What a cool and unique Pontiac! And that's not even taking account of how it's optioned. Thank you both for appreciating such a sweetheart of a "long roof".
It was a lot of fun driving my 1962 Tempest wagon down to see Chad at Nobody Else's Auto last week. Thanks for featuring my car in one of your videos!!
That's a cool car you got there a old guy use to have a tempest when I was a kid and had the half V8 engine it's cool Chad has a couple forr parts to keep yours going because those cars are starting to get harder to find.
That Tempest is perfect. Just the right combo of originality with driveability. It's a lot of machine for that little motor, thinkin a period correct sports purpose motor, and period correct all wheel disc setup.😎
This car was definately custom ordered for a specific purpose. Fully optioned, but no roof rack, so it probably wasn't a family "vacation hauler". Maybe the original owner was an older traveling salesman (or woman!) who wanted room, economy, and a bit of style for their clientele!
It would be interesting to compare the 3 firewall ID plates. Were they all built at the same factory? Month and year they were built? My guess is the green wagon was either a dealer owner's demo and had selected options. Or someone order it with the options they wanted. All 3 were very interesting thanks for sharing.
That is awesome and has to be the nicest one in existence! No power steering or brakes though? I love the "cool pac" A/C- but i doubt it can cool that big interior well.
Very nice example of a rare car. Too bad you didn't take an extra minute to pop the air cleaner off? We could have seen if it has the 1, 2 or 4bbl carb!...
Correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't the Tempest supposed 2b Pontiac's version of the Corvair, but that decision got nixed by upper management (Kundsen? DeLorean?); the rear transaxle - but not the rear engine - being a vestige of the original plan? Just a rumor? Interested to know.
From what I've read, the rear transaxle and front 4cyl setup was being experimented by Pontiac in the late 50s and originally wanted it for the big cars. However, John DeLorean joined Pontiac around this time and with the first post WW2 (1958) recession going on at the time, consumers were saving on gas and VW's grew popular and he, along with the rest of Detroit, saw potential to exploit this. Place the rear transaxle/front 4cyl engine in a smaller car to prove that it was an capable as a big car (with smooth riding and reliability) while being more efficient. However, Corvairs and Ford Falcons were cheaper and therefore, sold better than the little Tempests did even though the Tempest was a better snd more advanced car within its league. For an economy car with so many unique parts to it, it was among the more expensive sub-compacts of the early 1960s. While '63 Tempests/Lemans's were different and more advanced than '62, they had a lot of parts that were 63-only and didn't sell as well as they were supposed to. GM management ended up pressuring DeLorean to build a Tempest/Lemans for '64 with a more traditional drivetrain and therefore, gave us the GTO.
DrSmith: sorry for late reply. Thanks for the info; very informative! In addition to what u mentioned, I find it interesting that the Tempest was the ONLY version of the '61 GM compacts that came with 15" tires as STANDARD, as opposed to 13" on the Special, F85, & Corvair. Apparently, there was an engineer at Pontiac who had previously worked at Mercedes & was very familiar with the danger of swing axles & small tires, & all but demanded 15s over 13s for stability. The Corvair may have had a completely different history with bigger tires!
Take a drink every time he says “Tempest Wagon”.
What a cool and unique Pontiac! And that's not even taking account of how it's optioned. Thank you both for appreciating such a sweetheart of a "long roof".
It was a lot of fun driving my 1962 Tempest wagon down to see Chad at Nobody Else's Auto last week. Thanks for featuring my car in one of your videos!!
Thanks for sharing
You have a nice car there.
That's a cool car you got there a old guy use to have a tempest when I was a kid and had the half V8 engine it's cool Chad has a couple forr parts to keep yours going because those cars are starting to get harder to find.
Ya that's bad ass
i love wagons....and a pontiac wagon makes it even better.....cant wait to get my 63 catalina safari finished
Very cool car. 👍😎✌️
What a fantastic little Pontiac wagon! Wonderful classic you can actually afford to drive! Really enjoyed the video. Thank you for sharing!
What really nice wagon. Must have been a great road trip.
I have a '62 Sport Lemans Coupe. Rides very smooth with the independent suspension.
I had a '62 Tempest convertible. The dash clock at 5:03 brought back some memories.
That Tempest is perfect. Just the right combo of originality with driveability. It's a lot of machine for that little motor, thinkin a period correct sports purpose motor, and period correct all wheel disc setup.😎
Never seen the 4 cylinder Pontiac engine before! Pretty cool!
Love the wagon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This car was definately custom ordered for a specific purpose. Fully optioned, but no roof rack, so it probably wasn't a family "vacation hauler". Maybe the original owner was an older traveling salesman (or woman!) who wanted room, economy, and a bit of style for their clientele!
