So,,,what do you do, what DO,,,you do? Restore it as an unbelievable original find, or do the Arnie Beswick thing? Cool find.