I had 61 tempest wagon with the trophy 4 , 1 bbl.I wish I still had it. Paid $25.00 as it was abandoned in a cow pasture. Had to rebuild the whole engine, re do breaks. Drove it for 4 years and sold it to a hippie for $ 75.00. Looking back I loved that car. I drove it all through college . From Milwaukee to Canada . Looking forward to graduating so I would have the money to get 4 new tires instead of one at a time at the local Mobil station.
It appears to be a high quality restoration. It looks like it's new from the dealer. This Tempest and I were both made in 1961, and I would love to own and drive it. That Poncho 4 has a great sound on the road!
If that was a HO 4 door I'd be all over it like a hen on a june-bug! A friend of mine growing-up had a 1961 Tempest (I was driving a 1963 Chevy II Nova 4dr I-6 194 CID PowerGlide) and the only car I lusted after more was a 1962 Chevelle 4 door sedan with a 283 V-8 and PowerGlide. I don't think any Chevelle sedan owner's EVER got rid of their Gen I or Gen II's. My best friend Eddie, had a 1964 Chevelle 2 Dr 283 we drove all-over the Southwest to concerts in! The story was, '55 and '56 Chevy owners wanted new cars and didn't want "land yachts" so the Chevelle was born. Our friend Terry had a '56 and it drove alot like Eddie's Chevelle, but without the ride and handling. The Tempest with the HO engine was impossible to get, even if you dealer ordered. My Daddy was an over-the-road salesman and DESPERATELY wanted a Tempest or a Chevelle and couldn't get one, so he ordered a Chevy II. Pontiac upped the slant 6 to 231 CID in 1962 or 1963 and put a REAL OHC head on it for a 265HP HO twin carb (@ 5500 RPM) which was BETTER than a 283 V-8 on the street. Pontiac offered a "orphan" 4-speed Hydromatic-style auto for it. My Daddy and I test-drove a '63 Tempest STATION WAGON HO auto, and he ALMOST bought it, but the wagon's rear seat wasn't comfortable, and like most wagons of the era, it was noisy and rattled a lot and rode poorly (over-sprung). We went a drove a Chevy II (his company HAD a red one he had driven) that same day, and since the Pontiac dealer couldn't get a Tempest sedan and the Chevelle was nearly $1000 higher than a Chevy II, he ordered a Nova that day.
This is a small window coupe, much rarer than 4 door or wagon, and it is the HO. They made 1,100 XS cars. Between the factory 3 speed (4 speed was not available yet), the 3.70 performance axle, and it being a black on red coupe it is a 10 out of 100,000 made in 1961. I know all this because it was mine.
Very Nice car, I just bought a 61 Tempest myself, the Frame is pretty much toast and the motoris sitting in half so I'm going to just throw the body on a 86 S-10 long bed Frame that I have.I've gotta cut 6 inches out of the S-10 frame to do it because the S-10 because the wheel base of the S-10 is 118 Inches and the Wheelbase on the Tempest is 112 inches, The S-10 also has 4.3 Vortec V-6 in it, that with make that little Tempest scream down the road.
How come everybody always uses torque tubes with this type design? This car was a uni-body and with a few pounds the body could be made really stiff, add in a closure panel to the tunnel, either spot welded or high grade fasteners, torqued to spec., and you got the torsional stiffness you need at about 30 or 40 pounds less weight. Try it, let me know if it works.
I love that you not only show the car, but test them lights, this is so interesting how they functioning. You have a new subscriber from Romania.
It's so fun to hear what it sounds like, Thanks!
So very cool,love it.
This thing is definitely unique!
I had 61 tempest wagon with the trophy 4 , 1 bbl.I wish I still had it. Paid $25.00 as it was abandoned in a cow pasture. Had to rebuild the whole engine, re do breaks. Drove it for 4 years and sold it to a hippie for $ 75.00. Looking back I loved that car. I drove it all through college . From Milwaukee to Canada . Looking forward to graduating so I would have the money to get 4 new tires instead of one at a time at the local Mobil station.
Thats my car. I restored it and sold it to lafontaine. It still looks great and I can say EVERYTHING WORKS.
It appears to be a high quality restoration. It looks like it's new from the dealer. This Tempest and I were both made in 1961, and I would love to own and drive it. That Poncho 4 has a great sound on the road!
If that was a HO 4 door I'd be all over it like a hen on a june-bug! A friend of mine growing-up had a 1961 Tempest (I was driving a 1963 Chevy II Nova 4dr I-6 194 CID PowerGlide) and the only car I lusted after more was a 1962 Chevelle 4 door sedan with a 283 V-8 and PowerGlide. I don't think any Chevelle sedan owner's EVER got rid of their Gen I or Gen II's. My best friend Eddie, had a 1964 Chevelle 2 Dr 283 we drove all-over the Southwest to concerts in! The story was, '55 and '56 Chevy owners wanted new cars and didn't want "land yachts" so the Chevelle was born. Our friend Terry had a '56 and it drove alot like Eddie's Chevelle, but without the ride and handling. The Tempest with the HO engine was impossible to get, even if you dealer ordered. My Daddy was an over-the-road salesman and DESPERATELY wanted a Tempest or a Chevelle and couldn't get one, so he ordered a Chevy II. Pontiac upped the slant 6 to 231 CID in 1962 or 1963 and put a REAL OHC head on it for a 265HP HO twin carb (@ 5500 RPM) which was BETTER than a 283 V-8 on the street. Pontiac offered a "orphan" 4-speed Hydromatic-style auto for it. My Daddy and I test-drove a '63 Tempest STATION WAGON HO auto, and he ALMOST bought it, but the wagon's rear seat wasn't comfortable, and like most wagons of the era, it was noisy and rattled a lot and rode poorly (over-sprung). We went a drove a Chevy II (his company HAD a red one he had driven) that same day, and since the Pontiac dealer couldn't get a Tempest sedan and the Chevelle was nearly $1000 higher than a Chevy II, he ordered a Nova that day.
This is a small window coupe, much rarer than 4 door or wagon, and it is the HO. They made 1,100 XS cars. Between the factory 3 speed (4 speed was not available yet), the 3.70 performance axle, and it being a black on red coupe it is a 10 out of 100,000 made in 1961. I know all this because it was mine.
That car is awesome. Mackenzie how did you learn to drive stick? You make it look effortless and most people your age have no idea how to drive stick.
Very Nice car, I just bought a 61 Tempest myself, the Frame is pretty much toast and the motoris sitting in half so I'm going to just throw the body on a 86 S-10 long bed Frame that I have.I've gotta cut 6 inches out of the S-10 frame to do it because the S-10 because the wheel base of the S-10 is 118 Inches and the Wheelbase on the Tempest is 112 inches, The S-10 also has 4.3 Vortec V-6 in it, that with make that little Tempest scream down the road.
sweet.
That's a gorgeous little car dude
Why isn't it listed in your inventory ? I was checking for the price.
It’s on there now. $23,500
$23,500 for those curious
I wanna hear it with an exhaust system
How come everybody always uses torque tubes with this type design? This car was a uni-body and with a few pounds the body could be made really stiff, add in a closure panel to the tunnel, either spot welded or high grade fasteners, torqued to spec., and you got the torsional stiffness you need at about 30 or 40 pounds less weight. Try it, let me know if it works.
can you feel the transaxle when shifting?
I had a 1961 automatic. It was so puny.
Mechanically the first generation Tempest are very odd ducks alright
Rope drive shaft thingy?
That was for the automatic maybe?
No offence but I checked out your website. Your prices are scary. Best of luck
Always.