It shared sheet metal with the Oldsmobile F-85, the first-generation Tempest had several features that differentiated it from the other compact GM cars. 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." The Tempest was Motor Trend magazine's 1961 Car of the Year. His objective was for the new model to be more than just an ordinary compact car. DeLorean, Pontiac's chief engineer and general manager, went to work on a car that would meld components GM already produced. 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. The Tempest was a decision by the Pontiac division to enter the compact car market following the success of the Chevrolet Corvair. South Gate Assembly South Gate, California In Canada, Pontiac also marketed a rebadged version of the compact L-body Chevrolet Corsica under the name Tempest from 1987 to 1991. The GTO was subsequently split off as its own model line in 1966. By 1964 the Tempest, Tempest Custom and Lemans are separate models in the new GM A-body platform. The line offered the optional LeMans trim upgrade, beginning with a few 1961 LeMans coupes and adding a performance aspect in 1962. An innovative design, it shared the new unibody Y platform, GM's first, with the Buick Special/ Skylark and Oldsmobile F-85/ Cutlass, and featured the "Trophy-4" four-cylinder engine with a flexible drive shaft to a two-speed rear-mounted transaxle automatic transmission. The Tempest was introduced as an entry-level compact in October 1960 at the Paris Auto Show for the 1961 model year. The Pontiac Tempest is an automobile that was produced by Pontiac from 1960 to 1970, and again from 1987 to 1991.
Pontiac Tempest LeMans GTO Hardtop, 1965. The GTO ("Gran Turismo Omologato”) started out as an option pack on the second generation Tempest that included an 325 hp 389ci V8. The popularity of the pack convinced Pontiac to offer the GTO as a standalone model and was one of the cars that can been seen to initiate the muscle car era. A car similar to the one pictured sold for $49,000 at RM Sotheby’s Auburn Fall action earlier this month
Not sure on this one- ‘68 or ‘69 Pontiac certainly, but I’m seeing ‘8 bumper with ‘69 doors- Lemans? Tempest? Real GTO?
With this level of custom, it doesn’t really matter, it’s just cool! Glad they kept it PMD powered. Spotted at the GoodGuys Southwest Spring Nationals, March 2019.
Basically a stripped-down GTO, the GT-37 could be compared to other inexpensive "bare-bones" muscle cars like the Plymouth Road Runner, What made the GT-37 option so exciting was you could get most of the mechanics of a GTO for less money, with less weight and insurance rates of a Tempest or LeMans.