Classic wagon.
Super cool! That under dash A/C unit is intriguing!
I had a black convertible 326 cubic in automatic on dash like that year's ago would be very rare car today I think
Such a cool car. Some guy probably loved the body style and wanted it loaded out!
He should have gone with the 215 aluminum V/8, especially with A/C
It would be interesting to compare the 3 firewall ID plates. Were they all built at the same factory? Month and year they were built? My guess is the green wagon was either a dealer owner's demo and had selected options. Or someone order it with the options they wanted. All 3 were very interesting thanks for sharing.
I want this for my last ride to the graveyard ..what a way to go. 😊
Everyone of those car are Gorgeous. Mommy and Daddy had a V8 station wagon. I wanted that car
I never paid much attention to the Tempests when I was a kid but what a great video I really think that wagon is cool thanks for sharing 👍😃🚂
That is awesome and has to be the nicest one in existence! No power steering or brakes though? I love the "cool pac" A/C- but i doubt it can cool that big interior well.
John DeLeon inspired 😊
Like the look. Not seen one.
Very nice! Thanks for sharing! Not sure I ever saw one.
Very nice example of a rare car. Too bad you didn't take an extra minute to pop the air cleaner off? We could have seen if it has the 1, 2 or 4bbl carb!...
Great Tempest wagon. I see it also has the optional soft tint glass throughout.
Part of factory air conditioning package, I believe
I was thinking when I saw your thumbnail that look like it had potential
Chad is that the one with the transaxle and the half v-8 engine?
Are you familiar with Marmie Motors, I bought my very first car back there in 1970 before I went to vietnam, a 1970 Plymouth Duster
In Canada, the Tempest was called Acadian and was just a Chevy II/ Nova clone.
My mother was driving our 68 Buick LeSabre and it was damaged in a accident, and a green tempest was a loaner from the body shop interesting car
Any chance you have a front bumper for a 63 Tempest hiding somewhere in that junkyard ?
Are you a member of the Little Indians Chapter? If not, it specializes in these cars. Good place to look.
@DRSmithCreations not a member but I have lurked the boards. I'll hit them up.
Dig that car!
The American manufacturers were clueless about the idea that there were people who wanted small, but not cheap.
Nice just needs a paint job,and it showroom new,👍
Were these offered with power steering or brakes? I know that the Buick Special was available with power steering.
Yes, some were.
nice car 🚘🚗🚘
Correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't the Tempest supposed 2b Pontiac's version of the Corvair, but that decision got nixed by upper management (Kundsen? DeLorean?); the rear transaxle - but not the rear engine - being a vestige of the original plan? Just a rumor? Interested to know.
From what I've read, the rear transaxle and front 4cyl setup was being experimented by Pontiac in the late 50s and originally wanted it for the big cars. However, John DeLorean joined Pontiac around this time and with the first post WW2 (1958) recession going on at the time, consumers were saving on gas and VW's grew popular and he, along with the rest of Detroit, saw potential to exploit this. Place the rear transaxle/front 4cyl engine in a smaller car to prove that it was an capable as a big car (with smooth riding and reliability) while being more efficient.
However, Corvairs and Ford Falcons were cheaper and therefore, sold better than the little Tempests did even though the Tempest was a better snd more advanced car within its league. For an economy car with so many unique parts to it, it was among the more expensive sub-compacts of the early 1960s.
While '63 Tempests/Lemans's were different and more advanced than '62, they had a lot of parts that were 63-only and didn't sell as well as they were supposed to. GM management ended up pressuring DeLorean to build a Tempest/Lemans for '64 with a more traditional drivetrain and therefore, gave us the GTO.
DrSmith: sorry for late reply. Thanks for the info; very informative! In addition to what u mentioned, I find it interesting that the Tempest was the ONLY version of the '61 GM compacts that came with 15" tires as STANDARD, as opposed to 13" on the Special, F85, & Corvair. Apparently, there was an engineer at Pontiac who had previously worked at Mercedes & was very familiar with the danger of swing axles & small tires, & all but demanded 15s over 13s for stability. The Corvair may have had a completely different history with bigger tires!
If you go to all that expense under the car why not cut the rust out knock out the dings and repaint it makes more sense.....
Sorry I commented before I watched it all
I like original. Hope they stop doing restomod.
Droooling
3 days ago while at a local biergarten in Austin, T I saw a white, 2dr '62 convertible in apparently restored condition. Emmm!
Word salad
Maybe your schizophrenia makes it difficult for you to understand spoken word. Chad spoke very clearly and intelligently in the video.
Very nice. But for Heaven's sake, repaint the roof. That literally looks like a polished turd!
Thanks for sharing