Description
Rare exceptional condition, Low reserve, a blast to drive. Economical and dependable
The Tempest was a decision by the Pontiac division to enter the compact car market following the success of the Chevrolet Corvair. The division wanted to produce a clone of the Corvair, but instead GM gave Pontiac the lead to develop a new car in an interdivisional program coded named "X-100." John Z. DeLorean, Pontiac's chief engineer and general manager, went to work on a car that would meld components GM already produced. His objective was for the new model to be more than just an ordinary compact car. The Tempest was Motor Trend magazine's 1961 Car of the Year. Road & Track praised the Tempest as "exceptionally roomy" and "one of the very best utility cars since the Ford Model A." In hindsight, DeLorean admitted that the Tempest was "less than successful," adding, "there was no mechanical problem, but the car rattled so loudly that it sounded like it was carrying half-a-trunkful of rolling rocks."
This 1962 Pontiac Tempest is a LeMans convertible that is powered by a 194. 5ci inline-four linked to a rear-mounted two-speed automatic transaxle, and in 2013 the car as refinished in red and white over red. Equipment includes a white soft top, a red boot cover, bright trim and hubcaps, whitewall tires, front disc brakes, a push-button radio, and a toggle-switch shifter. The car is said to have spent time in Florida before the engine was rebuilt in 2018, and in 2022 the carburetor and the battery were replaced.
The car was delivered new in Mandalay Red (V1) and is said to have been refinished in 2013. Features include white-finished coves, a white soft top with a plastic rear window, a red boot cover, and chrome-finished bumpers and trim. Photos in the gallery below show imperfections in the finish and pitting on the mirrors.
Black-finished steel wheels wear bright hubcaps and are mounted with American Classic whitewall tires. A full front disc-brake conversion was performed in 2015, at which time the pads, calipers, rotors, master cylinder, rear drums, wheels, and hubcaps were replaced.
Front bucket seats and a rear bench are trimmed in red upholstery, which is complemented by red door panels and carpeting. Shifting is handled through a toggle switch to the right of the steering column, and a Pontiac/ Delco “all-transistor” radio is located in the center of the dash. The driver-side seat bottom has been reupholstered, but has a fluid stain in the driver-side footwell.
A two-spoke steering wheel with an aftermarket wrap sits ahead of a horizontal 120-mph speedometer flanked by a generator warning light and a fuel-level gauge. The five-digit odometer shows 39k miles. True mileage is unknown.
The 194. 5ci “Trophy 4” inline-four is finished in blue and topped with a black air-cleaner assembly. The engine is said to have been rebuilt under previous ownership with replacement bearings, timing chain, lifters, and oil pump. In 2015 the fuel pump was replaced, and the engine is said to have been rebuilt in 2018, at which time exhaust work was performed. In August 2022 the carburetor and the battery were replaced.
Engine torque is transmitted through a flexible driveshaft housed in a hollow tube to a rear-mounted two-speed automatic transaxle. Seepage is noted at the rear, and additional photos of the underside are presented in the gallery below.
The Washington title lists “Antique” under the Brands section.
