1963 Pontiac Tempest

Description

Rare, interesting, unique, and surprisingly affordable – all of this and more is why this 1963 Pontiac Tempest convertible is one of the coolest classics in our showroom.

This final-year for the first-generation Pontiac Tempest is the one to have. It still retains the sports car-like driving features, and now its wrapped around what's arguably the most attractive Wide Track sheetmetal of the series. You really see it nicely on this droptop thanks to great care over the years. You'll love how the sheetmetal carries crisp creases and everything still lines up nicely. Factory-correct Aquamarine is a terrific '60s color, and it helps to highlight all that great trim. Just imagine how hard it would be to source some of the pieces like the fender ornaments, Tempest cursive badging, or factory wheel covers today. More than just a complete and well-presented classic, you want this one because it's rare. The premium droptop was the most expensive car in the mainstream Tempest line, and that meant only around 5,000 were produced. So just imagine how few have survived over half a century still looking this good.

With the flip of a switch, the black electric folding top reveals a cool tri-tone interior. So while the aqua vinyl does a great job of providing a base color that matches the exterior paint, we really love how the darker blue and white trim on the seats gives this budget-friendly Tempest a very upscale appearance. And it's more than just the seats that have a nice level of preservation. Items like the AM/FM radio, heat/defrost sliders, and factory steering wheel make this a pleasant time capsule that will have you proudly showing it off at car shows.

Under the hood the 195 cubic-inch four-cylinder has the kind of honest presentation that we all love seeing today. And because this was basically half of the 389ci V8, there are some good common maintenance. But the real advantage of the first-generation Tempest comes from how it utilizes its power. This is actually a transaxle car, and so the automatic transmission is mounted in the rear to give this Pontiac nearly 50/50 weight distribution. And the independent rear suspension is something truly unexpected in a vintage car like this (remember the case-cracker from My Cousin Vinny – only this car and the Corvette had in independent rear in the '60s!) So while this looks like a classic convertible, the drivetrain is one of the most modern of the era.

So you have rare features that make this Tempest both fun to drive and great to talk about – and it's all part of an affordable droptop package. This kind of appeal is why we know the Pontiac will be leaving us very soon. Don't miss out, call today!