The Car That Kicked It Off
People will often refer to the Pontiac GTO as the grandaddy of all muscle cars. While big-block V8s were available in cars from the ’60s, it was really Pontiac that defined and refined the formula. But the GTO wouldn’t have been possible without the existence of one car, a car that often slips the minds of many.
That car is the Pontiac Tempest, and we totally understand if it’s a bit of an overlooked car in history. It started out in life as Pontiac’s compact offering, then moved up a size class for its second generation in 1964. That was a pivotal moment for the car, as it would form the basis of the GTO. The GTO was a performance package for the Tempest, but it eventually grew into its own legend.
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The Backstory
With many trims, body styles, and powertrain combinations, nailing down the true value of a second-gen Tempest is pretty hard. That said, GTOs go for close to or around $60,000 these days for a solid one. Classic.com puts average prices for the second-gen A-Body Tempest at just under $33,000, again for a good example. Things get even murkier when it’s modified.
And that’s exactly the one we saw on Bring a Trailer recently. It’s far from original, but does appear stock inside and out. Its history isn’t fully known, but the modifications and service are well documented. It was modified in the style of a GTO, but the key point is the engine swap. Before the current seller bought it, it was fitted with the 455ci Tri-Power big block, which wasn’t offered in the Tempest or GTO, as the biggest engine at the time was the 389ci.
So, the mods. It’s on Hotchkis springs, Global West offset upper control-arm shafts, sway bars at the front and rear, KYB dampers, and polyurethane bushings – and that’s just for the suspension bits. The car also got a quicker steering rack, four-wheel discs, and stainless steel brake lines to further improve handling. They also swapped in a Tremec TKX five-speed manual transmission, giving it the extra gear (or gears) the original models never had.
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The Offer
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Make | Pontiac |
| Model | Tempest Sport Coupe |
| Year | 1965 |
| Mileage | 26,541 miles indicated (TMU) |
| Engine | 455 cubic-inch (7.5-liter) Tri-Power V8 |
| Power | 360 horsepower |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Drive type | Rear-wheel drive |
| Exterior color | Black |
| Interior color | Black |
| Wheels | 15-inch Cragar S/S five-spoke wheels |
| Suspension | Short-long arms front, live axle rear |
| Brakes | Four-wheel cross-drilled vented discs |
| Steering | Recirculating ball steering |
| Current bid | $15,000 |
Interested in this car? View the listing here.
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Why it’s Special
It may not have the cachet of the GTO, but the Tempest was a hugely important model for Pontiac, especially in this second generation. Had the brand stuck to the compact formula of the first generation, the muscle car genre might have taken a different turn. For the most part, the Tempest blended in with regular traffic in the ’60s, yet its significance shouldn’t be underestimated. It also helps that prices are much lower than a GTO, so restomods like this won’t upset too many people. This one has all the potential to be enjoyed by the casual enthusiast who enjoys taking a vintage car out for a drive from time to time.
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About the author
Anton Andres
News Editor